as she had never
vouchsafed to him before, and all the shyness that had once made her
silent was gone, when at the supper-table, and afterwards seated around
the fire, the tidings of the camp and court were talked over with all the
zest of those to whom King Harry's last campaign was becoming 'old
times'; and what with her husband's letters and opinions, little Alice
was really the best-informed as to the present state of things.
Esclairmonde took her part in the conversation, but there was no
opportunity of exchanging a private or personal word between her and
Malcolm in a party of five, where one was as vigilant and grave-eyed as
my Lady Salisbury.

However, the next was a peculiar day, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, called
'Mothering Sunday' because on that day it was originally the custom for
offerings to be carried from all the country round to the cathedral or
mother church on that day. This custom had been modified, but it was
still the rule that all the persons, who at other times worshipped at the
nearest monastery chapel or at a private chapel in their own houses,
should on that day repair to their parish church, and there make a
special offering at the Mass--that offering which has since become the
Easter dues. It was a festival Sunday too--'Refreshing Sunday'--then, as
now, marked by the Gospel on the feeding of the multitude; and from this,
as well as from the name, the pretty custom had begun of offering the
mother of each house her rich simnal cake, with some other gift from each
of her children.

Hearing a pattering of feet in the early morning, Malcolm looked out and
beheld a whole troop of small children popping in and out of a low
archway. If he could have peeped in, he would have known how many
simnals Ladies Esclairmonde and Alice were sending down--with something
more substantial--to be given to mothers by the children who as yet had
nothing to bring of their own.

But when the household assembled in the castle hall, they did see fair
young Lady Montagu kneel at the chair of the grave old Countess, and hold
up a silver dish, wherein lay the simnal, mixed, kneaded, and moulded by
her own hands, and bearing on it a rich ruby clasp, sent by her father,
the Earl, as his special gift to his mother on this Sunday.

And then, when the old lady, with glistening eyes, had spoken her
blessing on the fair young head bent down before her, and the grandchild
rose up, there was the pretty surprise for her of