As the traveller reached the old moss-grown bridge he paused for a minute or two, and looked down at the broad deep trench. "God grant it never may be wanted," he murmured; and then he threw back his long brown curls that clustered round his head, and spurred his horse on at a quicker pace. He was a fine, tall, handsome young man, about twenty-two, with a thoughtful brow that would have made him look almost stern, but for the genial smile that played around his mouth, and the kindly eyes that looked as ready to cry as a girl's at a tale of suffering. Before he was half-way across the fields he was met with the glad cry of, "Harry, Harry, I am so glad you have come home!" That he was a general favourite at home was evident enough, for his younger sister and brother received him with screams of delight, and his elder sister, Mary, forgot all her stateliness in the warmth of her welcome. Only one of the group walking in the fields failed to run forward to meet him--a fact Harry was not slow to notice. "So Maud would not come to greet me," he said, holding out his hand when he reached the spot where she was standing. He had sprung from his horse, and left the animal to find his own way to the stable. The young lady coloured and looked down as Harry stopped before her. "I am very glad to see you," she said. "But not quite so glad as my sisters here," said Harry. "I am not your sister," said Maud, hardly knowing what to say. "Oh, Maud," muttered little Bessie, "Harry is as much your brother as he is mine. Why, you have lived with us all your life, and if your name does happen to be Maud Harcourt instead of Maud Drury, it does not matter. I'm sure you can love Harry just the same." "Yes, so I can," said Maud, smiling, and feeling greatly relieved by Bessie's little passionate outburst. But Harry looked rather disappointed still. "I am afraid my return is not very welcome to you, Maud," he said, as he placed himself at her side to walk towards the house. "Why?" she said, quickly, in a tone of pain. "I don't know, only you don't seem glad to see me this time. You did not come to meet me as the others did," replied Harry. Maud looked down, but did not answer; and indeed there was no opportunity to do so, for Bertram, thinking he had been neglected long enough, pressed forward to his brother's side. "Have you seen Prince Rupert, Harry?" he asked. The young man's brow grew dark at the question. "Don't ask about Prince Rupert, Bertie," he said. "Why not?" exclaimed the boy. "He's a great soldier, come to fight the King's battles against the wicked Parliament men. Do tell me about him?" he added, coaxingly. "Harry will tell us all by-and-by," said Mary. "You must remember, he has not seen father yet. Let us make haste indoors," she added, turning to Harry, who still kept close to Maud.