I thought we had been the earliest to greet this fresh and frosty air, save those on guard, yet you are before us.

Nay, wherefore doff thy cap, good father?
The air is somewhat too frosty for thy silvered head." "I cannot doff it to a nobler, gentle youth," answered the old man, courteously, "save to my sovereign's self; and as his representative, I pay willing homage to his brother." "Ha! dost thou know me, father?
And was it because I am King Robert's brother thine eyes so rested on me yester morn, mournfully, methought, as if the joy with which I hailed the gleam of sunshine smiling on our banner had little echo in thy breast ?" "Not that, not that," answered the old man, tremulous; "I scarce remarked it, for my thoughts were in that future which is sometimes given me to read.

I saw thee, noble youth, but 'twas not here.

Dim visions come across my waking hours; it is not well to note them," and he turned away as if he might not meet those eager eyes.
"Not here! yet I was at his side, good father," and Agnes laid her fair hand on the old man's arm.
"Thou wert, thou wert, my child.

Beautiful, beautiful!" he half whispered, as he laid his hand dreamily on those golden curls, and looked on her face; "yet hath sorrow touched thee, maiden.