"You will not let them get me again, my lord?"

"They couldn't get in here, and tomorrow, if the storm cease, I
shall take thee away with me. Fear not, my poor boy. If thou hast
for a while lost a mother, thou hast found a father."

The boy sighed. Affection is not so easily transferred; and the
earl quite comprehended that sigh; as a strange interest, almost
unaccountable, he thought, sprang up in his manly breast for the
little nestling, thrown so strangely upon his protection and care.

Brave as a lion with the proud, gentle as a lamb with the weak and
defenceless, such was Simon de Montfort, an embodiment of true
greatness--the union of strength with love. Both Martin and Hubert
were fortunate in their new lord.

"There sounds the vesper bell. Wilt thou with me to the chapel?"
said the prior.

Thither both earl and prior proceeded. It was Wednesday evening;
the psalms were then apportioned to the days of the week, not of
the month, and the first this night was the one hundred and
twenty-seventh:

Except the Lord build the house,
their labour is but vain that build it.
Except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman watcheth but in vain.