'I didn't like it,' said Robert, shivering; and getting to his German again, he described '_das Gewitter_' beating on the panes, with wind and whirling leaves, and the unearthly noises of the creaking vane. The terror of the lonely, supperless child was dreadful to think of; and she begged to know what he could have done as it grew dark. 'I got to Mr. Charlecote,' said Robert--an answer that thrilled her all over. 'I said I'd be always very good, if he would take care of me, and not let them frighten me. And so I did go to sleep.' 'I'm sure Mr. Charlecote would, my dear little man,' began Honora, then checked by remembering what he would have said. 'But didn't you think of One more sure to take care of you than Mr. Charlecote?' 'Lieschen talks of _der Lieber Gott_,' said the little boy. 'We said our prayers in the nursery, but Mervyn says only babies do.' 'Mervyn is terribly wrong, then,' said Honora, shuddering. 'Oh! Robert, Mr. Charlecote never got up nor went to bed without asking the good God to take care of him, and make him good.' 'Was that why he was so good?' asked Robert. 'Indeed it was,' said she, fervently; 'nobody can be good without it. I hope my little friend will never miss his prayers again, for they are the only way to be manly and afraid of nothing but doing wrong, as he was.' 'I won't miss them,' said Robert, eagerly; then, with a sudden, puzzled look--'Did he send you?' 'Who?' 'Mr. Charlecote.' 'Why--how should . . . ? What made you think so?' 'I--why, once in the night I woke up; and oh! it was so dark, and there were such noises, such rattlings and roarings; and then it came all white--white light--all the window-bars and all so plain upon the wall; and then came--bending, bending over--a great gray darkness--oh! so horrible!--and went away, and came back.' 'The shadow of the trees, swaying in the moonlight.' 'Was it? I thought it was the _Nebel Wittwen neckten mir_, and then the _Erlkonung-tochter_. _Wissen sie_--and oh! I did scream once; and then, somehow, it grew quietly darker; and I thought Mr. Charlecote had me folded up so warm on his horse's back, and that we rode ever so far; and they stretched out their long white arms, and could not get me; but somehow he set me down on a cold stone, and said, "Wait here, Robin, and I'll send her to lead you." And then came a creaking, and there were you.' 'Well, little Robin, he did not quite send me; but it was to see his tablet that I came down this morning; so he brought me after all. He was my very dear Cousin Humfrey, and I like you for having been his little friend. Will you be mine, too, and let me help you, if I can? and if your papa and mamma give leave, come and see me, and play with the little girl and boy who live with me?' 'Oh, yes!' cried Robert; 'I like you.' The alliance was sealed with a hearty kiss. 'But,' said Robert, 'you must ask Mademoiselle; papa and mamma are away!' 'And how was it no one ever missed you?'