joyous light quenched in the night of carnage.

The butler slowly entered the hall, and approached Sir Marmaduke,
cautiously. 'Can I speak with you, sir?'

'What is it, Davy?' demanded the lady, who first caught the words. 'What
did you say?'

'Madam, it is Humfrey Holt!'

Humfrey Holt was the head of the grooms who had gone with Berenger; and
there was a general start and suppressed exclamation. 'Humfrey Hold!'
said Lord Walwyn, feebly drawing himself to sit upright, 'hath he, then,
escaped?'

'Yea, my Lord,' said Davy, 'and he brings news of my young Lord'

'Alack! Davy,' said Lady Walwyn, 'such news had been precious a while
ago.'

'Nay, so please your Ladyship, it is better than you deem. Humfley says
my young Lord is yet living.'

'Living! shrieked Lady Thistlewood, starting up. 'Living! My son! and
where?'

'They are bearing him home, my Lady,' said the butler; 'but I fear me,
by what Humfley says, that it is but in woeful case.'

'Bringing him home! Which way?' Philip darted off like an arrow from the
bow. Sir Marmaduke hastily demanded if aid were wanted; and Lady Walwyn,
interpreting the almost inaudible voice of her husband, bade that
Humfley should be called in to tell his own story.

Hands were held out in greeting, and blessings murmured, as the groom
entered, looking battered and worn, and bowing low in confusion at being
thus unusually conspicuous, and having to tell his story to the head and
body, and slashed about the face so as it is a shame to see. Nor hath he
done aught these three weary weeks but moan from time to time so as
it is enough to break one's heart to hear him; and I fear me 'tis but
bringing him home to die.'

'Even so, God be thanked; and you too, honest Humfley,' said Lady
Walwyn.' 'Let us hear when and how this deed was done.'

'Why, that, my Lord, I can't so well say, being that I was not with him;
more's the pity, or I'd have known the reason why, or even they laid a
finger on him. But when Master Landry, his French foster-brother, comes,
he will resolve you in his own tongue. I can't parleyvoo with him, but
he's an honest rogue for a Frenchman, and 'twas he brought off my young
Lord. You see we were all told to be abroad the little French craft.

Master Landry took me down and settled it all with the master, a French
farmer fellow that came a horse-dealing to Paris. I knew what my young
Lord was after, but none of the other varlets did; and I went down and
made as