ich seemed to invest
him with new courage; partly from the recollection that a long daylight
would intervene between the beginning and the end of his journey, and
partly because of the sudden rush of spirits to his brain. He arose, and
assuming a posture more erect, planted his cap in a becoming attitude,
whilst Geoffery was putting aside the empty vessels into a sort of
large wooden chalice, for the purpose of a more convenient removal.

Light footsteps were now heard bounding along the passage, and the door
was suddenly burst open by two rosy-cheeked children; the elder a boy of
some four or five years' growth, and his sister scarcely a twelvemonth
younger.

"Master Geoffery, Master Geoffery," lisped one laughing urchin, "hide
me; there is Alice--she'll not let me go. We are to ride on two great
horses; and I shall have a sword, and sister Julia a coach."

Here nurse Alice made her appearance. She had been weeping: tears and
entreaties were vain. She asked permission to accompany them; but with a
frown Hildebrand Wentworth had chidden her from his presence. Since the
loss of her mother, and almost from the time that news had arrived of
their father's death, which happened a little while before the birth of
Julia, she had borne a mother's part to her little charge; and had it
been allowed her, she would gladly have served them without reward.

Fearful of leaving them, she had followed hastily into the room. With a
searching glance she eyed the stranger for a while; then suddenly
turning to the children, she addressed them with great seriousness and
affection.

"Harry, you have not repeated your prayer this morning. Do you think God
will take care of you to-day, if you ask Him not?"

Here the rebuked boy grew silent; and with a suffused face, ran to his
nurse. Whilst in her lap, he poured out his morning orison. It was a
simple but affecting request. Julia knelt also; and Alice, laying a hand
on each, blessed the children.

"God of their fathers, I commit them to Thy care!"

She could say no more; loud sobs checked her utterance; but leaning over
these little ones, she convulsively clasped them in her embrace.

Old Hardpiece grew unusually busy about matters of no importance, and
the hard-featured trooper was seen to brush his brows, as though some
unpleasant suspicions had crossed his brain. He raised his arm as he
gazed on the children, muttering as he clenched his hand--

"If he dare!"--He then carelessly