Oh, no, no! I swear to thee I will do naught that can make thee regret thou hast granted an orphan's prayer." "And who art thou that pleadeth thus ?" inquired the earl, moved alike by the thrilling sweetness of his voice and the earnestness of his manner.
"Thou must have some wondrous interest in him to prefer imprisonment with him to all the joys which liberty can give." "And I have interest," answered the boy, fervently; "the interest of gratitude, and faithfulness, and love.

An orphan, miserably an orphan--alone upon the wide earth--he hath protected, cherished, aye, and honored me with his confidence and love.

He tended me in sorrow, and I would pour back into his noble heart all the love, the devotion he hath excited in mine.

Little can I do, alas! naught but love and serve; yet, yet, I know he would not reject even this--he would let me love him still!" "Grant the poor boy his boon," whispered Lancaster, hurriedly; "of a truth he moveth even me." "Thine heart is of right true mettle, my child," said his colleague, even tenderly.

"Yet bethink thee all thou must endure if I grant thy boon; not while with me, for there would be a foul blot upon my escutcheon did so noble a knight as Sir Nigel Bruce receive aught save respect and honor at my hands.