one in the castle to know where she was, so long in. This is not my dwelling, nor are these my Early on the morning of the second day after that on which Count Hugo and his party started on their return from Paris, bearing the happy news that the King had consented to interfere in behalf of the Countess, and that one or two well-qualified persons were, as soon as possible, to visit her at the castle of Barran to give her an opportunity of properly representing her case, the Inquisitors appeared at Viteau. Viteau, although not exactly a castle, was, like all the residences of the upper classes in those days, a strongly defended place. It had a wall around the court-yard, and its numerous towers and turrets and little balconies were constructed to accommodate and protect a large number of archers and cross-bow men. Therefore it was that Robert de Comines, the leader of the Inquisitorial party, thought it well to have a strong body of men with him in case it became necessary to force his way into the château. First posting soldiers at every entrance to the grounds, Comines marched to the great gate and demanded admittance. Michol, who had received notice that a large body of men was approaching, and who felt quite sure that he knew who they were, gave some orders to his under-officers and hastened to the gate. 66 Who may you be?" said Michol from the window in the gate, "and why come you here? These gates open, now, to no visitors, friends or foes." Comines did not see fit to state the object of his visit, nor to exhibit his authority, and, without answering Michol's questions, he asked another. Are you the captain of the robbers who have seized upon this château?" he said. "I am the captain of the good and valiant cotereaux who hold this château and its belongings as a warranty for a just and righteous debt," answered Michol. "Have you aught to say to me concerning the matter?" "I have something to say to you," replied Comines, "which you will do well to hear, and that speedily. Open the gate and let me enter." "If you wish to speak with me," answered Michol, "I am ready to hear what you have to say. But you need not enter, fair sir. I will come out to you." At these words the gates were thrown open, and Michol rushed out, followed by nearly all his men, who had been closely massed behind him while he spoke. The cotereaux were in such a large and solid body that they completely filled the gate-way and forced back Comines and his men, who vainly endeavored to maintain their ground before the gate. Comines shouted and threatened, and his fol- The sudden confusion had been so great that, at "Thief and leader of thieves!" cried the en- "That will I not," said Michol, firmly. "Whatever your errand and your authority, you come too late. The Countess of Viteau is now my prisoner. I hold her and this château as security for the payment of ransom-money justly due me; and I will give her up to no man until that ransom shall be paid. Whatever warrant you may have, I know well that you have none to take from me my prisoner." "Rascal!" cried Comines, "who would show a warrant to a thief? Will you open that gate to me?" "No," said Michol, "I will not." "Then take that for my authority!" said Comines, drawing his sword as he spoke, and "No, no!" cried the other. "I must go in. making a sudden thrust at the robber leader. Open the gate!' "That will I, gladly," said Michol, "but it must be for me to go out and not for you to come Michol had no sword, but in his right hand he bore a mace or club with a heavy steel or iron head. This was a weapon generally used by knights on horseback, but Michol was a tall, strong fellow, and he carried it with ease. Step ping quickly aside as Comines thrust at him, he swung his mace in the air, and brought it down upon his adversary's head with such rapidity and force that it knocked him senseless to the ground. This blow was followed, almost instantly, by a general conflict. As none of Comines's men were mounted, their horses having been left at the monastery, and as they did not number half as many as the cotereaux,-who were, indeed, in much stronger force than Comines and the monks had imagined, the fight was not a long one. The robbers soon overpowered their opponents, killing some, causing others to make a disorderly flight, and taking a number of prisoners. The latter were carefully robbed,-not an article of value, not a weapon, nor piece of armor being left on their persons,-and then they were set free to carry away their wounded and dead comrades. Michol sent a detachment of his men to attack the soldiers who had been placed outside of the other entrances to the château; and when these had been routed and the battle-field in front of the great gate had been cleared of enemies, dead and alive, the robber captain entered the court-yard with his men, and the gates were locked and barred behind him. Bernard, the squire, had been watching the combat from a high tower. "I knew," he said to himself, when it was over, "that this was the only place in France where the Countess would be safe. For none but a pack of thieves would have dared to fight those who came to capture her." The Countess was greatly agitated when she heard of the affair, for she knew nothing of it until it was over. She was glad and thankful that her pursuers had been defeated in their object, but she thought it was a terrible thing to have had an actual conflict with them. Her good squire did his best to make matters look as well as possible. "You must remember, my lady," said he, "that the fight was not within our walls, and that none of us took part in it. And, I trow, we shall not soon see again those men from Toulouse; for the leader of them has been grievously disabled, and it will be many a day before he will again desire to carry off anybody." DICK tossed a letter to his sister Abby. "From Cousin Lydia!" "Read it aloud," said Zoe. She was cousin to the others, but an adopted daughter of the house. Abby read: "DEAR COUSIN: Some time soon, I am coming to make you a long visit, as Mamma wants me away from the city before the hottest weather, and our doctor orders quiet after the winter dissipations, and says I must have cream to build me up-all that I can eat. They wish me to go to you to-morrow, and perhaps I may, though there is to be an excursion this week that I should dislike to miss, and a grand wedding next week. However, you may expect me on any train any day, for I am eager for the cream and the country rides. But do not be disappointed if I should not come for some days. Though I have half a mind to decide to take the first train to-morrow, and I do say that you may expect me.. Dick may go to the station. If he should not find me he need not despair, for I may be on the second, though I think it would suit me better to take an afternoon train. But that would hurry my dinner. The evening train is rather late, but papa might find a friend to confide me to. But do not be surprised if I should not come at all to-morrow, or any day this week. But don't leave home, for I may alight from any train; and I would n't miss seeing one of you for the world! "LYDIA." Yours ever, "So we 've got to miss the picnic to-morrow,' said Zoe-"the first thing there's been this season that we could go to." "Don't worry about that," said Abby. "There are eight Sunday-school picnics to come off. Beside, when Cousin Lydia comes, we 'll get up a picnic of our own." "But, how hard we 've worked to get ready for it! Think of the ironing and baking we did this morning." "With the ironing and baking out of the way, we shall have more leisure to enjoy Cousin Lydia's visit. But we must send word to Mollie Hyde that we can't go to her picnic to-morrow. Dick, you can take word." "I'm busy," said Dick, "studying about the cream to build up Cousin Lydia. Where's the cream to come from?" "I'll tell you: we'll have to get in our cow that 's been boarding on a farm this winter." "Oh, have we got to have a cow?" Zoe moaned. "It's so much trouble to take care of the milk. "You don't know anything about cow-bother," Dick protested. 'The milker and the churner is the one who has the bother. If we 're to have a cow, I want one thing understood: I'll do the feeding and the watering, and the taking to pasture and the driving home, and the milking and the straining and the skimming. I'll even feed the cream to Cousin Lydia if she 's weakened by dissipation; but I tell you what, I wont churn!" 66 'There 'll not be any churning-Cousin Lydia will eat the cream. Perhaps," continued Abby turning to Zoe, we may buy cream of some neighbor. If you 'll set Dick's lunch, I'll take a run around the neighborhood. If only Mother and Father were at home, or if the hired girl had n't left!" almost impossible to get a pound. And, think of Cousin Lydia at a butterless breakfast! It would be dreadful. She is used to every luxury." 'Well, I am not," said Dick; "so let me have some of your unluxurious victuals, for I must go to school." The girls bore off the good things to the pantry. They brought back slicings from a soup bone, bread, and dried-apple sauce. The bread was dry, the slicings streaked with gristle. Dick suggested, meekly: Some catsup would make the gristle tasty." Abby hated to, but she said it: "We have only one bottle of catsup left, Dicky, and we must save that for Cousin Lydia. You have no idea, dear Dick, what a responsibility it will be to get three meals a day for Cousin Lydia-what thinking, and planning, and working! I wish I was n't the oldest, or that Mother was here. If that hateful Hannah had n't left! You can have some mustard." Dick said he was obliged. Abby returned from her "run" as Dick and Zoe were seated at lunch. At the dining-room door she uttered a shriek. Dick started to his feet, carving-knife in hand. "What's the matter?" both he and Zoe cried. would have to go for the cow. "O Dick, please don't!" Abby prayed. "Don't what?" said Dick, bewildered at finding himself under accusation. Abby had failed to arrange for cream, so Dick "But it's eight miles," he complained. "It will take me till night to go there and drive the cow back. I'll have to miss school and go to the Don't cut that tongue-we must save it for foot, and I never was so high up in spelling before. Cousin Lydia.” I can't go." Dick dropped into his chair and jerked the fork from the succulent tongue, which was lying, a heavy interrogation point, on the platter. Zoe had held her hand from slicing it with a vague presentiment of the sacrilege. Dick laid down the carver and sat still for developments. "And how could you break into my lovely pan of biscuits, when we are expecting Cousin Lydia? She has everything that 's nice." While saying this to the guilty-looking Zoe, Abby was possessing herself of the biscuits and tongue. She suddenly set these back on the table with another cry of dismay. "And if you have n't cut the chocolate cake!" Then, cookly curiosity getting the better of her dismay, she eagerly slipped out the sweet striped wedge to assure herself concerning the quality of the cake. Dick settled back in his chair, and pathetically remarked that, if there was anything in the house poor enough for a fellow to eat, he 'd like a piece of it. "But Dicky, dear, you must; there is no one else who can. It will never do for Cousin Lydia to come expressly to eat cream and not get it. Her health, not to say her life, may depend upon your going." (( 'Well, to save her life, I'll go. I'll get a livery horse." "And while you 're at the stable, see about hiring a horse and buggy by the week, for Cousin Lydia is coming out here for rides. Country visiting is stupid without riding. That helps to pass the time. But who 'll have time to drive Cousin Lydia about? We girls will be busy getting the meals and keeping the house in order." "I can't drive for her," said Dick. "I can't afford to be going to the foot all the time, and missing the base-ball matches, and everything. I'll tell you: perhaps we can get Joe Harney to come every good day and take her out; then you girls would be free to do the house-work. Joe is goodlooking, dresses like a fashion dummy, and talks like an orator." "Please don't be cross, Dick. 66 It was so hard First, see if you can hire a buggy," said to get these nice things cooked; we are n't used Abby. "And, Zoe, tell the ice-man we 'll begin to cooking, and we must save them for Cousin to take ice of him in the morning; and order Lydia; she must have our best, and then, it may lemons, and sardines, and canned things-salmon, be, we 'll not have anything that she can relish. and lobster, and fruits. Wait! And chocolate, and And, Zoe, you ought to know that we 'll have to cocoa-nuts, and all sorts of flavoring to make save this butter for her, butter is so scarce here it's things good; and gelatine, and corn-starch, and raisins, and citron, and oranges, and dried beef. Wait! And see about spring chickens; they 're expensive, but we can't stop for a little expense." Then Mollie Hyde came in, much excited. It was the most dreadful thing she ever heard, that not one of them was going to her picnic; it was completely spoiled by their dropping out. "It's perfectly awful. There'll be only five of us left, for I invited only two carriages." "Invite three others in our places," Abby suggested. "Who 'll want to be second choice after you?" Mollie snapped. "Beside, there's nobody to invite. I left Ed Asbury out to get you three in, and it made him so mad that he 's got up a picnic tomorrow to spite me, and he has invited every one that's not in my picnic. And he 's going to have the band and somebody to make a funny speech, and everything to triumph over me; and now, to have you back out is just too mean." "We are very sorry." "If you were very sorry, you 'd go. About your cousin is no excuse; we expect to get back before the accommodation is due." "But she may come on any train." "If she could n't say what train she 'd be on, I'd not bother myself about it. I'd not take my work and spend the day at the station. Any way, Zoe is enough to receive her. Abby and Dick can go to my picnic." of plenty of changes while Cousin Lydia was visiting. Zoe said boys did n't know how hard it was to wash and iron. As Dick would have only twenty minutes at school before the first train, he said he 'd just wait in the parlor till train time. "No, not in the parlor !" cried Abby. "We've got it swept and dusted-in perfect order for Cousin Lydia. You must keep out of the parlor till she comes. You'd be sure to get things out of place." Dick sighed, but went out and sat on the steps till train time. Then the girls made haste to change their working dresses for company frocks. In half an hour, Dick returned without Cousin Lydia. He took his seat on the steps to wait. The girls put on working aprons and began resweeping and redusting. Dick made four trips in, to consult the clock before starting to the second train. Then the girls smoothed their plumage, laid off working aprons, and waited at the window. From thence, in due time, they saw Dick returning looking lonely. The three gathered at the dinner-table. Dick's glance swept it. It would not have been hard for anything to sweep it. "Victuals, victuals everywhere," he cried, thinking of the good things saved for Cousin Lydia, "but not a bite to eat.' Then, with a look at the soiled linen, he added: "A few more coffee-spill "But Cousin Lydia would never forgive us if we ings and gravy-drippings, and this table-cloth and should n't all be here to receive her." "But I'm to forgive your breaking your engagement with me," Mollie said, sharply. "I'm of no account beside your fine cousin! I'm nobody! I'm Miss Nothing! I tell you, I have more to do with your happiness than that cousin. I live next door, and I have a phaeton, and I give a great many parties. I'll have chances to pay you back." Abby tried to speak, but Mollie sailed away, slamming the gate as if she meant it should never be re-opened between them. each other in dumb dismay. The girls looked at Then they cried. About dusk, Dick came home behind a red, lank cow with a spotted calf. A handkerchief was tied under his chin, hat and borrowed umbrella having been lost in fording a creek. But he was not discouraged. He called for a pail to test the milking qualities of his cow. By persistent effort, he obtained about a pint of milk; and it was rich. They had skimmed milk for the breakfast coffee the next morning; the cream was put on ice for Cousin Lydia, who might be on the first train. At breakfast, Dick scolded about the soiled cloth and napkins. Abby said they had to make sure these napkins may afford us subsistence till Cousin Lydia's arrival." "Then we 'll have fresh napkins at every meal," said Abby. After lunch, Dick waited on the steps ninety minutes; then spent twenty at the station; went back home for an hour; then to meet the train; went home to tea; gave another grumble about the soiled linen and prison-fare, while the girls told how often they had changed their dresses. Dick waited an hour after tea, went to the last train, came home, hung his hat up, and thanked his stars that it was the last. "Until nine to-morrow," said Zoe; "Lydia said we might expect her any day, on any train.' The second day of expectation was a repetition of the first, with the difference that Dick had sour cream added to his diet. There succeeded a similar third day, except that the company viands began to appear on the table, but all were stale or beginning to sour. On the fourth day, all three were weary and discouraged from having tried to save" the good things. The fifth day was Sunday. "She'll not come to-day," said Dick; "so please, Abby, let me use the parlor. May n't I |