Penshurst Castle

could they tw

the fair

the nee

ld help the

ns on a

a psalm

1585. O

Wilton House, near Salisbury, in the year 1585. It was November, but so soft and balmy was the air

ith their melody and with the scent of the late flowers in the pleasance, lying close under th

slope towards the house; a boy of five or six years old

beech tree, mother,' the child said. 'I

ll Uncle Philip say, if he comes to-day a

isn't here,' t

despatch from him; he is already at S

saw one of her ladies hasteni

you come to capt

Sidney's courier has ridden into the courty

Philip!' and Will dragged at Lucy's hand as

boy pouted; yet he knew to resist his mother's will was useless. But presently

luting him, set him on his feet again. Then, with a bow and smile to Lucy, he bent his knee with

welcome, to confirm the good news of

hemes with you. I stay but till the morrow, when I wo

enshu

ur father and mother-there ere I depart. Now, now, Will! wherefore al

esence, Philip, which is too muc

to your tasks, nor give Mistress Forrester so much trouble.' And Lucy found herself free from the child's detaini

ilip in the hall, where the t

orrester?' Sir Philip asked. 'Any

en our good friend Master Humphrey Ra

m starting in a few days to the Low

sir, this morning,'

But I begin to fear that he is dead. Why should I say fear, forsooth? Death would be bett

Good-morning to you, sir,' she went

eauty, into a woman almost graver than her years, and so little disposed to accept any overtures

of by Mistress Crawley as 'clever enough, and civil spoken,' the real truth being that she had become indispensable to Mistress Crawley, and was trusted by her to take in hand the instru

d acquired a notoriety by a certain rough eloquence in preaching and praying at the secret meetings held in Mistress Forrester's barn. He was well pleased to give up his earthly calling at Mistress Forrester's bidding, for he would scarcel

their stepmother's. Lucy returned to Lady Pembroke's household, and Mary Gifford, through the ever-ready help of Humphrey Ratcliffe, broken down as she was prematurely in mind and body, found an a

road of duty, with no regretful, backward glances, no murmurs at the roughness of the way, taking each step as it came with unfaltering resolutions, with a heavy heart at times; but what did that matter? And in all this determination to act as a brave, true man should act, Humphrey Ratcliffe had ever before him the example of his master, Sir Phi

arl of Leicester, must often have been constrained to feel, and perhaps acknowledge, that there was something in his nephew which raised him to a height he had never

from the house. Going towards it to meet

miliar place where we have wand

s bring back to me, Mary, the days, the many days, when I fo

say to do so. But tell me, Philip, of this great appointment. Are you not glad now that the design respecting Sir Francis Drake's expeditio

e, and my heart swelled with triumph as I saw that grand armament ready to sail from Plymouth. Methinks, even now, I feel a burning desire to be one of those

nt young soldier, eager, and almost wild, to set sail across the great dividing sea, seemed to r

I must think false dealing with me, for I know well by whose means those mandates came to Plymouth from the Queen. There was no

ure, to be Governor of Flushing means a high place, and a field for showing all you are as a state

, from a slightly rising ground, there was a

sky, this November sky, which is like that of June? The spire, meth

thy, and, looking up into his face, she saw there the shinin

noble words inspired me with great confidence in the righteousness of the cause for which I am to fight. Her Grace said her object was a holy one-even to procure peace to the

ut Frances and the babe. When is

her coming to Flushing till I can assure myself that all is well prepared for her. I ride to London on the morrow. The babe will be christened there. Two days later I purpose to convey mother and child to Penshurst, where all who wish to bid me fa

peaks of being broken down in body and dejected in spirit. Verily, I can scarce forgive the mistress he has served so

striven to do duty in that unhappy country of Ireland? It needs a Hercules of strength and a Solon of wisdom,

two boys with you,

t in Thomas which is almost too great for his body, and he is not prone to be so lavish as Robert, who has the trick of getting into debt, out of which I have again and again helped to free him. In my youth I too had not

ary said. 'It makes me laugh. You look, yes,

t me with her guileless eyes, full of love and trust, I feel I am thrice blest in possessing her. And, Mary, the sight of our babe thrilled me strangely. The little crumpled bit of humanity, thrusting out her tiny hands, as if to find out where she was. That quaint smile,

you will surely

er, God grant it,' w

for departure, and to write a letter to her sister-in-law, with a beau

ns. The whole place was familiar to him, and with a strange presage of farewell, a last farewell, he tro

nation he peopled with those who had once lived within its walls, of which but a few crumbling stones, turf-covered, remain. A stately church once stood there; voices of prayer and praise rose to God, hopes and fears,

ted roof of Salisbury Cathedral, to let our thoughts reach back to the far-off time when the stately church stood out

-bye, till they met again in a few days at Penshurst, he rode back to the city, and, leaving his horse at

ilip passed in. He was recognised by an old verge

id that her brother looked younger

e, when his face had been more attractive a

ed to him as he stood chanting in his clear, sweet music

' and made them glow like an aureole round his head, as he

vation. I will sing of the Lord because He hath dealt so lovingl

bowed head and sad hearts, they could but pray in the words of the Collect for the week, 'that they might follow the blessed sa

gh the Dean hurried after the service

t awaits me there, Mr Dean-the baptism of my little daughter

,' the kindly Dean said. 'How fares it with the daughter of my go

s young and somewhat fragile, but I trust

ing the Cathedral, when a figure, still kneeling in the nave, arrested his attention, and as

side for a few moments, till,

, and to assure you I will not fail to track out the villain, who may, at least

y good, sir,

h quick steps toward

t to my care at Penshurst, whither, I suppose, you go with the Countes

ilip's presence. He was still her ideal of all that was noble and pure and courteous; he

unfathomable, and it is not for us to judge one another when

gthened her on the way; and from that night when she and Mary Gifford had exchanged their secret

had helped her, and had been an educat

to the city for something wanted from a shop ere we start on our journey; but I craved

anxiety as to whether Sir Philip might think she was alon

away to meet her, Sir Philip repeating as she le