ancourt was well enough in her way, 'twas a sort of cold politeness
that was not worth much, and the little thing had a worrying time of it
altogether. About a month before the wedding, she and my lord and the
two children used to ride about together upon horseback, and a very
pretty sight they were; and if you'll believe me, I never saw him once
with her unless the children were with her too--which made the courting
so strange-looking. Ay, and my lord is so handsome, you know, so that at
last I think she rather liked him; and I have seen her smile and blush a
bit at things he said. He wanted her the more because the children did,
for everybody could see that she would be a most tender mother to them,
and friend and playmate too. And my lord is not only handsome, but
a splendid courter, and up to all the ways o't. So he made her the
beautifullest presents; ah, one I can mind--a lovely bracelet, with
diamonds and emeralds. Oh, how red her face came when she saw it! The
old roses came back to her cheeks for a minute or two then. I helped
dress her the day we both were married--it was the last service I did
her, poor child! When she was ready, I ran upstairs and slipped on my
own wedding gown, and away they went, and away went Martin and I; and no
sooner had my lord and my lady been married than the parson married us.
It was a very quiet pair of weddings--hardly anybody knew it. Well,
hope will hold its own in a young heart, if so be it can; and my lady
freshened up a bit, for my lord was SO handsome and kind.'

'How came she to die--and away from home?' murmured Knight.

'Don't you see, sir, she fell off again afore they'd been married long,
and my lord took her abroad for change of scene. They were coming home,
and had got as far as London, when she was taken very ill and couldn't
be moved, and there she died.'

'Was he very fond of her?'

'What, my lord? Oh, he was!'

'VERY fond of her?'

'VERY, beyond everything. Not suddenly, but by slow degrees. 'Twas her
nature to win people more when they knew her well. He'd have died for
her, I believe. Poor my lord, he's heart-broken now!'

'The funeral is to-morrow?'

'Yes; my husband is now at the vault with the masons, opening the steps
and cleaning down the walls.'

The next day two men walked up the familiar valley from Castle Boterel
to East Endelstow Church. And when the funeral was over, and every one
had left the lawn-like churchyard, the pair went softly dow