hall, whose lay I greatly long to hear."

Away tripped Lady Maude, well pleased to be free from the burthen her
good-nature had imposed on her.

"Arthur," exclaimed Agnes, "what joy to see you! Is your uncle here?"

"Yes," said Arthur, "but oh, Cousin Agnes! if you had been by to hear
the foul slanders which Sir Fulk has been telling the Prince--oh,
Agnes! you would disown him for your brother."

"Arthur," said Agnes, with a voice almost of anguish, "how could he
--why did he tarry so long on the road?"

"How could we come on when the Duke of Brittany himself said it was
certain death or captivity? We were forced to wait for an escort.
And now, Agnes, think of your brother saying that Uncle Eustace
carried off the rents of Lynwood, when every man in the Castle
could swear it was only the money Father Cyril had in keeping for
his inheritance."

"Alas!" said Agnes.

"And the Prince will believe it--the Prince looks coldly on him
already, and my uncle loves the Prince like his own life. Oh, he
will be ready to die with grief! Agnes! Agnes! what is to be
done? But you don't believe it!" he proceeded, seeing that she
was weeping bitterly. "You do not believe it--you promised you
never would! Oh say you do not believe it!"