She would once again have moved the Countess to retire to another apartment, but Lady Derby proceeded with too much vehemence to endure interruption.
"This Christian," she said, "had eaten of my lord his sovereign's bread, and drunk of his cup, even from childhood--for his fathers had been faithful servants to the House of Man and Derby.

He himself had fought bravely by my husband's side, and enjoyed all his confidence; and when my princely Earl was martyred by the rebels, he recommended to me, amongst other instructions communicated in the last message I received from him, to continue my confidence in Christian's fidelity.

I obeyed, although I never loved the man.

He was cold and phlegmatic, and utterly devoid of that sacred fire which is the incentive to noble deeds, suspected, too, of leaning to the cold metaphysics of Calvinistic subtlety.

But he was brave, wise, and experienced, and, as the event proved, possessed but too much interest with the islanders.