sequence is, remorseless Nature, who departs
not from her laws, with stern hand of iron scourges him full hard.
Sometimes this drives him to his more fitting path; again it maketh him
to despair, and, filled with spleen and useless stubbornness, he
ploddeth on along a path not suited to his step, when there, within
reach of his sight, had he but turned his head, doth lie his own fair
way. Some few hills there are, of course; but these are suited to his
stature."

"By my troth thou hast been changed by Frederick into a full-fledged
philosopher," laughed Hazel. "But tell me the lesson that this should
teach to me, and why I should not longer tarry with the Queen."

"'Tis this," I replied. "Her Majesty's path is now blocked up with
obstacles. 'Tis right that thou shouldst sympathize with her, and
cheer her on. Yea, if it be within thy power to lend to her
assistance, thou art bound by the bonds of love and gratitude to give
it. Still, it is not required of thee, by either of these ennobling
masters, that thou shouldst tread her path thyself. Nay," I continued,
as I saw a look that told me I had gained my point steal o'er her face,
"'tis even wrong for thee to leave the way that Nature chose for thee
to cheer."

"Thine eloquence hath won me from the doubt that haunted me and made me
to feel ungrateful. But truly, Walter, thou must stop thy bursts of
poetic speeches, lest in the future thy songs do change the minds of
people, and Master Chaucer's wit then be forgot," and she laughed in
mine earnest face, until I joined her in her gaiety.

* * * * *

When we reached the Palace imagine our surprise and horror to learn
that Lord Hastings, whilst at the meeting in the Tower, to discuss the
coronation of young Edward, had, through some thoughtless remark
dropped in the presence of Gloucester, given to that most murderous
tyrant a poor excuse for putting on a towering rage and ordering the
execution of the Chancellor. Seized as he sat at the table of the
council he was hurried, by that murderer, Tyrrell, whose list of crimes
were now being added to with lightning swiftness, to the black-stained
block within the courtyard of the Tower, and there his head was severed
from the trunk, and the bleeding trophy carried to the Duke. A fitting
meal it was, indeed, for the vengeance of such a man to feed on.

This speech of Hastings' that had caused his soul to follow, within so
short a time, the s