[#] In hot haste.
"There is cause, Dame," said the Earl gravely.
"Then I bid your Lordship good even," said the Countess, laughing, "for elsewise shall you ne'er have space to put on your hood. I wish you a joyous meeting with those your dear kinsfolk, and that they may not eat you ere I behold you again!"
She held out her hand, and he touched his lips to it.
"May God bless my Lady!" he said very gravely.
Then he left her, and went upstairs, to say good-bye to his children. As he slowly mounted, the thought occurred to him,—What does blessing mean? If God blessed Alianora, what would He do to her? According to the usual ideas of men, He would give her beauty, talent, wealth, luxury, and happiness. But was this what God meant by the word? Had He no better blessings than such as these? Were not His sweetest fruits wrapped often in unsightly husks—His rarest gems in crusts which concealed their brilliance? Might He not be blessing Roger himself by means of his disappointments, and not blessing Alianora through all the gifts He showered on her? Was there not something in that Book which Roger was beginning to know so well, and to apply instinctively to every thing which happened to him, about one to whom God gave corn, and wine, and oil, and silver, and gold, which she prepared for Baal? If men turned His blessings into means of sinning, was there no fear lest He should turn them into curses?
Little Anne ran to meet her father as soon as she heard his step. He stooped and took her in his arms.
"Little Nan," he said rather sadly, "what wilt thou grow to be?"
"A lady," said she readily, with brightening eyes.
"There be two sorts of women, my little maid. There be heart-comforters, and there be heart-breakers. Which wilt thou be?"