Lotta had never recovered from the effects of her strange illness. Her mind remained a blank as to the events of her stormy girlhood. She was like a gentle child, living in the present, or in the more remote past, happy with her mother, and always eager for news of her sister, yet without any real comprehension or memory of the events which had transpired during the past eight years. The news to-day was of an exceptionally happy nature. Linda was the mother of a fair son, and Hugh had received knighthood and the gift of a goodly Manor at the hands of the Prince. There had been extensive confiscations of the estates of the supporters of the De Montforts, and the Prince had not forgotten Hugh when he came to distribute this spoil amongst those who had served him at the critical time of his career. Having brought tidings of these good things to Lotta and her mother, Leofric and Alys were on their way to rejoin their companions; but the beauty of the day, and the warmth of the sunshine upon the flowing river, tempted them to idleness. They were talking of past days, and of how the friendship between them had grown and grown. "The first time I saw you," said Alys, "was when you lifted me from my palfrey, that day when he was frightened and nearly threw me to the ground. How little we thought then of all that would happen later!" "Indeed yes," he answered earnestly. "Looking back to those days, it all seems like a dream; and yet, Alys, I think I loved thee from that very day. Dost know that thou hast always been to me a bright particular star, set high above me in the sky, yet leading me ever onwards. Alys, sweetheart, I have waited long, but tell me I have not waited in vain. Hope has sprung up in my heart of late. Sweet Alys, dost thou love me?" A beautiful light leaped into her eyes. She put out a hand and laid it upon his. "I think I have loved thee always, Leofric," she said. THE END. * * * * * HISTORICAL TALES BY E. Everett-Green. A CLERK OF OXFORD, and His Adventures in the Barons' War. THE YOUNG PIONEERS; or, With La Salle on the Mississippi. IN TAUNTON TOWN. A Story of the Days of the Rebellion of James, Duke of Monmouth, in 1685. SHUT IN. A Tale of the Wonderful Siege of Antwerp in the Year 1585. THE LOST TREASURE OF TREVLYN. A Story of the Days of the Gunpowder Plot. IN THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY. A Tale of the Times of the Black Prince. LOYAL HEARTS AND TRUE. A Story of the Days of Queen Elizabeth. THE CHURCH AND THE KING. A Tale of England in the Days of Henry VIII. TOM TUFTON'S TRAVELS. DOMINIQUE'S VENGEANCE. A Story of France and Florida. THE SIGN OF THE RED CROSS. A Tale of Old London. EVIL MAY-DAY. A Story of 1517. IN THE WARS OF THE ROSES. THE LORD OF DYNEVOR. A Tale of the Times of Edward the First. THE SECRET CHAMBER AT CHAD. _Published by_ T. Nelson and Sons, London, Edinburgh, and New York. * * * * * Library of Historical Tales.