What was, was the sound of young laughter proceeding from the door to the left--exuberant laughter, full of enjoyment, accompanied with an odd little sound of rushing hither and thither. The young fellow's face lit up as he went forward. "The children playing 'Puss in the Corner,'" he said to himself, and went almost on tip-toe. But as he reached the door he was met by a sudden silvery shriek. Something feathery and very hard struck him between the eyes; then the thing dodged him, but before he could discover what it was another missile followed; at the same moment the silvery voice cried, in accents of despair:-- "Very well, you wretch! go, if you will; but you have disgraced Carrickmoyle, and left the baronet without any dinner." But let Sir Anthony himself explain these extraordinary happenings, and how he met his fate, and the strange shape in which love came to him. END OF CHAPTER THREE. [Illustration: Our Roll of Heroic Deeds] This series of pictures of heroic deeds is fittingly inaugurated by the portrayal of the splendid heroism of the nursemaid Fanny Best, of Tiverton, who, by her courage and presence of mind, was instrumental in saving the lives of her charges when attacked by an infuriated cow. As will be seen, she kept a firm hold of the perambulator, and at the risk of her own life boldly resisted the repeated thrusts of the animal until help arrived. The Editor is always pleased to hear of such instances of self-sacrificing bravery--either in men or women--with a view to the award of the Medal of The Quiver Heroes Fund, such as was sent to Miss Best at the time. [Illustration: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN] THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN By the Lord Bishop of Derry. "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."--St. Matthew iii., 2. This proclamation, made by the Baptist, is the best possible beginning for a gospel, since men will never repent unless they feel that better things are open to them. Therefore, as the next chapter informs us, these same words were the first utterance, the modest germ, of the profounder teaching of our Lord Himself, and He started from the precise point to which the forerunner had led his followers. The next step was to fill up somewhat these slender outlines by saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of heaven is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel" (St. Matthew iv. 17; St. Mark i. 15). This announcement is necessary still. How often have we excused our misdeeds by the abject plea that we could not help ourselves! It is abject, it is a confession of slavery; but, if true, it is a perfect defence. None may blame us for doing what is inevitable, or failing to do what is impossible. If a giant were to force a torch into my hand and with it to explode a powder magazine, I should not be the murderer of those who perished by my hand. I should feel outraged and indignant, but not remorseful.