ir
entrance into this house, which, perchance may disturb our bliss.'

'Fie for shame!' Lucy replied, 'as if Mary could ever be aught but a joy
and a blessing. I am ready to blush for you, George.'

'They will be grand folk, grander than we are, that is, than _I_ am!
Humphrey knighted, and Mary Dame Ratcliffe. Then there is the boy! I am not
sure as to the boy. I confess I fear the early training of the Jesuits may
have left a mark on him.'

'Now, I will listen to no more growlings, George,' his wife said, laying
her small fair hand on the thick masses of her husband's hair, and
smoothing it from his forehead. 'You will please to give the coming guests
a hearty welcome, and be proud to call them brother, sister, and nephew.'

'Nay,' George said. 'Ambrose is no nephew of mine!'

'To think of such folly, when, but a minute agone, you said what is mine is
yours. Ambrose is _my_ nephew, I'd have you to remember, sir.'

'As you will, sweet wife! as you will; but, Lucy, when you see Humphrey
ride up with a train of gentlemen, it may be, and my lady with her
gentlewomen, will you not be sorry that you left everything to be the wife
of a country yeoman, who is unversed in fine doings, and can give you so
little?'

'You give me all I want,' Lucy said; and this time, as she smoothed back
the rebellious curls, she bent and kissed the broad brow which they shaded.
'You give me all I want,' she repeated--'your heart!'

Soon there was a sound of horses' feet, and, with an exclamation, 'Here at
last!' George went to the gate to receive the guests, and Lucy hurried to
the porch.

'The noise and bustle may rouse little Philip,' she said to one of her
maids; 'watch in the parlour till I return.'

In another moment Humphrey had grasped his brother's hand, and, turning,
lifted his wife from the pillion on which she had ridden with her son.

'Mary! Mary!' and Lucy ran swiftly to meet her sister, and held her in a
long embrace.

A meeting after years of separation is always mingled with joy something
akin to pain, and it was not till the first excitement of this reunion was
over that the joy predominated.

Mary was greatly changed; her hair was white; and on her sweet face there
were many lines of suffering. Lucy led her into the parlour, and she could
only sink down upon the settle by her side, and hold her hand in hers,
looking with wistful earnestness into her face.

'So fair still! and happy, dearest child!' Mary whispere