sion him to
accompany, with a fitting train, his own litter to the Tower. "And
you, Alwyn, go with your foster-brother, and pray Master Warner and his
daughter to be my guests for their own pleasure. Come hither, my rude
Northman,--come. I see I shall have many secret foes in this city: wilt
not thou at least be Warwick's open friend?"

Alwyn found it hard to resist the charm of the earl's manner and voice;
but, convinced in his own mind that the age was against Warwick, and
that commerce and London would be little advantaged by the earl's rule,
the trading spirit prevailed in his breast.

"Gracious my lord," he said, bending his knee in no servile homage, "he
who befriends my order, commands me."

The proud noble bit his lip, and with a silent wave of his hand
dismissed the foster-brothers.

"Thou art but a churl at best, Nick," said Marmaduke, as the door closed
on the young men. "Many a baron would have sold his father's hall for
such words from the earl's lip."

"Let barons sell their free conduct for fair words. I keep myself
unshackled to join that cause which best fills the market and reforms
the law. But tell me, I pray thee, Sir Knight, what makes Warner and his
daughter so dear to your lord?"

"What! know you not?--and has she not told you?--Ah, what was I about to
say?"

"Can there be a secret between the earl and the scholar?" asked Alwyn,
in wonder.

"If there be, it is our place to respect it," returned the Nevile,
adjusting his manteline; "and now we must command the litter."

In spite of all the more urgent and harassing affairs that pressed upon
him, the earl found an early time to attend to his guests. His welcome
to Sibyll was more than courteous,--it was paternal. As she approached
him, timidly and with a downcast eye, he advanced, placed his hand upon
her head,--

"The Holy Mother ever have thee in her charge, child!--This is a
father's kiss, young mistress," added the earl, pressing his lips to her
forehead; "and in this kiss, remember that I pledge to thee care for thy
fortunes, honour for thy name, my heart to do thee service, my arm to
shield from wrong! Brave scholar, thy lot has become interwoven with my
own. Prosperous is now my destiny,--my destiny be thine! Amen!"

He turned then to Warner, and without further reference to a past which
so galled his proud spirit, he made the scholar explain to him the
nature of his labours. In the mind of every man who has passed much of
his