Food and shelter and a home of some sort will be welcome to him whilst he tries the strength of his wings and fits them for a wider flight." "His mother's kindred," repeated Kate quickly, and with a shade of hauteur in her manner.

"Why, father, I have ever thought that on their mother's side our cousins had little cause to be proud of their parentage.

Was not their mother--" "The daughter of a wool stapler, one Martin Holt, foster brother to my venerated father, the third Earl of Andover," said Lady Frances, quietly.

"Truly, my daughter, these good folks are not in birth our equal, and would be the first to say so; nevertheless they are worthy and honest people, and I can remember that Bridget, my mother's maid, who astonished us and deeply offended her relations by a sudden and ill-judged marriage with Nicholas Trevlyn, was a wonderfully well-looking woman.

How and why such a marriage was made none may rightly know now.