"Oho, Master Arthur!" said she to herself, with a smile. "You have found your young friend already, have you? Well, well, better Winifred than some others! But we shall see!" "And so you have really come back again safe and sound, Master Arthur—I mean, my lord," said Alwright, "from the Turks and all! But you have got an ugly scar on your face!" "Yes, a Turkish janizary spoiled my beauty for me," replied Arthur, laughing, "and came near doing worse; for he fired his pistol at me, and the ball struck me just here above my heart!" "Goodness me!" exclaimed Alwright. "Why did he not kill you?" "Through no good will of his, I assure you. I bore a charm in the shape of a certain piece of Moorish gold which hung round my neck by a chain and turned the ball!" "Well!" said the sage Alwright, "say what you will, I shall always maintain that there is something in charms and amulets, and so I told my brother when he refused to wear the hare's foot I was at the pains to provide for his colic. 'Depend upon it,' said I, 'there is more in such things than you think!' I shall just tell him this story and see what he has to say. But where did you get your charm, Master Arthur—I mean, my lord?" "Oh, that is a secret!" said Arthur, laughing. "If I should tell where it came from, the charm would be spoiled." "To be sure, you ought not to tell," said Alwright. "I always did hear it would break the spell of such things, and you may need its help yet—who knows?" "Who knows, indeed?" said Arthur. "I trust this same amulet of mine may yet bring me the greatest blessing of my life!" CHAPTER XVIII. CONCLUSION. ARTHUR'S stay in Exeter was short, but before he left he had sought a private interview with Winifred, and asked her to be his wife so soon as the troubles should be settled. "I have always kept this object in view, ever since we parted under the great pear-tree in your father's garden," said he. "I have been at foreign courts since then, and seen some of the most beautiful women in the world. I have been, too, in scenes of temptation and trial, among wild and dissolute men, and women still worse, but your face has always come between me and harm, and your piece of gold has indeed been a talisman which has kept me from many a sin. Winifred, will you be my wife? I can promise you no great wealth—no court gaieties. I am but a soldier, and my fortunes will rise or fall with those of the Prince of Orange, my master. At best I shall be but a poor lord, living on my estate in Devonshire, where you may follow my good sister's example and play Lady Bountiful to tenants and cottagers. But if you are such as I think you, such a life will suit you better than fluttering at court or in the parks."