farmer to
wait, and we got aboard, and made right away down the river. But never a
word has the poor young gentleman spoken, though Master Landry has done
all a barber or a sick-nurse could do; and he got us past the cities
by showing the papers in my Lord's pocket, so that we got safe to the
farmer's place. There we lay till we could get a boat to Jersey, and
thence again home; and maybe my young Lord will mend now Mistress Cecily
will have the handing of him.'

'That is it the wisest Hands, good Humfrey,' said Lord Walwyn, as the
tears of feeble age flowed down his cheeks. 'May He who hath brought the
lad safely so far spare him yet, and raise him up. But whether he live
or die, you son and daughter Thistlewood will look that the faithfulness
of Humfrey Holt and his comrades be never forgotten or unrewarded.'

Humfrey again muttered something about no more than his duty; but by
this time sounds were heard betokening the approach of the melancholy
procession, who, having been relieved by a relay of servants sent at
once from the house, were bearing home the wounded youth. Philip first
of all dashed in hurrying and stumbling. He had been unprepared by
hearing Humfrey's account, and, impetuous and affectionate as he was,
was entirely unrestrained, and flinging himself on his knees with the
half-audible words, 'Oh! Lucy! Lucy! He is as good as dead!' hid
his face between his arms on his sister's lap, and sobbed with the
abandonment of a child, and with all his youthful strength; so much
adding to the consternation and confusion, that, finding all Lucy's
gentle entreaties vain, his father at last roughly pulled up his face by
main force, and said, 'Philip, hold your tongue! Are we to have you on
our hands as well as my Lady? I shall send you home this moment! Let
your sister go.'

This threat reduced the boy to silence. Lucy, who was wanted to assist
in preparing Berenger's room, disengaged herself; but he remained in
the same posture, his head buried on the seat of the chair, and the
loud weeping only forcibly stifled by forcing his handkerchief into
his mouth, as if he had been in violent bodily pain. Nor did he venture
again to look up as the cause of all his distress was slowly carried
into the hall, corpse-like indeed. The bearers had changed several
times, all but a tall, fair Norman youth, who through the whole transit
had supported the head, endeavouring to guard it from shocks. When the
mother and the rest came