e did not make this thought apparent, she folded him
closer to her heart, and whispered words of encouragement and praise.

"You have shown yourself a true hero, Henry, for nothing is more noble
than to bear misfortune nobly, and this you have done. I am proud of my
son, and should you ever be permitted by Providence to take your own
name again, you will be doubly worthy of it."

"And that time will come, my lady," said Maud, fervently, "as sure as
there are stars in yonder heavens!"

"We will hope so, Maud. And how shall I thank you for the care you have
taken of my treasure? he looks well; the bloom of health is on his
cheek. I would fain give you some token of my gratitude, if I durst do
so."

"Better not, my lady," said Robin in his blunt way. "Besides it is for
us, not you, lady, to talk of gratitude, since we owe all that we
possess to your goodness. Even this cottage we live in, was it not your
gift? It would be hard, then, if your child should meet with aught but
kindness beneath its roof."

Lady Clifford did not stay long, fearing that her absence from her own
abode might be discovered, and lead to suspicion; but she said she was
going to stay some time at Londesborough, and should pay a visit to the
cottage whenever she saw an opportunity of doing so without risk. For a
few weeks she often came at nightfall without attracting the notice of
the villagers; but at length she was obliged to leave Londesborough, and
Henry saw her no more for a very long while. By degrees, however, he
grew reconciled to her absence, and, as time wore on, the events of his
early life were less distinctly remembered, until he could almost
believe that his former grandeur had never been a reality. He often
thought of his brother, and wondered where he was, and whether he was
living like a peasant too, for he did not know till long afterwards that
poor little Richard died soon after he was sent out of England.

When Henry was about fourteen, the death of his grandfather, Lord de
Vesci, brought new dangers upon him, for a rumour got spread abroad that
he was still live and in England, and, as he was the rightful heir to
all the estates as well as the honours of the Bromfletes, the king's
emissaries began to inquire into the matter, and make search in
different parts of the country, where it was supposed he might be
concealed. This alarming intelligence was first conveyed to his mother
by the faithful Rolf, who, you rememb