"Do you hear that, grandsire?
The beautiful lady is a countess.

What an honour it would be to serve her!" "It might be," the old man replied, with hesitation, and in a whisper; "yet I do not exactly like the manner of it." "Don't accept the offer, Gillian.

Don't go," said Dick Taverner, whose breast was full of uneasiness.
"Your answer, my pretty maiden ?" the Countess said, with a winning smile.
"I am much beholden to you, my lady," Gillian replied, "and it will delight me to serve you as you propose--that is, if I have my grandsire's consent to it." "And the good man, I am sure, has your welfare too much at heart to withhold it," the Countess replied.

"But follow me to the palace, and we will confer further upon the matter.

Inquire for the Countess of Exeter's apartments." And with another gracious smile, she rejoined the cavalcade, leaving Lord Roos behind.