t day and night, ever since that
fatal battle. I must part from my boy. I must trust him to you. Do
you think you can convey him, without suspicion, to his nurse Maud, at
Skipton? I can depend on her to be careful of my child, and on her
husband also; but they must not remain there, they must remove to
Londesborough, and you must go yourself to my father, who is now there,
and tell him from me to provide them with a dwelling, but not to notice
the boy as his grandson, for Henry must pass for Maud's own child.
Think you, Rolf, that you can accomplish all this?"

"I will try, my lady; but we must speak of it to Lord Henry, that he may
understand his life depends on its not being known that he is Lord
Clifford's son."

"My Henry is wise beyond his years," replied the lady, "and I fear me
not that he will submit to this necessity without a murmur."

"No doubt, no doubt, dear lady; and you had better prepare him at once,
for we know not how soon the blow may come."

"My Henry," said Lady Margaret, "you are going to Skipton, to your good
nurse Maud, who will take you to Londesborough, where you must live with
her and her husband till there is peace again in the land, which we will
both earnestly pray for. And you must remember, my child, that you are
to pass for Maud's own son, and that you are to call her mother, and her
husband, Robin, the shepherd, father. I have already explained to you
what would be the terrible consequences should you ever forget this."

"I will not forget, mother; but shall I never see you there? I love
Maud very much, but not as I love you, my own dear mother!"

And the noble boy threw himself into his mother's arms, laid his head
upon her bosom, and burst into tears. She kissed him tenderly, and
endeavoured to speak cheerfully.

"My darling boy, this separation is only for the present, and I hope I
shall be able to see you sometimes, for I intend, after awhile, to live
at Londesborough, which is mine, and may some day be yours; but not yet,
not till our enemies believe that you and your brother are far away
beyond the seas; and even then, when I come to visit you, Henry, no one
must know it except ourselves and nurse; for if it came to be known that
I felt any interest about the shepherd's boy, the people might suspect
who you are, and that is what we have to guard against."

"And Richard, mother--is he to go away too?"

"Yes, Henry, I must part with you both--but your little sister