ble to survive him, the call to her of the spirit of her
Warrior, being more compelling than the need of the beautiful young
daughter, to whom both had been devoted.

The chamber seemed to Mora full of tender and poignant memories.

How many girlish dreams had been dreamed while her healthy young body
rested upon that couch, after wild gallops over the moors, or a long
day's climbing among the rocky hills, searching for rare ferns and
flowers to transplant into her garden.

In this room she had mourned her father, with her strong young arms
wrapped around her weeping mother.

In this room she had wept for her mother, with none to comfort her,
saving the faithful nurse, Deborah.

To this room she had fled in wrath, after the scene with, her
half-sister, Eleanor, who had tried to despoil her of her heritage--the
noble Castle and lands left to her by her father, and confirmed to her,
with succession to her father's title, by the King. These Eleanor
desired for her son; but neither bribes nor cajolery, threats, nor
cruel insinuations, had availed to induce Mora to give up her rightful
possession--the home of her childhood.

Before the effects of this storm had passed, Hugh d'Argent had made his
first appearance upon the scene, riding into the courtyard as a King's
messenger, but also making himself known to the young Countess as a
near neighbour, heir to a castle and lands, not far distant, among the
Cumberland hills.

With both it had been love at first sight. His short and ardent
courtship had, unbeknown to him, required not so much to win her heart,
as to overcome her maidenly resistance, rendered stubborn by the
consciousness that her heart had already ranged itself on the side of
her lover.

When at last, vanquished by his eager determination, she had yielded
and become betrothed to him, it had seemed to her that life could hold
no sweeter joy.

But he, hard to content, ever headstrong and eager, already having
taken the cross, and being now called at once to join the King in
Palestine, begged for immediate marriage that he might take her with
him to the Court of the new Queen, to which his cousin Alfrida had
already been summoned; or, if he must leave her behind, at least leave
her, not affianced maid, but wedded wife.

Here Eleanor and her husband had interposed; and, assuming the position
of natural guardians, had refused to allow the marriage to take place.
This necessitated the consent of the King,