the lovers themselves, who on these happy occasions of meeting were able to hear little beyond the sound of each other's voice. Whatever curiosity Sir Ivor and Lady Rosamond might feel as to Primrose herself, and her fitness by birth to mate with one of such ancient lineage as their favourite Sir Galahad, they were obliged to restrain until such time as Lady Bryn Afon thought fit to reveal to them the secret of her fair young attendant's parentage; but such was their regard for the beautiful girl, and their appreciation of her innate nobleness, that they could but give to his choice their fullest approval, and this, from well-known and valued friends of his mother's family, Percival received with pleasure, though content, in his inmost heart, to love and cherish his river-maiden, if need be, against the opinion of the whole world. And of all the kindnesses received by the lovers during those happy months of renewed intercourse, none were so dearly treasured as the words of blessing on their union spoken by the honoured lips of their loved king himself, who in the midst of his own thickly-gathering sorrows yet found space to enter with deep interest and kindliness into their love-story, and made Shanno's heart to glow with a never-to-be-forgotten devotion by the words of love and praise in which he spoke to her of her pure and true knight, Sir Galahad, and congratulated her on having won the love of so holy and devoted a servant of God; while he also praised to Percival the marvellous beauty and grace of his intended bride, showing so keen a discernment of that beautiful soul within, which looked forth from her glorious eyes, that the chaplain's heart swelled with pride and joy in such kingly discernment. And among other kind expressions of interest and affection, valued not much less than the former, were such as were spoken by Master John Milton and Master Jeremy Taylor, both of whom were frequent guests in Lady Rosamond's house, and who, in spite of their widely-differing opinions on matters of Church and State, found a common meeting-ground in their warm affection for Percival Vere, to whose side both were attracted equally, and with regard to whose special companionship each maintained with the other a generous rivalry. To Master Taylor, however, the chaplain could not fail to be personally drawn in an especial love and sympathy, their mutual love and devotion to the cause of their church and their king knitting their hearts together in a bond of union which every day grew stronger as the strife of parties waxed bolder, and grew daily more fiercely apparent. To Master Milton, on the other hand, his senior by some few years, he was the rather drawn by the power of an immense intellectual admiration, while the strong line already openly taken by the magnificent young poet on the side of Republicanism and religious independence raised between them a barrier of thought which stood in the way of such an intimate communion of spirit as he