Grisly Grisell

illanous saltpetre should be digg'd ou

King Henry

ror in the cry. Then followed more shrieks and screams, some of pain, some of fright, others of anger and recrimination. Every one in the

ountess Alice of Salisbury for education and training. Boys and girls were alike there, some of t

ts, squires, grooms, scullions, and females of every degree-had thronged round them, but parted at her approach, thoug

is it?" asked the Cou

d, "The Lord of Whitburn's little

ert young gentles be let to run all over the courts, and handl

all but stout and self-assertive dame, known as "Mother of the Maidens," then starting, "Oh! my lady, I crave your pardon, I knew not

cause," said the Countes

o where a girl of about ten was lying prostra

d! 'Tis all over with her. It will

mith for letting hi

, burning gunpowder-a device of Satan-in this y

e "Mother of the Maidens," who was a somewhat helpless personage, hung back, declaring that the sight of the wounds made her swoon. There were terrible wounds upon the face and neck, which seemed to be almost bared of skin. The lady, who had b

nurse." She was Grisell Dacre, the daughter of the Baron of Whitburn, and had been placed, young as she was, in the household of the Counte

accident, but presently the clatter of horses' feet showed that her lord was returnin

a boy of some twelve years old stood before him, in a sullen attitude, one foot over the oth

se, came forward, and as he gave her the courteous kiss of greet

me she cannot liv

s maid? That's ill, poor

as the answer. "I have been seein

ss in her own right; he, Richard Nevil, had been created Earl of Salisbury in her rig

peland," said the Earl

ed, "I never meant

ord Salisbury sternly; "give your

only hung his head at the repeated calls to him to speak. Th

orge, so please you, my lord, and

s side and said, "Uncle," doffing his cap, "so please you, my lord, the barrels had just been brought in upon Hob Carter's wain, and Leonard said they ought to have the Lord Earl's arms on them. So he to

ert meddling, then. Master Leonard Copeland, thou must be scourged to make thee keep thine hands off where they be not needed. For the rest,

ng a word, but shaking his shoulder as if to get rid of the squire'

e "blackguard" at any age, even under the mildest rule. The gunner, being somewhat higher in position, and not in charge at the moment, was not called to account, but the next question was, how the "Mother of the Maids"-the gouvernante in charge of the numer

off, and the younger girls had followed them, whether with or without warning was not made clear. Poor little Grisell's condition might have been considered a sufficient warning, nevertheless the two companions in her misdemeanour were condemned to a whipping, to enforce on them a lesson of maidenliness; and though the Mother of the Maids could not partake

e mishap was accidental. The Lord of Whitburn himself was in Ireland with the Duke of York, while his lady was in attendance on the young Queen, and it was judged right and seemly to despatch to her a courier with the tidings of her daughter's disaster, although in point of fact, where a house could number sons, damsels were not thought of great value, except as the means of being allied with

were dealt out without much respect to justice; and he also had to endure a sort of captivity, in a dismal little circular room in a turret of the manorial hou

dmund Plantagenet of York, who found him lying on the floor, bui

d?" he asked. "Did old

t," growle

keep thee here?" asked

uld go and die. She brought it on me, the peevish g

she contrac

o my being plagued with her-do what they may

ld never

folk of Nevil would do to a l

, clenching his fists. "'Tis thy bas

from thee," burst forth

is the traitor forsooth? Why, 'tis my father who shou

d, and the warder presently found the two boys

O lady, lady, visit it not on him! Let not Leonard be punished. It was my fault for gettin

aret of York, who stood trembli