knowing little either of joy or sorrow, or of aught but the simple happiness of a child; and again she pondered earnestly as to what it might signify. "The virgins which be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto Thee. With joy and gladness shall they be brought; and shall enter into the King's palace."

THREE weeks passed away tranquilly with Mistress Kitty Normanton-three weeks during which she learnt to know much that was good and noble in Lord Roger's character, and which she had before only divined to exist there-three weeks in which her loving nature twined itself fast round his heart, causing him to feel that he had indeed found a pearl of great price, an even more precious gem than from the fair outward seeming he had imagined.

During that peaceful time Mistress Kitty received a packet by a sure hand from her half-sister, the Lady Lettice Lyle, who on the first serious signs of changed times had crossed the sea to France, and had taken refuge in that sunny clime from whatever gloom and terror and misery might be coming upon England. She wrote rapturously, enchanted with the ready kindness and hospitality, and above all with the lightheartedness, of the French nobility: and the name of one nobleman recurred so frequently, always coupled with praises of his courtesy and refinement, his sparkling wit, his handsome person, or his services to herself, that Mistress Kitty and her mother agreed that sure Lettice's heart was won at last!

Early on the evening of the day whereupon Mistress Kitty received her packet from France, Lord Roger Lumley rode over to Coombe Royal to spend the night there before riding at break of day with Squire Normanton upon a secret errand of importance, and as the little

party of five (for the Reverend Dr. Folliott, Chaplain of Coombe Royal, was present) sat at their evening meal, there was much grave talk of the doings of the Roundheads and the prospects of the good cause. Dr. Folliott had been lately in retirement (not to say hiding) in a cathedral town, from which, owing to a descent of the Roundhead soldiery, he had just judged it expedient to withdraw; and the rest now listened with horror and indignation to his account of the havoc and ruin wrought by the lawless sectaries in the venerable cathedral. There was silence for a few moments when the old clergyman had concluded the tale of what he had witnessed and heard of; and then Squire Normanton said, “You ride with us to-morrow, Dr. Folliott?"

Ay, Squire. I would fain see mine ancient comrade, the Dean, at the place whither you go. I will return with you, for it is needful that I arrange matters in the chapel here now that trouble is working our way. Then I will absent myself for a while, since my being in harbourage here might precipitate evil, were it known."

"Think not of that, good Doctor: unless indeed thine own safety, or the furtherance of the good cause, demand thine absence,” said the Squire.

"They will both, I trust, be benefited thereby; but if all goes well, my absence shall be brief.”

"I am right glad to hear that you propose returning as well as journeying with us, Dr. Folliott," Lord Roger said, "for I have been entreating our host and Mistress Normanton, and sweet Mistress Kitty, to waive ceremony, and to consent to the wedding taking place somewhat speedily, before the enterprise you wot of. The times crave no delay: may I pray your reverence to add your eloquence to my poor

entreaties ?"

Thus it was settled that on the third morning, in the Chapel of Coombe Royal, should take place the marriage of Lord Roger Lumley with Mistress Kitty Normanton.

The gentlemen rode away early the morning following this conference, but early though it was Mistress Kitty was in the high terrace garden to give her lover a red carnation and a spray of jessamine wet with dew and tied with one of her own blue ribbons, and to wish him GOD speed. There was no special thought of danger in this expedition, which was but one of inquiry and pre-arrangement: but they both thought of "the enterprise you wot of," which was to follow immediately upon their marriage, and which might well chance to bring to

them a long parting-the bride might even be a widow before that enterprise was ended. But Lord Roger's heart beat high with a soldier's ardent courage, and he feared nothing and hoped much and Mistress Kitty had learnt one of the secrets of a happy life—to rejoice and give thanks for present happiness, and not to cloud the present with anticipation—a lesson which those whose lot is cast in stormy times have especial need to learn, and sometimes do learn to a marvel. "There are sure tidings arrived that the rebels are lying, a small armed force, thirty miles from hence," said Lord Roger, ere they parted. "What wilt do, Kitty, an we have a visitation in these parts on the morrow or next day? It may be, love, though, thank Heaven, we now know surely that it cannot well be sooner. Thy father and I will be back ere nightfall, ready for aught that may betide."

Alack, my lord, what can a woman do?" said Mistress Kitty, with wistful eyes. "But methinks, GOD giving me grace, if the thought be not too bold, I could almost dare to die for our gracious king and for the holy Church. But what could the death of one poor maiden avail? If I were such an one as our Hugh!"

"Now GOD Almighty shield thee in His mercy from all danger and terror, sweetheart!" Lord Roger exclaimed; and though he was a devout gentleman enough, and not one of those profane and godless cavaliers who brought discredit upon the name, it may be questioned whether he had ever uttered so fervent a prayer as that which just then crossed his lips. And he regretted the idle question which had brought that strange light into the sweet face of his betrothed- -a light which seemed to set her far from him, and which impressed him much more than did the words she uttered, words which many a loyal lady might have spoken, though perhaps few would have used them with Mistress Kitty's deep reverential earnestness. And upon this the lovers took their farewell for the day; and Squire Normanton kissed and blessed his daughter as his custom was ere he got him to horse : and the two, with the good chaplain, and followed by a small train of armed men, rode away from fair Coombe Royal. They looked back as they rode at a rapid trot down the long straight avenue of beeches, and the last sight they saw was Mistress Kitty's white fluttering kerchief, and her face framed in the clustering vineleaves which shaded her chamber window. And they talked together as they rode of the wedding which was soon to be, little dreaming of that other Bridal

after a heavenly and a spiritual manner which even then awaited Mistress Kitty, and that they would behold her living face no more.

Mistress Normanton and her daughter passed a very quiet morning. The air was sultry with thunder, and they sat in the great hall with doors and windows set wide open for coolness, Mistress Normanton knitting, and Mistress Kitty garnishing with lace and white ribbons from her mother's stores, the stately dress of white brocade which she had had for her appearance at court four years previously, and which was now to serve with this white garniture for her wedding dress. Jewels they had none left now; and Mistress Normanton could not refrain from a regretful mention of the necklace of rounded pearls which had gone so fittingly with that gown of white brocade, though she quickly added, "But 'twere shame for loyal gentlefolk to have such trinkets in their possession now, and not honour. Our jewels are well disposed of in the service of his gracious Majesty, who has a right to all we have that is of value," to which saying Mistress Kitty heartily agreed. Then they talked placidly of Mistress Kitty's future life, and of Lord Roger and so the hours wore happily away, until towards five o'clock in the afternoon Mistress Kitty, her task completed to her entire satisfaction, went up into her turret chamber to put away her wedding-gown until the morning when she should array herself in it to enter upon a new life. She looked from her window as she laid down the dress; and at the end of the long avenue, just where the forms of her father and her lover had been lost to her sight in the morning, she espied a band of horsemen halting for a consultation, as it seemed. In a few minutes all the small household had seen that which Mistress Kitty saw, and no doubt remained as to what the sight portended. The Roundheads were upon Coombe

Royal!

The party speedily rode over the fixed bridge which then crossed the Coombe Royal moat in place of the safer drawbridge of earlier days, and were admitted into the house itself after brief parley. Mistress Normanton judged this the safest course; for what efficacious resistance could be offered by a garrison of one aged man and four women! and she hoped that these unpleasing visitors if treated civilly might behave themselves civilly in requital, in which case much would have been gained by avoiding any altercation with the powerful faction, and it would be almost matter of rejoicing that the visitation should have taken place in the Squire's absence, whose patience would

surely not have sufficed for the rôle which his wife saw herself obliged to enact. The leader of the party was an elderly man of not unpleasing presence and gentlemanly deportment: the second in command was a younger man of dark and sinister countenance: and the rest of the band was composed of those wild and lawless sectaries on whose deeds Dr. Folliott had enlarged the evening before. But Mistress Normanton and her daughter took great comfort from the bearing of the leader, and hoped for the best. He questioned, with a certain plain courtesy, whether there might chance to be one Dr. Folliott, a clergyman of the Anglican Church, now at Coombe Royal, after being told that Squire Normanton himself was from home. With great thankfulness for the truth of her words, Mistress Normanton answered that he too was absent.

'Did they ride together this morning?"

Mistress Normanton answered "Yes."

"We have ridden far, and would fain take some refreshment," said the leader. Afterwards it will be necessary that we go over the

house."

"Were that not best done first ?" interposed the younger man. "While these malignants prepare food and drink, we will search the house. This priest of Baal may have left papers or trinkets behind him. Have I your leave, Colonel, to set about the business at once ?"

The Colonel signified that he had, and seated himself in the Squire's large arm-chair with the air of a man who leaves all to his subordinates. In truth he well understood, as did most of the other superior officers of Cromwell's army, the policy of leaving that extraordinary band of military fanatics in a great measure free to follow their own iconoclastic devices in matters in which their mistaken religious zeal, in some cases feigned, in others intensely real, came into play, while in military matters keeping a tight rein of discipline over them. So the Colonel sat himself down to rest, and left his second in command, an officer newly risen from the ranks, Reuben Golightly by name, to go his own way, merely desiring that anything of importance which might chance to be discovered should be brought to him forthwith, and that the inhabitants of the house should be treated with decent civility.

Mistress Normanton and her daughter, having directed the terrified