rg had reasons for wishing her position and intentions to be distinctly understood by all with whom she came in contact； moreover； there was a certain congeniality in both her companions； their innocence and simplicity； that drew out confidence； and impelled her to defend her lady。
'My poor Countess；' she said； 'she has been sorely used； and has suffered much。 It is a piteous thing when our little imperial fiefs go to the spindle side！'
'What are her lands？' asked Malcolm。
'Hainault； Holland； and Zealand；' replied the lady。 'Her father was Count of Hainault； her mother the sister of the last Duke of Burgundyhim that was slain on the bridge of Montereau。 She was married as a mere babe to the Duke of Touraine； who was for a brief time Dauphin； but he died ere she was sixteen； and her father died at the same time。 Some say they both were poisoned。 The saints forfend it should be true； but thus it was my poor Countess was left desolate； and her uncle； the Bishop of LiegeJean Sans Pitie； as they call himclaimed her inheritance。 You should have seen how undaunted she was！'
'Were you with her then？' asked Alice Montagu。
'Yes。 I had been taken from our convent at Dijon； when my dear brothers； to whom Heaven be merciful！ died at Azincourt。 My oncles a la mode de Bretagnehow call you it in English？'
'Welsh uncles；' said Alice。
'They are the Count de St。 Pol and the Bishop of Therouenne。 They came to Dijon。 In another month I should have been seventeen； and been admitted as a novice； but； alack！ there were all the lands that came through my grandmother； in Holland and in Flanders； all falling to me； and Monseigneur of Therouenne； like almost all secular clergy； cannot endure the religious orders； and would not hear of my becoming a Sister。 They took me away； and the Bishop declared my dedication null； and they would have bestowed me in marriage at once； I believe； if Heaven had not aided me； and they could not agree on the person。 And then my dear Countess promised me that she would never let me be given without my free will。'
'Then；' said Alice； 'the Bishop did cancel your dedication？'
'Yes；' said Esclairmonde； 'but none can cancel the dedication of my heart。 So said the holy man at Zwoll。'
'How； lady？' anxiously inquired Malcolm； 'has not a bishop power to bind and unloose？'
'Yea；' said Esclairmonde； 'such power that if my childish promise had been made without purpose or conscience thereof； or indeed if my will were not with it； it would bind me no more； there were no sin in wedlock for me； no broken vow。 But my own conscience of my vow； and my sense that I belong to my Heavenly Spouse； proved； he said； that it was not my duty to give myself to another； and that whereas none have a parent's right over me； if I have indeed chosen the better part； He to whom I have promised myself will not let it be taken from me； though I might have to bear much for His sake。 And when I said in presumption that such would lie light on me； he bade me speak less and pray more； for I knew not the cost。'
'He must have been a very holy man；' said Alice； 'and strict withal。 Who was he？'
'One Father Thomas； a Canon Regular of the chapter of St。 Agnes； a very saint； who spends his life in copying and illuminating the Holy Scripture； and in writing holy thoughts that verily seem to have been breathed into him by special inspiration of God。 It was a sermon of his in Lent； upon chastening and perplexity； that I heard when first I was snatched from Dijon； that made me never rest till I had obtained his ghostly counsel。 If I never meet him again； I shall thank Heaven for those months at Zwoll all my lifeere the Duke of Burgundy made my Countess resign Holland for twelve years to her uncle； and we left the place。 Then； well…nigh against her will； they forced her into a marriage with the Duke of Brabant； though he be her first cousin； her godson； and a mere rude boy。 I cannot tell you how evil were the days we often had then。 If he had been left to himself； Madame might have guided him； but ill men came about him； they maddened him with wine and beer； they excited him to show that he feared her not； he struck her； and more than once almost put her in danger of her life。 Then； too； his mother married the Bishop of Liege； her enemy …
'The Bishop！'
'He had never been consecrated； and had a dispensation。 That marriage deprived my poor lady of even her mother's help。 All were against her then； and for me too it went ill； for the Duke of Burgundy insisted on my being given to a half…brother of his； one they call Sir Boemond of Burgundya hard man of blood and revelry。 The Duke of Brabant was all for him； and so was the Duchess…mother； and though my uncles would not have chosen him； yet they durst not withstand the Duke of Burgundy。 I tried to appeal to the Emperor Sigismund； the head of our house； but I know not if he ever heard of my petition。 I was in an exceeding strait； and had only one trust； namely； that Father Thomas had told me that the more I threw myself upon God； the more He would save me from man。 But oh！ they seemed all closing in on me； and I knew that Sir Boemond had sworn that I should pay heavily for my resistance。 Then one night my Countess came to me。 She showed me the bruises her lord had left on her arms； and told me that he was about to banish all of us； her ladies； into Holland； and to keep her alone to bear his fury； and she was resolved to escape； and would I come with her？ It seemed to me the message of deliverance。 Her nurse brought us peasant dresses； high stiff caps； black boddices； petticoats of many colours； and therein we dressed ourselves； and stole out； ere dawn； to a church； where we knelt till the Sieur d'Escaillonthe gentleman who attends Madame stilldrove up in a farmer's garb； with a market cart； and so forth from Bruges we drove。 We cause to Valenciennes； to her mother； but we found that she； by persuasion of the Duke； would give us both up； so the Sieur d'Escaillon got together sixty lances； and therewith we rode to Calais； where never were weary travellers more courteously received than we by Lord Northumberland； the captain of Calais。'
'Oh； I am glad you came to us English！' cried Alice。 'Only I would it had been my father who welcomed you。 And now？'
'Now I remain with my lady； as the only demoiselle she has from her country； and； moreover； I am waiting in the trust that my kinsmen will give up their purpose of bestowing me in marriage； now that I am beyond their reach； and in time I hope to obtain sufficient of my own goods for a dowry for whatever convent I may enter。'
'Oh； let it be an English one！' cried Alice。
'I have learnt to breathe freer since I have been on English soil；' said Esclairmonde； smiling； 'but where I may rest at last； Heaven only knows！'
'This is a strange country；' said Malcolm。 'No one seems afraid of violence and wrong here。'
'Is that so strange？' asked Alice； amazed。 'Why； men would be hanged if they did violence！'
'I would we were as sure of justice at my home；' sighed Esclairmonde。 'King Henry will bring about a better rule。'
'Never doubt；' cried Salisbury's daughter。 'When France is once subdued； there will be no more trouble； he will make your kinsmen do you right； dear demoiselle； and oh！ will you not found a beauteous convent？'
'King Henry has not conquered France yet；' was all Esclairmonde said。
'Ha！' cried the buxom Countess Jaqueline； as the ladies dismounted； 'never speak to me more； our solemn sister。 When have I done worse than lure a young cavalier； and chain him all day with my tongue？'
'He is a gentle boy！' said Esclairmonde； smiling。
'Truly he looked like a calf turned loose among strange cattle！ How gat he into the hall？'
'He is of royal Scottish blood；' said Esclairmonde 'cousin…german to King James。'
'And our grave nun has a fancy to tame the wild Scots； like a second St。 Margaret！ A king's grandson！ fie； fie！ what； become ambitious； Clairette？ Eh？ you were so occupied； that I should have been left to no one but Monseigneur of Gloucester； but that I was discreet； and rode with my Lord Bishop of Winchester。 How he chafed！ but I know better than to have tete…a…tetes with young sprigs of the blood royal！'
Esclairmonde laughed good…humouredly； partly in courtesy to her hoyden mistress； but partly at the burning； blushing indignation she beheld in the artless face of Alice Montagu。
The girl was as shy as a fawn； frightened at every word from knight or lady； and much in awe of her future mother…in…law； a stiff and stately dame； with all the Beaufort haughtiness； so that Lady Westmoreland gladly and graciously consented to the offer of the Demoiselle de Luxemburg to attend to the little maiden； and let her share her chamber and her bed。 And indeed Alice Montagu； bred up in strictness and in both piety and learning； as was sometimes the case with the daughters of the nobility； had in all her simplicity and bashfulness a purity and depth that made her a congenial spirit with the grave votaress； whom she regarded on her side with a young girl's enthusiastic admiration for a grown woman； although in point of fact the years between them were few。
The other ladies of the Court were a little in awe of the Demoiselle de Luxemburg； and did not seek her when they wished to indulge in the gossip whose malice and coarseness she kept in check； but if they were anxious； or in trouble； they always came to her as their natural consoler； and the Countess Jaqueline； bold and hoydenish as she was； kept the license of her tongue and manners under some shadow of restraint before her； and though sometimes bantering her； often neglecting her counsel； evidently felt her attendance a sort of safeguard and protection。
The gentlemen were mostly of the opinion of the Duke of Gloucester； who said that the Lady Esclairmonde was so like Deborah； come out of a Mystery； that it seemed to be always Passion…tide where she was； and she； moreover； was always guarded in her manner towards them； keeping her vocation in the recollection of all by her gravely and coldly courteous demeanour； and the sober hues and fashion of her dress； but being aware of Malcolm's destination； perceiving his loneliness； and really