ubject should continue--
which she devoutly hoped it might) she would some day be informed by
Blanche--or possibly the Lady Alianora herself might condescend to make
the communication--that on the following Wednesday she was to be married
to Sir Robert le Poer or Sir John de Mountchenesey; probably a man whom
she had never seen, possibly one whom she just knew by sight.

Philippa scarcely knew how, from such thoughts as these, her memory
slowly travelled back, and stayed outside the castle gate, at that June
morning of nineteen years ago. Who was it that had parted with her so
unwillingly? It could not, of course, be the mother of whom she had
never heard so much as the name; she must have died long ago. On her
side, so far as Philippa knew, she had no relations; and her aunts on
the father's side, the Lady Latimer, the Lady de l'Estrange, and the
Lady de Lisle, never took the least notice of her when they visited the
castle. And then came up the thought--"Who am I? How is it that nobody
cares to own me? There must be a reason. What is the reason?"

"Mistress Philippa! look you here: the Lady Mary left with me this piece
of arras, and commanded me to give it unto you to be amended, and
beshrew me but I clean forgot. This green is to come forth, and this
blue to be set instead thereof, and clean slea-silk for the yellow.
Haste, for the holy Virgin's love, or I shall be well swinged when she
cometh home!"

CHAPTER TWO.

HIDDEN TREASURE.

"Who hears the falling of the forest leaf?
Or who takes note of every flower that dies?"

Longfellow.

The morning after Blanche and the arras had thus roughly dispelled
Philippa's dream, the Lady Alianora sat in her bower, looking over a
quantity of jewellery. She put some articles aside to be reset,
dismissed others as past amendment, or not worth it, and ordered some to
be restored to the coffer whence they had been taken. The Lady Alesia
was looking on, and Philippa stood behind with the maids. At last only
one ornament was left.

"This is worth nothing," said the Countess, lifting from the table an
old bracelet, partly broken. "Put it with the others--or stay: whence
came it?"

"Out of an ancient coffer, an't like your Ladyship," said Blanche, "that
hath been longer in the castle than I."

"I should think so," returned the Countess. "It must have belonged to
my Lord's grandmother, or some yet more ancient dame. 'Tis worth
nothing. Philippa, you