fled by so swiftly."

"Heaven be praised indeed!" echoed the old woman. "For now the
master is so safely seated at Chad that he would be a bold man who
tried to oust him. But in days gone by I have sorely feared yon
proud Lord of Mortimer. Methought he would try to do him a
mischief. His spleen and spite, as all men say, are very great."

The lady's face clouded slightly, but her reply was quiet and calm.

"I fear me they are that still; but he lacks all cause of offence.
My good lord is careful in all things to avoid making ill blood
with a jealous neighbour. That he has always cast covetous eyes
upon Chad is known throughout the countryside; but I trow he would
find it something difficult to make good any claim."

"Why, verily!" cried the nurse, with energy. "He could but come as
a foul usurper, against whom would every honest hand be raised.
But, good my mistress, what is the truth of the whisper I have
heard that the Lord of Mortimer has wed his daughter to one who
calls himself of the house of Chad? I cannot believe that any of
the old race would mate with a Mortimer. Is it but the idle gossip
of the ignorant? or what truth is there in it?"

"I scarce know myself the rights of the matter," answered Lady
Chadgrove, still with a slight cloud upon her brow. "It is
certainly true that Lord Mortimer has lately wed his only child, a
daughter, to a knight who calls himself Sir Edward Chadwell, and
makes claim to be descended from my lord's house. Men say that he
makes great boasting that the Chadwells are an older branch than