ard Hereford;
and hearing that the Lady de Sergeaux was with us, he sent word through
a lay-brother that he would gladly have speech of you."

"A messenger from Arundel! What can he want with me?"

Philippa felt that all messengers from Arundel would be very unwelcome
to her. She added, rather ungraciously, that "perhaps she had better
see him." She passed into the guest-chamber, whither in a few minutes
the messenger came to her. He was a page, habited in deep mourning; and
Philippa recognised him at once as the personal "varlet" attendant on
the Countess. The thought rose to her mind that the Earl might have
fallen in Gascony.

"God keep thee, good Hubert!" she said. "Be thy tidings evil?"

"As evil as they might be, Lady," answered the page sadly. "Two days
before the feast of Saint Hilary, our Lady the Countess Alianora was
commanded to God."

A tumult of conflicting feelings went surging through Philippa's heart
and brain.

"Was thy Lord at home?"

She inwardly hoped that he was not. It was only fitting, said the
vindictive hatred which had usurped the place of her conscience, that
Alianora of Lancaster should feel something of that to which she had
helped to doom Isabel La Despenser.

"Lady, no. Our Lord abideth in Gascony, with the Duke of Lancaster."

Philippa was not sorry to hear it; for her heart was full of "envy,
hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the shadow began to lengthen on the following day, Philippa wrapped
her mantle around her, and called to her damsel to follow. Her varlet
followed also, at a little distance behind. She found Elaine and a
younger child waiting for her outside the gate. Elaine introduced her
companion as her sister Annora. Annora proved much less shy than
Elaine, and far more ready with her communications. But she was not
asked many questions; for as they turned away from the convent gate,
they were met by a monk in the Dominican habit, and Philippa knew
directly the face of Guy of Ashridge.

"Christ save you, Father," said she.

"And you, daughter," he answered. "Are you yet seeking comfort, or have
you found it?"

"I am further from it than ever," she replied, rather petulantly.

"No wonder," said Guy. "For comfort hath another name, which is--
Christ. Who is a stranger to the One shall needs be a stranger to the
other."

"I have tried hard to make my salv