nt it the blessing of
peace, and forgive a poor erring man, who sees, too late, that he
has been fighting against Thy dispensation, for he can now say 'Thy
will be done.'"

These were his last words, and although we have related them as if
spoken connectedly, they were really only uttered in broken gasps.
The end came; the widow turned aside from the bed after closing the
eyes.

"Martin," she said, "thou alone art left to me."

And she fell on his neck and wept.

______________________________________________________________

From the grave to the gay, from a death to a wedding, such is life.
The same bell which tolls dolorously at a burial clangs in company
with its fellows at a marriage on the next day. So the world goes
on.

The scene was the priory of Saint Pancras at Lewes, where so lately
the feeble old king had held his court. Now with his brave son he
had gone into honourable captivity, for it was little better, and
the followers of Earl Simon filled the place.

Before the high altar stood a youthful pair; Hubert of Walderne,
now to be known as Radulphus, or Ralph; and Alicia de Grey, who had
been sheltered from ill and Drogo as one of the handmaidens of the
Countess Eleanor, in keeping for her true love.

The good prior, Foville, performed the ceremony and celebrated the
mass Pro sponso et sponsa. The father, the happy and glad father,
stood by, now fully delivered from his ghostly tormentor, his
fondest wish on earth achieved. Earl Simon gave the bride away,
while Martin stood by, so happy.

It was over, and the aisle was strewn with the gay flowers of early
summer, as our Hubert and his bride left the sacred pile. But one
adieu to the father, who would not leave his monastery even then,
but who fell upon Hubert's neck and wept while he cried, "My son,
my dear son, God bless thee;" and the bridal train rode off to the
castle above, where the marriage feast was spread.

Then Earl Simon to his onerous duties, and the happy pair to keep
their honeymoon at Walderne.

Oh, the joy of that leafy month of June, in the wild woods, all
loosed from care. Hubert seemed to have found true happiness, if it
could be found on earth. And Martin, he too was happy, in his work
of love and reconciliation.

It was an oasis in life's pilgrimage, when man might well fancy he
had found an Eden upon earth again. And there we would fain leave
our two friends and cousins.

Epilogue.

A few words respecting the f