'But he will be ere noon. I have had a despatch from him; he is already at Salisbury, and may be here at any hour.' At this moment Lady Pembroke saw one of her ladies hastening towards her, and exclaimed,-- 'Ah, Lucy! have you come to capture the truant?' 'Yes, Madam, and to tell you that Sir Philip Sidney's courier has ridden into the courtyard to announce his Master's speedy arrival.' 'Then I will not go till I have seen Uncle Philip!' and Will dragged at Lucy's hand as she attempted to lead him towards the house. 'Nay, Will,' his mother said, 'you must do as you are bid.' And forthwith the boy pouted; yet he knew to resist his mother's will was useless. But presently there was a shout, as he broke away from Lucy Forrester's hand, with the cry,-- 'Uncle Philip!' and in another moment Sir Philip had taken his little nephew in his arms, and, saluting him, set him on his feet again. Then, with a bow and smile to Lucy, he bent his knee with his accustomed grace before his sister, who stooped down and kissed him lovingly, with the words,-- 'Welcome! welcome! dear Philip. Thrice welcome, to confirm the good news of which my lord had notice yester even.' 'Yes; I have come to say much, and to discuss many schemes with you. I stay but till the morrow, when I would fain you got ready to see me later at Penshurst.' 'At Penshurst!' 'Yes. I have set my heart on meeting all my kindred--more especially our father and mother--there ere I depart. Now, now, Will! wherefore all this struggling to resist Mistress Forrester? Fie, fie! for shame!' 'It is the attraction of your presence, Philip, which is too much for Will,' Lady Pembroke said. 'Then, if I am the culprit, I will do penance, and take the boy in hand myself. See, Will, you are to come with me to your tasks, nor give Mistress Forrester so much trouble.' And Lucy found herself free from the child's detaining hand, as Sir Philip went, with swift steps, towards the house--his little nephew running fast to keep up with him. Lucy followed, and met Sir Philip in the hall, where the tutor had captured the truant. 'Any news from Arnhem, Mistress Forrester?' Sir Philip asked. 'Any good news from Mistress Gifford?' 'Nay, sir, no news of the boy; and even our good friend Master Humphrey Ratcliffe is ready to give up the quest.' 'Nay, it shall not be given up. I am starting in a few days to the Low Countries, as Governor of Flushing.' 'So my lady told me, sir, this morning,' Lucy said demurely. 'Yes, and I shall be on the alert; depend on it, if the boy is alive, he shall be found. But I begin to fear that he is dead. Why should I say fear, forsooth? Death would be better than his training by Jesuits, and so leagued with Spain and all her evil machinations.' Lucy curtseyed, and, with a gentle 'Good-morning to you, sir,' she went to her duties under Mistress Crawley.