rooted out of its foundations-than about pulling France to pieces; and will think far more of making a conquest of the fair Countess of Salisbury, than of this or any other country.-But, my good Liege, this public business being thus happily terminated, may I crave attention to my private griefs?"

"Surely mayst thou, Robert, I am always ready to hear, and delighted to be able to serve thee,-in what can I now do so?"

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My Liege the Countess Matilda, mine aunt-'tis most unjust she thus should hold my land!"

“Ay, Robert, that it is, I have always said it but what can now be done?-Twice hath she had decisions in her favor, nor do I entertain a hope of being able to reverse them. The Parlement will surely say that should their judgments be thus liable to overthrow, 'twere needless then they should sit in judgments, as every act in every reign might then be put aside in the succeeding reign.-They'll never do it!"

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'Tis hard—indeed, my Liege-'tis hard that I should thus be ousted of my rightful heritage,—that not only I, but my child also, should be driven from the possessions of our ancestors."

"Alas! Robert, all this I know and feel," replied the King, "but in what manner can thy case in this be bettered.-Wait awhile, and I promise to invest thee with the first lands escheating to the crown."

Thanks, many, many thanks unto your Grace for this good promise, but were you to invest me with all Normandy, full thrice as large as is the land I crave, and with it three other provinces of this fair land—each of them big and fertile as is Normandy, the possession of them would not be half as sweet to me, as the attainment of that small spot mine ancestors have held since Philip Augustus, dismembering it from Flanders, gave it to his son."

Why wait you not with patience till"

"The very word, my Liege, doth put me far beyond all patience,—so long have patience

and myself kept company, that we be weary of each other."

"Nathless, Robert, tarry with her yet awhile, till thou at least hast heard what I have to propound. Matilda had no children by her husband, Othelin; and is now too old to think of marrying; or if she marry, she is too old to bear children. If she die is it not probable that she will write thee as her heir? But if thou strivest to wrench it from her by the law, she'll be in no good mood to let thee have it even at her death.”

Matilda beareth me no love, nor ever did. First she wronged me-therefore fears me-therefore hates me. Then did I dispute her title then take up arms to prove mine own-I would with all my soul I ne'er had laid them down! but trusted for success to God, the justice of my cause, and mine own good sword, rather than to the voices of those hollow-hearted Peers."

"But, Robert, having so acted, 'twould not be prudent in thee to rip up old wounds, which may perhaps, if treated thus, ne'er

close again, but fester, and thus shalt thou find thyself despoiled of even that little hope thou now mayest have of thine aunt's bequest."

I know not how your Grace will like the thoughts which move me, but liever would I again enter Artois with an armed band of men, and wrench from her by force the land she robbed me of, than live to hold but not enjoy, I could not on like terms enjoy-as bounty, that which is mine own of right. Methinks that I would die, and be content to die, could I but wrest it from her, - then meet her face to face, reproach her with disloyalty, and shower upon her head the scorn with which my soul is loaded. Artois is much averse unto Matilda-it liketh not a female reign, to me it is attached 'twould cost small charge and little trouble to possess me"

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Yes, yes, Robert, all that may be, and is, perhaps, most true; but I must not have the kingdom thrown into confusion by such mad schemes as these. We have just shorn

the Flamands for revolt, and it behoveth not to set example of the crime we censure. .Wait till thine aunt shall die-she is already old, and may chance to leave to thee by will that land thou seekest to gain by these unlawful means. Yet, should she give it unto any one less near allied to her, 'twill then be time to urge again thy claim, and then I'll aid thee in the quest.-Think no more of it at present."

“Not think of it, my Liege! Not think that not only I, but that my child will also be despoiled and plundered of his heritage! - My Liege! - Bid me not to breathe-say to my heart, Be still, beat no more'-tell me to die-to have no consciousness of what I am, nor of the wrongs I suffer, tell me this, 'twere full as easy to obey! There hath not been a day of all the many years I've passed since I've come to man's estate, nor of the days which formed those years, a single hour, in which I have not thought of it, and prayed that Heaven would grant me re