man, and was a
noble specimen of manhood in the zenith of its strength and beauty.

Rising hastily at his wife's approach, he gazed at her with parted lips
and glowing eyes, whilst she once more told him the news, brought by a
special messenger from the Princess Joanna, brought thus, as both knew,
with a special meaning which they well understood. Four years of
peaceful prosperity in England had in no whit weakened Vychan's love for
his own land or blunted the soldier-like instincts of his race. There
was something of the light of battle and of conquest in his eye as he
gazed at his wife, and his voice rang out clear and trumpet-like as he
gathered the sense of the message she brought.

"Take up arms against that false traitor-kinsman of mine? ay, verily,
that I will. False first to his kindred and his country, then false to
the king who has trusted and rewarded him so nobly. Res ap Meredith,
methinks thine hour is come! Thou didst plot and contrive to wrest from
me the fair lands my father bequeathed me; but I trow the day has dawned
when the false lord shall be cast forth, even as he has cast forth
others, and when there shall be a lord of the old race ruling at
Dynevor, albeit he rule beneath a new name."

"Heaven grant it may be so!" cried Gertrude, the tears of excitement
sparkling in her eyes; whilst little Griffeth, catching some of the
sense of his father's words, and understanding with the quick instinct
of childhood that there was something unwonted going on, shook his
little fist in the air, and cried:

"Dynevor, Dynevor! me fight for Dynevor, too."

The father picked up his son and held him in a close embrace.

"Ay, Griffeth, my man, thou shalt reign at Dynevor one of these days,
please God to give us victory over false friends and traitorous allies."

And even as the parents stood looking smilingly at the brave child, the
blast from the warder's trumpet gave notice that strangers were
approaching the Hall; and hurrying to the entrance gate to be ready to
receive the guests, Vychan and his wife beheld a little troop of
horsemen winding their way up the valley, headed by a pair who appeared
to be man and wife, and to hold some exalted position, for the trappings
of their steeds and the richness of their own dress marked them as of no
humble rank.

Visitors were sufficiently rare at this lonely place for this sight to
cause some stir in the Hall; and Gertrude, shading her eyes with her
hand, gazed eag