left alone, although a King had been there.

At length the eyes of the patient moved. He looked once more round, and murmured the words

Edith and Albert each grasped the hands of their father.

"Let us kneel," said Mr. Endsleigh, and with hearts full of silent grief they knelt round the bed.

The Colonel's lips moved slightly but no sound escaped.

One brief, earnest prayer was uttered by Mr. Endsleigh, as the features settled to their calm expression, and while that petition was being wafted to the throne of mercy, the spirit of the righteous man passed to its everlasting rest.

CHAPTER XX.

I will instruct my sorrows to be proud,
For grief is proud, and makes his owner stout.
Shakespere.

THE melancholy scene just detailed had scarcely passed, when the increasing urgency of the affairs in which they were all engaged compelled the several participators in it to active exertions. Trenton and Albert were again about to take the field, when, with that kindly and disinterested consideration for his followers, by which the king was distinguished, he forwarded to them a positive order to attend

to the sad duties owing to the remains of one of the most noble spirited and faithful of his adherents.

An escort had been provided, and with hearts depressed with the sorrow that only time can alleviate, the mournful group wended their way to Cornfield parsonage, intending shortly to resume an active career in the service of a cause which they all esteemed the first entitled to their regard and self-sacrifice. But who can tell what a day may bring forth. Weeks and months elapsed, and no call was made upon them. them. The house of Stuart was fast waning to the dark catastrophe by which its glories were for a while so dreadfully, and to many, unexpectedly eclipsed. The late misfortunes had acted with extensive influence on the whole commonalty of the land. Secret disaffection here, and open defection there, had so mutilated the king's power, that the hopes of a successful issue to the struggle had well nigh become dead among its followers,

when late in the autumn, a summons to attend the court reached the Rectory.

Though with hearts miserable prescient of the future, the soldiers were eager to obey, and as one place was equally safe with another, it was decided that the whole of the family should move together. Separated as they had been from the tumult of a court, and the dangers of the field, none had lost their faith, and however regretful for the misery of the past there was no lack of determination to strain every nerve for the future.

The time had flown fast, but it had not gone by unimproved by any of the party. Herbert and Trenton had each made good ground, and the evening before they left the pleasing repose of their retreat, they had elicited from those dearest to them on earth, an assurance that the affection which had been declared was strengthened and confirmed. Trenton had more and more observed the nobility of Helen Endsleigh's character; and the boyish passion which he

had entertained for Edith, he now discovered was the feeling rather of an affectionate brother than of one who would prefer the object of his love to all on earth; while Herbert had learned to appreciate the simple character of one who in all her conduct evinced an earnest desire for the truth, and whose mind, expanding as it became enlightened, grew almost as perspicacious as his own. It was then with a ready spirit that they started again to mix in the tumults and imposing struggles of the world.

A long day's journey brought them to the place where the court resided, and early the next morning they were present in the anti-chamber to pay their respects to the sovereign; but it was some time before they could obtain an audience. Charity was waning to impatience; but they had sufficient reason not to distrust the king's kindness, for there was evidently matter under the consideration of the council, which had some time before assembled, of deep and ominous import.