months had passed she began to fear that the attempt to capture her might be repeated, and therefore again took shelter beneath the friendly roof of Lebrind.

The zeal of De Waltham in the pursuit of Bertha had, however, been so much damped by his misadventures at Lyddington, that although far from relinquishing his schemes against her, he determined to lay them aside for the present, more especially as he felt confident that she could not escape his toils while Almeric de Fyscher was absent from England, as an alliance with him could alone place her beyond the reach of his power.

The prebendary was likewise occupied at the present moment by another subject, which almost exclusively engrossed his attention. While ruminating upon the escape of Bertha, it had several times flashed across his mind, that the manner of the Abbess had on one or two occasions betrayed gratification at that event, and that she might therefore have possibly connived at it. He at first dismissed the idea as absurd, but it afterwards returned with fresh strength. It was a hope, as well as a surmise, for De Waltham was aware that the Abbess

highly disapproved his unclerical ideas and habits, and he returned her disapprobation with cordial hatred; though he could not divest himself of a certain fear and reverence, inspired by the elevation of her character. The justly severe rebuke which he had received in the abbey church, on St. Edward's Day, had greatly augmented his malice, and he brooded over every look and word of the superior, whenever Bertha's flight was discussed. Some rather unguarded expressions which were one day uttered by the Abbess greatly increased the suspicions of De Waltham, and he at length determined to put an end to uncertainty by some crafty device.

De Waltham's natural subtilty had been sharpened by disappointment, anger, and malice, for no other member of the convent entertained the foregoing suspicions. Indeed it would have been generally considered as improbable that the Abbess should have connived at the late heinous transaction, as that the body of the sainted Edward himself should have arisen from the shrine, and assisted by its miraculous powers in the elopement of the novice.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE FALCONER.

THE scene must now change to a wild spot, about ten miles to the north of Shaftesbury, where the road to Marlborough and Lyddington crossed a tract of heathy moor-land, forming part of a hunting manor belonging to William de Waltham.

The dreary monotony of the view was relieved by a few coppices and woods, for the preservation of game; and the road, after gaining the brow of a hill, suddenly descended into a ravine, enclosing within its steep banks one of the thickest and most extensive of these woods.

Near the road-side, but concealed by trees, stood a rudely-built hut, occupied by no less a

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person than Gaspar Wald, the chief falconer of William de Waltham.

This man was of as uncivilized a nature as the country around him. Of hardy and athletic figure, with harsh features and shaggy brows, the mind of the falconer seemed to be cast in the same rough mould as his bodily frame, possessing few ideas unconnected with his wild profession.

The religion of Gaspar chiefly consisted in the muttering a few Aves and Credos, and the invoking St. Hubert-the patron of hunters and falconers-under circumstances of excitement and danger; and his virtue consisted in a blind obedience to the will of his master, for good or for evil.

His knowledge was, however, extensive, in a practical sense, embracing all mysteries connected with sporting, under its various forms; and in the rearing and training of falcons, the skill of Gaspar was unrivalled in Wiltshire and Dorsetshire.

It was early morning, yet Gaspar was not, as usual, sallying forth with a feathered pupil on his wrist, to instruct in the prescribed mode of

striking its quarry; but was intently engaged in cleaning and furbishing certain rusty arms, such as all the retainers of the abbey were bound to possess, in case of being called upon for warlike service; which was, however, a rare event to the vassals of the Church, while those of the lay proprietors were continually harassed by the performance of military duties.

The falconer having completed his task, strode impatiently up and down the narrow limits of the hut, until five men, armed and wearing masks, made their appearance.

"You are late enough, by my troth!" exclaimed Gaspar, "despite my exhortations; and, considering the anxiety of our master respecting the business in hand, I marvel at your tardiness."

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"We are here sooner than needful," replied one of the men, in a gruff tone; "I looked from a high point that we passed over in our way hither from the Prebendary's manor-house, and no horseman was in sight. Besides, Gaspar Wald, this same robbing on the high road is a new trade to us, and we have no great relish for such kind of service."

"Be silent, and keep thy own counsel," re