one of the ancient lords of the castle, on which account some say the curse was uttered; but the rights of the story I know not, nor whether the curse fell from the mouth of a mortal man, or, as some say, from the lips of the Evil One himself. It is a mystery, I trow, which no vain curiosity on our part, sweet one, may solve." "I will believe no treachery," said Primrose valiantly. "So noble and ancient a house could never have been guilty of deeds of shame and dishonour. My lord, the present earl, has too noble a countenance to have traitors for his ancestors!" "Thou art ever faithful to thy noble friend, my darling!" said Jack with a smile, "and I love him dearly also. Yet, methinks, with all his beauty of countenance and dignity of presence, there is somewhat in his eye which I trust not wholly. Think you not so?" "Nay, I was but a child when I last saw him," answered Primrose, "and his eyes seemed to me the most beautiful and blue and glittering I had ever seen! I have ever looked upon him as a brave and unfortunate hero, and I will not be disenchanted! You gaze upon his eyes with superstition in your own, dear dad, and hence you see in them ghosts and goblins and all manner of evil and uncanny shadows! For my part, I would that you and I might dwell in the castle for one whole year, with some trusty guardsman at our side, and I believe we would soon show that the curse is but an old wives' fable!" "Heaven forbid that you should ever enter its accursed walls!" said Jack, crossing himself devoutly. "I pray it may ne'er be my lot so to do. Come, I will walk across the fields with you to Evensong, for my heart groweth heavy with the thought of losing thee, sweetheart, and methinks the prayers will sound comforting to mine ears." "And I must tell dear Master Rhys my new name," said Primrose, rising eagerly from her low stool at his feet, "and let him know that he must now finish his instructions for my confirmation with all speed, that I may not lose our good Bishop's blessing ere I depart. I pray you, dear dad, not to be sorrowful at my leaving you, for it is but for a few short months that I go. And if you are sorrowful, what must I needs be, seeing that I must go out into the great world at the side of a stranger, and be forced to learn terrible new tongues, and look upon strange foreign faces which are like to terrify my poor wits even with the thought of them!" The old boatman looked lovingly into the girl's sweet upturned face, and kissed her glowing cheeks with lips that trembled somewhat; and though he smiled upon her as she took his hand and they sallied forth, he smothered at the same time a deep sigh, which welled up from a heart heavier than he dared confess.