y faith. It happened thus:

The old Church of St. Stephen, which was the parish church of
Normanstand, had a peculiar interest for the Norman family. There,
either within the existing walls or those which had preceded them when
the church was rebuilt by that Sir Stephen who was standard-bearer to
Henry VI., were buried all the direct members of the line. It was an
unbroken record of the inheritors since the first Sir Stephen, who had
his place in the Domesday Book. Without, in the churchyard close to the
church, were buried all such of the collaterals as had died within hail
of Norcester. Some there were of course who, having achieved distinction
in various walks of life, were further honoured by a resting-place within
the chancel. The whole interior was full of records of the family.
Squire Norman was fond of coming to the place; and often from the very
beginning had taken Stephen with him. One of her earliest recollections
was kneeling down with her father, who held her hand in his, whilst with
the other he wiped the tears from his eyes, before a tomb sculptured
beautifully in snowy marble. She never forgot the words he had said to
her:

'You will always remember, darling, that your dear mother rests in this
sacred place. When I am gone, if you are ever in any trouble come here.
Come alone and open out your heart. You need never fear to ask God for
help at the grave of your mother!' The child had been impressed, as had
been many and many another of her race. For seven hundred years each
child of the house of Norman had been brought alone by either parent and
had heard some such words. The custom had come to be almost a family
ritual, and it never failed to leave its impress in greater or lesser
degree.

Whenever Harold had in the early days paid a visit to Normanstand, the
church had generally been an objective of their excursions. He was
always delighted to go. His love for his own ancestry made him admire
and respect that of others; so that Stephen's enthusiasm in the matter
was but another cord to bind him to her.

In one of their excursions they found the door into the crypt open; and
nothing would do Stephen but that they should enter it. To-day, however,
they had no light; but they arranged that on the morrow they would bring
candles with them and explore the place thoroughly. The afternoon of the
next day saw them at the door of the crypt with a candle, which Harold
proceeded to light. Ste