Long letters Percival sent on every opportunity to cheer her, and in the following spring he gladdened her greatly by the news that his friend Jeremy Taylor was constantly at his side, much comforting both himself and the earl with his company, he having been appointed chaplain to the royal forces, and finding in active service some small solace in his recent sad bereavement--the death of his fair wife, which great sorrow now bound him in yet closer union to the friend of his boyhood than heretofore. And Primrose, on hearing of his sad grief and loss, feeling a deep pity for his three motherless boys, sent for them into Wales, greatly to the little Elidore's delight, and lovingly cherished them within her own walls during several months, both herself and Lady Rosamond finding in their care for the children some forgetfulness of their worst anxieties, and rejoicing to hear the ancient corridors ring with the sound of their young voices. So with some few weeks spent at intervals at Caer Caradoc, that long lonely year wore away, and in the autumn the earl, not destined to follow to the end the fortunes of his unhappy sovereign, was brought back to his ancient stronghold by his faithful chaplain, grievously wounded in battle, weak and weary unto death, yet rejoicing that at last a Bryn Afon should be counted worthy to die an honourable death. With him came also Sir Ivor Meredith and Sir Tristram Ap Thomas, and Lady Rosamond and her son departed with her husband to their own home, there to spend his leave of absence in mutual rejoicing over their happy reunion, while Sir Tristram, after once again pleading his unalterable devotion to the fair Lady Shanno, and finding her heart to be only more wholly than ever given to his rival, whom nevertheless she would never marry, came to the conclusion that his case was hopeless, and departed sulkily to the wooded heights of Craig Arthur, whither, it may be as well at once to relate, seeing that we shall have but little further dealing with him, he brought, after some few months, a fair English bride, with whom he lived happily many years.