figure, as he saw it then, return to him as a vivid reality
from which time had no power to steal its charm.

Philip looked up with a smile, saying,--

'Well, my good Humphrey, you are astir early.'

'And you, sir, have been astir all night!'

'Sleep would not come at my bidding, Humphrey, and it is in vain to court
her. She is a coy mistress, who will not be caught by any wiles till she
comes of her own sweet will. But is aught amiss, Humphrey, that you seek me
so soon? Hero, my good horse, came out of the fray untouched. I assured
myself of that ere I came hither last night.'

'There is nothing wrong with Hero, sir, that I know of. I dare to seek you
for counsel in a matter which causes me great distress.'

Philip Sidney had many great gifts, but perhaps none bound his friends and
dependants more closely to him, nor won their allegiance more fully, than
the sympathy with which he entered into all their cares and joys, their
sorrows or their pleasures.

Immediately, as Humphrey told his story, he was listening with profound
attention, and Humphrey's burden seemed to grow lighter as he felt it
shared with his chief.

'You know her, sir! You can believe how sore my heart is for her. In all
the sorrows which have well nigh crushed her, this boy has been her one
consolation and joy, and he is stolen from her.'

'Yes,' Philip Sidney said, 'I do know Mistress Gifford, and have always
pleased myself with the thought that she would put aside the weeds of
widowhood and make you happy some day, good Humphrey.'

'Nay, sir; she has given me too plainly to understand this is impossible.
She is as a saint in Heaven to me. I love her with my whole heart, and
yet--yet--I feel she is too far above me, and that I shall never call her
mine.'

'Well, well, let us hope you may yet attain unto your heart's desire, nor
have it ever denied, as is God's will for me. But now, as to the boy--it
puzzles me why any man should kidnap a child of these tender years. What
can be the motive?'

'I know not, sir, unless it be the greedy desire of the Papists to gain
over, and educate in their false doctrines and evil practices, children
likely to serve their ends. Mistress Gifford's husband was, so it is said,
a Papist from the first moment that he married her, but hid it from her,
and played his part well.'

'I do not doubt it. While in the service of my Uncle Leicester, it was his
policy to profess the Reformed Faith. Failing to obtain