"Think nothing, save that I desire to live and die for you," he cried. "Audrey, when I parted from your grandfather, he gave me leave to come again, and endeavour to win your heart. But when I would have come, I heard you were departed to New England. That letter is two years old--tell me not that my day of grace is past! And yet, if you bid me tear the letter, I will upon mine honour strive to guard you as a brother on this journey. But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and to be such a friend to you, I will serve as many years as Jacob served for a wife. May I carry this letter to your father? You will not bid me tear it?" A rainbow smile flickered over Audrey's face. "'Tis no use to tear it," she said. "I have here its fellow;" and she pulled out her letter and held it to him. He gazed at it, dumb with surprise. "You have its fellow!" he said at last. "You knew all! And while I was tormenting myself to keep silence, I was but playing the part of a laggard wooer!" "I only found the letter at Hunstanton the other night," she said. "And you kept it! You were as kind to me as before! You were not unwilling to hear of the design! Audrey, you know you have all my heart; I can be content with nothing less than yours in return." "I fear you are no honest man," she murmured. "You stole it before ever you asked my leave." His arm was round her. "My dear heart, believe that I have waited half my lifetime for this kiss." "Oh, Dick! Remember old Job! He will be making a mock of us!" "Tush! he is busy with his oars and lines; he heeds us not!" "Luff, sir, luff!" shouted the maligned fisherman, with a twinkle in his eye. "Here be the _Good Hope_ a bearing down on us. 'Tis a pretty name, the _Good Hope_, and I hope as she'll bring 'ee luck." "Thank you, friend; methinks few men can have such good hope to carry on a voyage as I! There is Mr. Rogers signalling with his hat. Wave your handkerchief, and show him we are here! And, sweetheart," he whispered, "Mr. Rogers must make us one as soon as we land in Rotterdam, that you may despatch the bride ribbons to good Mistress Joyce by the ship on her return." And this was how Richard Harrison learned that he might still follow the path marked out for him by his Lost Leader, and received his bride from the hand that had cherished his childhood. And with the knowledge, the hopes of his childhood came back to him, and he gathered faith that as the wanderings of his dark days had brought him to the door of his love, so the dark ways of earth may be but the shortest road to lead the pilgrim to the Celestial City, if but he follow close his Divine Leader. NOTES. PROLOGUE. 1. The interview between the king and Major Harrison is described by Anthony Wood.