me of his meeting
Catesby as he left the Palace.

"And dost thou think it safe to go unto this house mentioned in the
writing?"

"Well, since the rest of the directions have been so trustworthy I can
see no danger in following the remainder. Besides," he continued,
"there seemeth to be no other way so secure."

"Well, as no more time may be spared, methinks we had better start. I
shame to doubt the writer's good intent, after the great favour he hath
done me.

"Say farewell, for the present, my dear. We shall be back this
evening."

Tenderly the ex-Queen embraced Hazel; and as I knelt she laid her
gentle hand upon my head and said:--

"God protect thee, Sir Walter, and send thee back to me, with yon fair
child, which loveth thee so dearly, safe to her widowed foster mother."

"Amen," said I softly, from the bottom of my heart.

"Farewell, dearest Hazel, and may the angels guard thee from, and
strike dead those which could so much as harm thee with a thought,"
sobbed loving little Mary, as the two dear girls embraced and kissed
each other.

"Farewell, Frederick," said Hazel--for now she looked on him as her big
brother, and spoke unto him as such--"I may not again see thee until
the fate of us all hath been decided. May Heaven bless thee and bring
thee back to this dear girl, safe and victorious. And then may our old
happy days that passed like sunbeams in the park at Windsor be repeated
without disturbing interruption."

This was a confirmation of my suspicion that Harleston had asked Mary
that question which is the London-stone in the lives of us all, and she
had made the promise that I could, long months since, have told she
would.

"Farewell, dear lady," returned Frederick, whilst Mary took advantage
of his speech in trying to regain her wonted complexion; "I hope to see
thee again ere a fortnight be past. One great battle shall decide our
fate; and what that will be I am assured of."

Then turning to me he said:--"We shall meet, no doubt, in the ranks of
the conquering Richmond. Till then farewell, my dear friend."

"Farewell, Frederick, we shall meet near Leicester; that is if Richard
there awaits the Earl."

I kissed Mary, and she and Harleston did bid farewell to big Michael.

Then we proceeded to where our horses waited, Michael bearing upon his
arm a basket, in which was our food for the day.

The morning was now well dawned, and the red bars from the fiery sun
were glancing along