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and he had hastened home in order to obtain the intercession of the church, and to solace his hours of pain by the comRosamond was not pany of his child. fully aware of the danger of her father, for Ranulph, with much delicacy, refrained from alarming her; but she knew that he suffered, and her affectionate heart bled for his sorrow.

With what speed they might, they wended their way homewards, Sir Ranulph beguiling the time with many a tale of danger and of death; and four years' sojourn in the Holy Land was an honour of which few of his years could boast. With beaming eye and glowing cheek Rosamond listened, for all that breathed of chivalry was to her as her native

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It was sunset, on the second day of their joumey, ere the Erie party came in sight of the castle. A shout of joy from the battements proclaimed their welcome, and anounced to the sick man that his hour of comfort drew nich. The heart of Rosamond thrilled with delight as she felt how

mushy, she was expected; and a smile of

pleasure and of pride shone upon her beautiful face, as upon her approach every inhabitant of the town and castle rushed out to meet her. Peasant, and yeoman, and men-at-arms, mingled together in a motley crowd, all eager to welcome home the daughter of their chief, and to gaze upon her wondrous beauty, of which the fame had already extended far and near. As she walked her horse slowly through the crowd, Rosamond gently smiled upon all, while her eye wandered anxiously from face to face, hoping to catch some wellremembered look; and much did she envy the ready wit or better memory of Jacqueline, who seemed to know every one, and remember everything, and who, with Maud and Marian, kept up a running fire of questions and answers all the way up the hill which led to the castle walls.

At last they entered the gates, which stood open ready to receive them. Passing the triple wall, they dismounted at the foot of the long and steep flight of steps leading to the keep or inner tower, the portion of the castle inhabited by its owner. With what a beating heart did Rosamond

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tul up the steep ascent: higher and higher sti, fer up many a spiral staircase and bar unding Ed she pass. ere she reached the chancer where her father

CHAPTER X.

"My child!" murmured a hollow voice, as Rosamond sank upon her knee beside a couch, and a thin and trembling hand was laid upon her head. This was all that, for many days, passed between the father and the child, so long kept asunder by fate.

The illness of the brave Lord de Clifford became more and more serious; and Rosamond already wept as if by the death-bed of a father she had so long and tenderly

loved. At length, a favourable change took place; but whether from natural, or supernatural causes, remained for ever unexplained. Rosamond, who in her distress had summoned the prior of Severnstoke from his retirement to pray by the side of her father, fondly dated his restoration from that day; while the sick man, with no less pious impression, declared that from the hour he had vowed a second pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine, he had gradually begun to amend. The strength of constitution with which nature had endowed him, perhaps somewhat aided all other means; for Lord de Clifford was in the prime of life, of majestic stature and proportions, and remarkable for the same uncommon regularity and beauty of feature which his child so largely inherited. Be it as it may, the Lord of Clifford Castle rapidly regained his strength. Before many weeks were over, he was carried to breathe the air on the battlements of his tower; and ere the winter had passed, he was once more in his saddle, applying himself to the exercise and training of his men with all the ardour of former days.

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