The Cloister and the Hearth

is hot," s

to our mouths?" inquired

as brought us straws." A

ndeed the fire is too hot for a body to kneel over with these s

in the tail of his jerkin, whipped the flask off the fire, wedged it in between the stones, and put the hat under the old man's nose with a merry smile. The other tremulously

g folk. Have a suck, my girl, while I relate to our young host the history and virtues of this his sovereign compound. This corroborative, young sir, was unknown to the ancients: we find it neither i

"Alas! h

virtue no perfect commander is wanting in-but not to have done it would have proved him a shallow and improvident person, unfit to be trusted with the conduct of a war; for men going into a battle need sustenance and all the possible support, as is proved by this, that foolish generals, bringing hungry soldiers to blows with full ones, have been defeated, in all ages, by inferior numbers. The Romans lost a great battle in the north of Italy to Hanni

now? an ea

erdam, and strong to combat the ills of life, even poverty and old age, which last philosophers have called the 'summ

! dear

ast juice of any meat, and to that metal which has less chemical qualities than all the metals; mountebanks! dunces! homicides! Since, then, from these no light is to be gathered, go we to the chroniclers; and first we find that Duguesclin, a French knight, being about to join battle with the English-masters, at that time, of half France, and sturdy strikers by sea and

any ere the soup cools." And Margaret held the hat implo

rd an opportunity of telling Margaret how proud his mo

er ill to see her son give all and take no

ould let me put my lips to yo

you may command," said she. "The straw is not

; but, after that, your lip touc

you. There-now it is yours ag

to us both now.

ns; you hav

I'll bite it. There. I shall keep my half: you

hing. It is odds but I make a

ountenance but now. Then a fair head, with its stately crown of auburn hair, glossy and glowing through silver, bowed sweetly towards him; and, while it ravished his eye, two white supple hands played delicately upon the stubborn ribbon, and moulded it with soft and airy touches. Then a heavenly thrill ran through the innocent young man, and vague glimpses of a new world of feeling and sentiment opened on him. And these new and exquisite sensations Margaret unwittingly prolonged: it is

uch ardent adoration, as made her lower them quickly and colour all over. An indescribable tremor seized her, and she retreated with downcast lashes and tell-tale cheeks, and took her father's arm

with Margaret to his cousin, in the Ooster-Waagen Straet, so, almost on entering the gate, their roads lay apart. They bade each other a friendly adieu, and Gerard dived into the great town. A

ing did whisper me they would not be known. I shall never see her more. Oh! weary world, I hate you and your

ead, and marched upright, and bowed with prodigious gravity to his master; and a hare that beat a drum, and a cock that strutted on little stilts disdainfully. These things made Gerard laugh now and then; but the gay scene could not really enliven it, for his heart was not in tune with it. So, hearing a young man say to his fellow that the duke had been in the meadow, but was gone to the Stadthouse to entertain the burgomasters and aldermen and the competitors for the prizes, and their friends, he suddenly remembered he was hungry, and should like to sup with a prince. He left the river-side, and this time he found the Hoog Straet, and it speedily led him to t

man is not at home.

hat to me,

take this leaf from my tablet to my cousin. See

me? I carry no messa

in a stentorian

re but the competitors

ce in the crowd, "you have g

ed half round

old; and my cousin has a new servant that knows us

d hers-a magic grasp: it felt like heart meeting heart, or magnet steel. She turned quickly around at it, a

y were coming, was cruel; and the servant's caution, however wise and faithful to her master, was bitterly mortifying to her

a coarse humourist; "she h

haw!" wen

ctly, and turned round, with e

n your boorish town, and this is a friend; and one who kno

less, and now felt the rebuke, though severe, was jus

competit

?" and the man eye

the son o

the slip of parchmen

liassoen

company;

t your company: th

e my friends, and wit

ithout,

will I

we wil

d raised a voice of astounding volume and pow

ip Earl o

ad?" cried

of your varle

h, H

let your gue

's there. I'm dead," cr

rpower Gerard's thunder, he

re for Gerard Eliassoen and his co

h the victorious three marched in triumphant. The moment they had passed, the pikes clashed together horiz

strels swept their lutes at intervals, and a fountain played red Burgundy in six jets that met and battled in the air. The evening sun darted its fires through those bright and purple wine spouts, making them jets and cascades of molten rubies, then passing on, tinged with the blood of the grape, shed crimson glories here and there on fair faces, snowy beards, velvet, satin, jewelled hilts, glowing gold, gleaming silver, and sparkling glass. Gerard and his friends stood dazzled, spell bound. Presently a whisper buzzed around them, "Salute th

thanked our good friend," said Margaret,

s our guard

his face in

eappear and have my supper, for I am hungry. I know

quired M

uess a

the

N

ent dish too captivating to the sight as well as taste. He had restored to the animal, by elaborate mimicry with burnt sugar and other edible colours, the hair and bristles he had robbed him of by fire and water. To make him still more enticing, the huge tusks were carefully preserved in the brute's jaw, and gave his mouth the winning smile that comes of tusk in man or beast: and two eyes of coloured sugar glowed in his head. St. Argus! what eyes! so bright, so blood-shot, so threatening-they followed a man and every movement of his knife and spoon. But, indeed,

elight therein, as did now our trio; for, at his word, seven of his people went headlong, and drove silver tridents into the steaming cave at random, and speared a kid, a cygnet, and a flock of wild fowl. These presently smoked before Gerard and company; and Peter's face sad and slightly morose at the loss of the savage hog, expanded and shone. After this, twenty different tarts of fruits and herbs, and last of all, confectionery on a Titanic scale; cathedrals of sugar, all gilt and painted in the interstices of the bas-reliefs; castles with their moats, and ditches, imitated to the life; elephants, camels, toads; knights on horseback, joust

etter to the Princess Marie, and, in an undertone, had asked one of the servants if he would undertake to deliver it. The man took it with

r cousin. Well, the old gentleman ate heartily, and being much fatigued dropped asle

Margaret turned round and screamed at the boar. But he forbore to speak to them, for municipal reason

and the company disperses: then I will take my poor

ever been unfavourable to appetite. But there is a delicate kind of sensuality, to whose influence these two were perhaps more sen

WAY, AND HER LONG EYE

! the warm sun, the green shade, the rich dresses, the bright music of the lutes and the co

all but his eyes

languidly; "let me listen to the fou

old

will gain one

Have you seen a

you will g

ut what makes

were so good

logic, and hung his head at th

say this is a world of sin and miser

ned Gerard. "'Tis a byword our elders keep

e but a child," said Marg

or ever; and you are by my side: and now the minstrels ar

court-yard rang again wit

ost of all these beau

my name? H

gic. I am

witches. But I can

t cried at the gate lou

o I admire most? If you will sit a l

is

setting sun kissing it. It reminds me of what the Vulgate praises for beauty, 'an apple of gold in a network of silver,' and, O what a pity I did not know you before I sent in my poor endeavours

ed girl like me with the Queen of Heaven? O Gerard! I thought

rse than the rest: but how can I hel

rar

t angr

is it

ove

at to me," and Margaret coloured

it. I love you

how one may be mistaken! If I had known you were so bold-" And Margaret's bosom began to heave, and her cheeks were cov

he caused. "Forgive me," said he implori

so good in other respects; but then you must

nd then, or you

lost nothing by his promise. Words were not heeded here: and silence was more eloquent. Nature was in that day what she is in ours; but manners were somewhat freer. Then, as now, virgins drew back alarmed at the first words of love; but of prudery and artificial coquetry there was little, and the young soon read one another's hearts. Everything was on Gerard's side: his good looks, he

now and then turned on him timidly and imploringly: and presently two sweet unreasonable tears rol

in plashed more gently; and the pair throbbed in unison,