"It would not have mattered if there had been an heir," said Agnes, a little bitterly; "we Royalists were dispossessed of all we had. What was the name of the people who came before you in the land?"
"De Lisle," said Reginald shortly.
An old man busy weeding a pathway suddenly drew himself up and said sharply:
"De Lisle! Who talks of the De Lisles? They were accursed and driven out, possessors of church lands. Fire and sword have purified them; they will come back again."
He looked from one to another till his eyes rested on Agnes. Pointing at her, he added:
"Yea, verily, they will come back to their own again. Hate drove them out; love will bring them back."
There was a prophetic tone in his voice and a flash in his eye; both died out, and he went back to his weeding.
"Let us go into the park," said Agnes; "he has frightened me, I know not why."
Passing through a side gate they entered the park, crossed a stretch of level grass, and came to the foot of a steep hill.
"Let's see who will reach the top first," said Ann gleefully. "Not you, Reginald, that would not be fair." And off she went, Agnes running beside her, the one a strong north-country girl, the other a fairy creature, who had never climbed a hill in her life. But Agnes was so light, so swift, that she outran her companion, and stood at the top of the hill clapping her hands and laughing with pleasure. Reginald with long strides had followed them.