Part 5 (1/2)
thought I, as I hurried after him But when I turned a corner in the corridor I learned the reason of his haste There, a few paces down the hall, and retreating fro rapidly upon the arm in arm, unconscious of their pursuers--for by this time they had two I reached thereat wasthe the hasty steps behind them, turned and beheld us, both did utter little screams of surprise Then Mary quickly recovered herself and said:--
”Oh, dear Cousin Walter, I ah less concerned, ”And thee, Sir Frederick I hope thou hast coh thou didst not have one of those grand calory in”
I left it to hilorious ”cans,” of which she so sarcastically spoke; for I did turn to greet the dearest lad that thou hast returned safe,” said she, after I had told her e did arrive, and hoe cah I did not--”I had such a fearful dreaht I
”Methought I saw thee attacked by foes hidden in a desperately for thy life Then, in battle, I saw thee struggling against fearful odds, and then you seemed to be unarmed, and at the mercy of your foes But in this drealad that it was but a dream
Yet it did trouble reat dangers; for I feared that , ere I did see that which did happen, meant that thou wert killed”
”Well, Lady Hazel, thy dreael did show unto thee the adventures I went through Joyed anorance of my fate; for then thou hadst not been so pleased to see reatly troubled when thou didst see ers?” And I drew a trifle closer unto her side
”Art anxious to know?”
”Ay, Ay, so anxious, Lady Hazel,” and I seized her pretty hand She drew it quickly frorasp, and motioned with her head in the direction of Mary and Harleston
”Well, then,” she said gently, ”I was greatly troubled, for I knew not whether thou hadst been killed or no; and if thou wert dead I should then greatly miss one of my best friends,” and her dark and beauteous eyes drooped, and she did see her dainty little slipper, as it nervously tapped the floor, and tempted me to drop on my knees and kiss that pretty foot I was on the point of dropping onher how I did worshi+p her, when I did hear Mary titter behind ht It had ever been , prevent olden opportunity, such as was this, when it did present itself
Then Mary and Harleston strolled off down the corridor, and I thought I should have another chance to co, soue would not put into words the thoughts that I was dying to express So I cursed myself for a dumb idiot, and was compelled to postponetongue
Hazel seeloomy face
We strolled on and into the library and, as the others were there, we sat and talked and told the girls all about the can and our little adventures and our ride fro that had happened at court whilst ere away, and which is generally known as court gossip and, as it could not interest you, my dears, I will not put it down
”See, I did not lose the charavest -place, over my heart
She noticed the locality in which it had been carried, and her color heightened as I coolly put it back in its place, after I had let her see it
”Art not going to return it?” she asked in a tone which assured me that she did not wish ers may yet beset h”
To this she raised no objection; so it stayed there till another day, of which I will tell ye later
Now I think I hear some one say, as he doth read these lines:--”Was he not simple, not to see that Hazel loved hi him to look back over his own experience--if he hath been so fortunate as to have had one--and try to recall how he did act, under the sa circumstances Then, if his memory will be as fresh as is mine, he will remember the times when he was almost sure that his lady loved hi uncertainty, and a doubt that hetoo soon, he feared he ht lose all? This I knoas eneral with an uncertain force, to wait until I should find so fortress that I was to take, and so make sure of victory by one short, quick stroke I now felt that I inning over part of her garrison; still did I prefer tomyself with false hope
Nor you, ye ones which have yet to experience this euished of your house--for when ye are placed in the position in which he here found himself, if you do not feel, or act, any ratulate yourselves for having conducted the enterprise in the eousahead of my story
When I look back from the , and across the vale of years gone by, to that other, sun-topped hill of youth, I do not regret that I a
For in that valley, which separates theand engaged in deadly contest I hear the cheers of the living inter Foullaid and executed by those which struggle in that dark and troubled valley And through all this do I see that sa with the rest Another and grand soul hath been added unto their number; and their united trials seem, to my old eyes, to rank first in importance Then, on the near side, those dark and heavy vapors, hich the depression is filled, are torn asunder by the united force of a giant ar swords, and the five walk out and take their seats upon this glorious hill, which is the goal of all; and yet, which so few do reach, whilst wearing the fleshly garment
CHAPTER VII
THE BALL AT THE CASTLE
About a week after our return to Windsor I learned that there was to be a grand ball given by the King, in honor of our victory over the Scots
I at once found the girls and told theood news