CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF THE HOME-COMING TO HAMPSHIRE.

eare,asonemayreadilysee.Iammyselfasoldier'sdaughter,”sheadded,castingasomewhatlanguishingglanceatJohn,“andmyheartevergoesouttoabraveman.” “WeareindeedfreshfromSpain,”quothAlleyne. “FromSpain,sayyou?Ah!itwasanillandsorrythingthatsomanyshouldthrowawaythelivesthatHeavengavethem.Insooth,itisbadforthosewhofall,butworseforthosewhobidebehind.Ihavebutnowbidfarewelltoonewhohathlostallinthiscruelwar.” “Andhowthat,lady?” “Sheisayoungdamseloftheseparts,andshegoesnowintoanunnery.Alack!itisnotayearsinceshewasthefairestmaidfromAvontoItchen,andnowitwasmorethanIcouldabidetowaitatRomseyNunnerytoseeherputthewhiteveiluponherface,forshewasmadeforawifeandnotforthecloister.Didyouever,gentlesir,hearofabodyofmencalled'TheWhiteCompany'overyonder?” “Surelyso,”criedboththecomrades. “Herfatherwastheleaderofit,andherloverservedunderhimassquire.NewshathcomethatnotoneoftheCompanywasleftalive,andso,poorlamb,shehath——” “Lady!”criedAlleyne,withcatchingbreath,“isittheLadyMaudeLoringofwhomyouspeak?” “Itis,insooth.” “Maude!Andinanunnery!Did,then,thethoughtofherfather'sdeathsomoveher?” “Herfather!”criedthelady,smiling.“NayMaudeisagooddaughter,butIthinkitwasthisyounggolden-hairedsquireofwhomIhaveheardwhohasmadeherturnherbackupontheworld.” “AndIstandtalkinghere!”criedAlleynewildly.“Come,John,come!” Rushingtohishorse,heswunghimselfintothesaddle,andwasoffdowntheroadinarollingcloudofdustasfastashisgoodsteedcouldbearhim. GreathadbeentherejoicingamidtheRomseynunswhentheLadyMaudeLoringhadcravedadmissionintotheirorder—forwasshenotsolechildandheiressoftheoldknight,withfarmsandfiefswhichshecouldbringtothegreatnunnery?Longandearnesthadbeenthetalksofthegauntladyabbess,inwhichshehadconjuredtheyoungnovicetoturnforeverfromtheworld,andtorestherbruisedheartunderthebroadandpeacefulshelterofthechurch.Andnow,whenallwassettled,andwhenabbessandladysuperiorhadhadtheirwill,itwasbutfittingthatsomepompandshowshouldmarkthegladoccasion.HencewasitthatthegoodburghersofRomseywereallinthestreets,thatgayflagsandflowersbrightenedthepathfromthenunnerytothechurch,andthatalongprocessionwounduptotheoldarcheddoorleadingupthebridetothesespiritualnuptials.Therewaslay-sisterAgathawiththehighgoldcrucifix,andthethreeincense-bearers,andthetwo-and-twentygarbedinwhite,whocastflowersuponeithersideofthemandsangsweetlythewhile.Then,withfourattendants,camethenovice,herdroopingheadwreathedwithwhiteblossoms,and,behind,theabbessandhercouncilofoldernuns,whowerealreadycountingintheirmindswhethertheirownbailiffcouldmanagethefarmsofTwynham,orwhetherareevewouldbeneededbeneathhim,todrawtheutmostfromthesenewpossessionswhichthisyoungnovicewasabouttobringthem. Butalas!forplotsandplanswhenloveandyouthandnature,andaboveall,fortunearearrayedagainstthem.Whoisthistravel-stainedyouthwhodarestoridesomadlythroughthelinesofstaringburghers?Whydoesheflinghimselffromhishorseandstaresostrangelyabouthim?Seehowhehasrushedthroughtheincense-bearers,thrustasidelay-sisterAgatha,scatteredthetwo-and-twentydamoselswhosangsosweetly—andhestandsbeforethenovi