"May Heaven bless thee, my child, and make thee a blessing!" He lifted
up his eyes while he thus spake. "Thy nature hath not yet learnt the
cruel disposition of these tormentors."
It is said that his prayer was heard; and a passage in the subsequent
history of this little girl may, in all likelihood, find a place in
another series of our Traditions.
A tear for the first time trembled in the poor man's eye as he looked on
this tender and compassionate babe. He thought upon his own sufferings,
and the hard fate of his own little ones. But he soon repressed the
rising murmur, calmly awaiting the result.
The child still clung to him; nor would she depart, though threatened
with Sir Roger's displeasure by his deputy. Indeed, she cared little for
the issue, being fully indulged in all her caprices by the knight, her
grandfather, who was mightily entertained with her humours. But threats
and cajolements failing in their effect, they were glad to let this
wilful creature accompany them to the presence of Sir Roger as the
dispenser of justice, or rather of his own vindictive will; and to his
private chamber they were shortly summoned.
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