pity as a deserted maiden, and thus
counteracting Aunt Cecily's wise representations, that there never
should, and therefore never could, have been anything save fraternal
affection between the young people, and that pity was almost an insult
to Lucy. The good girl herself was made very uncomfortable by there
demonstrations, and avoided them as much as possible, chiefly striving
in her own gentle way to prepare her little sisters to expect numerous
charms in brother Berenger's wife, and heartily agreeing with Philip
that Berenger knew his own mind best.

'And at any rate,' quoth Philip, 'we'll have the best bonfire that
ever was seen in the country! Lucy, you'll coax my father to give us a
tar-barrel!'

The tar-barrel presided over a monstrous pile of fagots, and the
fisher-boys were promised a tester to whoever should first bring word to
Master Philip that the young lord and lady were in the creek.

Philip gave his pony no rest, between the lock-out on the downs and the
borders of the creek; but day after day passed, and still the smacks
from Jersey held no person worth mentioning; and still the sense of
expectation kept Lucy starting at every sound, and hating herself for
her own folly.

At last Philip burst into Combe Manor, fiery red with riding and
consternation. 'Oh! father, father, Paul Duval's boat is come in, and
he says that the villain Papists have butchered every Protestant in
France.'

Sir Marmaduke's asseveration was of the strongest, that he did not
believe a word of it. Nevertheless, he took his horse and rode down to
interrogate Paul Duval, and charge him not to spread the report was in
the air. He went to the Hall, and the butler met him with a grave face,
and took him to the study, where Lord Walwyn was sitting over letter
newly received from London, giving hints from the Low Countries of
bloody work in France. And when he returned to his home, his wife burst
out upon him in despair. Here had they been certainly killing her poor
buy. Not a doubt that he was dead. All from this miserable going to
France, that had been quite against her will.

Stoutly did Sir Marmaduke persevere in his disbelief; but every day
some fresh wave of tidings floated in. Murder wholesale had surely been
perpetrated. Now came stories of death-bells at Rouen from the fishermen
on the coast; now markets and petty sessions discussed the foul
slaughter of the Ambassador and his household; truly related how the
Queen had p