nts weighs heavy upon him.'

'Alas! I know this must needs do so, the losses following so close, one on
the steps of the other.'

'I have had a letter of some length from Lucy concerning Sir Henry's death
at Ludlow, and I look for another ere long with a fuller account than as
yet I have received of the Lady Mary's departure.'

'Verily, there is only one staff to lean on as we pass through the valley
of the shadow when all human help is vain. None need be lonely who can feel
the presence of the Lord near in life and death. We must all seek to feel
that presence with us.'

'Alas!' Humphrey said, 'this is a hard matter. It is many a year now since
I have ventured to put the question. Do you still hold to the belief that
your husband lives?'

'Yes,' Mary said firmly, 'till certain news reaches me that he is dead.'

They were at the door of Master Gifford's house now, and here they
parted--Humphrey to the active service which would make him forget for the
time the hopelessness of his quest for the boy Ambrose and his love for the
mother.

Lucy Forrester had acquired, amongst other things in Lady Pembroke's
service, the art of writing well, and she kept up communication with her
sister by this means. These letters were often sent, by favour of the Earl
of Pembroke, in the despatches to Sir Philip Sidney or the Earl of
Leicester, and conveyed to Mary Gifford by his servants.

One of these letters awaited Mary this evening on her return, and it was
lying on the table by Master Gifford's side, as he sat in the spotlessly
clean parlour, with the Bible open before him, and a sheet of parchment, on
which he was jotting down the heads of his sermon to be delivered next day
in the plain unadorned room at the back of his house at Arnhem.

Master George Gifford was a fine and venerable-looking man, with abundance
of grey hair curling low over the stiff, white collar, which contrasted
with the sombre black of his long gown made of coarse homespun.

He had escaped to Holland in the days of the persecution of Protestants in
England, and, having a natural gift of eloquence, had become the centre
and stay of a little band of faithful followers of the Reformed Faith.

But Master Gifford was no narrow-minded bigot, and he abhorred persecution
on the plea of religion, as utterly at variance with the Gospel of the One
Lord and Saviour of all men.

He was a dignified, courteous man, and treated Mary with the tender
consideration wh