her little swaddled
son, lying in Esclairmonde's arms, and between the small fingers, that as
yet knew not how to grasp, the tiny simnal; and moreover a fair pearl
devised in like manner by the absent Sir Richard as a gift for his wife's
first 'Mothering Sunday.' There was no etiquette here to hinder sweet
Alice from passionately clasping her child, and covering him with kisses,
as many for his father as for himself, as she laughed at the baby smiles
and helpless gestures of the future king-maker, whose ambition and
turbulence were to be the ruin of that fair and prosperous household, and
bring the gentle Alice to a widowed, bereaved, and attainted old age.

Well that none there present saw the future, as she proudly claimed the
admiration of Malcolm for her babe!

She was equipped for the expedition to the parish church, as likewise
were Esclairmonde and almost all the rest; but the aged Countess could
not encounter the cold March winds, and had a dispensation; and thus
Alice, being the lady of the procession, contrived at the same time to
call Sir Patrick to her side, and bid Lord Malcolm lead the Lady
Esclairmonde.

For as the weather was dry and cold, Lady Montagu had chosen to go on
foot; and a grand procession it was that she led, of gentlemen and
ladies, two and two, in their bright dresses and adornments that
delighted the eyes of the homely yeomen and their wives, flocking in from
their homesteads with baskets of offerings, often in kind.

Meantime, Malcolm, holding the tips of Esclairmonde's fingers, durst not
speak till she began: 'This is a devout and pious household--full of
peace and good government.'

'And your time goes happily here?' asked Malcolm.

'Yes, it has been a peaceful harbour wherein to wait,' said Esclairmonde.
'And even if Alice were called to her husband in France, my Lady Countess
will keep me with her till there be a vacancy for me at St. Katharine's.'

'Have you the promise from Queen Joan?'

'Yes,' replied Esclairmonde. 'The Countess had been a lady of hers, and
wrought with her, so that whenever the post of bedeswoman is in her gift
I shall be preferred to it.'

'You, the heiress, accept the charity!' Malcolm could not help
exclaiming.

'The better for all remnants of pride,' returned the lady. 'And you, my
lord, has it fared well with you?'

Malcolm, happy in her interest, poured forth all that he had to tell, and
she listened as Esclairmonde alone could listen. Ther