companion, her own bereavements heartily forgotten, followed a pace or

two behind, now rallying them upon their silence, and now drawing happy

pictures of their future and united lives.

Still, indeed, in the distance of the wood, the riders of Tunstall might

be heard urging their pursuit; and from time to time cries or the clash

of steel announced the shock of enemies. But in these young folk, bred

among the alarms of war, and fresh from such a multiplicity of dangers,

neither fear nor pity could be lightly wakened. Content to find the

sounds still drawing farther and farther away, they gave up their hearts

to the enjoyment of the hour, walking already, as Alicia put it, in a

wedding procession; and neither the rude solitude of the forest, nor the

cold of the freezing night, had any force to shadow or distract their

happiness.

At length, from a rising hill, they looked below them on the dell of

Holywood. The great windows of the forest abbey shone with torch and

candle; its high pinnacles and spires arose very clear and silent, and

the gold rood upon the topmost summit glittered brightly in the moon.

All about it, in the open glade, camp-fires were burning, and the ground

was thick with huts; and across the midst of the picture the frozen river

curved.

By the mass," said Richard, "there are Lord Foxham's fellows still

encamped. The messenger hath certainly miscarried. Well, then, so

better. We have power at hand to face Sir Daniel."

The Black Arrow