"What he pleases," was the answer. What it pleased Rudolph to do was to copy the other children, and say "Mother;" but he applied the term impartially alike to Countess and to Christian, till the latter took him aside, and suggested that it would be more convenient if he were to restrict the term to one of them. "You see," she said, "if you call us both by one name, we shall never know which of us you mean." "Oh, it does not matter," answered Master Rudolph with imperial unconcern. "Either of you could button me up and tie my shoes. But if you like, I'll call you Christie." "I think it would be better if you did," responded Christian with praiseworthy gravity. From the time that this matter was settled until the journey was fairly begun, Countess showed an amount of impatience and uneasiness which it sometimes took all Christian's meekness to bear. She spent the whole day, while the light lasted, at the little lattice, silently studying a large square volume, which she carefully wrapped every evening in silk brocade, and then in a woollen handkerchief, placing it under the pillow on which she slept, and which had come from Leo's house for her use. Beyond that one day's expedition, she never quitted the hut till they left Dorchester. Of the hardships inseparable from her temporary position she did not once complain; all her impatience was connected with some inner uncertainty or apprehension which she did not choose to reveal. Rudolph looked far more disdainfully than she on the rye-crusts and ragged garments of his companions. At last, on the Sunday morning--for nobody dreamed in those days of not travelling on Sunday after mass--a small party of armed servants arrived at the hut, leading three palfreys and four baggage-mules, beside their own horses. Three of the mules were already loaded. Countess issued her orders, having evidently considered and settled every thing beforehand. Christian was to ride one palfrey, Countess the other, and David the third, with Rudolph in front of him. His children were to be disposed of, in panniers, on the back of the unloaded mule, with a lad of about fifteen years, who was one of the escort, behind them. "Hast thou found us any convoy, Josce?" asked Countess of the man who took direction of the escort. Josce doffed his cap to answer his mistress, to whom he showed considerable deference. "Deuslesalt journeys to-day as far as Wallingford," he said, "and Simeon the usurer, who has a strong guard, will go thence to-morrow to Windsor." "Good. Set forth!" said Countess.