Truer Englishman, at once loyalist and patriot, never man was than he-- well described by one of the English people as "that most faithful and noble Hubert, who so often saved England from the ravages of the foreigner, and restored England to herself." He stood by the Throne, bearing aloft the banner of England, in three especially dark and perilous days, when no man stood there but himself. To him alone, under Providence, we owe it that England did not become a vassal province of France. Most amply was his fidelity put to the test; most unspotted it emerged from the ordeal: most heavy was the debt of gratitude owed alike by England and her King. That debt was paid, in a sense, to the uttermost farthing. In what manner of coin it was discharged, we are about to see. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. Patent Roll, 4 Henry Third; dated York, June 15 1220. Note 2. "In the octave of Holy Trinity" [May 25--June 1], at Alnwick.-- Roberts' Extracts from Fines Rolls, 1225. Note 3. This terrible fact has been strangely ignored by many modern historians.--_Rot. Exit., Michs_., 25-6 Henry Third. Note 4. A drug which deadens the sensibilities--of the vivisector--by rendering the victim incapable of sound or motion, but not affecting the nerves of sensation in the least. Note 5. This was in 1234, when our story begins, the English diminutive of Margaret, and was doubtless derived from the French Margot. Note 6. Any reader who is inclined to doubt this is requested to consult Acts fifteen, 4, 22. It is unquestionably the teaching of the New Testament. The clergy form part of the Church merely as individual Christians. CHAPTER TWO. "WHAT DO YOU LACK?" "If pestilence stalk through the land, ye say, This is God's doing. Is it not also His doing, when an aphis creepeth on a rosebud?" _Martin F. Tupper_. Earl Hubert was far too busy a man to waste his time in lounging on velvet settles and exchanging sallies of wit with the ladies of his household. He had done little more than give a cordial welcome to Marjory, and pat Margaret on the head, when he again disappeared, to be seen no more until supper-time. "Well, Magot," said Marjory, sitting down in the chair, while Margaret as before accommodated herself with a footstool at her feet, "let us get on with thy story. I want to know all about that affair two years ago. Thy fair father looks wonderfully well, methinks, considering all that he has gone through." "Does he not? O Aunt Marjory, I scarcely know how I am to tell you about that. It was dreadful,--dreadful!" And the tears stood in big drops on Margaret's eyelashes.