CHAPTER XXIII.

"By my faith, Messire Froissart," exclaimed the Damoyseau, turning round to him, and continuing the conversation recorded in the last chapter, with all that animation of countenance which such a recital was likely to produce on a young man just launched into the world,—" you have inspired me with the very greatest enthusiasm for this famous prince, and his brave lady, Philippa; what noble, generous, and highhearted personages they must be! And the palace too, which you have vaunted so-why, all that we behold around us here must be but as nought in the compare. How I should likeah, me!-but no,-yet were I not bound down to this land, I should be much tempted to try

my fortunes in this court of chivalry. Mayhap," he added, smiling at the anticipation, "mayhap, I might make me spoken of in't."

Ay, and have me for an historian of your heroism, I suppose you think," replied his companion laughing. "But did you not just now tell me, you could be nothing better pleased than by visiting the court of the Seigneur de Bearn, Gaston de Foix? What should prevent you from doing this as a first step? Will't please you to accompany me to Ortez, whither I must set out in a brief space? We will afterwards return hither, and then, should you be of the same mind, we will cross over to this land of fairee, where I can promise you a blithe reception from the Queen-will this suit you?"

"Alas!" answered the Damoyseau sighing— "I have no good reason to offer wherefore I should not accompany you. Yet seemeth it to me, that should I quit this spot or its environs, I shall leave my heart in it. I cannot-no, I cannot resolve to desert the country in which I first knew Emily; where I last saw, and where

I cannot but think I shall again find her. She will not have the heart to abandon me for ever!She will return-I know she will; yet if she do so, and be found within my father's reach, I not being there to defend her! He will show her no mercy; why, he himself said he could enjoy no higher delight than to behold her tied to the stake and burned! I cannot, must not, will not leave her thus unprotected. You may,

perhaps, call this idle talk; and yet, you should not either, for you yourself know what it is to love, Messire Froissart."

"Nay, that do I not call this idle tinsel talk, my young friend," replied the other," but contrarywise, make all due allowances for the fears and apprehensions of a mind distracted as yours, I see, is by an ill-fated passion; yet still do I expect that you will listen, ay, and also cede to reason, when 'tis placed before your eyes. You think the Lady Emily will some of these days return to Bavay, though the Seigneur de Mauny hath threatened to destroy her, should she ever be found in his domains. Is this probable, at least, during your father's lifetime? Is it not

VOL. II.

far more likely that having flown from home in order to avoid his fury-"

"Not solely that," exclaimed the Damoyseau, hastily interrupting him. "Not solely that,— nay, I, in my conscience, do believe such fears entered but little in her heart; Emily left home much more, as she thought-the silly maid!to ensure my happiness than her own safety."

"Nathless, Seigneur, she is gone," Froissart replied, "whether from one reason or another matters not, and whichsoever it may be, she is not likely to return yet awhile. 'Tis far more probable, that having, as you seem to guess, adopted the character of a vielleuse as a disguise, she will continue to avail her of it, in order to procure a sustenance, which chance is, alack! may oft fail her."

Gaultier ground his teeth together, and clenching his hands, turned aside.

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"Be

'Nay, nay, my dear young Lord," Froissart continued, taking him kindly by the hand, not grieved at my expressions, I spake them not to hurt you, but to make known my belief that the Lady Emily may now need your aid,—

and that as she now wandereth o'er the wide world, it is only by wandering over the same wide world yourself, that you may hope to meet with her."

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Ay, and I would roam unto the furthest corner of the earth, might I make sure of finding her; but whither shall I look, where turn my steps, to whom address myself? I, who know not, nor guess in what strange land she wandereth, what clime possesses her. Oh! why, wherefore, did she leave me! For a month, for a whole month did I seek for her, and search for her, in each and every spot which could be named or thought of, within the circuit of Hainault, yet was't all in vain. Wander!-oh, tell me but whither, and I will journey to the spot, though 'twere but to lay me at her feet, and breathe my wearied spirit forth and die."

"Where wonneth she? - where wandereth she? Alack! Seigneur, this I know not, nor may note to you for certain; yet this much from your own tale I guess. The Lady Emily is much versed in the art of music, she hath adopted the character of a vielleuse. Is't not