adult
son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means
abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the
vanquished people. In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the
subject race. The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air,
sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was
none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the
Norman's grandson. It has often been the case in the history of the
world, that the real victory has rested with the vanquished: but it has
always been brought about by the one race mixing with and absorbing the
other. Where that does not take place, the conquerors remain dominant.

"Now, my son, listen and think. I have some questions to ask. What
faith have I taught thee?"

"You have taught me," said Rudolph slowly, "to believe in God Almighty,
and in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered on the cross to
expiate the sins of His chosen."

"Is that the creed of those around us?"

"Mother, I cannot tell. One half of my brain answers, Ay, it is; but
the other half says, No, there is a difference. Yet I cannot quite see
what the difference is, and you have always so strictly forbidden me to
speak to any one except yourself on religious subjects, that I have had
no opportunity to learn what it is. Others, when I hear them talking to
you, speak of God, of our Lord, and of our Lady, as we ourselves do: and
they speak of the holy Apostles and others of whom we always read in the
big book. Mother, is that the same big book out of which the grave-eyed
man used to read? But they mention a great many people who are not in
the book,--Martin, and Benedict, and Margaret, and plenty more--and they
call them all `Saint,' but I do not know who they were. You never told
me about those people."

There was silence for a moment, till she said--"Thou hast learnt well,
and hast been an obedient boy. In the years that lie before thee, thou
mayest have cause to thank God for it. My questions are done: thou
mayest ask thine."

"Then, Mother, who am I?" was the eager inquiry. "Thou art Rudolph, son
of Gerhardt of Mainz, and of Agnes his wife, who both gave their lives
for the Lord Christ's sake, fourteen years ago."

"Mother!--were my real parents martyrs?"

"That is the word which is written after their names in the Lamb's Book
of Life. But in the books written by men the word is different."

"What i