to be entertained with grand feasts and games, in which he and
his chief friend, Fulke Greville, were to take a leading part.

Perhaps no one in that congregation knew or dreamed that their ideal
knight, as he stood up in his place amongst them, with his thoughtful face
turned towards the nave of the church, had his heart filled with misgivings
as to the part he had taken in this matter, and with still deeper
misgivings as to the position in which he found himself with the only woman
whom he loved and worshipped.

While the good clergyman was preaching a somewhat dull sermon from the
words, 'Fear God, honour the King,' following the particular line
acceptable in those days, by enforcing loyalty and devotion to the reigning
sovereign as the whole duty of man, Philip, leaning back in his seat, his
head thrown back, and that wistful, far-away look in his eyes, which
enhanced their charm, was all unconscious of what was passing around him,
so absorbed was he with his own thoughts.

He roused himself when the first words of a psalm were sung by the village
choir in Sternhold and Hopkins' version, and bending over the book, which
his sister Mary had opened, pointing her finger to the first line, he
raised his musical voice and sang with her the rugged lines which called
upon 'All people that on earth do dwell, to sing to the Lord with cheerful
voice.'

Then the clergyman pronounced the blessing, and the congregation dispersed,
the village people to their homes, the Sidneys towards the gate leading
into the pleasance, which lay on the side of the house nearest to the
church.

Mary Gifford held back, in spite of Lucy's entreaties to her to go forward.

'They will all have passed in, Mary,' she exclaimed in an agony of
excitement. 'Were we not bidden to see the Countess by Mr Sidney himself.'

But Mary was always modest and retiring, and she stood with Ambrose and her
sister awaiting a summons.

It came at last. Humphrey Ratcliffe was at her side, saying,--

'My Lady of Pembroke would fain speak with Lucy. Come forward with me.'

As they followed Humphrey through the gateway in the wall, Lucy could
scarcely conceal her agitation.

What should she say? What if Lady Pembroke thought her too young and too
ignorant? She had pictured to herself that Mr Sidney would himself have led
her to his sister, but he was gone out of sight, and she heard one of the
gentlemen say to Humphrey,--

'Sir Fulke Greville has arrived with