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The Ford of Montemar. p age 149. 
 

 OR, 
 
 THE LITTLE DUKE 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 "THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE," "KINGS OF ENGLAND." 
 
 With Illustrations, Drawn and Lithographed by 
 
 Jkur be tous nvdttts bmnoiscaus-s. 
 
 t 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 
 
 346 & 348 BROADWAY. 
 1856. 
 
t 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 On a bright autumn day, as long ago as the 
 year 943, there was a great bustle in the Castle 
 of Bayeux, in Normandy. 
 
 The hall was large and low, the roof arched, 
 and supported on thick short columns, almost 
 like the crypt of a cathedral ; the walls were 
 thick, and the windows, which had no glass, were 
 very small, set in such a depth of wall that there 
 was a wide, deep window-seat, upon which the 
 rain might beat, without reaching the interior 
 of the room. And even if it had come in, there 
 was nothing for it to hurt, for the walls were of 
 rough stone, and the floor of tiles. There was 
 a fire at each end of this great dark apartment, 
 but there .were no chimneys over the ample 
 
6 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 hearths, and the smoke curled about in thick 
 white folds in the vaulted roof, adding to the 
 wreaths of soot, which made the hall look still 
 darker. 
 
 The fire at the lower end was by far the larg- 
 est and the hottest. Great black caldrons hung 
 over it, and servants, both men and women, with 
 red faces, bare and grimed arms, and long iron 
 hooks, or pots and pans, were busied around it. 
 At the other end, which was raised about three 
 steps above the floor of the hall, other servants 
 were engaged. Two young maidens were strew- 
 ing fresh rushes on the floor ; some men were set- 
 ting up a long table of rough boards, supported 
 on trestles, and then ranging upon it silver cups, 
 drinking horns, and wooden trenchers. 
 
 Benches were placed to receive most of the 
 guests, but in the middle, at the place of honour, 
 was a high chair with very thick crossing legs, 
 and the arms curiously carved with lions' faces 
 and claws, a clumsy wooden footstool was set in 
 front, and the silver drinking-cup on the table 
 was of far more beautiful workmanship than the 
 others, richly chased with vine leaves and grapes, 
 and figures of little boys with goats' legs. If 
 that cup could have told its story, it would have 
 been a strange one, for it had Ik en made long 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 7 
 
 since, in the old Koman times, and had been car- 
 ried off from Italy by some Northman pirate. 
 
 From one of these scenes of activity to the 
 other, there moved a stately old lady, her long 
 thick light hair, hardly touched with grey, was 
 bound round her head, under a tall white cap, 
 with a band passing under her chin ; she wore a 
 long sweeping dark robe, with wide hanging 
 sleeves, and thick gold ear-rings, and necklace, 
 which had possibly come from the same quarter 
 as the cup. She directed the servants, inspected 
 both the cookery and arrangements of the table, 
 held council with an old steward, now and then 
 looked rather anxiously from the window, as if 
 expecting some one, and began to say something 
 about fears that these loitering youths would not 
 bring home the venison in time for Duke Wil- 
 liam's supper. 
 
 Presently, she looked up rejoiced, for a few 
 notes of a bugle-horn were sounded ; there was 
 a clattering of feet, and in a few moments there 
 bounded into the hall, a boy of about eight years 
 old, his cheeks and large blue eyes bright with 
 air and exercise, and his long light brown hair 
 streaming behind him, as he ran forward flour- 
 ishing a bow in his hand, and crying out, " I hit 
 him, I hit him ! Dame Astrida, do you hear ? 
 
8 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 'Tis a stag of ten branches, and I hit him in the 
 neck." 
 
 " You ! my Lord Eichard ! you killed him ? " 
 
 " Oh, no, I only struck him. It was Osmond's 
 shaft that took him in the eye, and — Look you, 
 Fru Astrida, he came thus through the wood, 
 and I stood here, it might be, under the great 
 elm, with my bow thus" — And Richard was be- 
 ginning to act over again the whole scene of the 
 deer-hunt, but Fru, that is to say, Lady Astrida, 
 was too busy to listen, and broke in with, " Have 
 they brought home the haunch ? " 
 
 " Yes, Walter is bringing it. I had a long 
 arrow — " 
 
 A stout forester was at that instant seen 
 bringing in the venison, and Dame Astrida has- 
 tened to meet it, and give directions, little Eich- 
 ard following her all the way, and talking as 
 eagerly as if she was attending to him, showing 
 how he shot, how Osmond shot, how the deer 
 bounded, and how it fell, and then counting the 
 branches of its antlers, always ending with, 
 " This is something to tell my father. Do 
 you think he will come soon ? " 
 
 In the meantime two men entered the hall, 
 one about fifty, the other, one or two-and twenty, 
 both in hunting dresses of plain leather, crossed 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 9 
 
 by broad embroidered belts, supporting a knife, 
 and a bugle-horn. The elder was broad-shoul- 
 dered, sun-burnt, ruddy, and rather stern-look- 
 ing ; the younger, who was also the taller, was 
 slightly made, and very active, with a bright 
 keen grey eye, and merry smile. These were 
 Dame Astrida's son, Sir Eric de Centeville, and 
 her grandson, Osmond ; and to their care Duke 
 William of Normandy had committed his only 
 child, Kichard, to be fostered, or brought up. 1 
 
 It was always the custom among the North- 
 men, that young princes should thus be put 
 under the care of some trusty vassal, instead of 
 being brought up at home, and one reason why 
 the Centevilles had been chosen by Duke Wil- 
 liam was, that both Sir Eric and his mother 
 spoke only the old Norwegian tongue, which he 
 wished young Richard to understand well ; 
 whereas, in other parts of the duchy, the Nor- 
 mans had forgotten their own tongue, and had 
 taken up what was then called the Langued'oui, 
 a language between German and Latin, which 
 was the beginning of French. 
 
 On this day, Duke William, himself was ex- 
 pected at Bayeaux, to pay a visit to his son before 
 setting out on a journey to settle the disputes 
 between the Counts of Flanders and Montreuil, 
 
10 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 and this was the reason of Fru Astrida's great 
 preparations. No sooner had she seen the 
 haunch placed upon a spit, which a little boy 
 was to turn before the fire, than she turned to 
 dress something else, namely, the young Prince 
 Richard himself, whom she led off to one of 
 the upper rooms, and there he had full time to 
 talk, while she, great Lady though she was, 
 herself combed smooth his long flowing curls, 
 and fastened his short scarlet cloth tunic, which 
 just reached to his knee, leaving his neck, arms, 
 and legs, bare. He Pegged hard to be allowed 
 to wear a short, beautifully ornamented dagger 
 at his belt, but this, Fru Astrida would not 
 allow. 
 
 " You will have enough to do with steel and 
 dagger before your life is at an end," said she, 
 " without seeking to begin over soon." 
 
 " To be sure I shall," answered Richard. 
 " I will be called Richard of the Sharp Axe, or 
 the Bold Spirit, I promise you, Fru Astrida. 
 We are as brave in these days as the Sigurds 
 and Ragnars you sing of ! I only wish there 
 were serpents and dragons to slay here in Nor- 
 mandy." 
 
 " Never fear but you will find even too many 
 of them," said Dame Astrida, " there be drag- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 11 
 
 ons of wrong here and everywhere, quite as ven- 
 omous as any in my Sagas." ' 
 
 " I fear them not/' said Richard, but half 
 understanding her, " If you would only let me 
 have the dagger ! But, Hark ! hark ! " he dart- 
 ed to the window, " They come, they come ! 
 There is the banner of Normandy." 
 
 Away ran the happy child, and never rested 
 till he stood at the bottom of the long, steep, 
 stone stair, leading to the embattled porch. 
 Thither came the Baron de Centeville, and his 
 son, to receive their Prince. Richard looked up at 
 Osmond, saying, " Let me hold his stirrup/' and 
 then sprang up and shouted for joy, as under 
 the arched gateway there came a tall black 
 horse, bearing the stately form of the Duke of 
 Normandy. His purple robe was fastened round 
 him by a rich belt, sustaining the mighty wea- 
 pon, from which he was called " William of the* 
 Long Sword," his legs and feet were cased in 
 linked steel chainwork, his gilded spurs were on 
 his heels, and his short brown hair was covered 
 by his ducal cap of purple, turned up with fur, 
 and a feather fastened in by a jewelled clasp. 
 His brow was grave and thoughtful, and there 
 was something both of dignity and sorrow in his 
 face, at the first moment of looking at it, re- 
 
12 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 calling the recollection that he had early lost 
 his young wife, the Duchess Emma, and that he 
 was beset by many cares and toils ; but the 
 next glance generally conveyed encouragement, 
 so full of mildness were his eyes, and so kind 
 the expression of his lips. 
 
 And now, how bright a smile beamed upon 
 the little Richard, who, for the first time, paid 
 him the duty of a pupil in chivalry, by holding 
 the stirrup while he sprung from his horse. 
 Next, Richard knelt to receive his blessing, 
 which was always the custom when children met 
 their parents. The Duke laid his hand on his 
 head, saying, " God of His mercy bless thee, 
 my son/' and lifting him in his arms, held him 
 to his breast, and let him cling to his neck and 
 kiss him again and again, before setting him 
 down, while Sir Eric came forward, bent his 
 # knee, kissed the hand of his Prince, and wel- 
 comed him to his castle. 
 
 It would take too long to tell all the friendly 
 and courteous words that were spoken, the greet- 
 ing of the Duke and the noble old Lady Astrida, 
 and the reception of the Barons who had come 
 in the train of their Lord. Richard was bidden 
 to greet them, but, though he held out his hand 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 13 
 
 as desired, he shrank a little to his father's side, 
 gazing at them in dread and shyness, 
 
 There was Count Bernard, of Harcourt, 
 called the " Dane," 2 with his shaggy red hair 
 and heard, to which a touch of grey had given 
 a strange unnatural tint, his eyes looking fierce 
 and wild under his thick eye-hrows, one of them 
 mis-shapen in consequence of a sword cut, which 
 had left a hroad red and purple scar across both 
 cheek and forehead. There, too, came tall Ba- 
 ron Eainulf, of Ferrieres, cased in a linked steel 
 hauberk, that rang as he walked, and the men- 
 at-arms, with helmets and shields, looking as if 
 Sir Eric's armour that hung in the hall, had 
 come to life and was walking about. 
 
 They sat down to Fru Astrida's banquet, 
 the old Lady at the Duke's right hand, and the 
 Couot of HarcOurt on his left ; Osmond carved 
 for the Duke, and Bichard handed his cup and m 
 trencher. All through the meal, the Duke and 
 his Lords talked earnestly of the expedition on 
 which they were bound to meet Count Arnulf 
 of Flanders, on a little islet in the river Somme, 
 there to come to some agreement, by which 
 Arnulf might make restitution to Count Herluin 
 of Montreuil, for certain wrongs which he had 
 done him. 
 
14 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 Some said that this would be the fittest time 
 for requiring Arnulf to yield up some towns on 
 his borders, to which Normandy had long laid 
 claim, but the Duke shook his head, saying that 
 he must seek no selfish advantage, when called 
 to judge between others. 
 
 Kichard was rather tired of their grave talk, 
 and thought the supper very long, but at last it 
 was over, the Grace was said, the boards which 
 had served for tables were removed, and as it was 
 still light, some of the guests went to see how 
 their steeds had been bestowed, others to look 
 at Sir Eric's horses and hounds, and others col- 
 lected together in groups. 
 
 The Duke had time to attend to his little 
 boy, and Richard sat upon his knee and talked, 
 told about all his pleasures, how his arrow had 
 hit the deer to-day, how Sir Eric let him ride 
 out to the chase on his little pony, how Osmond 
 would take him to bathe in the cool bright river, 
 and how he had watched the raven's nest in the 
 top of the old tower. 
 
 Duke William listened, and smiled, and 
 seemed as well pleased to hear as the boy was 
 to tell. " And Kichard," said he at last, " have 
 you nought to tell me of Father Lucas and his 
 great book ? What, not a word ? Look up, 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 15 
 
 Richard, and tell me how it goes with the 
 learning/' 3 
 
 " 0, father I " said Richard, in a low voice, 
 playing with the clasp of his father's belt, and 
 looking down, " I don't like those crabbed let- 
 ters on the old yellow parchment." 
 
 " But you try to learn them, I hope ? " said 
 the Duke. 
 
 " Yes, father, I do, but they are very hard, 
 and the words are so long, and Father Lucas 
 will always come when the sun is so bright, and 
 the wood so green, that I know not how to bear 
 to be kept poring over those black hooks and 
 strokes." 
 
 " Poor little fellow," said Duke William, smil- 
 ing, and Richard, rather encouraged, went on 
 more boldly. "You do not know this reading, 
 noble father ? " 
 
 " To my sorrow, no," said the Duke. 
 
 " And Sir Eric cannot read, nor Osmond, 
 nor any one, and why must I read, and cramp 
 my fingers with writing, just as if I was a clerk 
 instead of a young Duke." Richard looked up 
 in his father's face, and then hung his head, as 
 if half ashamed of questioning his will, but the 
 Duke answered him without displeasure. 
 
 " It is hard, no doubt, my boy, to you now, 
 
16 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 but it will be the better for you in the end. I 
 would give much to be able myself to read those 
 holy books which I must now only hear read to me 
 by a clerk, but since I have had the wish, I have 
 had no time to learn as you have now." 
 
 u But Knights and Nobles never learn/' said 
 Richard. 
 
 " And do you think it a reason they never 
 should ? But you are wrong, my boy, for the 
 Kings of France and England, the Counts of 
 Anjou, of Provence, and Paris, yes, even King 
 Hako of Norway, 4 can all read. 
 
 "I tell you, Richard, when the treaty was 
 drawn up for restoring this King Louis to his 
 throne, I was ashamed to find myself one of the 
 few crowned vassals who could not write his 
 name thereto." 
 
 " But none is so wise or so good as you, 
 father," said Richard, proudly, " Sir Eric often 
 says so." 
 
 " Sir Eric loves his Duke too well to see his 
 faults." said Duke William ; " but far better 
 and wiser might I have been, had I been taught 
 by such masters as you may be. And hark, 
 Richard, not only can all Princes here read, 
 but in England, King Ethelstane would have 
 every noble taught ; they study in his own pal- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 17 
 
 ace, with his brothers, and read the good words 
 that King Alfred the truth-teller, put into their 
 own tongue for them." 
 
 " I hate the English," said Kichard, raising 
 his head and looking very fierce. 
 
 " Hate them ? and wherefore ? " 
 
 " Because they traitorously killed the brave 
 Sea King; Ragnar ! Fru Astrida sings his 
 death-song, which he chanted when the vipers 
 were gnawing him to death, and he gloried to 
 think how his son would bring the ravens to 
 feast upon the Saxon. Oh ! had I been his son, 
 how would I have carried on the feud ! How I 
 would have laughed when I cut down the false 
 traitors, and burnt their palaces ! " Richard's 
 eye kindled, and his words, as he spoke the old 
 Norse language, flowed into a sort of wild verse 
 in which the Sagas, or legendary songs were 
 composed, and which, perhaps, he was uncon- 
 sciously repeating. 
 
 Duke William looked grave. 
 
 " Fru Astrida must sing you no more such 
 Sagas," said he, " if they fill your mind with 
 these revengeful thoughts, fit only for the wor- 
 shippers of Odin and Thor. Neither Ragnar 
 nor his sons knew better than to rejoice in this 
 
18 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 deadly vengeance, but we, who are Christians, 
 know that it is for us to forgive." 
 
 " The English had slain their father ! " said 
 Kichard, looking up with wondering dissatisfied 
 eyes. 
 
 " Yes, Kichard, and I speak not against 
 them, for they were even as we should have 
 been, had not King Harold the fair-haired, driv- 
 en your grandfather from Denmark. They had 
 not been taught the truth, but to us it has been 
 said, c Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven/ Listen 
 to me, my son, Christian as is this nation of 
 ours, this duty of forgiveness is too often neg- 
 lected, but let it not be so with you. Bear in 
 mind, whenever you see the Cross 5 marked on 
 our banner, or carved on stone on the Churches, 
 that it speaks of forgiveness to us ; but of that 
 pardon we shall never taste, if we forgive not 
 our enemies. Do you mark me, boy ? " 
 
 Richard hesitated a little, and then said, 
 " Yes, father, but I could never have pardoned, 
 had I been one of Ragnar's sons." 
 
 " It may be that you will be in their case, 
 Richard/' said the Duke, " and should I fall, as 
 it may well be I shall, in some of the contests 
 that tear to pieces this unhappy Kingdom of 
 France, then, remember what I say now. I 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 charge you on your duty to God, and to your 
 father, that you keep up no feud, no hatred, but 
 rather that you should deem me best revenged, 
 when you have with your heart and hand, given 
 the fullest proof of forgiveness to your enemy. 
 Give me your word that you will." 
 
 " Yes, father," said Richard, with rather a 
 subdued tone, and resting his head on his fath- 
 er's shoulder. There was silence for a little 
 space, during which he began to revive into 
 playfulness, to stroke the Duke's short curled 
 beard, and play with his embroidered collar. 
 
 In so doing, his fingers caught hold of a sil- 
 ver chain, and pulling it out with a jerk, he saw 
 a silver key attached to it. " 0, what is 
 that ? " he asked eagerly. " What does that 
 key unlock ? " 
 
 " My greatest treasure," replied Duke Wil- 
 liam, as he replaced the chain and key within 
 his robe. 
 
 " Your greatest treasure, father ! Is that 
 your coronet ? " 
 
 " You will know it one day," said his father, 
 putting the little hand down from its too busy 
 investigation ; and some of the barons at that 
 moment returning into the hall, he had no more 
 leisure to bestow on his little son. 
 
20 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 The next day, after morning service in the 
 Chapel, and breakfast in the hall, the Duke 
 again set forward on his journey, giving Rich- 
 ard hopes that he might return in a fortnight's 
 time, and obtaining from him a promise that he 
 would be very attentive to Father Lucas, and 
 very obedient to Sir Eric de Centeville. 
 
 i 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 One evening Fru Astrida sat in her tall chair 
 in the chimney corner, her distaff, with its load 
 of flax in her hand, while she twisted and drew 
 out the thread, and her spindle danced on the 
 floor. Opposite to her, sat sleeping in the chair, 
 Sir Eric de Centeville ; Osmond was on a low 
 bench within the chimney corner, trimming and 
 shaping with his knife some feathers of the wild 
 goose, which were to fly in a different fashion 
 from their former one, and serve, not to wing 
 the flight of a harmless goose, but of a sharp 
 arrow. 
 
 The men of the household sat ranged on 
 benches on one side of the hall, the women on 
 the other ; a great red fire, together with an 
 immense flickering lamp which hung from the 
 ceiling, supplied the light ; the windows were 
 closed with wooden shutters, and the whole 
 apartment had a cheerful appearance. Two 01 
 
22 
 
 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 three large hounds were reposing in front of the 
 hearth, and among them sat little Kichard of 
 Normandy, now smoothing down their broad 
 silken ears ; now tickling the large cushions of 
 their feet with the end of one of Osmond's feath- 
 ers ; now fairly pulling open the eyes of one of 
 the good-natured sleepy creatures, which only 
 stretched its legs, and remonstrated with a sort 
 of low groan, rather than a growl. The boy's 
 eyes were, all the time, intently fixed on Dame 
 Astrida, as if he would not lose one word of the 
 story she was telling him ; how Earl Eollo, his 
 grandfather, had sailed into the mouth of the 
 Seine, and how Archbishop Franco of Eouen, 
 had come to meet him, and brought him the 
 keys of the town, and how not one Neustrian 
 of Eouen had met with harm from the brave 
 Northmen. Then she told him his grandfather's 
 baptism, and how during the seven days that 
 he wore his white baptismal robes, he had made 
 large gifts to all the chief churches in his 
 dukedom of Normandy. 
 
 " 0, but tell of the paying homage ! " said 
 Eichard ; " and how Sigurd Bloodaxe threw 
 down simple King Charles ! Ah ! how would 
 I have laughed to see it ! " 
 
 " Nay, nay, Lord Eichard," said the old 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 23 
 
 lady, " I love not that tale. That was ere the 
 Norman learnt courtesy, and rudeness ought ra- 
 ther to be forgotten than remembered, save for 
 the sake of amending it. No, I will rather tell 
 you of our coming to Centeville, and how dreary 
 I thought these smooth meads, and broad soft 
 gliding streams, compared with mine own father's 
 fiord in Norway, shut in with the tall black 
 rocks, and the dark pines above them, and far 
 away the snowy mountains rising into the sky. 
 Ah ! how blue the waters were in the long 
 summer days, when I sat in my father's boat in 
 the little fiord, and — " 
 
 Dame Astrida was interrupted. A bugle 
 note rang out at the castle gate ; the dogs 
 started to their feet, and uttered a sudden deaf- 
 ening bark ; Osmond sprung up, exclaiming, 
 " Hark ! " and trying to silence the hounds ; 
 and Eichard, running to Sir Eric, cried, " Wake, 
 wake, Sir Eric, my father is come. haste to 
 open the gates and admit him ! " 
 
 " Peace, dogs ! " said Sir Eric, slowly rising, 
 as the blast £>f the horn was repeated. " Go, 
 Osmond, with the porter, and see whether he 
 who comes at such an hour be friend or foe. 
 Stay you here, my Lord," he added, as Eichard 
 was running after Osmond, and the little boy 
 
24 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 obeyed, and stood still, though quivering all 
 over with impatience. 
 
 " Tidings from the Duke, I should guess," 
 said Fru Astrida. " It can scarce be himself 
 at such an hour." 
 
 " 0, it must be, dear Fru Astrida ! " said 
 Kichard. " He said he would come again. 
 Hark, there are horses' feet in the court ! I am 
 sure that is his black charger's tread ! And I 
 shall not be there to hold his stirrup ! Oh ! 
 Sir Eric, let me go." 
 
 Sir Eric, always a man of few words, only 
 shook his head, and at that moment, steps 
 were heard on the stone stairs. Again Eichard 
 was about to spring forward, when Osmond 
 returned, his face showing, at a glance, that 
 something was amiss ; but all that he said was, 
 " Count Bernard of Harcourt, and Sir Rainulf 
 de Ferrieres," and he stood aside to let them 
 pass. 
 
 Richard stood still in the midst of the hall, 
 disappointed. Without greeting to Sir Eric, or 
 to any within the hall, the Count of Harcourt 
 came forward to Richard, bent his knee before 
 him, took his hand, and said in a broken voice 
 and heaving breast, " Richard, Duke of Nor- 
 mandy, I am thy liegeman and true vassal; " 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 25 
 
 then, rising from his knees while Kainulf de 
 Ferrieres went through the same form, the old 
 man covered his face with his hands, and wept 
 aloud. 
 
 " Is it even so ? "■ said the Baron de Cente- 
 ville, and being answered by a mournful look 
 and sign from Ferrieres, he, too, bent before the 
 boy, and repeated the words, " I am thy liege- 
 man and true vassal, and swear fealty to thee 
 for my castle and barony of Centeville." 
 
 " no, no ! ;; cried Kichard, drawing back 
 his hand in a sort of agony ; feeling as if he was 
 in a frightful dream from which he could not 
 awake. " What means it ? Oh ! Fru Astrida, 
 tell me what it means ? Where is my father ? " 
 
 " Alas ! my child ! " said the old lady, 
 putting her arm round him, and drawing him 
 close to her, whilst her tears flowed fast, and 
 Richard stood, reassured by her embrace, listen- 
 ing with eyes opened wide, and deep oppressed 
 breathing, to what was passing between the 
 four nobles, who spoke earnestly among them- 
 selves, without much heed of him. 
 
 " The Duke dead ! V repeated Sir Eric de 
 Centeville, like one stunned and stupified. 
 
 " Even so/' said Rainulf, slowly and sadly, 
 
 2 
 
26 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 and the silence was only broken by the long- 
 drawn sobs of old Count Bernard. 
 
 "But how ! when ? where ? " broke forth 
 Sir Eric, presently. " There was no note of 
 battle when yon went forth. ; why was not I 
 at his side ? " 
 
 " He fell not in battle/' gloomily replied Sir 
 Kainulf. 
 
 " Ha ! conld sickness cut him down so 
 quickly ? " 
 
 " It was not sickness/' answered Ferrieres. 
 "It was treachery. He fell in the isle of 
 Pecquigny, by the hand of the false Fleming ! " 
 
 " Lives the traitor yet ? " cried the Baron 
 de Centeville, grasping his good sword. 
 
 " He lives and rejoices in his crime," said 
 Ferrieres, " safe in his own merchant towns." 
 
 " I can scarce credit you, my Lords ! " said 
 Sir Eric. " Our Duke slain, and his enemv safe, 
 and you here to tell the tale ! " 
 
 " I would I were stark and stiff by my 
 Lord's side!" said Count Bernard, "but for 
 the sake of Normandy, and of that poor child, 
 who is like to need all that ever were friends to 
 his house. I would that mine eyes had been 
 blinded for ever, ere they had seen that sight ! 
 And not a sword lifted in his defence ! Tell 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 27 
 
 you how it passed, Kainulf ! My tongue will 
 not speak it." 
 
 He threw himself on a bench and covered 
 his face with his mantle, while Kainulf de 
 Ferrieres proceeded ; " You know how in an 
 evil hour our good Duke appointed to meet 
 this caitiff Count of Flanders in the isle of 
 Pecquigny, the Duke and Count each bringing 
 twelve men with them, all unarmed. Duke 
 Alan of Brittany was one on our side, Count 
 Bernard here another, old Count Bothon and 
 myself ; we bore no weapon — would that we 
 had — but not so the false Flemings. Ah me ! 
 I shall never forget Duke William's lordly pres- 
 ence when he stepped ashore, and doffed his 
 bonnet to the knave Arnulf." 
 
 " Yes/' interposed Bernard. " And marked 
 you not the words of the traitor, as they met ? 
 1 My Lord,' quoth he, ' you are my shield and 
 defence/ Would that I could cleave his trea- 
 son-hatching skull with my battle-axe." 
 
 " So," continued Rainulf, " they conferred 
 together, and as words cost nothing to Arnulf, 
 he not only promised all restitution to the pal- 
 try Montreuil, but even was for offering to pay 
 homage to our Duke for Flanders itself; but 
 this oar William refused, saying it were foul 
 
28 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 wrong to both King Louis of France, and Kai- 
 ser Otlio of Germany, to take from them their 
 vassal. They took leave of each other in all 
 courtesy, and we embarked again. It was Duke 
 William's pleasure to go alone in a small boat, 
 while we twelve were together in another. Just 
 as we had nearly reached our own bank, there 
 was a shout from the Flemings that their Count 
 had somewhat further to say to the Duke, and 
 forbidding us to follow him, the Duke turned 
 his boat and went back again. No sooner had 
 he set foot on the isle," proceeded the Norman, 
 clenching his hands, and speaking between his 
 teeth, " than we saw one Fleming strike him on 
 the head with an oar ; he fell senseless, the rest 
 threw themselves upon him, and the next mo- 
 ment held up their bloody daggers in scorn at 
 us ! You may well think how we shouted and 
 yelled at them, and plyed our oars like men 
 distracted, but all in vain ; they were already 
 in their boats, and ere we could reach the isle, 
 they were on the other side of the river, mounted 
 their horses, fled with coward speed, and were 
 out of reach of a Norman's vengeance." 
 
 " But they shall not be so long ! " cried 
 Richard, starting forward ; for, to his childish 
 fancy, this dreadful history was more like one 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 29 
 
 of Dame Astrida's legends than a reality, and 
 at the moment his thought was only of the 
 blackness of the treason. " that I were a 
 man to chastise them ! One day they shall 
 feel—" 
 
 He broke off shorfc, for he remembered how 
 his father had forbidden his denunciations of 
 vengeance, but his words were eagerly caught 
 up by the barons, who, as Duke William had 
 said, were far from possessing any temper of for- 
 giveness, thought revenge a duty, and were only 
 glad to see a warlike spirit in their new Prince. 
 
 " Ha ! say you so, my young Lord ? " ex- 
 claimed old Count Bernard, rising. " Yes, and 
 I see a sparkle in your eye that tells me you 
 will one day avenge him nobly ! " 
 
 Richard drew up his head, and his heart 
 throbbed high as Sir Eric made answer, " Aye, 
 truly, that will he ! You might search Nor- 
 mandy through, yea, and Norway likewise, ere 
 you would find a temper more bold and free. 
 Trust my word, Count Bernard, our young 
 Duke will be famed as widely as ever were his 
 forefathers ! " 
 
 " I believe it well ! " said Bernard. " He 
 hath the port of his grandfather, Duke Rollo, 
 and much, too, of his noble father ! How say 
 
30 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 you, Lord Bichard, will you be a valiant leader 
 of the Norman race against our foes ? " 
 
 " That I will ! " said Bichard, carried away 
 by the applause excited by those few words 
 of his. " I will ride at your head this very 
 night, if you will but go to chastise the false 
 Flemings." 
 
 " You shall ride with us to-morrow, my 
 Lord," answered Bernard, " but it must be to 
 Bouen, there to be invested with your ducal 
 sword and mantle, and to receive the homage of 
 your vassals." 
 
 Bichard dropped his head without replying, 
 for this seemed to bring to him the perception 
 that his father was really gone, and that he 
 should never see him again. He thought of all 
 his projects for the day of his return, how he 
 had almost counted the hours, and had looked 
 forward to telling him that Father Lucas was 
 well pleased with him ! And now he should 
 never nestle in his breast again, never hear his 
 voice, never see those kind eyes beam upon him. 
 Large tears gathered in his eyes, and ashamed 
 that they should be seen, he sat down on a foot- 
 stool at Fru Astrida's feet, leant his forehead 
 on his hands, and thought over all that his 
 father had done and said the last time they were 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 31 
 
 together. He fancied the return that had been 
 promised, going over the meeting and the 
 greeting, till he had almost persuaded himself 
 that this dreadful story was but a dream. But 
 when he looked up, there were the Barons, with 
 their grave mournful faces, speaking of the 
 corpse, which Duke Alan of Brittany was escort- 
 ing to Kouen, there to be buried beside the old 
 Duke Eollo, and the Duchess Emma, Bichard's 
 mother. Then he lost himself in wonder how 
 that stiff bleeding body could be the same as 
 the father whose arm was so lately round him^ 
 and whether his father's spirit knew how he was 
 thinking of him ; and in these dreamy thoughts, 
 the young orphan Duke of Normandy, forgotten 
 by his vassals in their grave councils, fell asleep, 
 and scarce wakened enough to attend to his 
 prayers, when Fru Astrida at length remem- 
 bered him, and led him away to bed. 
 
 When Eichard awoke the next morning, he 
 could hardly believe that all that had passed in 
 the evening was true, but he soon found that it 
 was but too real, and all was prepared for him 
 to go to Kouen with the vassals ; indeed, it was 
 for no other purpose than to fetch him, that the 
 Count of Harcourt had come to Bayeux. Fru 
 Astrida was quite unhappy that " the child," as 
 
32 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 she called him, should go alone with the war- 
 riors ; but Sir Eric laughed at her, and said 
 that it would never do for the Duke of Nor- 
 mandy to bring his nurse with him in his first 
 entry into Rouen, and she must be content to 
 follow at some space behind, under the escort of 
 Walter, the huntsman. 
 
 So she took leave of Eichard, charging both 
 Sir Eric and Osmond to have the utmost care to 
 him, and shedding tears as if the parting was to 
 be for a much longer space ; he then bade fare- 
 well to the servants of the castle, received the 
 blessing of Father Lucas, and mounting his 
 pony, rode off between Sir Eric and Count 
 Bernard. Eichard was but a little boy, and he 
 did not think so much of his loss, as he rode 
 along in the free morning air, feeling himself a 
 Prince at the head of his vassals, his banner dis- 
 played before him, and the people coming out 
 wherever he passed to gaze on him, and call 
 for blessings on his name. Eainulf de Ferrieres 
 carried a large heavy purse filled with silver and 
 gold, and whenever they came to these gazing 
 crowds, Eichard was well pleased to thrust his 
 hand deep into it, and scatter handfuls of coins 
 among the gazers, especially where he saw little 
 children. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 33 
 
 They stopped to dine and rest in the middle 
 of the day, at the castle of a Baron, who, as 
 soon as the meal was over, mounted his horse, 
 and joined them in their ride to Rouen. So far 
 it had not been very different from Richard's 
 last journey, when he went to keep Christmas 
 there with his father ; but now they were be- 
 o-innino; to come nearer the town, he knew the 
 broad river Seine again, and saw the square 
 tower of the Cathedral, and he remembered how 
 at that very place his father had met him, and 
 how he had ridden by his side into the town, 
 and had been led by his hand up to the hall. 
 
 His heart was very heavy, as he recollected 
 there was no one now to meet and welcome 
 him ; scarcely any one to whom he could even 
 tell his thoughts, for those tall grave Barons had 
 nothing to say to such a little boy, and the very 
 respect and formality with which they treated 
 him made him shrink from them still more, 
 especially from the grim-faced Bernard ; and 
 Osmond, his own friend and playfellow, was 
 obliged to ride far behind, as inferior in rank. 
 
 They entered the town just as it was grow- 
 ing dark. Count Bernard looked back and ar- 
 rayed the procession ; Eric de Centeville bade 
 Richard sit upright and not look weary, and 
 *2 
 
34 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 then all the Knights held back while the little 
 Duke rode alone a little in advance of them 
 through the gateway. There was a loud shout 
 of " Long live the little Duke ! " and crowds of 
 people were standing round to gaze upon his 
 entry, so many, that the bag of coins was soon 
 emptied by his largesses. The whole city was 
 like one great castle, shut in by a wall and moat, 
 and with Rollo's Tower rising at one end like 
 the keep of a castle, and it was thither that 
 Richard was turning his horse, when the Count 
 of Harcourt said, " Nay, my Lord, to the Church 
 of our Lady/' 7 
 
 It was then considered a duty to be paid to 
 the deceased, that their relatives and friends 
 should visit them as they lay in state, and 
 sprinkle them with drops of holy water, and 
 Richard was now to pay this token of respect. 
 He trembled a little, and yet it did not seem 
 quite so dreary, since he should once more look 
 on his father's face, and he accordingly rode to- 
 wards the Cathedral. It was then very unlike 
 what it is now ; the walls were very thick, the 
 windows small and almost buried in heavy 
 carved arches ; the columns within were low, 
 clumsy, and circular, and it was usually so dark 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 35 
 
 that the vaulting of the roof could scarcely be 
 seen. 
 
 Now, however, a whole flood of light poured 
 forth from every window, and when Richard 
 came, to the door, he saw not only the two tall, 
 thick candles that always burnt on each side of 
 the Altar, but in the Chancel stood a double row 
 ranged in a square, shedding a pure quiet bril- 
 liancy throughout the building, and chiefly on 
 the silver and gold ornaments of the Altar. 
 Outside these lights, knelt a rank of priests in 
 dark garments, their heads bowed over their 
 clasped hands, and their chanted psalms sound- 
 ing sweet, and full of soothing music. Within 
 that guarded space was a bier, and a form lay 
 on it. 
 
 Eichard trembled still more with awe, and 
 would have paused, but he was obliged to pro- 
 ceed. He dipped his hand in the water of the 
 font, crossed his brow, and came slowly on, 
 sprinkled the remaining drops on the lifeless 
 figure, and then stood still. There was an op- 
 pression on his breast, as if he could neither 
 breathe nor move. 
 
 There lay William of the Long Sword, like 
 a good and true Christian warrior, arrayed in his 
 shining armour, his sword by his side, his shield 
 
36 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 on his arm, and a cross between his hands, 
 clasped upon his breast. His ducal mantle of 
 crimson velvet, lined with ermine, was round 
 his shoulders, and instead of a helmet, his cor- 
 onet was on his head ; but in contrast with this 
 rich array, over the collar of the hauberk, was 
 folded the edge of a rough hair shirt, which the 
 Duke had worn beneath his robes, unknown to 
 all, until his corpse was disrobed of his blood- 
 stained garments. His face looked full of calm 
 solemn peace, as if he had gently fallen asleep, 
 and was only awaiting the great call to awaken. 
 There was not a single token of violence visible 
 about him, save that one side of his forehead 
 bore a deep purple mark, where he had first 
 been struck by the blow of the oar which de- 
 prived him of sense. 
 
 " See you that, my Lord ? " said Count Ber- 
 nard, first breaking the silence, in a low, deep, 
 stern voice. 
 
 Kichard had heard little for many hours past 
 save counsels against the Flemings, and plans 
 of bitter enmity against them ; and the sight of 
 his murdered father, with that look and tone of 
 the old Dane, fired his spirit, and breaking from 
 his trance of silent awe and grief, he exclaimed, 
 " I see it, and dearly shall the traitor Fleming 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 37 
 
 abye it ! " Then, encouraged by the applaud- 
 ing looks of the nobles, he proceeded, feeling 
 like one of the young champions of Fru As- 
 trida's songs. His cheek was coloured, his eye 
 lighted up, and he lifted his head so that the 
 hair fell back from his forehead, he laid his hand 
 on the hilt of his father's sword, and spoke on 
 in words, perhaps, suggested by some saga. 
 " Yes, Arnulf of Flanders, know that Duke 
 William of Normandy shall not rest unavenged ! 
 On this good sword I vow that soon as my arm 
 shall have strength — " 
 
 The rest was left unspoken, for a hand was 
 laid on his arm. A priest, who had hitherto 
 been kneeling near the head of the corpse, had 
 risen, and stood tall and dark over him, and 
 looking up, he recognised the pale grave coun- 
 tenance of Martin, Abbot of Jumieges, his 
 father's chief friend and councillor. 
 
 " Eichard of Normandy, what sayest thou ? " 
 said he, sternly. " Yes, hang thy head, and 
 reply not, rather than repeat those words. Dost 
 thou come here to disturb the peace of the dead 
 with clamours for vengeance ? Dost thou vow 
 strife and anger on that sword which was never 
 drawn save in the cause of the poor and dis- 
 tressed ? Wouldst thou rob Him to whose 
 
38 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 service thy life has been pledged, and devote 
 thyself to that of His foe ? Is this what thou 
 hast learnt from thy blessed father ? " 
 
 Eichard made no answer, but he covered his 
 face with his hands to hide the tears which were 
 fast streaming. 
 
 " Lord Abbot, Lord Abbot, this passes ! " 
 exclaimed Bernard the Dane. u Our young 
 Lord is no monk, and we will not see each spark 
 of noble and knightly spirit quenched as soon 
 as it shows itself." 
 
 " Count of Harcourt," said Abbot Martin, 
 " are these the words of a savage Pagan, or of 
 one who has been washed in yonder blessed font ? 
 Never while I have power, shalt thou darken the 
 child's soul with thy foul thirst of revenge, insult 
 the presence of thy master with the crime he 
 so abhorred, nor the temple of Him who came to 
 pardon, with thy hatred. Well do I know, ye 
 Barons of Normandy, that each drop of your 
 blood would willingly be given, could it bring 
 back our departed Duke, or guard his orphan 
 child ; but if ye have loved the father, do his 
 bidding, lay aside that accursed spirit of hatred 
 and vengeance ; if ye love the child, seek not to 
 injure his soul more deeply than even his bit- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 39 
 
 » • 
 
 terest foe, were it Arnulf himself, hath power to 
 hurt him." 
 
 The Barons were silenced whatever their 
 thoughts might be, and Abbot Martin turned to 
 Richard, whose tears were still dropping fast 
 through his fingers, as the thought of those last 
 words of his father returned more clearly upon 
 him. The Abbot laid his hand on his head, 
 and spoke gently to him. " These are tears of 
 a softened heart, I trust," said he. " I well be- 
 lieve that thou didst scarce know what thou 
 wert saying." 
 
 " Forgive me ! " said Richard, as well as he 
 could speak. 
 
 " See there," said the priest, pointing to the 
 large Cross over the Altar, " thou knowest the 
 meaning of that sacred sign ? " 
 
 Richard bowed his head in assent and rev- 
 erence. 
 
 "It speaks of forgiveness," continued the 
 Abbot. "And knowest thou who gave that 
 pardon ? The Son forgave His murderers ; the 
 Father them who slew His Son. And shalt 
 thou call for vengeance ? " 
 
 " But oh ! " said Richard, looking up, " must 
 that cruel murderous traitor glory unpunished 
 
40 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 in his crime, while there lies — " and again his 
 voice was cut off by tears. 
 
 " Vengeance shall surely overtake the sin- 
 ner/' said Martin, u the vengeance of the Lord, 
 and in His own good time, but it must not be 
 of thy seeking. Nay, Kichard, thou art of all 
 men the most bound to show love and mercy to 
 Aruulf of Flanders. Yes, when the hand of 
 the Lord hath touched him, and bowed him 
 down in punishment for his crime, it is then 
 that thou, whom he hath most deeply injured, 
 shouldst stretch out thine hand to aid him, and 
 receive him with pardon and peace. If thou 
 dost vow aught on the sword of thy blessed 
 father, in the sanctuary of thy Kedeemer, let it 
 be a Christian vow." 
 
 Kichard wept too bitterly to speak, and Ber- 
 nard cle Harcourt, taking his hand, led him away 
 from the Church. 
 
CHAPTEK III. 
 
 Duke William of the Long Sword was 
 buried the next morning in high pomp and state, 
 with many a prayer and psalm chanted over his 
 grave. 
 
 When this was over, little Kichard, who had 
 all the time stood or knelt nearest the corpse, in 
 one dull heavy dream of heavy wonder and sor- 
 row, was led back to the palace, and there his 
 long heavy black garments were taken off, and 
 he was dressed in his short scarlet tunic, his 
 hair was carefully arranged, and then he came 
 down again into the hall, where there was a 
 great assembly of Barons, some in armour, some 
 in long furred gowns, who had all been attend- 
 ing his father's burial. Kichard, as he was de- 
 sired by Sir Eric de Centeville, took off his cap, 
 and bowed low in reply to the reverences with 
 which they all greeted his entrance, and he then 
 
42 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 slowly crossed the hall, and descended the steps 
 from the door, while they formed into a pro- 
 cession behind him, according to their ranks — 
 the Duke of Brittany first, and then all the rest, 
 down to the poorest Knight who held his manor 
 immediately from the Duke of Normandy. 
 
 Thus they proceeded, in slow and solemn 
 order, till they came to the Church of our Lady. 
 The clergy were there already, ranged in ranks 
 on each side of the choir ; and the Bishops in 
 their mitres, and rich robes, each with his pas- 
 toral staff in his hand, were standing round the 
 Altar. As the little Duke entered, there arose 
 from all the voices in the Chancel the full loud 
 clear chant of Te Deum Laudamus, echoing 
 among the dark vaults of the roof. To that 
 sound Kichard walked up the choir, to a large, 
 heavy, cross-legged carved chair, raised on two 
 steps, just before the steps of the Altar began, 
 and there he stood, Bernard de Harcourt and 
 Eric de Centeville on each side of him, and all 
 his other vassals in due order in the choir. 
 
 After the beautiful chant of the hymn was 
 ended, the service for the Holy Communion 
 began. When the time came for the offeriDg, 
 each noble gave gold or silver ; and, lastly, 
 Rainulf of Ferrieres, came up to the step of the 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 43 
 
 Altar with a cushion, on which was placed a 
 circlet of gold, the Ducal coronet ; and another 
 Baron, following him closely, carried a long 
 heavy sword, with a cross handle. The Arch- 
 bishop of Rouen received both coronet and 
 sword, and laid them on the Altar. Then the 
 service proceeded. At that time the rite of 
 Confirmation was administered in infancy, and 
 Richard, who had been confirmed by his god- 
 father, the Archbishop of Rouen, immediately 
 after his baptism, knelt in solemn awe to receive 
 the other Holy Sacrament from his hands, as 
 soon as all the Clergy had communicated. 8 
 
 When the administration was over, Richard 
 was led forward to the step of the Altar by 
 Count Bernard and Sir Eric, and the Arch- 
 bishop, laying one hand upon both his, as he 
 held them clasped together, demanded of him 
 in the name of God and of the people of Nor- 
 mandy, whether he would be their good and 
 true ruler, guard them from their foes, maintain 
 truth, punish iniquity, and protect the Church. 
 
 " I will ! " answered Richard's young trem- 
 bling voice, " So help me God ! " and he knelt 
 and kissed the book of the Holy Gospels, which 
 the Archbishop offered him. 
 
 It was a great and awful oath, and he 
 
44 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 dreaded to think that he had taken it. He 
 still knelt, put both hands over his face, and 
 whispered, " God, my Father, help me to 
 keep it." 
 
 The Archbishop waited till he rose, and 
 then, turning his face to the people, said, 
 " Eichard, by the grace of Grod, I invest thee 
 with the ducal mantle of Normandy ! " 
 
 Two of the Bishops then hung round his 
 shoulders a crimson velvet mantle, furred with 
 ermine, which, made as it was for a grown man, 
 hung heavily on the poor child's shoulders, and 
 lay in heaps on the ground. The Archbishop 
 then set the golden coronet on his long flowing 
 hair, where it hung so loosely on the little head, 
 that Sir Eric was obliged to put his hand to it 
 to hold it safe ; and, lastly, the long, straight, 
 two-handed sword was brought, and placed in 
 his hand, with another solemn bidding to use it 
 ever in maintaining the right. It should have 
 been girded to his side, but the great sword was 
 so much taller than the little Duke, that as it 
 stood upright by him, he was obliged to raise 
 his arm to put it round the handle. 
 
 He then had to return to iris throne, which 
 was not done without some difficulty, encum- 
 bered as he was, but Osmond held up the train 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 45 
 
 of his mantle, Sir Eric kept the coronet on his 
 head, and he himself held fast and lovingly the 
 sword, though the Count of Harcourt offered to 
 carry it for him. He was lifted up to his throne, 
 and then came the paying him homage ; Alan, 
 Duke of Brittany, was the first to kneel before 
 him, and with his hand between those of the 
 Duke, he swore to be his man, to obey him, and 
 pay him feudal service for his dukedom of Brit- 
 tany. In return, Richard swore to be his good 
 Lord, and to protect him from all his foes. 
 Then followed Bernard the Dane, and many 
 another, each repeating the same formulary, as 
 their large rugged hands were clasped within 
 those little soft fingers. Many a kind and loving 
 eye was bent in compassion on the orphan child ; 
 many a strong voice faultered with earnestness 
 as it pronounced the vow, and many a brave 
 stalwart heart heaved with grief for the mur- 
 dered father, and tears flowed down the war- 
 worn cheeks which had met the fiercest storms 
 of the northern ocean, as they bent before the 
 young fatherless boy, whom they loved for the 
 ;> sake of his conquering grandfather, and his 
 brave and pious father. Few Normans were 
 there whose hearts did not glow at the touch of 
 
46 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 those small hands, with the love almost of a 
 parent, for their young Duke. 
 
 The ceremony of receiving homage lasted 
 long, and Kichard, though interested and 
 touched at first, grew very weary ; the crown 
 and mantle were so heavy, the faces succeeded 
 each other like figures in an endless dream, and 
 the constant repetition of the same words were 
 very tedious. He grew sleepy, he longed to 
 jump up, to lean to the right or left, or to speak 
 something besides that regular form. He gave 
 one great yawn,, but it brought him such a 
 frown from the stern face of Bernard, as quite 
 to wake him for a few minutes, and make him 
 sit upright, and receive the next vassal with as 
 much attention as he had shown the first, but 
 he looked imploringly at Sir Eric, as if to ask 
 if it ever would be over. At last, far down 
 among the Barons, came one at whose sight 
 Richard revived a little. It was a boy only a 
 few years older than himself, perhaps about ten, 
 with a pleasant brown face, black hair, and 
 quick black .eyes, which glanced with a look be- 
 tween friendliness and respect, up into the little 
 Duke's gazing face. Richard listened eagerly 
 for his name, and was refreshed at the sound of 
 the boyish voice that pronounced, " I, Alberic 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 47 
 
 de Mont cm ar, am thy liegeman and vassal for 
 my castle and barony of Montemar sur Epte." 
 
 When Alberic moved away, Richard fol- 
 lowed him with his eye as far as he could to his 
 place in the Cathedral, and was taken by sur- 
 prise when he found the next Baron kneeling 
 before him. 
 
 The ceremony of homage came to an end at 
 last, and Richard would fain have run all the 
 way to the palace to shake off his weariness, 
 but he was obliged to head the procession again ; 
 and even when he reached the castle ball his 
 toils were not over, for there was a great . state 
 banquet spread out, and he had to sit in the 
 high chair where he remembered climbing on 
 his father's knee last Christmas-day, all the time 
 that the Barons feasted round, and held grave 
 converse. Richard's best comfort all this time 
 was in watching Osmond de Centeville and 
 Alberic de Montemar, who, with the other 
 youths who were not yet knighted, were waiting 
 on those who sat at the table. At last he grew 
 so very weary, that he fell fast asleep in the cor- 
 ner of his chair, and did not wake till he was 
 startled by the rough voice of Bernard de Har- 
 court, calling him to rouse up, .and bid the 
 Duke of Brittany farewell. 
 
48 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " Poor child ! " said Duke Alan, as Richard 
 rose up startled, "he is over-wearied with this 
 day's work. Take care of him, Count Bernard, 
 thou art a kindly nurse, but a rough one for 
 such a babe. Ha ! my young Lord, your colour 
 mantles at being called a babe ; I crave your 
 pardon, for you are a fine spirit. And hark 
 you, Lord Kichard of Normandy, I have little 
 cause to love your race, and little right, I trow, 
 had King Charles the Simple to call us free 
 Bretons liegemen to a race of plundering Nor- 
 thern pirates. To Duke Hollo's might, my 
 father never gave his homage ; nay, nor did I 
 yield it for all Duke William's long sword, but 
 I did pay it to his generosity and forbearance, 
 and now I grant it to thy weakness, and to his 
 noble memory. I doubt not that the recreant 
 Frank, Louis, whom he restored to his throne, 
 will strive to profit by thy youth and helpless- 
 ness, and should that be, remember that thou 
 hast no surer friend than Alan of Brittany. 
 Fare thee well, my young Duke." 
 
 " Farewell, sir," said Richard, willingly giv- 
 ing his hand to be shaken by his kind vassal, 
 and watching him as Sir Eric attended him 
 from the hall. 
 
 " Fair words, but I trust not the Breton," 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 49 
 
 muttered Bernard ; "hatred is deeply ingrained 
 in them/' 
 
 "He should know what the Frank King is 
 made of/' said Rainulf de Ferrieres, "he "was 
 bred up with him in the days that they were 
 both exiles at the court of King Ethelstane of 
 England." 
 
 "Aye, and thanks to Duke William, that 
 either Louis or Alan are not exiles still. Now 
 we shall see whose gratitude is worth most, the 
 Frank's or the Breton's ; I suspect the Norman 
 valour will be the best to trust to." . 
 
 " Yes, and how will Norman valour prosper 
 without treasure? Who knows what gold 
 is in the Duke's coffers ? " 
 
 There was some consultation here in a low 
 voice, and the next thing Richard heard dis- 
 tinctly was, that one of the nobles held up a 
 silver chain and key, 9 saying that they had been 
 found on the Duke's neck, and that he had kept 
 them, thinking that they doubtless led to some- 
 thing of importance. 
 
 "Oyes!" said Richard, eagerly, "I know 
 It. He told me it was the key to his greatest 
 treasure." 
 
 The Normans heard this with great interest, 
 and it was resolved that several of the most 
 3 
 
50 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 trusted persons, among whom were the Arch- 
 bishop of Rouen, Abbot Martin of Jumieges, 
 and the Count of Harcourt, should go imme- 
 diately in search of this precious hoard. Rich- 
 ard accompanied them up the narrow rough 
 stone stairs, to the large dark apartment, where 
 his father had slept. Though a Prince's 
 chamber, it had little furniture ; a low uncur- 
 tained bed ; a Cross on a ledge near its head, a 
 rude table, a few chairs, and two large chests, 
 were all it contained. Harcourt tried the lid 
 of one of the chests, it opened, and proved to 
 be full of wearing apparel ; he went to the 
 other, which was smaller, much more carved, 
 and ornamented with handsome iron-work. It 
 was locked, and putting in the key, it fitted, the 
 lock turned, and the chest was opened. The 
 Normans pressed eagerly to see their Duke's 
 greatest treasure. 
 
 It was a robe of serge, and a pair of san- 
 dals, such as were worn in the Abbey of 
 Jumieges. 
 
 " Ha ! is this all ! What didst say, child ? " 
 cried Bernard the Dane, hastily. 
 
 " He told me it was his greatest treasure ! " 
 repeated Richard. 
 
 " And it was ! M said Abbot Martin. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 51 
 
 Then the good Abbot told them the history, 
 part of which was already known to some of 
 them. About five or six years before, Duke 
 William had been hunting in the forest of 
 Jumieges, when he had suddenly come on the 
 ruins of the Abbey, which had been wasted 
 thirty or forty years previously, by the Sea-King, 
 Hasting. Two old monks, of the original 
 brotherhood, still survived, and came forth to 
 greet the Duke, and offer him their hospitality. 
 
 " Aye ! " said Bernard, " well do I remem- 
 ber their bread ; we asked if it was made of 
 fir-bark, like that of our brethren of Norway." 
 
 William, then an eager thoughtless young 
 man, turned with disgust from this wretched 
 fare, and throwing the old men some gold, gal- 
 loped on to enjoy his hunting. In the course 
 of the sport, he was left alone, and encountered 
 a wild boar, which threw him down, trampled 
 on him, and left him stretched senseless on the 
 ground, severely injured. His companions coming 
 up, carried him, as the nearest place of shelter, 
 to the ruins of Jumieges, where the two old 
 monks gladly received him in the remaining 
 portion of their house. As soon as he recovered 
 his senses, he earnestly asked their pardon for 
 his pride, and the scorn he had shown to the 
 
52 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 poverty and patient suffering which he should 
 have reverenced. 
 
 William had always been a man who chose 
 the good and refused the evil, but this accident, 
 and the long illness that followed it, made him 
 far more thoughtful and serious than he had 
 ever been before ; he made preparing for death 
 and eternity his first object, and thought less of 
 his worldly affairs, his wars, and his ducal state. 
 He rebuilt the old Abbey, endowed it richly, 
 and sent for Martin himself from France, to be- 
 come the Abbot ; he delighted in nothing so 
 much as praying there, conversing with the 
 Abbot, and hearing him read holy books ; and 
 felt his temporal affairs, and the state and 
 splendour of his rank so great a temptation, 
 that he had one day come to the Abbot, and 
 entreated to be allowed to lay them aside, and 
 become a brother of the order. But Martin had 
 refused to receive his vows. He had told him 
 that he had no right to neglect or forsake the 
 duties of the station which God had appointed 
 him ; that it would be a sin to leave the post 
 which had been given him to defend ; and that 
 the way marked out for him to serve God was 
 by doing justice among his people, and using 
 his power to defend the right. Not till he had 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 53 
 
 done his allotted work, and his son was old 
 enough to take his place as ruler of the Nor- 
 mans, might he cease from his active duties, 
 quit the turmoil of the world, and seek the re- 
 pose of the cloister. It was in this hope of 
 peaceful retirement, that William had delighted 
 to treasure up the humble garments that he 
 hoped one day to wear in peace and holiness. 
 
 " And oh ! my noble Duke ! " exclaimed 
 Abbot Martin, bursting into tears, as he finished 
 his narration, " the Lord hath been very gracious 
 unto thee. He has taken thee home to thy rest, 
 long before thou didst dare to hope for it." 
 
 Slowly, and with subdued feelings, the Nor- 
 man Barons left the chamber ; Kichard, whom 
 they seemed to have almost forgotten, wandered 
 to the stairs, to find his way to the room where 
 he had slept last night. He had not made 
 many steps before he heard Osmond's voice say, 
 " Here, my Lord ; " he looked up, saw a white 
 cap at a doorway a little above him, he bounded 
 up, and flew into Dame Astrida's outstretched 
 arms. 
 
 How glad he was to sit in her lap, and lay 
 his wearied head on her bosom, while, with a 
 worn-out voice, he exclaimed, " Fru Astrida ! 
 I am very, very tired of being Duke of 
 Normandy ! " 
 
CHAPTER IY. 
 
 Eichakd of Normandy was very anxious to 
 know more of the little boy whom he had seen 
 among his vassals. 
 
 " Ah ! the young Baron de Montemar," said 
 Sir Eric ; " I knew his father well, and a brave 
 man he was, though not of northern blood. He 
 was warden of the marches of the Epte, and 
 was killed by your father's side, in the inroad of 
 the Viscount du Cotentin, 10 at the time when 
 you were born, Lord Richard." 
 
 "But where does he live ? Shall I not see 
 him again ? " 
 
 " Montemar is on the bank of the Epte, in 
 the domain that the French wrongfully claim 
 from us. He lives there with his mother, and 
 if he be not yet returned, you shall see him 
 presently. Osmond, go you and seek out the 
 lodging of the young Montemar, and tell him 
 the Duke would see him." 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 55 
 
 Richard had never had a playfellow of his 
 own age, and his eagerness to see Alberic de 
 Montemar was great. He watched from the 
 window, and at length beheld Osmond entering 
 the court with a boy of ten years old by his 
 side, and an old grey-headed squire, with a gold 
 chain to mark him as a seneschal or steward of 
 the castle, walking behind. 
 
 Richard ran to the door to meet them, 
 holding out his hand eagerly. Alberic uncovered 
 his bright dark hair, bowed low and gracefully, 
 but stood as if he did not exactly know what to 
 do next. Richard grew shy at the same mo- 
 ment, and the two boys stood looking at each 
 other somewhat awkwardly. It was easy to see 
 that they were of different races, so unlike were 
 the blue eyes, flaxen hair, and fair face of the 
 young Duke, to the black eyes and olive cheek 
 of the French vassal, who, though two years 
 older, was scarcely above him in height ; and 
 his slight figure, well proportioned, active and 
 agile as it was, did not give the same promise 
 of strength as the round limbs, and large-boned 
 frame of Richard, which even now seemed likely 
 to rival the gigantic stature of his grandfather, 
 Earl Rollo, the Ganger. 
 
 For some minutes the little Duke and the 
 
56 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 young Baron surveyed each other without a 
 word, and old Sir Eric did not improve matters 
 by saying, "Well, Lord Duke, here he is. 
 Have you no better greeting for him ? " 
 
 " The children are shame-faced," said Fru 
 Astrida, seeing how they both coloured. " Is 
 your Lady mother in good health, my young 
 sir ? " 
 
 Alberic blushed more deeply, bowed to the 
 old northern lady, and answered fast and low in 
 French, " I cannot speak the Norman tongue." 
 
 Eichard, glad' to say something, interpreted 
 Fru Astrida 's speech, and Alberic readily made 
 courteous reply that his mother was well, and 
 he thanked the Dame de Centeville, a French 
 title which sounded new to Fru Astrida's ears. 
 Then came the embarrassment again, and Fru 
 Astrida at last said, "Take him out, Lord 
 Eichard, take him to see the horses in the sta- 
 bles, or the hounds, or what not." 
 
 Eichard was not sorry to obey, so out they 
 went into the court of Hollo's tower, and in the 
 open air the shyness went off. Eichard showed 
 his own pony, and Alberic asked if he could 
 leap into the saddle without putting his foot in 
 the stirrup. No, Eichard could not ; indeed, 
 even Osmond had never seen it done, for the 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 57 
 
 feats of French chivalry had scarcely yet spread 
 into Normandy. 
 
 " Can yon ? " said Kichard ; " will you show 
 us ? » 
 
 " I know I can with my own pony," said 
 Alberic, " for Bertrand will not let me mount 
 in any other way ; but I will try with yours, if 
 you desire it, my Lord." 
 
 So the pony was led out. Alberic laid one 
 hand on its mane, and vaulted on its back in a 
 moment. Both Osmond and Kichard broke out 
 loudly into admiration. " 0, this is nothing ! " 
 said Alberic, " Bertrand says it is nothing. Be- 
 fore he grew old and stiff he could spring into 
 the saddle in this manner fully armed. I ought 
 to do this much better." 
 
 Richard begged to be shown how to perform 
 the exploit, and Alberic repeated it ; then 
 Richard wanted to try, but the pony's patience 
 would not endure any longer, and Alberic said 
 he had learnt on a block of wood, and practised 
 on the great wolf-hound. They wandered about 
 a little longer in the court, and then climbed up 
 the spiral stone stairs to the battlements at the 
 top of the tower, where they looked at the 
 house-tops of Rouen close beneath, and the river 
 Seine, broadening and glittering on one side in 
 3* 
 
58 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 its course to the sea, and on the other narrowing 
 to a blue ribbon winding through the green ex- 
 panse of fertile Normandy. They threw the 
 pebbles and bits of mortar down that they might 
 hear them fall, and tried which could stand 
 nearest to the edge of the battlement without 
 being giddy. Kichard was pleased to find that 
 he could go the nearest, and began to tell some 
 of Fru Astrida's stories about the precipices of 
 Norway, among which when she was a young 
 girl she used to climb about and tend the cattle 
 in the long light summer time. When the two 
 boys came down again into the hall to dinner 
 they felt as if they had known each other all 
 their lives. The dinner was laid out in full 
 state, and Kichard had, as before, to sit in the 
 great throne-like chair, with the old Count of 
 Harcourt on one side, but, to his comfort, Fru 
 Astrida was on the other. 
 
 After the dinner, Alberic de Montemar rose 
 to take his leave, as he was to ride half way to 
 his home that afternoon. Count Bernard, who 
 all dinner time had been watching him intently 
 from under his shaggy eye-brows, at this mo- 
 ment turned to Richard, whom he hardly ever 
 addressed, and said to him, " Hark ye, my Lord, 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 59 
 
 what should you say to have him yonder for a 
 comrade ? " 
 
 " To stay with me ? " cried Richard, ea- 
 gerly. " 0, thanks, Sir Count ; and may he 
 stay ? " 
 
 " You are Lord here." 
 
 " Alberic ! " cried Richard, jumping out 
 of his chair of state, and running up to him, 
 " will you not stay with me, and be my brother 
 and comrade ? " 
 
 Alberic looked down, hesitating. 
 
 " I must obey you, my Lord," said Alberic, 
 "but—" 
 
 " Come, young Frenchman, out with it,"*said 
 Bernard, " no buts ! Speak honestly, and at 
 once, like a Norman, if you can." 
 
 This rough speech seemed to restore the 
 little Baron's self-possession, and he looked up 
 bright and bold at the rugged face of the old 
 Dane, while he said, "I had rather not stay 
 here." 
 
 " Ha ! not to do service to your Lord ? " 
 
 " I would serve him with all my heart, but 
 I do not want to stay here. I love the Castle 
 of Montemar better, and my mother has no 
 one but me." 
 
 " Brave and true, Sir Frenchman," said the 
 
60 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 old Count, laying his great hand on Alberic's 
 head, and looking better pleased than Richard 
 thought his grim features could have appeared. 
 Then turning to Bertrand, Alberic's seneschal, 
 he said, " Bear the Count de Harcourt's greet- 
 ings to the noble Dame de Montemar, and say 
 to her that her son is of a free, bold spirit, and 
 if she would have him bred up with my Lord 
 Duke, as his comrade and brother in arms, he 
 will find a ready welcome." 
 
 " So, Alberic, you will come back perhaps/' 
 said Eichard. 
 
 " That must be as my mother pleases," 
 answered Alberic bluntly, and with all due ci- 
 vilities he and his seneschal departed. 
 
 Four or five times a day did Eichard ask 
 Osmond and Fru Astrida if they thought Albe- 
 ric would return, and it was a great satisfaction 
 to him to find that every one agreed that it 
 would be very foolish in the Dame de Montemar 
 to refuse so good an offer, only Fru Astrida 
 could not quite believe she would part with her 
 son. Still no Baron de Montemar arrived, and 
 the little Duke was beginning to think less 
 about his hopes, when one evening, as he was 
 returning from a ride with Sir Eric and Osmond, 
 he saw four horsemen coming towards them, and 
 a little boy in front. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 61 
 
 " It is Alberic himself, I am sure of it ! " 
 he exclaimed, and so it proved ; and while the 
 seneschal delivered his lady's message to Sir 
 Eric, Kichard rode up and greeted the welcome 
 guest. 
 
 " 0, I am very glad your mother has sent 
 you ! '•' 
 
 " She said she was not fit to bring up a 
 young warrior of the marches," said Alberic. 
 
 " Were you very sorry to come ? " 
 
 "I dare say I shall not mind it soon, and 
 Bertrand is to come and fetch me home to visit 
 her every three months, if you will let me go, 
 my Lord." 
 
 Richard was extremely delighted, and 
 thought he could never do enough to make Rouen 
 pleasant to Alberic, who after the first day or 
 two cheered up, missed his mother less, managed 
 to talk something between French and Norman 
 to Sir Eric and Fru Astrida, and became a very 
 animated companion and friend. In one re- 
 spect Alberic was a better playfellow for the 
 Duke than Osmond de Centeville, for Osmond, 
 playing as a grown up man, not for his own 
 amusement, but the child's, had left all the ad- 
 vantages of the game to Richard, who was 
 growing not a little inclined to. domineer. This 
 
62 THE LITTLE DTJKE. 
 
 Alberic did not like, unless, as lie said, " it was 
 to be always Lord and vassal, and then he did 
 not care for the game," and he played with so 
 little animation that Eichard grew vexed. 
 
 " I can't help it," said Alberic, " if you take 
 all the best chances to yourself, 'tis no sport 
 for me. I will do your bidding, as you are the 
 Duke, but I cannot like it." 
 
 " Never mind my being Duke, but play as 
 we used to do." 
 
 " Then let us play as I did with Bert rand's 
 sons at Montemar. I was their Baron, as you 
 are my Duke, but my mother said there would 
 be no sport unless we forgot all that at play." 
 
 "Then so we will. Come, begin again, 
 Alberic, and you shall have the first turn." 
 
 However, Alberic was quite as courteous and 
 respectful to the Duke when they were not at 
 play, as the difference of their rank required ; 
 indeed, he had learned much more grace and 
 courtliness of demeanor from his mother, a 
 Provencal lady, than was yet to be found among 
 the Normans. The chaplain of Montemar had 
 begun to teach him to read and write, and he 
 liked learning much better than Kichard, who 
 would not have gone on with Father Lucas's 
 lessons at all, if ^Abbot Martin of Jumieges had 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 63 
 
 not put him in mind that it had been his 
 father's especial desire. 
 
 What Richard most disliked was, however, 
 the being obliged to sit in council. The Count 
 of Har court did in truth govern the dukedom, 
 but nothing could be done without the Duke's 
 consent, and once a week at least, there was 
 held in the great hall of Hollo's tower, what 
 was called a Parlement, " or a taXkation" 
 where Count Bernard, the Archbishop, the 
 Baron de Centeville, the Abbot of Jumieges, 
 and such other bishops, nobles or abbots, as might 
 chance to be at Rouen, consulted on the affairs 
 of Normandy; and there the little Duke always 
 was forced to be present, sitting up in his chair 
 of State, and hearing, rather than listening to, 
 questions about the repairing and guarding of 
 castles, the asking of loans from the vassals, the 
 appeals from the Barons of the Exchequer, who 
 were then nobles sent through the duchy to ad- 
 minister justice, and the discussions about the 
 proceedings of his neighbours, King Louis of 
 France, Count Foulques of Anjou, and Count 
 Herluin of Moutreuil, and how far the friend- 
 ship of Hugh of Paris, and Alan of Brittany 
 might be trusted. 
 
 Very tired of this did Richard grow, espe- 
 
64 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 cially when he found that the Normans had 
 made up their minds not to attempt a war 
 against the wicked Count of Flanders. He 
 sighed most wearily, yawned again and again, 
 and moved restlessly about in the chair ; but 
 whenever Count Bernard saw him doing so, he 
 received so severe a look and sign that he grew 
 perfectly to dread the eye of the fierce old Dane. 
 Bernard never spoke to him to praise him, or 
 to enter into any of his pursuits ; he only treat- 
 ed him with the grave distant respect due to 
 him as a prince, or else now and then spoke a 
 few stern words to him of reproof for this rest- 
 lessness, or for some other childish folly. 
 
 Used as Kichard was to be petted and made 
 much of by the whole house of Centeville, he 
 resented this considerably in secret, disliked and 
 feared the old Count, and more than once told 
 Alberic de Montemar, that as soon as he was 
 fourteen, when he would be declared of age, he 
 should send Count Bernard to take care of his 
 own castle of Harcourt, instead of letting him 
 sit gloomy and grim in the castle hall in the 
 evening, spoiling all their sport. 
 
 Winter had set in, and Osmond used daily 
 to take the little Duke and Alberic to the near- 
 est sheet of ice, for the Normans still prided 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 65 
 
 themselves on excelling in skating, though they 
 had long since left the frost-bound streams and 
 lakes of Norway. 
 
 One day, as they were returning from the 
 ice, they were surprised, even before they en- 
 tered the castle court, by hearing the trampling 
 of horses' feet and a sound of voices. 
 
 " What may this mean ? " said Osmond. 
 " There must surely be a great arrival of the 
 vassals. The Duke of Brittany, perhaps." 
 
 " 0," said Eichard piteously, " we have had 
 one council already this week, I hope another is 
 not coming ! " 
 
 " It must import something extraordinary," 
 proceeded Osmond. " It is a mischance that 
 the Count of Harcourt is not at Kouen just 
 now." 
 
 Eichard thought this no mischance at all, 
 and just then Alberic, who had run on a little 
 before, came back exclaiming, " They are French. 
 It is the Frank tongue, not the Norman, that 
 they speak." 
 
 " So please you, my Lord," said Osmond, 
 stopping short, " we go not rashly into the midst 
 of them. I would I knew what were best to 
 do." 
 
 Osmond rubbed his forehead and stood con- 
 
6*6 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 j 
 
 sidering, while the two boys looked at him anx- 
 iously. In a few seconds, before he had come 
 to any conclusion, there came forth from the 
 gate a Norman squire, accompanied by two stran- 
 gers. 
 
 " My Lord Duke," said he to Eichard, in 
 French, " Sir Eric has sent me to bring you ti- 
 dings that the King of France has arrived to re- 
 ceive your homage." 
 
 " The King ! " exclaimed Osmond. 
 
 " Aye ! " proceeded the Norman, in his own 
 tongue, " Louis himself, and with a train looking 
 bent on mischief. I wish it may portend good 
 to my Lord here. You see I am acconrpanied. 
 I believe from my heart that Louis meant to 
 prevent you from receiving a warning, and taking 
 the boy out of his clutches/' 
 
 " Ha ! what ? " said , Eichard, anxiously. 
 " Why is the King come ? What must I 
 do ? " 
 
 " Go on now, since there is no help for it," said 
 Osmond. " Greet the King as becomes, you, 
 bend the knee, and pay him homage." 
 
 Eichard repeated over to himself the form 
 of homage that he might be perfect in it, and 
 walked on into the court, Alberic, Osmond, and 
 the rest falling back as he entered. The court 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 67 
 
 was crowded with horses and men, and it was 
 only by calling out loudly, " The Duke, the 
 Duke," that Osmond could get space enough 
 for them to pass. In a few moments Kichard 
 had mounted the steps and stood in the great 
 hall. 
 
 In the chair of state, at the upper end of 
 the room, sat a small spare man, of about eight 
 or nine-and-twenty, pale, and of a light com- 
 plexion, with a rich dress of blue and gold. Sir 
 Eric and several other persons stood respectfully 
 round him, and he was conversing with the Arch- 
 bishop, who, as well as Sir Eric, cast several anx- 
 ious glances at the little Duke as he advanced 
 up the hall. He came up to the King, put 
 his knee to the ground, and was just beginning, 
 "Louis, Kiog of France, I — " when he found 
 himself suddenly lifted from the ground in the 
 King's arms, and kissed on both cheeks. Then 
 setting him on his knee, the King exclaimed, 
 " And is this the son of my brave and noble friend, 
 Duke William ? Ah ! I should have known it 
 from his likeness ! Let me embrace you again, 
 dear child, for your father's sake ! " 
 
 Kichard was rather overwhelmed, but he 
 thought the King very kind, especially when 
 Louis began to admire his height and free-spirited 
 
68 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 bearing, and to lament that his own sons, Lo- 
 thaire and Carloinan, were so much smaller and 
 more backward. He caressed Richard again and 
 again, praised every word he said — Fru Astrida 
 was nothing to him ; and Bichard began to say 
 to himself how strange and unkind it was of 
 Bernard de Harcourt to like to find fault with 
 him, when, on the contrary, he deserved all this 
 praise from the King himself. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Duke Richard of Normandy slept in the 
 room which had been his father's ; Alberic de 
 Montemar, as his page, slept at his feet, and Os- 
 mond de Centeville had a bed on the floor, across 
 the door, where he lay with his sword close at 
 hand, as his young Lord's guard and protector. 
 
 All had been asleep for some little time, when 
 Osmond was startled by a slight movement of 
 the door, which could not be pushed open with- 
 out wakening him. In an instant he had grasped 
 his sword, while he pressed his shoulder to the 
 door to keep it close; but it was his father's 
 voice that answered him with a few whispered 
 words in the Norse tongue, " It is I, open." 
 He made way instantly, and old Sir Eric entered, 
 treading cautiously with bare feet, and sat down 
 on the bed motioning him to do the same, so that 
 they might be able to speak lower. " Right, 
 Osmond," he said, " It is well to be on the alert, 
 for peril enough is around him — The Frank 
 means mischief ! I know from a sure hand that 
 
' *. 
 
 70 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 Arnulf of Flanders was in council with him 
 just before he came hither ; with his false tongue, 
 wiling and coaxing the poor child ! " 
 
 " Ungrateful traitor ! " murmured Osmond ; 
 " Do you guess his purpose ? " 
 
 " Yes, surely, to carry the boy off with him, 
 and so he trusts doubtless to cut off all the race 
 of Eollo ! I know his purpose is to bear off 
 the Duke, as a ward of the crown forsooth. Did 
 you not hear him luring the child with his prom- 
 ises of friendship with the princes ? I could 
 not understand all his French words, but I saw 
 it plain enough." 
 
 " You will never allow it ? " 
 
 " If he does, it must be across our dead 
 bodies ; but taken as we are by surprise, our 
 resistance will little avail. The castle is full 
 of French, the hall and court swarm with them. 
 Even if we could draw our Normans together, 
 we should not be more than a dozen men, and 
 what could we do but die. That we are ready 
 for, if it may not be otherwise, rather than let 
 our charge be thus borne off without a pledge 
 for his safety, and without the knowledge of the 
 states." 
 
 " The King could not have come at a worse 
 time/' said Osmond. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 71 
 
 " No, just when Bernard the Dane is ab- 
 sent. If he only knew what has "befallen, he 
 could raise the country, and come to the res- 
 cue." 
 
 " Could we not send some one to bear the 
 tidings to-night ? " 
 
 " I know not ! " said Sir Eric, musingly. 
 " The French have taken the keeping of the 
 doors ; indeed, they are so thick through the 
 castle that I can hardly reach one of our men, 
 nor could I spare one hand that may avail to 
 guard the boy to-morrow." 
 
 " Sir Eric ! " a little bare foot was heard on 
 the floor, and Alberic de Montemar stood before 
 him. " I did not mean to listen, but I could 
 not help hearing you. I cannot fight for the 
 Duke yet, but I could carry a message." 
 
 " How would- that be ? " said Osmond 
 eagerly. " Once out of the castle, and in Kouen, 
 he could easily find means of sending to the 
 Count. He might go either to the Convent of 
 St. Ouen, or, which would be better, to the 
 trusty armourer Thibault, who would soon find 
 man and horse to send after the Count." 
 
 " Ha ! Let me see ! " said Sir Eric. " It 
 might be. But how is he to get out ?" 
 
 I know a way, " said Alberic, " I scrambled 
 
 iC 
 
72 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 down that wide buttress by the east wall last 
 week, when our ball was caught in a branch of 
 the ivy, and the drawbridge is down." 
 
 "If Bernard knew, it would be off my mind 
 at least!" said Sir Eric. "Well, my young 
 Frenchman, you may do good service." 
 
 "Osmond," whispered Alberic, as he began 
 hastily to dress himself, "only ask one thing of 
 Sir Eric, never to call me young Frenchman 
 again ! " 
 
 Sir Eric smiled, saying, " Prove yourself 
 Norman, my boy." 
 
 "Then," added Osmond, "if it were possi- 
 ble to get the Duke himself out of the Castle 
 to-morrow morning. If I could take him forth 
 by the postern, and once bring him into the 
 town, he would be safe. It would be only to 
 raise the burghers, or else to take refuge in the 
 Church of our Lady till the Count came up, 
 and then Louis would find his prey out of his 
 hands when he awoke and sought him." 
 
 " That might be," replied Sir Eric, " but I 
 doubt your success. The French are too eager 
 to hold him fast, to let him slip out of their 
 hands. You will find every door guarded." 
 
 " Yes, but all the French have not seen the 
 Duke, and the sight of a squire and a little page 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 73 
 
 going forth, will scarcely excite their suspi- 
 cion." 
 
 " Aye, if the Duke would bear himself like 
 a little page, but that you need not hope for. 
 Besides, he is so taken with this King's flatteries 
 that I doubt whether he would consent to leave 
 him for the sake of Count Bernard. Poor child, 
 he is like to be soon taught to know his true 
 friends." 
 
 " I am ready," said Alberic, coming forward. 
 
 The Baron de Centeville repeated his instruc- 
 tions, and then undertook to guard the door, 
 while his son saw Alberic set off on his expedi- 
 tion. Osmond went with him softly down the 
 stairs, then avoiding the hall which was filled 
 with French, they crept silently to a narrow 
 window, guarded by iron bars, placed at such 
 short intervals apart, that only so small and 
 slim a form as Alberic's could have squeezed out 
 between them. The distance to the ground was 
 not much more than twice his own height, and 
 the wall was so covered with ivy that it was not 
 a very dangerous feat for an active boy, so that 
 Alberic was soon safe on the ground ; then look- 
 ing up to wave his cap, he ran on along the side 
 of the mote, and was soon lost to Osmond's 
 sight in the darkness. 
 
74 THE LITTLE DtTKE. 
 
 Osmond returned to the Duke's chamber, 
 and relieved his father's guard, while Kichard 
 slept soundly on, little guessing at the plots of 
 his enemies, or at the schemes of his faithful 
 subjects for his protection. 
 
 Osmond thought this all the better, for he 
 had small trust in Richard's patience and self- 
 command, and thought there was much more 
 chance of getting him unnoticed out of the 
 Castle, if he did not know how much depended 
 on it, and how dangerous his situation was. 
 
 When Richard awoke, he was much sur- 
 prised at missing Alberic, but Osmond said he 
 was gone into the town to Thibault the armourer, 
 and this was a message on which he was so likely 
 to be employed, that Richard's suspicion was 
 not excited. All the time he was dressing he 
 talked about the King, and everything he meant 
 to show him that day ; then when he was ready, 
 the first thing was, as usual, to go to attend 
 morning mass. 
 
 " Not by that way to-day, my Lord," said 
 Osmond, as Richard was about to enter the 
 great hall. "It is crowded with the French, 
 who have been sleeping there all night ; come 
 to the postern." 
 
 Osmond turned, as he spoke, along the pas- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 75 
 
 Bage, walking fast, and not sorry that Richard 
 was lingering a little, as it was safer for him to 
 be first. The postern was, as he expected, 
 guarded by two tall steel-cased figures, who im- 
 mediately held their lances across the doorway, 
 saying, " None passes without warrant." 
 
 " You will surely let us of the castle attend 
 to our daily business," said Osmond. " You 
 will hardly break your fast this morning if you 
 stop all communication with the town." 
 
 " You must bring warrant," repeated one of 
 the men-at-arms. Osmond was beginning to 
 say that he was the son of the Seneschal of the 
 castle, when Richard came hastily up. u What ? 
 Do these men want to stop us ? " he exclaimed 
 in the imperious manner he had begun to take 
 up since his accession. " Let us go on, sirs." 
 
 The men-at-arms looked at each other, and 
 guarded the door more closely. Osmond saw it 
 was hopeless, and only wanted to draw his 
 young charge back without being recognised, 
 but Richard exclaimed loudly, " What means 
 this ? " 
 
 " The King has given orders that none 
 should pass without warrant," was Osmond's 
 answer. " We must wait." 
 
 " I will pass ! " said Richard, impatient at 
 
76 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 opposition to which he was little accustomed. 
 " What mean you, Osmond ? This is my castle, 
 and no one has a right to stop me. Do you 
 hear, grooms, let me go. I am the Duke ! " 
 
 The sentinels bowed, but all they said was, 
 " our orders are express." 
 
 " I tell you I am Duke of Normandy, and I 
 will go where I please in my own city ! " ex- 
 claimed Richard, passionately pressing against 
 the crossed staves of the weapons, to force his 
 way between them, but he was caught and % held- 
 fast in the powerful gauntlet of one of the men- 
 at-arms. " Let me go, villain ! " cried he, 
 struggling with all his might. " Osmond, Os- 
 mond, help ! " 
 
 Even as he spoke, Osmond had disengaged 
 him from the grasp of the Frenchman, and 
 putting his hand on his arm said, " Nay, my 
 Lord, it is not for you to strive with such as 
 these." 
 
 " I will strive ! " cried the boy, " I will not 
 have my way barred in my own castle. I will 
 tell the King how these rogues of his use me. 
 I will have them in the dungeon. Sir Eric ! 
 where is Sir Eric ? " 
 
 Away he rushed to the stairs, Osmond hur- 
 rying after him lest he should throw himself into 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 77 
 
 some fresh danger, or by his loud calls, attract 
 the French, who might then easily make him 
 prisoner. However, on the very first step of 
 the stairs stood Sir Eric, who was too anxious 
 for the success of the attempt to escape, to be 
 very far off. Kichard, too angry to heed where 
 he was going, dashed up against him without 
 seeing him, and as the old Baron took hold of 
 him, began, " Sir Eric, Sir Eric, those French 
 are villains ! they will not let me pass — " 
 
 "Hush, hush, my Lord/' said Sir Eric, 
 " Silence ! come here." 
 
 However imperious with others, Kichard from 
 force of habit always obeyed Sir Eric, and now 
 allowed himself to be dragged hastily and si- 
 lently by him, Osmond following closely up the 
 stairs, up a second and a third winding flight, 
 still narrower, and with broken steps, to a small 
 round thick-walled turret chamber, with an ex- 
 tremely small door, and loopholes of windows, 
 high up in the tower. Here, to his great sur- 
 prise, he found Dame Astrida, kneeling and 
 telling her beads, two or three of her maidens, 
 and about four of the Norman squires and men- 
 at-arms. 
 
 " So you have failed, Osmond ? " said the 
 Baron. 
 
78 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " But what is all this ? How did Fru As- 
 trida come up here ? May I not go to the 
 King, and have all those insolent Franks 
 punished ? " 
 
 " Listen to me, Lord Richard," said Sir 
 Eric, " that smooth-spoken King whose words 
 so charmed you last night is an ungrateful de- 
 ceiver. The Franks have always hated and 
 feared the Normans, and not being able to con- 
 quer us fairly, they now take to foul means. 
 Louis came hither from Flanders, he has brought 
 this great troop of French to surprise us, claim 
 you as a ward of the crown, and carry you away 
 with him to some prison of his own." 
 
 " You will not let me go/' said Kichard. 
 
 " Not while I live," said Sir Eric. " Alberic 
 is gone to warn the Count of Harcourt, to call 
 the Normans together, and here we are ready to 
 defend this chamber to our last breath, but we 
 are few, the French are many, and succour may 
 be far off." 
 
 " Then you meant to have taken me out of 
 their reach this morning, Osmond ? " 
 
 " Yes, my Lord." 
 
 " And if I had not flown into a passion and 
 told who I was, I might have been safe ! 
 
- 
 
 THE LITTLE DUKE. 79 
 
 Sir Eric ! Sir Eric ! you will not let me be 
 carried off to a French prison ! " 
 
 " Here, my child," said Dame Astrida, hold- 
 ing out her arms, " Sir Eric will do all he can 
 for you, but we are in God's hands ! " 
 
 Kichard came and leant against her. " I 
 wish I had not been in a passion ! " said he 
 sadly, after a silence, then looking at her in 
 wonder. " But how came you up all this way ? " 
 
 "It is a long way for my old limbs," said 
 Fru Astrida, smiling, " but my son helped me, 
 and he deems it the only safe place in the 
 castle." 
 
 " The safest," said Sir Eric, " and that is 
 not saying much for it." 
 
 " Hark ! " said Osmond, " what a tramping 
 the Franks are making. They are beginning to 
 wonder where the Duke is." 
 
 " To the stairs, Osmond," said Sir Eric. 
 " On that narrow step one man may keep them 
 at bay a long time. You can speak their jargon 
 too, and hold parley with them." 
 
 " Perhaps they will think I am gone," 
 whispered Kichard, "if they cannot find me, 
 and go away." 
 
 Osmond and two of the Normans were, as 
 he spoke, taking their stand on the narrow spiral 
 
80 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 - 
 
 stair, where there was just room for one man 
 on the step ; Osmond was the lowest, the 
 other two above him, and it would have been 
 very hard for an enemy to force his way past 
 them. 
 
 Osmond could plainly hear the sounds of 
 the steps and voices of the French as they con- 
 sulted together, and sought for the Duke. A 
 man at length was heard clanking up these very 
 stairs, till winding round, he suddenly found 
 himself close upon young de Centeville. 
 
 " Ha ! Norman ! " he cried, starting back 
 in amazement, " what are you doing here ? " 
 
 " My duty," answered Osmond, shortly, " I 
 am here to guard this stair ; " and his drawn 
 sword expressed the same intention. 
 
 The Frenchman drew back, and presently a 
 whispering below was heard, and soon after a 
 voice came up the stairs, saying, "Norman — 
 good Norman" — 
 
 " What would you say ? " replied Osmond, 
 and the head of another Frank appeared. 
 " What means all this, my friend ? " was the 
 address. " Our King comes as a guest to you, 
 and you received him last night as loyal vassals. 
 Wherefore have you now drawn out of the way, 
 and striven to bear off your young Duke into 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE 81 
 
 secret places ? Truly it looks not well that you 
 should thus strive to keep him apart, and there- 
 fore the King requires to see him instantly." 
 
 " Sir Frenchman/' replied Osmond, " your 
 King claims the Duke as his ward. How that 
 may be my father knows not, but as he was 
 committed to his charge by the states of Nor- 
 mandy, he holds himself bound to keep him in 
 his own hands until further orders from them." 
 
 " That means, insolent Norman, that you 
 intend to shut the boy up and keep him in 
 your own rebel hands. You had best yield, it 
 will be the better for you and for him. The 
 child is the King's ward, and he shall not be left 
 to be nurtured in rebellion by northern pirates." 
 
 At this moment a cry from without arose, 
 so loud as almost to drown the voices of the 
 speakers on the turret stair, a cry welcome to 
 the ears of Osmond, repeated by a multitude 
 of voices, " Haro ! Haro ! our little Duke ! " 
 
 It was well known as a Norman shout. So 
 just and so ready to redress all grievances had 
 the old Duke Hollo been, that his very name 
 was an appeal against injustice, and whenever 
 wrong was done, the Norman outcry against the 
 injury was always "Ha Hollo ! " or as it had 
 
 become shortened, " Haro." And now Osmond 
 
 4* 
 
82 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 knew that those, whose affection had been won 
 by the uprightness of Rollo, were gathering to 
 protect his helpless grandchild. 
 
 The cry was likewise heard by the little 
 garrison in the turret chamber, bringing hope 
 and joy. Kichard thought himself already res- 
 cued, and springing from Fru Astrida, danced 
 about in ecstacy, only longing to see the faithful 
 Normans, whose voices he heard ringing out 
 again and again, in calls for their little Duke, 
 and outcries against the Franks. The windows 
 were however so high, that nothing could be 
 seen from them but the sky ; and, like Richard, 
 the old Baron de Centeville w T as almost beside 
 himself with anxiety to know what force was 
 gathered together, and what measures were 
 being taken. He opened the door, called to his 
 son, and asked if he could tell what was passing, 
 but Osmond knew as little, he could see nothing 
 but the black, cobwebbed, dusty steps winding 
 above his head, while the clamours outside, 
 waxing fiercer and louder, drowned all the sounds 
 which might otherwise have come up to him 
 from the French within the castle. At last, 
 however, Osmond called out to his father, in 
 Norse, " There is a Frank Baron come to en- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 83 
 
 treat, and this time very humbly, that the 
 I) uke may come to the King." 
 
 " Tell him," replied Sir Eric, " that save 
 with consent of the council of Normandy, the 
 child leaves not my hands." 
 
 " He says," called back Osmond, after a 
 moment, " that you shall guard him yourself, 
 with as many as you choose to bring with you. 
 He declares on the faith of a free Baron that 
 the King has no thought of ill— he wants to 
 show him to the Kouennais without, who are 
 calling for him, and threaten to tear down the 
 tower rather than not see their little Duke. 
 Shall I bid him send a hostage ? " 
 
 "Answer him," returned the Baron, "that 
 the Duke leaves not this chamber unless a pledge 
 is put into our hands for his safety. There was 
 an oily-tongued Count, who sat next the King 
 at supper — let him come hither, and then per- 
 chance I may trust the Duke among them." 
 
 Osmond gave the desired reply, which was 
 carried to the King. Meantime the uproar out- 
 side grew louder than ever, and there were new 
 sounds, a horn was winded, and there was a 
 shout of " Dieu Aide" the Norman war-cry, 
 joined with " Notre Dame de Harcourt ! " 
 
 " There, there ! " cried Sir Eric, with a long 
 
84 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 breath, as if relieved of half his anxieties, "the 
 boy has sped well. Bernard is here at last ! 
 now his head and hand are there, I doubt no 
 longer." 
 
 " Here comes the Count/' said Osmond, 
 opening the door, and admitting a stout burly 
 man, who seemed sorely out of breath with the 
 ascent of the steep broken stair, and very little 
 pleased to find himself in such a situation. 
 The Baron de Centeville augured well from the 
 speed with which he had been sent, thinking it 
 proved great perplexity and distress on the part 
 of Louis. Without waiting to hear his hostage 
 speak, he pointed to a chest on which he had 
 been sitting, and bade two of his men-at-arms 
 stand on each side of the Count, saying at the 
 same time to Fru Astrida, " Now, mother, if 
 aught of evil befall the child, you know your 
 part. Come, Lord Kichard." 
 
 Bichard moved forward, Sir Eric held his 
 hand, Osmond kept close behind him, and with 
 as many of the men-at-arms as could be spared 
 from guarding Fru Astrida and her hostage, he 
 descended the stairs, not by any means sorry to 
 go, for he was weary of being besieged in that 
 turret chamber, whence he could see nothing, 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 85 
 
 and with those friendly cries in his ears, he could 
 not be afraid. 
 
 He was conducted to the large council-room, 
 which was above the hall. There the King was 
 walking up and down anxiously, looking paler 
 than his wont, and no wonder, for the uproar 
 sounded tremendous there, and now and then 
 a stone dashed against the sides of the deep 
 window. 
 
 Nearly at the same moment as Richard 
 entered by one door, Count Bernard de Harcourt 
 came in from the other, and there was a slight 
 lull in the tumult. 
 
 " What means this, my Lords ? •" exclaimed 
 the King, " here am I come in all good will, in 
 memory of my warm friendship with Duke 
 William, to take on me the care of his orphan, 
 and hold council with you for avenging his death, 
 and is this the greeting you afford me ? You 
 steal away the child, and stir up the rascaille of 
 Rouen against me. Is this the reception for 
 your King ? " 
 
 " Sir King/' replied Bernard, " what your 
 intentions may be, I know not. All I do know 
 is, that the burghers of Rouen are fiercely in- 
 censed against you, so much so, that they were 
 almost ready to tear me to pieces for being 
 
 
86 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 absent at this juncture. They say that you are 
 keeping the child prisoner in his own castle, and 
 that they will have him restored, if they tear it 
 down to the foundations." 
 
 " You are a true man, a loyal man, you un- 
 derst and my good intentions/' said Louis, trem- 
 bling, for the Normans were extremely dreaded. 
 " You would not bring the shame of rebellion on 
 your town and people. Advise me — I will do just 
 as you council me, how shall I appease them ? " 
 
 " Take the child, lead him to the window, 
 swear that you mean him no evil, that you will 
 not take him from us," said Bernard. " Swear 
 it on the faith of a King." 
 
 " As a King — as a Christian, it is true ! " 
 said Louis. " Here, my boy. Wherefore shrink 
 from me ? What have I done that you should 
 fear me ? You have been listening to evil tales 
 of me, my child. Come hither." 
 
 At a sign from the Count de Harcourt, Sir 
 Eric led Eichard forward, and put his hand into 
 the King's. Louis took him to the window, 
 lifted him upon the sill, and stood there with 
 his arm round him, upon which the shout, 
 c ' Long live Eichard, our little Duke ! " arose 
 aoain. Meantime the two Centevilles looked in 
 wonder at the old Harcourt, who shook his head, 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 87 
 
 and muttered in his own tongue, " I will do all 
 I may, but our force is small, and the King has 
 the best of it. We must not yet bring a war 
 on ourselves/' 
 
 " Hark ! he is going to speak," said Osmond. 
 
 " Fair Sirs — excellent burgesses/' began the 
 King, as the cries lulled a little. 11 " I rejoice to 
 see the love ye bear to your young prince — I 
 would all my subjects were equally loyal. But 
 wherefore dread me as if were come to injure 
 him ? I, who came but to take council how to 
 avenge the death of his father, who brought me 
 back from England when I was a friendless exile. 
 Know ye not how deep is the debt of gratitude 
 I owe to Duke William ? He it was who made 
 me King, it was he who gained me the love of 
 the King of Germany ; he stood godfather for 
 my son, to him I owe all my wealth and state, 
 and all my care is to render guerdon for it to 
 his child, since, alas ! I may not to himself ! 
 Duke William rests in his bloody grave, it is 
 for me to call his murderers to account, and to 
 cherish his son even as mine own ! " 
 
 So saying, Louis tenderly embraced the 
 little boy, and the Rouennais below broke out 
 into another cry, in which " Long live King 
 Louis/' was joined with " Long live Richard." 
 
88 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " You will not let the child go/' said Erie, 
 meanwhile to Harcourt. 
 
 "Not without provision for his safety, but 
 we are not fit for war as yet, and to let him go 
 is the only means of warding it off/' 
 
 Eric groaned and shook his head ; but the 
 Count de Harcourt's judgment was of such 
 weight with him, that he never dreamt of dis- 
 puting it. 
 
 " Bring me here," said the King, " all that 
 you deem most holy, and you shall see me 
 pledge myself to be your Duke's most faithful 
 friend. " 
 
 There was some delay, during which the 
 Norman nobles had time for further council 
 together, and Kichard looked wistfully at them, 
 wondering what was to happen to him, and 
 wishing he could venture to ask for Alberic. 
 
 Several of the clergy of the cathedral pres- 
 ently appeared in procession, bringing with them 
 the book of the Gospels on which Richard had 
 taken his installation oath, with others of the 
 sacred treasures of the Church, preserved in gold 
 cases. The priests were followed by a few of 
 the Norman knights and nobles, some of the bur- 
 gesses of Rouen, and to Richard's great joy, by 
 Alberic de Montemar himself. The two boys 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 89 
 
 stood looking eagerly at each other, while prepara- 
 tion was made for the ceremony of the King's oath. 
 
 The stone table in the middle of the room 
 was cleared and arranged so as in some degree 
 to resemble the Altar in the cathedral, then the 
 Count de Harcourt, standing before it, and hold- 
 ing the King's hand, demanded of him whether 
 he would undertake to be the friend, protector, 
 and good lord of Eichard Duke of Normandy, 
 guarding liim from all his enemies, and ever seek- 
 ing his welfare. Louis, with his hand on the 
 Gospels, " swore that so he would ! " 
 
 " Amen ! " returned Bernard the Dane, sol- 
 emnly, " and as thou keepest that oath, to the 
 fatherless child, so may the Lord do unto thine 
 house ! " 
 
 Then followed the ceremony which had been 
 interrupted the night before, of the homage and 
 oath of allegiance which Kichard owed to the 
 King, and on the other hand the King's formal 
 reception of him as a vassal holding under him 
 the two dukedoms of Normandy and Brittany. 
 " And,"said the King, raising him in his arms 
 and kissing him, " no dearer vassal do I hold 
 in all my realm than this fair child, son of my 
 murdered friend and benefactor — precious to me 
 
90 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 as my own children, as soon my Queen and I hope 
 to testify." 
 
 Richard did not much like all this embracing ; 
 but he was sure the King really meant him no 
 ill, and he wondered at all the distrust the Cen- 
 tevilles had shown. 
 
 " Now, brave Normans," said the King, " be 
 ye ready speedily, for an onset on the traitor 
 Fleming. The cause of my ward is my own 
 cause. Soon shall the trumpet be soltnded, the 
 ban and arriere ban of the realm be called forth, 
 and Arnulf, in the flames of his cities, and the 
 blood of his vassals, shall learn to rue the day 
 when his foot trod the isle of Pecquigny ! How 
 many Normans can you bring to the muster, Sir 
 Count ? " 
 
 " I cannot say, within a few hundreds of lan- 
 ces, replied the old Dane, cautiously ; " it de- 
 pends on the numbers that may be engaged in 
 the Italian war with the Saracens, but of this be 
 sure, Sir King, that every man in Normandy and 
 Brittany who can draw a sword, or bend a bow, 
 will stand forth in the cause of our little Duke ; 
 aye, and that his blessed father's memory is held 
 so dear in our northern home, that it needs but 
 a message to King Harald Blue-tooth to bring 
 a fleet of long keels into the Seine with stout 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE, 91 
 
 Danes enough to carry fire and sword, not merely 
 through Flanders, but through all France. We 
 of the north are not apt to forget old friendships 
 and favours, Sir King." 
 
 " Yes, yes, I know the Norman faith of old," 
 returned Louis, uneasily, " but we should scarcely 
 need such wild allies as you propose ; the Count 
 of Paris, and Hubert of Senlis may be reckoned 
 on, I suppose." 
 
 " No truer friend to Normandy than gallant 
 and wise old Hugh the White ! '* said Bernard, 
 " and as to Senlis, he is uncle to the boy, and 
 doubly bound to us." 
 
 " I rejoice to see your confidence," said 
 Louis. " You shall soon hear from me. In the 
 mean time I must return to gather my force 
 together, and summon my great vassals, and I 
 will, with your leave, brave Normans, take with 
 me my dear young ward. His presence will 
 plead better in his cause than the finest words, 
 moreover he will grow up in love and friendship 
 with my two boys, and shall be nurtured with 
 them in all good learning and chivalry, nor shall 
 he ever be reminded that he is an orphan while 
 under the care of Queen G-erberge and myself." 
 
 " Let the child come to me, so please you, 
 my Lord the King," answered Harcourt, bluntly, 
 
92 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " I must hold some converse with him ere I can 
 reply." 
 
 " Go then, Richard," said Louis, "go to 
 your trusty vassal — happy are you in possessing 
 such a friend ; I hope you know his value." 
 
 " Here then, young sir," said the Count, in 
 his native tongue, when Richard had crossed 
 from the King's side, and stood beside him, 
 " what say you to this proposal ? " 
 
 " The King is very kind," said Richard, " I 
 am sure he is kind ; but I do not like to go 
 from Rouen, or from Dame Astrida." 
 
 " Listen my Lord," said the Dane, stooping 
 down and speaking low. ( ' The King is resolved 
 to have you away ; he has with him the best of 
 his Franks, and has so taken us at unawares, 
 that though I might yet rescue you from his 
 hands, it would not be without a fierce struggle, 
 wherein you might be harmed, and this castle 
 and town burnt, and wrested from us. A few 
 weeks or months, and we shall have time to 
 draw our force together, so that Normandy need 
 fear no man, and for that time you must tarry 
 with him." 
 
 " Must I— and all alone ? " 
 
 " No, not alone, not without the most trusty 
 guardian that can be found for you. Friend 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 93 
 
 Eric, what say you ? " and he laid his hand on 
 the old Baron's shoulder. " Yet I know not ; 
 true thou art as a Norwegian mountain, but I 
 doubt me if thy brains are not too dull to see 
 through the French wiles and disguises, sharp 
 as thou didst show thyself last night/' 
 
 " That was Osmond, not I," said Sir Eric. 
 " He knows their mincing tongue better than I. 
 He were the best to go with the poor child, if 
 go he must." 
 
 " Bethink you, Eric," said the Count, in an 
 under tone, " Osmond is the only hope of your 
 good old house ; — if there is foul play, the 
 guardian will be the first to suffer." 
 
 " Since you think fit to peril the only hope 
 of all Normandy, I am not the man to hold 
 back my son where he may aid him," said old 
 Eric, sadly. " The poor child will be lonely and 
 uncared-for there, and it were hard he should 
 not have one faithful comrade and friend with 
 him." 
 
 " It is well," said Bernard, " young as he is, 
 I had rather trust Osmond with the child than 
 any one else, for he is ready of council, and 
 quick of hand." 
 
 " Aye, and a pretty pass it is come to," mut- 
 tered old Centeville, " that we, whose business 
 
94 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 • 
 
 it is to guard the boy, should send him where 
 you scarcely like to trust my son." 
 
 Bernard paid no further attention to him, 
 but coming forward, required another oath from 
 the King, that Kichard should be as safe and 
 free at his court as at Kouen, and that on no 
 pretence whatsoever should he be taken from 
 under the immediate care of his esquire, Osmond 
 Fitz Eric, heir of Centeville. 
 
 After this, the King was impatient to dejDart, 
 and all was preparation. Bernard called Osmond 
 aside to give him full instructions on his conduct, 
 and the means of communicating with Nor- 
 mandy, and Kichard was taking leave of Fru 
 Astrida, who had now descended from her turret, 
 bringing her hostage with her. She wept much 
 over her little Duke, praying that he might 
 safely be restored to Normandy, even though 
 she might not live to see it ; she exhorted him 
 not to forget the good and holy learning in which 
 he had been brought up, to rule his temper, and, 
 above all, to say his prayers constantly, never 
 leaving out one, as the beads of his rosary re- 
 minded him of their order. As to her own 
 grandson, anxiety for him seemed almost lost in 
 her fears for Richard, and the chief things she 
 said to him, when he came to take leave of her, 
 were directions as to the care he was to take of 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 95 
 
 the child, telling him the honour he now received, 
 was one which would make his name for ever 
 esteemed if he did but fulfil his trust, the most 
 precious that Norman had ever yet received. 
 
 " I will, grandmother, to the very best of 
 my powers," said Osmond : "I may die in his 
 cause, but never will I be faithless ! " 
 
 " Alberic ! " said Kichard, " are you glad to 
 be going back to Montemar ? " 
 
 " Yes, my Lord/' answered Alberic, sturdily, 
 " as glad as you will to be come back to Kouen." 
 
 " Then I shall send for you directly, Alberic, 
 for I shall never love the Princes Carloman and 
 Lothaire half as well as you ! " 
 
 " My Lord the King is waiting for the 
 Duke," said a Frenchman, coming forward. 
 
 " Farewell then, Fru Astrida. Do not weep. 
 I shall soon come back. Farewell, Alberic. 
 Take the bar-tailed falcon back to Montemar, 
 and keep him for my sake. Farewell, Sir Eric — 
 Farewell Count Bernard. When the Normans 
 come to conquer Arnulf, you will lead them. 
 dear, dear Fru Astrida, farewell again." 
 
 " Farewell, my own darling. The blessing 
 of Heaven go with you, and bring you safe 
 home ! Farewell, Osmond, Heaven guard you, 
 and strengthen you to be his shield and defence ! " 
 
fflfc -".. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Away from the tall narrow gateway of 
 Rollo's Tower, with the cluster of friendly sor- 
 rowful faces looking forth from it, away from 
 the booth-like shops of Rouen, and the stout 
 burghers shouting with all the power of their 
 lungs, " Long live Duke Richard ! Long live 
 King Louis ! Death to the Fleming ! " — away 
 from the broad Seine — away from home and 
 friends rode the young Duke of Normandy, by 
 the side of the palfrey of the King of France. 
 
 The King took much notice of him, kept 
 him bv his side, talked to him, admired the 
 beautiful cattle grazing in security in the green 
 pastures, and as he looked at the rich dark 
 brown earth of the fields, the castles towering 
 above the woods, the convents looking like great 
 farms, the many villages round the rude church- 
 es, and the numerous population who came out 
 to gaze at the party, and repeat the cry of, 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 97 
 
 u Long live the King ! Blessings on the little 
 Duke ! " he told Richard, again and again, that 
 his was the most goodly duchy in France, and 
 Germany to boot. 
 
 When they crossed the Epte, the King 
 would have Richard in the same boat with him, 
 and sitting close to Louis, and talking eagerly 
 about falcons and hounds, the little Duke passed 
 the boundary of his own dukedom. 
 
 The country beyond was not like Normandy. 
 First they came to a great forest, which seemed 
 to have no path through it. The King ordered 
 that one of the men, who had rowed them 
 across, should be made to serve as guide, and two 
 of the men-at-arms took him between them, 
 and forced him to lead the way, while others 
 with their swords and battle-axes, cut down and 
 cleared away the tangled branches and briers 
 that nearly choked the path. All the time 
 every one was sharply on the look-out for robbers, 
 and the weapons were all held ready for use at a 
 moment's notice. On getting beyond the forest, 
 a castle rose before them, and though it was not 
 yet late in the day, they resolved to rest there, 
 as a marsh lay not far before them, which it 
 would not have been safe to traverse in the 
 evening twilight. 
 
98 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 The Baron of the castle received them with 
 great respect to the King, but without paying 
 much attention to the Duke of Normandy, and 
 Eichard did not find the second place left for 
 him at the board. He coloured violently, 
 and looked first at the King, and then at Os- 
 mond, but Osmond held up his finger in warn- 
 ing ; he remembered how he had lost his temper 
 before, and what had come of it, and resolved 
 to try to bear it better ; and just then the 
 Baron's daughter, a gentle-looking maiden of 
 fifteen or sixteen, came and spoke to him, and 
 entertained him so well, that he did not think 
 much more of his offended dignity. 
 
 When they set off on their journey again, 
 the Baron and several of his followers came with 
 them to show the only safe way across the 
 morass, and a very slippery, treacherous, quaking 
 road it was, where the horses' feet left pools of 
 water wherever they trod. The King and the 
 Baron rode together, and the other French 
 nobles closed round them ; Kichard was left 
 quite in the back-ground, and though the 
 French men-at-arms took care not to lose sight 
 of him, no one offered him any assistance, ex- 
 cepting Osmond, who, giving his own horse to 
 Sibald, one of the two Norman grooms who ac- 
 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 99 
 
 companied him, led Richard's horse by the bri- 
 dle along the whole distance of the marshy path, 
 a business that could scarcely have been pleas- 
 ant, as Osmond wore his heavy hauberk, and his 
 pointed iron-guarded boots sunk deep at every 
 step into the bog. He spoke little, but seemed 
 to be taking good heed of every stump of wil- 
 low, or stepping-stone, that might serve as note 
 of remembrance of the path. 
 
 At the other end of the morass began a long 
 tract of dreary-looking heathy waste, without a 
 sign of life. The Baron took leave of the King, 
 only sending three men-at-arms to show him 
 the way to a monastery, which was to be the 
 next halting place. He sent three, because it 
 was not safe for one, even fully armed, to ride 
 alone, for fear of the attacks of the followers of 
 a certain marauding Baron, who was at deadly 
 feud with him, and made all that border a most 
 perilous region. Richard might well observe 
 that he did not like the Yexin half as well as 
 Normandy, and that the people ought to learn 
 Fru Astrida's story of the golden bracelets, 
 which in his grandfather's time had hung un- 
 touched for a year in a tree in a forest. 
 
 It was pretty much the same through the 
 whole journey, waste lands, marshes, and forests 
 
100 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 alternated. The castles stood on high mounds, 
 frowning on the country round, and villages 
 were clustered round them, where the people 
 either tied away, driving off their cattle with 
 them at the first sight of an armed band, or 
 else, if they remained, proved to be thin wretch- 
 ed-looking creatures, with wasted limbs, aguish 
 faces, and often iron collars round their necks. 
 Wherever there was anything of more prosperous 
 appearance, such as a few corn-fields, vineyards 
 on the slopes of the hills, fat cattle, and peas- 
 antry, looking healthy and secure, there was sure 
 to be seen a range of long, low stone buildings, 
 surmounted with crosses, with a short square 
 church tower rising in the midst, and interspersed 
 with gnarled hoary old apple-trees, or with gar- 
 dens of pot-herbs spreading before them to the 
 meadows. If, instead of two or three men-at- 
 arms from a castle, or of some trembling serf 
 pressed into the service, and beaten, threatened 
 and watched to prevent treachery, the King 
 asked for a guide at a convent, some lay brother 
 would take his staff, or else mount an ass, and 
 proceed in perfect confidence and security as to 
 his return homewards, sure that his poverty and 
 his sacred character would alike protect him 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 101 
 
 from any outrage from the most lawless marau- 
 der of the neighbourhood. 
 
 Thus they travelled until they reached the 
 royal castle of Laon, where the Fleur-de-Lys 
 standard on the battlements announced the 
 presence of Gerberge, Queen of France, and her 
 two sons. The King rode first into the court 
 with his nobles, and before Richard could follow 
 him through the narrow arched o-atewav, he had 
 dismounted, entered the castle, and was out of 
 sight. Osmond held the Duke's stirrup, and 
 followed him up the steps which led to the Cas- 
 tle Hall. It was full of people, but no one 
 made way, and Richard, holding his squire's 
 hand, looked up in 'his face, inquiring and be- 
 wildered. 
 
 " Sir Seneschal," said Osmond, seeing a 
 broad portly old man, with grey hair and a gold- 
 en chain, "this is the Duke of Normandy — 
 I pray you conduct him to the King's presence." 
 
 Richard had no longer any cause to com- 
 plain of neglect, for the Seneschal instantly 
 made him a very low bow, and calling " Place 
 — place for the high and mighty prince, my 
 Lord Duke of Normandy ! " ushered him up to 
 the dais or raised part of the floor, where the 
 King and Queen stood together talking. The 
 
102 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 Queen looked round, as Richard was announced, 
 and he saw her face, which was sallow, and 
 with a sharp sour expression that did not please 
 him, and he backed and looked reluctant, while 
 Osmond, with a warning hand pressed on his 
 shoulder, was trying to remind him that he 
 ought to go forward, kneel on one knee, and kiss 
 her hand. 
 
 " There he is," said the King. 
 
 " One thing secure ! " said the Queen ; " but 
 what makes that northern giant keep close to 
 his heels ? " 
 
 Louis answered something in a low voice, 
 and, in the meantime, Osmond tried in a whisper 
 to induce his young Lord to go forward and 
 perform his obeisance. 
 
 " I tell you I will not," said Kichard. " She 
 looks cross ; and I do not like her." Luckily 
 he spoke his own language ; but his look and 
 air expressed a good deal of what he said, and 
 Gerberge looked all the more unattractive. " A 
 thorough little Norwegian bear," said the King, 
 " fierce and unruly as the rest. Come and per- 
 form your courtesy — do you forget where you 
 are ? " he added, sternly. 
 
 Richard bowed, partly because Osmond for- 
 ced down his shoulder; but he thought of old 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 103 
 
 Rollo, and Charles the Simple, and his proud 
 heart resolved that he would never kiss the hand 
 of that sour-looking Queen. It was a determi- 
 nation made in pride and defiance, and he suf- 
 fered for it afterwards, but no more passed now, 
 for the Queen only saw in his behaviour that of 
 an unmannerly young Northman ; and though 
 she disliked and despised him, she did not care 
 enough about his courtesy to insist on its being 
 paid. She sat down, and so did the King, and 
 they went on talking ; the King probably tell- 
 ing her his adventures at Rouen, while Richard 
 stood on the step of the dais, swelling with sul- 
 len pride. 
 
 Nearly a quarter of an hour had passed in 
 this manner, when the servants came to set the 
 tables for supper, and Richard, in spite of his 
 indignant looks, was forced to stand aside. He 
 wondered that all this time he had not seen the 
 two princes, thinking how strange he should 
 have thought it, to let his own dear father be in 
 the house so long without coming to welcome 
 him. At last, just as the supper had been 
 served up, a side door opened, and the Seneschal 
 called, " Place for the high and mighty Princes, 
 my Lord Lothaire, and my Lord Carloman ! " 
 and in walked two boys, one about the same age 
 
104 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 as Richard, the other rather more than a year 
 younger. They were both thin, pale, sharp-fea- 
 tured children, and Richard drew himself up to 
 his full height with great satisfaction, at being 
 so much taller than Lothaire. 
 
 They came up ceremoniously to their father 
 and kissed his hand, while he kissed their fore- 
 heads, and then said to them, " There is a new 
 playfellow for you." 
 
 " Is that the little Northman ? " said Car- 
 loman, turning to stare at Eichard with a look 
 of curiosity, while Richard in his turn felt con- 
 siderably affronted that a boy so much less than 
 himself should call him little. 
 
 " Yes," said the Queen, " your father has 
 brought him home with him." 
 
 Carloman stepped forward, shyly holding out 
 his hand to the stranger, but his brother pushed 
 him rudely aside, " I am the eldest ; it is my 
 business to be first. So, young Northman, you 
 are come here for us to play with." 
 
 Richard was too much amazed at being" 
 spoken to in this imperious way to make any 
 answer. He was completely taken by surprise, 
 and only opened his great blue eyes to their ut- 
 most extent. 
 
 " Ha ! why don't you answer ? Don't you 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 105 
 
 hear ? Can you speak only your own heathen 
 tongue ? " continued Lothaire. 
 
 " The Norman is no heathen tongue ! " said 
 Richard, at once breaking silence in a loud 
 voice. " We are as good Christians as you are, 
 aye, and better too." 
 
 " Hush ! hush ! my Lord ! " said Osmond. 
 
 "What now, Sir Duke," again interfered 
 the King, in an angry tone, " are you brawling 
 already ? Time, indeed, I should take you 
 from your own savage court. Sir squire, look to 
 it, that you keep your charge in better rule, or 
 I shall send him instantly to bed supperless." 
 
 " My Lord, my Lord," whispered Osmond, 
 " see you not that you are bringing discredit on 
 all of us ? " 
 
 " I would be courteous enough, if they 
 would be courteous to me," returned Richard, 
 gazing with eyes full of defiance at Lothaire, 
 who, returning an angry look, had nevertheless 
 shrunk back to his mother. She meanwhile was 
 saying, " So strong, so rough the young savage is, 
 he will surely harm our poor boys ! " 
 
 " Never fear," said Louis, "he shall be 
 watched. And," he added in a lower tone, 
 " for the present at least, we must keep up ap- 
 pearances. Hubert of Senlis, and Hugh of Paris 
 
106 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 have their eyes on us, and were the boy to be 
 missed, the grim old Harcourt would have all the 
 pirates of his land on us in the twinkling of an 
 eye. We have him, and there we must rest 
 content for the present. Now to supper/' 
 
 At supper Kichard sat next little Carloman, 
 who peeped at him every now and then from 
 under his eyelashes, as if he was afraid of him ; 
 and presently, when there was a good deal of 
 talking going on, so that his voice could not be 
 heard, half whispered in a very grave tone, " Do 
 you like salt beef or fresh ? " 
 
 " I like fresh," answered Kichard, with equal 
 gravity, " only we eat salt all the winter." 
 
 There was another silence, and then Carlo - 
 man, with the same solemnity, asked, "How 
 old are you ? " 
 
 " I shall be nine on the eve of St. Boniface. 
 How old are you ? " 
 
 " Eight. I was eight at Martinmas, and 
 Lothaire was nine three days since/' 
 
 Another silence, then as Osmond waited on 
 Kichard, Carloman returned to the charge, " Is 
 that your squire ? " 
 
 " Yes, that is Osmond de Centeville/' 
 
 " How tall he is ! " 
 
 " We Normans are taller than you French." 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 107 
 
 " Don't say so to Lothaire, or you will make 
 him angry." 
 
 " Why ! it is true." 
 
 " Yes, but," and Carloman sunk his voice, 
 " there are some things which Lothaire will not 
 hear said. Do not make him cross, or he will 
 make my mother displeased with you. She 
 caused Thierry de Lincourt to be scourged, be- 
 cause his ball hit Lothaire' s face." 
 
 " She cannot scourge me, I am a free Duke," 
 said Kichard. " But why ? Did he do it on 
 purpose ? " 
 
 "Oh! no." 
 
 " And was Lothaire hurt ? " 
 
 " Hush ! you must say Prince Lothaire. No, 
 it was quite a soft ball." 
 
 " Why ? " again asked Richard, " why was 
 he scourged ? " 
 
 " I told you, because he hit Lothaire." 
 
 " Well, but did he not laugh, and say it was 
 nothing ? Alberic quite knocked me down with 
 a great snowball the other day, and Sir Eric 
 laughed, and said I must stand firmer." 
 
 " Do you make snow-balls ? " 
 
 " To be sure I do. Do not you ? " 
 ! no, the snow is so cold." 
 Ah ! you are but a little boy," said Richard 
 
 tc 
 a 
 
108 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 in a superior manner. Carloman asked how it 
 was done ; and Richard gave an animated de- 
 scription of the snow-balling, a fortnight ago at 
 Rouen, when Osmond and some of the other 
 young men built a snow fortress, and defended 
 it against Richard, Alberic, and the other squires. 
 Carloman listened with delight, and declared 
 that next time it snowed, they would have a 
 snow castle ; and thus by the time the supper 
 was over, the two little boys were very good 
 friends. 
 
 Bed time came not long after supper. Rich- 
 ard's was a smaller room than he had been used 
 to at Rouen ; but it amazed him exceedingly 
 when he first went into it ; he stood gazing in 
 wonder, because, as he said, " it was as if he had 
 been in a Church." 
 
 " Yes, truly ! ;; said Osmond, " no wonder 
 these poor creatures of French cannot stand before 
 a Norman lance, if they cannot sleep without 
 glass to their windows. Well, what would my 
 father say to this ! " 
 
 " And see ! see ! Osmond, they have put 
 hangings up all round the walls, just like our 
 Lady's Church on a great feast-day. They treat 
 us just as if we were the holy saints, and here 
 are fresh rushes strewn about the floor too. This 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 109 
 
 must be a mistake, it must be an oratory instead 
 of my chamber." 
 
 " No, no, my Lord, here is our gear, which I 
 hade Sybald and Henry see bestowed in our 
 chamber. Well, these Franks are come to a pass 
 indeed ! my grandmother will never believe what 
 we shall have to tell her. Glass windows and 
 hangings to sleeping chambers ! I do not like 
 it — I am sure we shall never be able to sleep, 
 closed up from the free air of heaven in this way ; 
 I shall be always waking, and fancying I am in 
 the Chapel at home, hearing Father Lucas chant- 
 ing his matins. Besides, my father would blame 
 me for letting you be made as tender as a 
 Frank. I'll have out this precious window if I 
 can. " 
 
 Luxurious as the young Norman thought 
 the King, the glazing of Laon was not permanent ; 
 it consisted of casements, which could be put up 
 or removed at pleasure, for as the court possessed 
 only one set of glass windows, they were taken 
 down and carried from place to place, as often as 
 Louis removed from Kheims to Soissons, Laon, 
 or any of his other royal castles ; so that Osmond 
 did not find much difficulty in displacing them, 
 and letting in the sharp cold wintry breeze. The 
 next thing he did was to give his young lord a 
 
110 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 lecture on his want of courtesy, telling him " that 
 no wonder the Franks thought he had no more 
 culture than a Viking (or pirate), fresh caught 
 from Norway. A fine notion he was giving them 
 of the training he had at Centeville, if he could 
 not even show common civility to the Queen, a 
 lady ! Was that the way Alberic had behaved 
 when he came to Kouen ? " 
 
 "Fru Astrida did not make sour faces at 
 him, nor call him a young savage," replied 
 Richard. 
 
 " No, and he gave her no reason to do so ; 
 he knew that the first teaching of a young 
 Knight is to he courteous to ladies, never mind 
 whether fair and young, or old and foul of favour. 
 Till you learn and note that, Lord Richard, you 
 will never be worthy of your golden spurs." 
 
 " And the King told me she would treat me 
 as a mother," exclaimed Richard. " Do you 
 think the King speaks the truth, Osmond ? " 
 
 " That we shall see by his deeds," said Os- 
 mond. 
 
 " He was very kind while we were in Nor- 
 mandy. I loved him so much better than the 
 Count de Harcourt ; but now I think the Count 
 is the best ! I'll tell you, Osmond, I will never 
 call him grim old Bernard again." 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. Ill 
 
 " You had best not, sir, for you never will 
 have a more true-hearted vassal/' 
 
 " Well ! I wish we were back in Normandy, 
 with Fru Astrida and Alberic. I cannot bear 
 that Lothaire. He is proud, and unknightly, 
 and cruel, I am sure he is, and I will never love 
 him." 
 
 " Hush ! my Lord, beware of speaking so 
 loud. You are not in your own castle." 
 
 "And Carloman is a chicken heart," con- 
 tinued Richard, unheeding. " He does not like 
 to touch snow, and he cannot even slide on the 
 ice, and he is afraid to go near that great dog — 
 that beautiful wolf-hound." 
 
 " He is so very little," said Osmond. 
 
 " I am sure I was not as cowardly at his age, 
 now was I, Osmond ? Don't you remember ? " 
 
 " Come, Lord Richard, I cannot let you 
 wait to remember every thing ; tell your beads, 
 and pray that we may be brought safe back to 
 Rouen ; and that you may not forget all the 
 good that Father Lucas and holy Abbot Martin 
 have laboured to teach you." 
 
 Sir Richard told the beads of his rosary — ■ 
 black polished wood, with amber at certain spaces 
 — he repeated a prayer with every bead, and 
 Osmond did the same, then the little Duke put 
 
112 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 himself into a narrow crib of richly carved 
 walnut ; while Osmond having stuck his dagger 
 so as to form an additional bolt to secure the 
 door, and examined the hangings that no secret 
 entrance might be concealed behind them, 
 gathered a heap of rushes together, and lay 
 down on them, wrapped in his mantle, across 
 the doorway. The Duke was soon asleep ; but 
 the squire lay long awake, musing on the possi- 
 ble dangers that surrounded his charge, and on 
 the best way of guarding against them. 
 
CHAPTEK VII. 
 
 Osmond de Centeville was soon convinced 
 that no immediate peril threatened his young 
 Duke at the court of Laon. Louis seemed to 
 intend to fulfil his oaths to the Normans by 
 allowing the child to be the companion of his 
 own sons, and to be treated in every respect as 
 became his rank. Kichard had his proper place 
 at table, and all due attendance ; he learnt, 
 rode, and played with the Princes, and there was 
 nothing to complain of excepting the coldness 
 and inattention with which the King and Queen 
 •treated him, by no means fulfilling the promise 
 of being as parents to their orphan ward. 
 Gerberge, who had from the first dreaded his 
 superior strength, and his roughness with her 
 puny boys, and who had been by no means won 
 by his manners at their first meeting, was es- 
 pecially distant and severe with him, hardly 
 ever speaking to him except with some rebuke, 
 which, it must be confessed, Kichard often de- 
 served. 
 
114 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 As to the boys, his constant companions, 
 Richard was on very friendly terms with Carlo- 
 man, a gentle, timid, weakly child. Richard 
 looked down upon him, but he was kind, as a 
 generous-tempered boy could not fail to be, to 
 one younger and weaker than himself. He was 
 so much kinder than Lothaire, that Carloman 
 was fast growing very fond of him, and looked 
 up to his strength and courage as something 
 noble and marvellous. 
 
 It was very different with Lothaire, the per- 
 son from whom, above all others, Richard would 
 have most expected to meet with affection, as 
 his father's god-son, a relationship, which in 
 those times, was thought almost as near as kin- 
 dred by blood. Lothaire had been brought up 
 by an indulgent mother, and by courtiers who 
 never ceased flattering him, as the heir to the 
 crown, and he had learnt to think that to give 
 way to his naturally imperious "and violent dis- 
 position was the way to prove his power and as- 
 sert his rank. He had always had his own way, 
 and nothing had ever been done to check his 
 faults ; somewhat weakly health had made him 
 fretful and timid ; and a latent consciousness 
 of this fearfulness made him all the more cruel, 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 115 
 
 sometimes because he was frightened, sometimes 
 because he fancied it manly. 
 
 He treated his little brother in a way which 
 in these times boys would call bullying, and as 
 no one ever dared to oppose the King's eldest 
 son, it was pretty much the same with every 
 one else, except now and then some dumb crea- 
 ture, and then all Lothaire's cruelty was shown. 
 When his horse kicked, and ended by throwing 
 him, he stood by, and caused it to be beaten till 
 the poor creature's back streamed with blood ; 
 when his dog bit his hand in trying to seize the 
 meat with which he was teazing it, he insisted 
 on having it killed, and it was worse still when 
 a falcon pecked one of his fingers. It really 
 hurt him a good deal, and, in a furious rage, he 
 caused two nails to be heated red hot in the fire, 
 intending to have them thrust into the poor 
 bird's eyes. 
 
 " I will not have it done ! ■ ■ exclaimed 
 Eichard, expecting to be obeyed as he was at 
 home, but Lothaire only laughed scornfully, say- 
 ing, " Do you think you are master here, Sir 
 pirate ? " 
 
 " I will not have it done," repeated Kichard. 
 " Shame on you, shame on you, for thinkirfg of 
 such an unkingly deed." 
 
116 THE LITTLE DUKE, 
 
 " Shame on me ! Do you know to whom 
 you speak, master savage ? " cried Lothaire, red 
 with passion. 
 
 u I know who is the savage now ! " said 
 Kichard. " Hold ! " to the servant who was 
 bringing the red hot irons in a pair of tongs. 
 
 " Hold ? " exclaimed Lothaire. " No one 
 commands here but I and my father. Go on, 
 Chariot — where is the bird ? Keep her fast, 
 Giles." 
 
 " Osmond ! You I can command " — 
 
 " Come away, my Lord," said Osmond, in- 
 terrupting Richard's order, before it was issued. 
 " We have no right to interfere here, and can- 
 not hinder it. Come away from such a foul 
 sight/' 
 
 " Shame on you too, Osmond, to let such a 
 deed be done without hindering it ! " exclaimed 
 Kichard, breaking from him, and rushing on the 
 man who carried the hot irons. The French 
 servants were not very willing to exert their 
 strength against the Duke of Normandy, and 
 Richard's onset taking the man by surprise, 
 made him drop the tongs. Lothaire, both afraid 
 and enraged, caught them up as a weapon of 
 defence, and hardly knowing what he did, struck 
 full at Richard's face with the hot iron. Happily 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 117 
 
 it missed his eye, and the heat had a little 
 abated, but as it touched his cheek it burnt him 
 sufficiently to cause considerable pain. With a 
 cry of passion, he flew at Lothaire, shook him 
 with all his might, and ended by throwing him 
 at his length on the pavement. But this was 
 the last of Richard's exploits, for he was at # the 
 same moment captured by his squire, and borne 
 off, struggling and kicking as if Osmond had 
 been his greatest foe ; but the young Norman's 
 arms were like iron round him ; and he gave 
 over his resistance sooner, because at that mo- 
 ment a whirring flapping sound was heard, and 
 the poor hawk rose high, higher, over their heads 
 in ever lessening circles, far away from her ene- 
 mies. The servant who held her, had relaxed 
 his grasp in the consternation caused by Lothaire's 
 fall, and she was mounting up and up, spying 
 it might be, her way to her native rocks in Ice- 
 land, with the yellow eyes which Richard had 
 saved. 
 
 " Safe ! safe ! " cried Richard, joyfully, 
 ceasing his struggles. " \ how glad I am ! 
 That young villain should never have hurt her. 
 Put. me down, Osmond, what are you doing with 
 me ? " 
 
 " Saving you from your — no, I cannot coll 
 
118 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 it folly — I would hardly have had you stand 
 still to see such — but let me see your face." 
 
 "It is nothing. I don't care now the hawk 
 is safe/' said Kichard, though he could hardly 
 keep his lips in order, and was obliged to wink 
 very hard with his eyes to keep the tears out, 
 now that he had leisure to feel the smarting ; 
 but it would have been far beneath a Northman 
 to complain, and he stood bearing it gallantly, 
 and pinching his ringers tightly together, while 
 Osmond knelt down to examine the hurt. a 'Tis 
 not much," said he, talking to himself, " half 
 bruise, half burn — I wish my grandmother was 
 here — however, it can't last long ! 'Tis right, 
 you bear it like a little Berserkar, and it is no 
 bad thing that you should have a scar to show, 
 that they may not be able to say you did all the 
 damage." 
 
 " Will it always leave a mark ? " said 
 Kichard. "I am afraid they will call me 
 Kichard of the scarred cheek, when we get back 
 to Normandy." 
 
 " Never mind if they do— it will not be a 
 mark to be ashamed of, even if it should last, 
 which I do not believe it will." 
 
 " no, I am so glad the gallant falcon is 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 119 
 
 out of his reach ! " replied Richard, in a some- 
 what quivering voice. 
 
 "Does it smart much ? Well, come and 
 bathe it with cold water — or shall I take you to 
 one of the Queen's women ? " 
 
 " No — the water/' said Richard, and to*the 
 fountain in the court they went ; but Osmond 
 had only just begun to splash the cheek with 
 the half-frozen water, with a sort of rough kind- 
 ness, afraid at once of teaching the Duke to be 
 effeminate, and of not being as tender to him as 
 Dame Astrida would have wished, when a mes- 
 senger came in haste from the King commanding 
 the presence of the Duke of Normandy and his 
 squire. 
 
 Lothaire was standing between his father 
 and mother on their throne-like seat, leaning 
 against the Queen, who had her arm round him ; 
 his face was red and glazed with tears, and he 
 still shook with subsiding sobs. It was evident 
 he was just recovering from a passionate crying 
 fit. 
 
 " How is this ? " began the King, as 
 Richard entered. " What means this conduct, 
 my Lord of Normandy ? Know you what you 
 have done in striking the heir of France ? I 
 might imprison you this instant in a dun- 
 
120 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 geon. where you would never see the light of 
 day." 
 
 " Then Bernard de Harcourt would come 
 and set me free/' fearlessly answered Richard. 
 
 " Do you bandy words with me, child ? 
 Asli Prince Lothaire's pardon instantly, or you 
 shall rue it." 
 
 " I have done nothing to ask pardon for. It 
 would have been cruel and cowardly in me to 
 let him put out the poor hawk's eyes/' said 
 Richard, with a Northman's stern contempt for 
 pain, disdaining to mention his own burnt cheek, 
 which indeed the King might have seen plainly 
 enough. 
 
 " Hawk's eyes ! " repeated the king. " Speak 
 the truth, Sir Duke ; do not add slander to 
 your other faults." 
 
 " I have spoken the truth — I always speak 
 it ! " cried Richard. " Whoever says otherwise 
 lies in his throat ! " 
 
 Osmond here hastily interfered, and desired 
 permission to tell the whole story. The hawk 
 was a valuable bird, and Louis's face darkened 
 when he heard what Lothaire had purposed, for 
 the Prince had, in telling his own story, made it 
 appear that Richard had been the aggressor by 
 insisting on letting the falcon fly. Osmond 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 121 
 
 finished by pointing to the mark on Richard's 
 cheek, so evidently a burn as to be proof that 
 hot iron had played a part in the matter. The 
 King looked at one of his own squires and asked 
 his account, and he with some hesitation could 
 not but reply that it was as the young Sieur de 
 Centeville had said. Thereupon Louis angrily 
 reproved his own people for having assisted the 
 Prince in trying to injure the hawk, called for 
 the chief falconer, rated him for not better 
 attending to his birds, and went forth with him 
 to see if the hawk could yet be re-captured, 
 leaving the two boys neither punished nor par- 
 doned. 
 
 " So you have escaped for this once/' said 
 Gerberge, coldly, to Richard ; " you had better 
 beware another time. Come with me, my poor 
 darling Lothaire." She led her son away to 
 her own apartments, and the French squires 
 began to grumble to each other complaints of 
 the impossibility of pleasing their Lords, since, 
 if they contradicted Prince Lothaire, he was so 
 spiteful that he was sure to set the Queen 
 against them, and that was far worse in the end 
 than the King's displeasure. Osmond, in the 
 meantime, took Richard to re-commence bathing 
 LN face, and presently Carloman ran out to pity 
 6 
 
122 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 him, wonder at him for not crying, and say he 
 was glad the poor hawk had escaped. 
 
 The cheek continued inflamed and painful 
 for some time, and there was a deep scar long 
 after the pain had ceased, but Richard thought 
 little of it after the first, and would have scorned 
 to bear ill-will to Lothaire for the injury. 
 
 Lothaire left off taunting Eichard with his 
 Norman accent, and calling him a young Sea- 
 King ; he had felt his strength, and was afraid 
 of him ; but he did not like him the better — he 
 never played with him willingly — scowled, and 
 looked dark and jealous if his father, or if any 
 of the great nobles took the least notice of the 
 little Duke, and whenever he was out of hearing, 
 talked against him with all his natural spit ef ill- 
 ness. 
 
 Richard liked Lothaire quite as little, con- 
 temning almost equally his cowardly ways and 
 his imperious disposition. Since he had been 
 Duke, Richard had been somewhat inclined to 
 grow imperious himself, though always kept 
 under restraint by Fru Astrida's good training, 
 and Count Bernard's authority, and his whole 
 generous nature would have revolted against 
 treating Alberic, or indeed his meanest vassal, 
 as Lothaire used the unfortunate children who 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 123 
 
 were his play-fellows. Perhaps this made hirn 
 look on with greater horror at the tyranny which 
 Lothaire exercised ; at any rate he learnt to 
 abhor it more, and to make many resolutions 
 against ordering people about uncivilly when 
 once he should be in Normandy again. He 
 often interfered to protect the poor boys, and 
 generally with success, for the Prince was afraid 
 of provoking such another shake as Richard had 
 once given him, and though he generally repaid 
 himself on his victim in the end, he yielded for 
 the time. 
 
 Carloman, whom Richard often saved from 
 his brother's unkindness, clung closer and closer 
 to him, went with him everywhere, tried to do 
 all he did, grew very fond of Osmond, and liked 
 nothing better than to sit by Richard in some 
 wide window- seat, in the evening, after supper, 
 and listen to Richard's version of some of Fru 
 Astrida's favourite tales, or hear the never-end- 
 ing history of sports at Centeville, or at Rollo's 
 Tower, or settle what great things they would 
 both do when they were grown up, and Richard 
 was ruling Normandy— perhaps go to the Holy 
 Land together, and slaughter an unheard-of host 
 of giants and dragons on the way. In the 
 meantime, however, poor Carloman gave small 
 
124 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 promises of being able to perform great exploits, 
 for lie was very small for his age, and often ail- 
 ing ; soon tired, and never able to bear much 
 rough play. Richard, who had never had any 
 reason to learn to forbear, did not at first un- 
 derstand this, and made Carloman cry several 
 times with his roughness and violence, but this 
 always vexed him so much that he grew careful 
 to avoid such things for the future, and gradually 
 learnt to treat his poor little weakly friend with 
 a gentleness and patience at which Osmond 
 used to marvel, and which he would hardly have 
 been taught in his prosperity at home. 
 
 Between Carloman and Osmond, he was 
 thus tolerably happy at Laon, but he missed his 
 own dear friends and the loving greetings of his 
 vassals, and longed earnestly to be at Rouen, 
 asking Osmond almost every night when they 
 should go back, to which Osmond could only 
 answer that he must pray that Heaven would be 
 pleased to bring them home safely. 
 
 Osmond, in the meantime, kept a vigilant 
 watch for anything that might seem to threaten 
 danger to his lord ; but at present there was no 
 token of any evil being intended ; the only point, 
 in which Louis did not seem to be fulfilling his 
 promises to the Normans was, that no prepara- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 125 
 
 tions were made for attacking the Count of 
 Flanders. 
 
 At Easter, the court was visited by Hugh 
 the White, the great Count of Paris, the most 
 powerful man in France, and who was only pre- 
 vented by his own loyalty and forbearance from 
 taking the crown from the feeble and degenerate 
 race of Charlemagne. He had been a firm 
 friend of William Longsword, and Osmond re- 
 marked how, on his arrival, the King took care 
 to bring Kichard forward, talk of him affection- 
 atelv, and caress him almost as much as he had 
 done at Kouen. The Count himself was really 
 kind and affectionate to the little Duke ; he kept 
 him by his side, and seemed to like to stroke 
 down his long flaxen hair, looking in his face 
 with a grave mournful expression, as if seeking 
 for a likeness to his father. He soon asked 
 about the scar which the burn had left, and the 
 King was obliged to answer hastily, it was an 
 accident, a disaster that had chanced in a boyish 
 quarrel. Louis, in fact, was uneasy, and ap- 
 peared to be watching the Count of Paris the 
 whole time of his visit, so as to prevent him 
 from having any conversation in private with the 
 other great vassals assembled at the court. 
 Hugh did not seem to perceive this, and acted as 
 
126 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 if he was entirely at his ease, but at the same time 
 he watched his opportunity. One evening after 
 supper he came up to the window where Richard 
 and Carloman were, as usual, deep in story tell- 
 ing, he sat down on the stone seat, and taking 
 Richard on his knee, he asked if he had any 
 greetings for the Count de HarGourt. 
 
 How Richard's face lighted up ! " Sir," 
 he cried, " are you going to Normandy ? " 
 
 " Not yet, my boy, but it may be that I may 
 have to meet old Harcourt at the Elm of 
 Grisors/' 
 
 " 0, if I was but going with you ! " 
 
 " I wish I could take you, but it would 
 scarcely do for me to steal the heir of Normandy. 
 What shall I tell him ? » 
 
 " Tell him," whispered Richard, edging him- 
 self close to the Count, and trying to reach his 
 ear, " tell him that I am sorry, now, that I was 
 sullen when he reproved me. I know he was 
 right. And, sir, if he brings with him a certain 
 huntsman with a long hooked nose, whose name 
 is Walter, 12 tell him I am sorry I used to order 
 him about so unkindly. And tell him to bear 
 my greetings to Fru Astrida and Sir Eric, and 
 to Alberic." 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 127 
 
 " Shall I tell him how you have marked your 
 face ? » 
 
 " No/' said Richard, " he would think me a 
 baby to care about such a thing as that ! " 
 
 The Count asked how it happened, and 
 Richard told the story, for he felt as if he could 
 tell the kind Count anything, it was almost like 
 that last evening that he had sat on his father's 
 knee. Hugh ended by putting his arm round 
 him, and saying, " Well, my little Duke, I am 
 as glad as you are the gallant bird is safe — it 
 will be a tale for my own little Hugh and 
 Eumacette 13 at home — and you must one day 
 be friends with them as your father has been 
 with me. And now, do you think your squire 
 could come to my chamber late this evening 
 when the household is at rest ? " 
 
 Richard undertook that Osmond should do 
 so, and the Count, setting him down again, re- 
 turned to the dais. Osmond, before going to 
 the Count that evening, ordered Sybald to come 
 and guard the Duke's door. It was a long con- 
 ference, for Hugh had come to Laon chiefly for 
 the purpose of seeing how it went with his 
 friend's son, and was anxious to know what 
 Osmond thought of the matter. They agreed 
 that at present there did not seem to be any 
 
128 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 evil intended, and that it rather appeared as if 
 Louis wished only to keep him as a hostage for 
 the tranquillity of the borders of Normandy ; 
 but Hugh advised that Osmond should maintain 
 a careful watch, and send intelligence to him on 
 the first token of mischief. 
 
 The next morning the Count of Paris quit- 
 ted Laon, and everything went on in the usual 
 course till the feast of Whitsuntide, when there 
 was always a great display of splendour at the 
 French court. The crown vassals generally 
 came to pay their duty, and go with the King 
 to Church ; and there was a state banquet, at 
 which the King and Queen wore their crowns, 
 and every one sat in great magnificence accord- 
 ing to their rank. 
 
 The grand procession to Church was over. 
 Kichard had walked with Carloman, the Prince 
 richly dressed in blue, embroidered with golden 
 fleur-de-lys, and Kichard in scarlet, with a gold 
 cross on his breast ; the beautiful service was 
 over, they had returned to the castle, and there 
 the Seneschal was marshalling the goodly and 
 noble company to the banquet, when horses' feet 
 were heard at the gate, announcing some fresh 
 arrival ; the Seneschal went to receive the 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 129 
 
 guests, and presently was heard ushering in the 
 noble Prince, Arnulf, Count of Flanders ! 
 
 Richard's face became pale — he turned from 
 Carloman, by whose side he had been standing, 
 and walked straight out of the hall and up the 
 stairs, closely followed by Osmond. In a few 
 minutes there was a knock at the door of his 
 chamber, and a French Knight stood there say- 
 ing, " Comes not the Duke to the banquet ? " 
 
 " No," answered Osmond, " he eats not with 
 the slayer of his father." 
 
 " The King will take it amiss ; for the sake 
 of the child, you had better beware," said the 
 Frenchman, hesitating. 
 
 " He had better beware himself," exclaimed 
 Osmond indignantly, "how he brings the 
 treacherous murderer of William Longsword 
 into the presence of a free-born Norman, unless 
 he would see him slain where he stands. Were 
 it not for the boy I would challenge the traitor 
 this instant to single combat." 
 
 " Well, I can scarce blame you," said the 
 Knight, " but you had best have a care how you 
 tread. Farewell." 
 
 Richard had hardly time to express his in- 
 dignation, and his wishes that he was a man, 
 before another message came through a groom 
 6* 
 
130 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 of Lothaire's train, that the Duke must fast, if 
 he would not consent to eat with the rest. 
 
 " Tell Prince Lothaire," replied Kichard, 
 " that I am not such a glutton as he — I had 
 rather fast than be choked with eating with 
 Arnulf ! " 
 
 All the rest of the day, Kichard remained in 
 his own chamber, resolved not to run the risk 
 of meeting with Arnulf. The squire remained 
 with him, in this voluntary imprisonment, and 
 they occupied themselves, as best they could, 
 with furbishing Osmond's armour, and helping 
 each other out in repeating some of the Sagas. 
 They once heard a great uproar in the court, 
 and both were very anxious to learn its cause, 
 but they did not know till late in the afternoon. 
 
 Caiioman crept up to them — " Here I am 
 at last ! " he exclaimed. " Here, Kichard, I 
 have brought you some bread ^ as you had no 
 dinner, it was all I could bring. I saved it 
 under the table lest Loth aire should see it." 
 
 Richard thanked Caiioman with all his 
 heart, and being very hungry was glad to share 
 the bread with Osmond. He asked how Ions: 
 the wicked Count was going to stay, and rejoiced 
 to hear he was going away the next morning, 
 and the King was going with him. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 131 
 
 " What was that great noise in the court ? " 
 asked Richard. 
 
 " I scarcely like to tell you/' returned Car- 
 loman. 
 
 Richard, however, begged to hear, and Car- 
 lorn an was obliged to tell that the two Norman 
 grooms, Sybald and Henry, had quarrelled with 
 the Flemings of Ar null's train ; there had been 
 a fray, which had ended in the death of three 
 Flemings, a Frank, and of Sybald himself — 
 And where was Henry ? Alas ! there was more 
 ill news, the King had sentenced Henry to die, 
 and he had been hanged immediately. 
 
 Dark with anger and sorrow grew young 
 Richard's face, he had been fond of his two 
 Norman attendants, he trusted to their attach- 
 ment, and he would have wept for their loss 
 even if it had happened in any other way, but 
 now, when it had been caused by their enmity 
 to his father's foes, the Flemings, when one had 
 fallen overwhelmed by numbers, and the other 
 been condemned hastily, cruelly, unjustly, it was 
 too much, and he almost choked with grief and 
 indignation. Why had he not been there, to 
 claim Henry as his own vassal, and if he could 
 not save him, at least bid him farewell ? Then 
 he would have broken out in angry threats, but 
 
132 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 he felt his own helplessness and was ashamed, 
 and he could only shed tears of passionate grief, 
 refusing all Carloman's attempts to comfort him. 
 Osmond was even more concerned, he valued the 
 two Normans extremely for their courage and 
 faithfulness, and had relied on sending intelli- 
 gence, by their means, to Kouen in case of need. 
 It appeared to him as if the first opportunity 
 had been seized of removing these protectors 
 from the little Duke, and as if the designs, 
 whatever they might be, which had been formed 
 against him, were about to take effect. He had 
 little doubt that his own turn would be the next ; 
 but he was resolved to endure anything rather 
 than give the smallest opportunity of removing 
 him, to bear even insults with patience, and to 
 remember that in his care rested the sole hope 
 of safety for his charge. 
 
 That danger was fast gathering round them 
 became more evident every day, especially after 
 the King and Arnulf had gone away together. 
 It was very hot weather, and Richard began to 
 weary after the broad cool river at Rouen, where 
 he used to bathe last summer ; and one evening 
 he persuaded his squire to go down with him to 
 the Oise, which flowed along some meadow 
 ground about a quarter of a mile from the 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 133 
 
 castle, but they had hardly set forth before three 
 or four attendants came running after them, 
 with express orders from the Queen that they 
 should return immediately. They obeyed, and 
 found her standing in the castle hall looking 
 greatly incensed. 14 
 
 " What means this ? " she asked angrily. 
 " Knew you not that the King has left commands 
 that the Duke quits not the castle in his ab- 
 sence ? " 
 
 " I was only going as far as the river — " 
 began Richard, but Gerberge cut him short. 
 " Silence, child, I will hear no excuses. Perhaps 
 you think, Sieur cle Centeville, that you may 
 take liberties in the King's absence, but I tell 
 you that if you are found without the walls 
 again, it shall be at your peril ; aye, and his. 
 I'll have those haughty eyes put out if you dis- 
 obey." 
 
 She turned away, and Lothaire looked at 
 them with his air of gratified malice. " You 
 will not lord it over your betters much longer, 
 young pirate," said he, as he followed his moth- 
 er, afraid to stay to meet the anger he might 
 have excited by the taunt he could not deny 
 himself the pleasure of making ; but Richard, 
 who six months ago could not brook a slight 
 
134 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 disappointment or opposition, had, in his present 
 life of restraint, danger, and vexation, learnt 
 to curb the first outbreak of temper, and to bear 
 patiently instead of breaking out into passion 
 and threats, and now his only thought was of 
 his beloved squire. 
 
 " 0, Osmond ! Osmond ! " he exclaimed, 
 " they shall not hurt you. I will never go out 
 again, I will never speak another hasty word, I 
 will never affront the Prince if they will but 
 leave you with me ! " 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 It was a fine summer evening, and Richard 
 and Carle-man were playing at ball on the steps 
 of the castle gate, when a voice was heard from 
 beneath, begging for alms from the noble Prin- 
 ces in the name of the blessed Virgin, and the 
 two boys saw a pilgrim standing at the gate, 
 wrapt in a long robe of serge, with a staff in 
 his hand surmounted by a cross, a scrip at his 
 girdle, and a broad shady hat, which he had 
 taken off, as he stood, making low obeisances 
 and asking charity. 
 
 "Come in, holy pilgrim/' said Carloman ; "it 
 is late, and you shall sup and rest here to- 
 night." 
 
 " Blessings from heaven light on you, noble 
 Prince," replied the pilgrim, and at that mo- 
 ment Richard shouted joyfully, " A Norman, a 
 Norman, 'tis my own dear speech ! 0, are you 
 not from Normandy ? Osmond, Osmond, he 
 comes from home ! " 
 
136 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " My Lord ! my own Lord ! " exclaimed the 
 pilgrim, and, kneeling on one knee at the foot 
 of the steps, he kissed the hand which the young 
 Duke held out to him — " This is joy unlooked 
 for ! " 
 
 " Walter ! Walter the huntsman ! " cried 
 Richard. " Is it you ? ! how is Fru Astrida, 
 and all at home ? " 
 
 " Well, my Lord, and wearying to know 
 how it is with you — " began Walter, but a 
 very different tone exclaimed, from behind the 
 pilgrim, " What is all this ? Who is stopping 
 my way ? What ! Richard would be King and 
 more, would he ? More insolence ? " It was 
 Lothaire, returning with his attendants from 
 the chase, in by no means an amiable mood ; 
 for he had been disappointed of his game. 
 
 " He is a Norman — a vassal of Richard's 
 own," said Carloman. 
 
 " A Norman, is he ? I thought we had got 
 rid of the robbers ? We want no robbers here. 
 Scourge him soundly, Perron, and teach him 
 how to stop my way." 
 
 " He is a pilgrim, my Lord," suggested one 
 of the followers. 
 
 " I care not, I'll have no Normans here com- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 137 
 
 ing spying in disguise. Scourge him, I say, dog 
 that he is. Away with him. A spy, a spy ! " 
 
 " No Norman is scourged in my sight ! " 
 said Richard, darting forwards, and throwing 
 himself between Walter and the woodsman, who 
 was preparing to obey Lothaire, just in time to 
 receive on his own bare neck the sharp cutting 
 leathern thong, which raised a long red streak 
 along its course. Lothaire laughed. 
 
 " My Lord Duke— What have you done ? 
 leave me — this befits you not ! " cried Wal- 
 ter, extremely distressed ; but Richard had 
 caught hold of the whip, and called out, 
 " Away ! away ! run ! haste, haste ! " and the 
 words were repeated at once by Osmond, Carlo- 
 man, and many of the French, who, though 
 afraid to disobey the Prince, were unwilling to 
 violate the sanctity of a pilgrim's person, and 
 the Norman, seeing there was no help for it, 
 obeyed ; the French made way for him, and he 
 effected his escape, while Lothaire, after a great 
 deal of storming and raging, went up to his 
 mother to triumph in the cleverness with which 
 lie had detected a Norman spy in disguise. 
 
 Lothaire was not far wrong ; Walter had 
 really come to satisfy himself as to the safety 
 of the little Duke, and try to gain an interview 
 
138 THE LITTLE DU&E. 
 
 with Osmond. In the latter purpose he failed, 
 though he lingered in the neighbourhood of 
 Laon for several days, for Osmond never left the 
 Duke for an instant ; and he was, as has been 
 shown, a close prisoner, in all but the name, 
 within the walls of the castle. The pilgrim 
 had, however, the opportunity of picking up ti- 
 dings which made him perceive the true state 
 of things ; he learnt the deaths of Sibald and 
 Henry, the alliance between the King and Ar- 
 nulf, and the restraint and harshness with which 
 the Duke was treated, and with this intelligence 
 he went in haste to Normandy. 
 
 Soon after his arrival, a three days' fast was 
 observed throughout the Dukedom, and in every 
 Church, from the Cathedral of Bayeux to the 
 smallest and rudest village shrine, crowds of 
 worshippers were kneeling, imploring, many of 
 them with tears, that God would look on them 
 in His mercy, restore to them their Prince, and 
 deliver the child out of the hands of his enemies. 
 How earnest and sorrowful were the prayers of- 
 fered at Centeville may well be imagined ; and 
 at Montemar sur Epte the anxiety was scarcely 
 less. Indeed, from the time the evil tidings 
 arrived, Alberic grew so restless and unhappy, 
 and so anxious to do something, that at last his 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 139 
 
 mother set out with him on a pilgrimage to the 
 Abbey of Jumieges, to pray for the rescue of 
 his clear little Duke. 
 
 In the meantime Louis had sent notice to 
 Laon that he should return home in a week's 
 time, and Richard rejoiced in the prospect, for 
 the King had always been less unkind to him 
 than the Queen, and he hoped to be released 
 from his captivity within the castle. Just at 
 this time he became very unwell ; it might have 
 been only the effect of the life of unwonted con- 
 finement which he had lately led that was be- 
 ginning to tell on his health, but after being 
 heavy and uncomfortable for a day or two 
 without knowing what was the matter with 
 him, he was one night attacked with high fever. 
 
 Osmond was dreadfully alarmed, knowing 
 nothing at all of the treatment of illness, and, 
 what was worse, fully persuaded that the poor 
 child had been poisoned, and therefore resolved 
 not to call any assistance ; he hung over him 
 all night, expecting each moment to see him 
 expire, ready to tear his hair with despair and 
 fury ; and yet obliged to restrain himself to the 
 utmost quietness and gentleness to soothe the 
 suffering of the sick child. 
 
 Through that night Eichard either tossed 
 
140 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 about on his narrow bed, or, when his restless- 
 ness desired the change, sat, leaning his aching 
 head on Osmond's breast, too oppressed and 
 miserable to speak or think. When the day 
 dawned on them, and he was still too ill to leave 
 the room, messages were sent for him, and Os- 
 mond could no longer conceal the fact of his 
 sickness, but parleyed at the door, keeping out 
 every one he could, and refusing all offers of 
 attendance. He would not even admit Carlo- 
 man, though Richard, hearing his voice, begged 
 to see him, and when a proposal was sent from 
 the Queen that a skilful old nurse should visit 
 and prescribe for the patient, he refused with 
 all his might, and when he had shut the door, 
 walked up and down, muttering, " Aye, aye, 
 the witch ! coming to finish what she has 
 begun ! " 
 
 All that day and the next Richard con- 
 tinued very ill, and Osmond waited on him- 
 assiduously, never closing his eyes for a moment, 
 but constantly telling his beads whenever the 
 boy did not require his attendance. At last 
 Richard fell asleep, slept long and soundly for 
 some hours, and waked much better ; Osmond 
 was in a transport of joy. " Thanks to Hea- 
 ven, they shall fail for this time ! and they 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 141 
 
 shall never have another chance. May Heaven 
 be with us still ! " 
 
 Richard was too weak and weary to ask 
 what he meant, and for the next few days Os- 
 mond watched him with the utmost care. As 
 for food, now that Richard could eat again, Os- 
 mond would not hear of his touching what was 
 sent from the royal table, but always went down 
 himself to procure food in the kitchen, where 
 he said he had a friend among the cooks, who 
 would, he thought, scarcely poison him inten- 
 tionally. When Richard was able to cross the 
 room, he insisted on his always fastening the 
 door with the dagger, and never opening to any 
 summons but his own, not even to Prince Car- 
 loman's. Richard wondered, but he was obliged 
 to obey ; and he knew enough of the perils 
 around him to perceive the reasonableness of 
 Osmond's caution. 
 
 Thus several clays had passed, the King had 
 returned, and Richard was so much recovered 
 that he had become very anxious to be allowed 
 to go down stairs again, instead of remaining 
 shut up there ; but still Osmond would not con- 
 sent, though Richard had done nothing all day 
 but walk round the room to show how strong 
 he was. 
 
142 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " Now, my Lord, guard the door ; take 
 care," said Osmond, " you have no loss to-day, 
 for the King has brought home Herluin of Mon- 
 treuil, whom you would be almost as loath to 
 meet as the Fleming. And tell your beads while 
 I am gone, that the Saints may bring us out of 
 our peril." 
 
 Osmond was absent nearly half-an-hour, 
 and when he returned, brought on his shoulders 
 a huge bundle of straw. " What is this for ? * 
 exclaimed Eichard ; " I wanted my supper, and 
 you have brought straw ! " 
 
 " Here is your supper," said Osmond, throw- 
 ing down the straw, and producing a bag with 
 some bread and meat. " What should you say, 
 my Lord, if we should sup in Normandy to- 
 morrow night ? " 
 
 " In Normandy ! " cried Eichard, springing 
 up and clapping his hands. " In Normandy ! 
 0, Osmond, did you say in Normandy ? Shall 
 we, shall we really ? joy ! joy ! Is Count 
 Bernard come ? Will the King let us go ? " 
 
 " Hush ! hush, sir, it must be our own do- 
 ing ; it will all fail if you are not silent and 
 prudent, and we shall be undone." 
 
 " I will do anything to get home again ! " 
 
 " Eat first," said Osmond. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 143 
 
 " But what are you going to do ? I will 
 not be as foolish as I was when you tried to get 
 me safe out of Rollo's tower. But I should 
 like to wish Carloman farewell." 
 
 " That must not be/' said Osmond, " we 
 should not have time to escape if they did not 
 still believe you very ill in bed." 
 
 " I am sorry not to wish Carloman good- 
 bye ! " repeated Richard ; " but shall we see 
 Fro Astrida again and Sir Eric ? and Alberic 
 must come back again ! 0, do let us go ! 
 Normandy, dear Normandy ! " 
 
 Richard could hardly eat for excitement, 
 while Osmond hastily made his arrangements, 
 girding on his sword, and giving Richard his 
 dagger to put into his belt. He placed the re- 
 mainder of the provisions in his wallet, threw a 
 thick purple cloth mantle over the Duke, and 
 then desired him to lie down on the straw which 
 he had brought in. "I shall hide you in it," 
 he said, " and carry you through the hall as if I 
 was going to feed my horse." 
 
 " 0, they will never guess ! " cried Richard 
 laughing. " I will be quite still — I will make 
 no noise — I will hold my breath." 
 
 " Yes, mind you do not move hand or foot, 
 or rustle the straw. It is no play — it is life 
 
144 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 or death/' said Osmond, as he disposed the 
 straw round the little boy. " There, can you 
 breathe ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Richard's voice from the midst. 
 " Am I quite hidden ? " 
 
 " Entirely. Now, remember, whatever hap- 
 pens, do not move ! May Heaven protect us ! 
 Now ! The Saints be with us ! " 
 
 Richard, from the interior of the bundle, 
 heard Osmond set open the door ; then he felt 
 himself raised from the ground, Osmond was 
 carrying him along, down the stairs, the ends of 
 the straw crushing and sweeping against the 
 wall. The only way to the outer door was 
 through the hall and here was the danger ; 
 Richard heard voices, steps, loud singing, and 
 laughter, as if feasting was going on, then some 
 one said : " Tending your horse, Sieur de Cente- 
 ville ? " 
 
 " Yes/' Osmond made answer. " You know, 
 since we lost our grooms, the poor black would 
 come off badly did I not attend to him." 
 
 Presently came Carloman's voice. " Oh ! 
 Osmond de Centeville ! is Richard better ? " 
 
 " He is better, my Lord, I thank you, but 
 hardly yet out of danger." 
 
 " 0, 1 wish he was well. And when will vou 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 145 
 
 let me come to him, Osmond ? Indeed, I would 
 sit quiet and not disturb him ! " 
 
 " It may not be yet, my Lord, though the 
 Duke loves you well, he told me so but now." 
 
 " Did he ? tell him I love him very much, 
 better than any one here, and it is very dull 
 without him. Tell him so, Osmond." 
 
 Richard could hardly help calling out to his 
 dear little Carloman, but he remembered the 
 peril of Osmond's eyes and the Queen's threat, 
 and held his peace, with some vague notion that 
 some day he would make Carloman King of 
 France. In the meantime, half stifled with 
 straw, he felt himself carried on, down the steps, 
 across the court, and then he knew, from the 
 darkness and the changed sound of Osmond's 
 tread, that they were in the stable ; Osmond 
 laid him carefully down and whispered — 
 
 " All right, so far. You can breathe ? " 
 
 " Not well. Can't you let me out ? " 
 
 " Not yet, not for worlds. Now, tell me if 
 I put your face downwards, for I cannot see." 
 
 He laid the living heap of straw across the 
 saddle, bound it on, then led out the horse, gaz- 
 ing round cautiously as he did so, but the whole 
 of the people of the castle were feasting, and 
 there was no one to watch the gates. Richard 
 7 
 
40 
 146 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 heard the hollow sound of the hoofs as the draw- 
 bridge was crossed, and knew that he was free, 
 but still Osmond held his arm over him, and 
 would not let him move for some distance. 
 Then, just as Kichard felt as if he could endure 
 the stifling of the straw, and his uncomfortable 
 position, not a moment longer, Osmond stopped 
 the horse, took him down, laid him on the grass, 
 and released him. He gazed round — they were 
 in a little wood — evening twilight was just com- 
 ing on, and the birds sang sweetly. 
 
 " Free ! free ! this is freedom ! " cried Rich- 
 ard, leaping up in the delicious cool evening 
 breeze; " the Queen and Lothaire, and that 
 grim room all far behind ! " 
 
 " Not so far yet," said Osmond. " You must 
 not call yourself safe till the Epte is between us 
 and them. Into the saddle, my Lord, we must 
 ride for our lives." 
 
 Osmond helped the Duke to mount, and 
 sprang to the saddle behind him, set spurs to 
 the horse, and rode on at a quick rate, though 
 not at full speed, as he wished to spare the 
 horse. The twilight faded, the stars came out, 
 and still he rode, his arm round the child, who, 
 as night advanced, grew weary, and often sunk 
 into a sort of half doze, conscious all the time 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 147 
 
 of the trot of the horse. But each step was 
 taking him further from Queen Gerberge and 
 nearer to Normandy, and what recked he of 
 weariness? On — on — the stars grew pale again, 
 and the first pink light of dawn showed in the 
 eastern sky ; the sun rose, mounted higher and 
 higher, and the day grew hotter, the horse went 
 more slowly, stumbled, and though Osmond 
 halted and loosed the girth, he only mended his 
 pace for a little while. 
 
 Osmond looked grievously perplexed, but 
 they had not gone much further before a party 
 of merchants came in sight, winding their way 
 with a long train of loaded mules, and stout 
 men to guard them, across the plains, like an 
 eastern caravan in the desert. They gazed in 
 surprise at the tall young Norman holding the 
 child up on the worn-out war-horse. 
 
 " Sir merchant," said Osmond to the first ; 
 " see you this steed ? Better horse never was 
 ridden, but he is sorely spent, and we must 
 make speed. Let me barter him with you for 
 yonder stout palfrey. He is worth twice as 
 much, but I cannot stop to chaffer — aye or no 
 at once." 
 
 The merchant, seeing the value of Osmond's 
 gallant black, accepted the offer, and Osmond, 
 
148 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 removing his saddle, and placing Richard on his 
 new steed, again mounted, and on they went, 
 through the country which Osmond's eye had 
 marked with the sagacity men acquire by living 
 in wild unsettled places. The great marshes were 
 now far less dangerous than in the winter, and 
 they safely crossed them. There had as yet been 
 no pursuit, and Osmond's only fear was for his 
 little charge, who, not having recovered his full 
 strength since his illness, began to suffer greatly 
 from fatigue in the heat of that broiling sum- 
 mer day, and leant against Osmond patiently, but 
 very wearily, without moving or looking up. He 
 scarcely revived when the sun went down, and a 
 cool breeze sprang up which much refreshed Os- 
 mond himself. And still more did it refresh the 
 squire to see, at length, winding through the green 
 pastures, a blue river, on the opposite bank of 
 which rose a high rocky mound, bearing a castle 
 with many a turret and battlement. 
 
 " The Epte ! The Epte ! There is Norman- 
 dy, Sir. Look up, and see your own dukedom." 
 " Normandy ! " cried Richard, sitting upright. 
 " 0, my own home ! " 
 
 Still the Epte was wide and deep, and the 
 peril was not yet ended. Osmond looked anx- 
 iously, and rejoiced to see marks of cattle, as if it 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 149 
 
 had been forded. " We must try it," he said, 
 and dismounting, he waded in, leading the horse, 
 and firmly holding Richard in the saddle. Deep 
 they went, the water rose to Richard's feet, then 
 to the horse's neck, then the horse was swimming, 
 and Osmond too, still keeping his firm hold — then 
 there was ground again, the force of the current 
 was less, and they were gaining the bank. At 
 that instant, however, they perceived two men 
 aiming at them with cross-bows from the castle, 
 and another standing on the bank above them, 
 who called out, " Hold ! none passes the ford of 
 Montemar without permission of the noble Dame 
 Yolande." 
 
 " Ha ! Bertrand the Seneschal, is that 
 you ? " returned Osmond. 
 
 u Who calls me by my name ? " replied the 
 Seneschal. 
 
 " It is I, Osmond de Centeville. Open your 
 gates quickly, Sir Seneschal, for here is the Duke, 
 sorely in need of rest and refreshment/' 
 
 " The Duke ! " exclaimed Bertrand, hurrying 
 down to the landing-place, and throwing off his 
 cap. 
 
 " The Duke! the Duke ! " rang out the shout 
 from the men-at-arms on the battlements above, 
 and in an instant more Osmond had led the horse 
 
150 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 up from the water, and was exclaiming, " Look 
 up, my Lord, look up ; you are in your own duke- 
 dom again, and this is Alberic's castle ! " 
 
 " Welcome, indeed, most noble Lord Duke ! 
 Blessings on the day ! " cried the Seneschal. 
 " What joy for my Lady and my young Lord ! " 
 
 " He is sorely weary," said Osmond, looking 
 anxiously at Kichard, who, even at the welcome 
 cries that showed so plainly that he was in his 
 own Normandy, scarcely raised himself or spoke. 
 " He had been very sick ere I brought him away. 
 I doubt me they sought to poison him, and I 
 vowed not to tarry at Laon another hour after he 
 was fit to move. But cheer up, my Lord, you 
 are safe and free now, and here is the good Dame 
 de Montemar, to tend you, far better than a rude 
 squire like me." 
 
 " Alas ! no," said the Seneschal, " our Dame 
 is gone with young Alberic on a pilgrimage to 
 Jumieges, to pray for the Duke's safety. What 
 joy for them to know that their prayers have been 
 granted." 
 
 Osmond, however, could scarcely rejoice, so 
 alarmed was he at the extreme weariness and 
 exhaustion of his charge, who, when they brought 
 him into the castle hall, hardly spoke or looked, 
 and could not eat. They carried him up to 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 151 
 
 Alberic's bed, where he tossed about restlessly, too 
 tired to sleep. 
 
 " Alas ! alas ! M said Osmond, " I have been 
 too hasty ! I have but saved him from the Franks 
 to be his death by my own imprudence." 
 
 " Hush ! Sieur de Centeville, " said the Sen- 
 eschal's wife, coming into the room, " to talk 
 in that manner is the way to be his death, in- 
 deed. Leave the child to me, he is only over- 
 weary." 
 
 Osmond was sure his Duke was among friends, 
 and would have been glad to trust him to a wo- 
 man, but Richard had but one instinct left in 
 all his weakness and exhaustion, to cling close to 
 Osmond, as if he felt him his only friend and pro- 
 tector, for he was as yet too much worn out to 
 understand that he was in Normandy and safe. 
 For two or three hours, therefore, Osmond and 
 the Seneschal's wife watched on each side of his 
 bed, soothing his restlessness, until at length he 
 became quiet, and at last dropped sound asleep. 
 
 The sun was high in the heavens when Rich- 
 ard awoke. He turned on his straw-filled crib 
 and looked up. It was not the tapestried walls 
 of his chamber at Laon that met his opening 
 eyes, but the rugged stone and tall loop-hole 
 window of a turret chamber. Osmond de Cente- 
 
152 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 ville lay on the floor by his side, in the sound 
 sleep of one overcome by long watching and weari- 
 ness. And what more did Kichard see ? 
 
 It was the bright face and sparkling eyes of 
 Alberic de Monternar, who was leaning against 
 the foot of his bed, gazing earnestly as he watched 
 for his waking. There was a cry, " Alberic ! 
 Alberic I " " My Lord, my Lord." Richard sat 
 up and held out both arms, and Alberic flung 
 himself into them. They hugged each other, 
 and uttered broken exclamations, and screams of 
 joy, enough to have awakened any sleeper but 
 one so wearied out as Osmond. 
 
 " And is it true ? Oh ! am I really in Nor- 
 mandy again ? " cried Richard. 
 
 " Yes ! yes ! Oh, yes, my Lord. You are at 
 Monternar. Every thing here is yours. The bar- 
 tailed hawk is quite well, and my mother will be 
 here this evening, she let me ride on the instant 
 we heard the news ! " 
 
 a We rode long and late, and I was very 
 weary \" said Richard, "but I don't care, now 
 we are at home. But I can hardly believe it ! 
 Alberic, it has been very dreary." 
 
 " See here, my Lord ! " said Alberic, standing 
 by the window. " Look here, and you will know 
 you are at home again." 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 153 
 
 Richard bounded to the window, and what a 
 sight met his eyes ! 
 
 The castle court was thronged with men-at- 
 arms and horses, the morning sun sparkling on 
 many a burnished hauberk and tall conical hel- 
 met, and above them waved many a banner and 
 pennon that Richard knew full well. " There ! 
 there ! " he shouted aloud with glee. " 0, there 
 is the horse-shoe of Ferrieres ! and there the 
 chequers of Warrenne ! 0, and best of all ! there 
 is — there is our own red pennon of Centeville ! 
 Alberic ! Alberic ! is Sir Eric here? I must 
 go down to him ! " 
 
 " Bertrand sent out notice to them all, as 
 soon as you came, to come and guard our castle ! " 
 said Alberic, " lest the Franks should pursue 
 you ; but you are now safe, safe as Norman 
 spears can make you — thanks be to God." 
 
 " Yes, thanks to God ! " said Richard, cross- 
 ing himself, and kneeling reverently for some 
 minutes, while he repeated his Latin prayer, 
 then, rising and looking at Alberic, he said, " I 
 must thank Him indeed, for he has saved Os- 
 mond and me from the cruel King and Queen, 
 and I must try to be a less hasty and overbear- 
 ing boy than I was when I went away, for I 
 vowed that so I would be, if ever I came back. 
 7* 
 
154 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 Poor Osmond, how sound he sleeps ! Come, 
 Alberic, show me the way to Sir Eric ! " 
 
 And holding Alberic's hand, Eichard left 
 the room, and descended the stairs to the castle 
 hall. Many of the Norman Knights and Barons 
 in full armour were gathered there, but Eichard 
 looked for only one ; he knew Sir Eric's grizzled 
 hair, and blue inlaid armour, though his back 
 was towards him, and in a moment, before his 
 entrance had been perceived, he sprang towards 
 him, and with outstretched arms, exclaimed, 
 " Sir Eric, dear Sir Eric, here I am ! Osmond 
 is safe ! and is Fru Astrida well ? " 
 
 The old Baron turned — " My child ! " he 
 exclaimed, and clasped him in his mailed arms, 
 while the tears flowed down his rugged cheeks, 
 " Blessed be God that you are safe, and that 
 my son has done his duty ! " 
 
 " And is Fru Astrida well ? " 
 
 u Yes, right well, since she heard of your 
 safety. But, look round, my Lord, it befits not 
 a Duke to be clinging thus round an old man's 
 neck. See how many of your true vassals be 
 here to guard you from the villain Franks." 
 
 Eichard stood up, and held out his hand, 
 bowing courteously, and acknowledging the 
 greetings of each bold Baron, with a grace and 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 155 
 
 readiness he certainly had not when he left Nor- 
 mandy. He was taller too, and though still 
 pale, and not dressed with much care, (since he 
 had hurried on his clothes with no help but 
 Alberic's), though his hair was rough and dis- 
 ordered, and the scar«of the burn had not yet 
 laded from his cheek, yet still, with his bright 
 blue eyes, glad face, and upright form, he was a 
 princely, promising boy, and the Norman Knights 
 looked at him with pride and joy, more especially 
 when, unprompted, he said, " I thank you, 
 gallant Knights, for coming to guard me. I do 
 not fear the whole French host, now I am among 
 my own true Normans." 
 
 Sir Eric led him to the door of the hall to 
 the top of the steps, that the men-at-arms 
 might see him, and then such a shout rang out 
 of — " Long live Duke Richard ! Blessings on 
 the little Duke," — that it echoed, and came 
 back again from the hills around — it pealed 
 from the old tower — it roused Osmond from his 
 sleep, and if any thing more had been wanting 
 to do so, it made Richard feel that he was 
 indeed in a land where every heart glowed with 
 loyal love for him. 
 
 Before the shout had died away, a bugle- 
 horn was heard winded before the gate, and Sir 
 
156 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 Eric, saying, " It is the Count of Harcourt's 
 note," sent Bertrand to open the gates in haste, 
 while Alberic followed, as Lord of the castle, to 
 receive the Count. 
 
 The old Count rode into the court, and to 
 the foot of the steps, where he dismounted, 
 Alberic holding his stirrup. He had not taken 
 many steps upwards before Kichard came volun- 
 tarily to meet him (which he had never done 
 before), held out his hand, and said, "Welcome, 
 Count Bernard, welcome ! Thank you for com- 
 ing to guard me. I am very glad to see you 
 once more." 
 
 " Ah ! my young Lord," said Bernard, " I 
 am right glad to see you out of the clutches of 
 the Franks. You know friend from foe now, 
 methinks." 
 
 " Yes, indeed I do, Count Bernard. I know 
 you meant kindly by me, and that I ought to 
 have thanked you, and not been angry when you 
 reproved me. Wait one moment, Sir Count ; 
 there is one thing that I promised myself to say, 
 if ever I came safe to my own dear home. 
 Walter, — Maurice, — Jeannot, — all you of my 
 household, and of Sir Eric's — I know before I 
 went away I was often no good Lord to you. I 
 was passionate, and proud, and overbearing ; but 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 157 
 
 God has punished me for it, when I was far 
 away, among my enemies, and sick and lonely ; 
 I am very sorry for it, and I hope you will pardon 
 me, for I will strive, and I hope God will help 
 me, never to be proud and passionate again." 
 
 " There, Sir Eric/'' said Bernard, " you hear 
 what the boy says. If he speaks it out so bold 
 and free, without bidding, and if he holds to 
 what he says, I doubt it not that he shall not 
 grieve for his journey to France, and that we 
 shall see him, in all things, such a Prince as his 
 father of blessed memory/' 
 
 " You must thank Osmond for me," said 
 Kichard, as Osmond came down, awakened at 
 length. " It is Osmond who has helped me to 
 bear my troubles ; and as to saving me, why he 
 flew away with me even like an old eagle with 
 its eaglet. I say, Osmond, you must ever after 
 this wear a pair of wings on shield and pennon, 
 to show how well we managed our flight." 15 
 
 " As you will, my Lord," said Osmond, half 
 asleep, " but 'twas a good long flight at a stretch, 
 and I trust never to have to fly before your foes 
 or mine again." 
 
 What a glad summer' s-day was that ! Even 
 the three hours spent in council, did but renew 
 the relish with which Eichard visited Alberic's 
 
158 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 treasures, told his adventures, and showed the 
 accomplishments he had learnt at Laon. The 
 evening was more joyous still, for the castle gates 
 were opened, first to receive Dame Yolande de 
 Monte'rnar, and not above a quarter of an hour 
 afterwards, the drawbridge was lowered to admit 
 the followers of Centeville, and in front of them 
 ajDpeared Fru Astrida's own high cap ; Richard 
 made but one bound into her arms, and was 
 clasped to her breast, then held off at arms'- 
 length, that she might see how much he was 
 grown, and pity his scar, then hugged closer 
 than ever ! but taking another look, she declared 
 that Osmond left his hair like King Harald 
 Horrid-locks ; 16 and drawing an ivory comb from 
 her pouch, began to pull out the thick tangles, 
 hurting him to a degree that would once have 
 made him rebel, but now he only fondled her 
 the more. 
 
 As to Osmond, when he knelt before her, she 
 blessed him and sobbed over him, and blamed 
 him for over-tiring her darling, all iu one ; and 
 assuredly when night closed in, and Richard had, 
 as of old, told his beads beside her knee, the 
 happiest boy in Normandy was its little Duke. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Montemar was too near the frontier to be a 
 safe abode for the little Duke, and his uncle, 
 Count Hubert of Senlis, agreed with Bernard 
 the Dane, that he would be more secure beyond 
 the limits of his own duchy, which was likely 
 soon to be the scene of war, and sorely against 
 his will, he was sent in secret, under a strong 
 escort, first to the castle of Coucy, and after- 
 wards to Senlis. 
 
 His consolation was, that he was not again 
 separated from his friends ; Alberic, Sir Eric, 
 and even Fru Astrida accompanied him, as well 
 as his constant follower, Osmond. Indeed, the 
 Baron would hardly bear that he should be out 
 of his sight, and he was so carefully watched, 
 that it was almost like captivity. Never, even 
 in the summer-days, was he allowed to go beyond 
 the castle walls, and his guardians would fain 
 have had it supposed that the castle did not con- 
 tain any such guest. 
 
160 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 Osmond did not give him so much of his 
 company as usual, but was always at work in 
 the armourer's forge, a low vaulted chamber, 
 opening into the castle court. Kichard and 
 Alberic were very curious to know what he did 
 there, but he fastened the door with an iron 
 bar, and they were forced to content themselves 
 with listening to the strokes of the hammer, 
 keeping time to the voices that sang out loud 
 and cheerily, the song of " Sigurd's sword, and ' 
 the maiden sleeping within the ring of flame. " 
 Fru Astrida said Osmond was quite right, no 
 good weapon-smith ever toiled with open doors, 
 and when the boys asked him questions as to 
 his work, he only smiled, and said that they 
 should see what it was when the call to arms 
 should come. 
 
 They thought it near at hand, for tidings 
 came that Louis had assembled an army, and 
 marched into Normandy to recover the person 
 of the young Duke, and to seize the country. 
 No summons, however, arrived, but a message 
 came instead, that Kouen had been surrendered 
 into the hands of the King. Kichard shed 
 indignant tears. " My father's castle ! My 
 own city in the hands of the foe ! Bernard is a 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 161 
 
 traitor then ! None shall hinder me from so 
 calling him. Why did we trust him ? " 
 
 "Never fear, Lord Duke," said Osmond, 
 " when you come to the years of Knighthood, 
 your own sword shall right you, in spite of all 
 the false Danes, and falser Franks in the land." 
 
 " What, you too, son Osmond ? I deemed 
 you carried a cooler brain than to miscall one 
 who was true to Hollo's race before you or yon 
 varlet were born ! " said the old Baron. 
 
 " He has yielded my dukedom ! It is mis- 
 calling to say he is aught but a traitor ! " cried 
 Kichard, " Vile, treacherous, favour seeking — '.' 
 
 " Peace, peace, my Lord," said the Baron, 
 " Bernard has more in that wary head of his, 
 than your young wits, or my old ones, can un- 
 wind. What he is doing, I may not guess, but 
 I gage my life his heart is right." 
 
 Kichard was silent, remembering he had 
 been once unjust, but he grieved heartily when 
 he thought of the French in Hollo's tower, and 
 it was further reported that the King was about 
 to share Normandy among his French vassals. 
 A fresh outcry broke out in the little garrison 
 of Senlis, but Sir Eric still persisted in his trust 
 in his friend Bernard, even when he heard that 
 Centeville was marked out as the prey of the fat 
 
162 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 French Count who had served for a hostage at 
 Rouen. 
 
 " What say you now, my Lord ? " said he, 
 after a conference with a messenger at the gate. 
 " The Black Raven has spread its wings. Fifty 
 keels are in the Seine, and Harald Blue- tooth's 
 Long Serpent at the head of them." 
 
 " The King of Denmark ! Come to my 
 aid ? " 
 
 " Aye, that he is ! Come at Bernard's 
 secret call, to right you, and put you on your 
 father's seat. Now call honest Harcourt a 
 traitor, because he gave not up your fair duke- 
 dom to the flame and the sword." 
 
 u No traitor to me," said Richard, pausing. 
 
 " No verily, but what more would you say ? " 
 
 " I think, when I come to my dukedom, I 
 will not be so politic," said Richard, " I will be 
 an open friend or an open foe." 
 
 " The boy grows too sharp for us," said Sir 
 Eric, smiling, "but it was spoken like his 
 father." 
 
 " He grows like his blessed father each day," 
 said Fru Astrida. 
 
 " But the Danes, father, the Danes ! " said 
 Osmond. " Blows will be passing now, I may 
 join the host and win my spurs." 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 163 
 
 Cl With all my heart/' returned the Baron, 
 " so my Lord here gives you leave : would that 
 I could leave him and go with you. It would 
 do my very spirit good but to set foot in a 
 Northern keel once more." 
 
 " I would fain see what these men of the 
 North are, " said Osmond. 
 
 " Oh ! they are only Danes, not Norsemen, 
 and there are no Vikings, such as once were 
 when Kagnar laid waste — " 
 
 " Son, son, what talk is this for the child's 
 ears ? " broke in Fru Astrida, " are these words 
 for a Christian Baron ? " 
 
 " Your pardon, mother," said the grey war- 
 rior in all humility, " but my blood thrills to 
 hear of a Northern fleet at hand, and to think 
 of Osmond drawing sword under a Sea-King." 
 
 The next morning, Osmond's steed was led 
 to the door, and such men-at-arms as could be 
 spared from the garrison of Senlis, were drawn 
 up in readiness to accompany him. The boys 
 stood on the steps, wishing they were old enough 
 to be warriors, and wondering what had become 
 of him, until at length the sound of an opening 
 door startled them, and there, in the low arch- 
 way of the smithy, the red furnace glowing be- 
 hind him, stood Osmond, clad in bright steel, 
 
164 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 the links of his hauberk reflecting the light, and 
 on his helmet a pair of golden wings, while the 
 same device adorned his long pointed kite-shaped 
 shield. 
 
 " Your wings ! our wings ! " cried Richard, 
 " the bearing of Centeville ! ". 
 
 " May they fly after the foe, not before him," 
 said Sir Eric. " Speed thee well, my son, let 
 not our Danish cousins say we learn Frank 
 graces instead of Northern blows/ 5 
 
 With such farewells, Osmond quitted -Senlis, 
 while the two boys hastened to the battlements, 
 to watch him as long as he remained in view. 
 
 The highest tower became their principal 
 resort, and their eyes were constantly on the 
 heath where he had disappeared ; but days 
 passed, and they grew weary of the watch, and 
 betook themselves to games in the castle court. 
 
 One day, Alberic in the character of a Dra- 
 gon, was lying on his back panting hard, so as 
 to be supposed to cast out volumes of flame and 
 smoke at Richard, the Knight, who with a stick 
 for a lance, and a wooden sword, was waging 
 fierce war ; when suddeDly the Dragon paused, 
 sat up, and pointed towards the warder on the 
 tower. His horn was at his lips, and in another 
 moment, the blast rang out through the castle. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 165 
 
 With a loud shout, both boys rushed head- 
 long up the turret stairs, and came to the top 
 so breathless, that they could not even ask the 
 warder what he saw. He pointed, and the keen- 
 eyed Alberic exclaimed, " I see, look, my Lord, 
 a speck there on the heath ! " 
 
 " I do not see ! where, where ? " 
 
 " He is behind the hillock now, but Oh, 
 
 there again ! How fast he comes ! " 
 
 "It is like the flight of a bird," said 
 Kichard, "fast, fast — *' 
 
 " If only it be not flight in earnest ! " said 
 Alberic, a little anxiously looking into the war- 
 der's face ; for he was a borderer, and tales of 
 terror of the inroad of the Vicomte du Cotentin 
 were rife on the marches of the Epte. 
 
 " No, young Sir," said the warder, " no fear 
 of that. I know how men ride when they flee 
 from the battle." 
 
 " No, indeed, there is no discomfiture in the 
 pace of that steed," said Sir Eric, who had by 
 this time joined them. 
 
 " I see him clearer ! I see the horse," cried 
 Kichard, dancing with eagerness, so that Sir Eric 
 caught hold of him, exclaiming, " You will be 
 over the battlements ! Hold still ! Better hear 
 of a battle lost than that." 
 
u 
 
 166 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " He bears somewhat in his hand, " said 
 Alberic. 
 
 A banner or pennon/' said the warder ; 
 methinks, he rides like the young Baron." 
 
 " He does ! My brave boy ! He has done 
 good service/' exclaimed Sir Eric, as the figure 
 became more developed. " The Danes have 
 seen how we train our young men." 
 
 " His wings bring good tidings/' said Bichard. 
 " Let me go, Sir Eric ; I must tell Fru As- 
 trida." 
 
 The drawbridge was lowered, the portcullis 
 raised, and as all the dwellers in the castle stood 
 gathered in the court, in rode the warrior with 
 the winged helm, bearing in his hand a drooping 
 banner ; lowering it as he entered, it unfolded, 
 and displayed, trailing on the ground, at the 
 feet of the little Duke of Normandy, the golden 
 lilies of France. 
 
 A shout of amazement arose, and all 
 gathered round him, asking hurried questions. 
 A great victory — the King a prisoner — Montreuil 
 slain ! 
 
 Kichard would not be denied holding his 
 hand, and leading him to the hall, and there, 
 sitting around him, they heard his tidings. His 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 167 
 
 father's first question was, what he thought of 
 their kinsmen, the Danes ? 
 
 " Rude comrades, father, I must own," said 
 Osmond, smiling and shaking his head. " I 
 could not pledge them in a skull-goblet — set in 
 gold though it were." 
 
 " None the worse warriors," said Sir Eric. 
 " Aye, aye, and you were dainty, and brooked 
 not the hearty old fashion of tearing the whole 
 sheep to pieces. You must needs cut your por- 
 tion with the fine French knife at your girdle." 
 
 Osmond could not see that a man was braver 
 for being a savage, but he held his peace ; and 
 Richard impatiently begged to hear how the 
 battle had gone, and where it had been fought. 
 
 " On the bank of the Dive," said Osmond. 
 " Ah ! father, you might well call old Harcourt 
 wary, his name might better have been Fox- 
 heart, than Bear-heart ! He had sent to the 
 Franks a message of distress, that the Danes 
 were on him in full force, and to pray them to 
 come to his aid." 
 
 " I trust there was no treachery ! No foul 
 dealing shall be wrought in my name ! " ex- 
 claimed Richard, with such dignity of tone and 
 manner, as made all feel he was indeed their 
 Duke, and forgot his tender years. 
 
168 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " No, or should I tell the tale with joy like 
 this ? " said Osmond. " Bernard's view was to 
 bring the Kings together, and let Louis see you 
 had friends to maintain your right. He sought 
 but to avoid bloodshed." . 
 
 " And how chanced it ? " 
 
 " The Danes were encamped on the Dive, 
 and so soon as the French came in sight, Blue- 
 tooth sent a messenger to Louis to summon him 
 to quit Neustria, and leave it to you, its lawful 
 owner. Thereupon, Louis hoping to win him 
 over with wily words, invited him to hold a per- 
 sonal conference." 
 
 "Where were you, Osmond ?" 
 
 " Where I had scarce patience to be. Ber- 
 nard had gathered all of us honest Normans 
 together, and arranged us beneath that standard 
 of the King, as if to repel this Danish inroad. 
 Oh ! he was in all seeming, hand-and-glove with 
 Louis, guiding him by his council, and verily, 
 seeming his friend and best adviser. But in one 
 thing he could not prevail, that ungrateful re- 
 creant, Herluin of Montreuil came with the 
 King, hoping, it seems, to get his share of our 
 spoils, and when Bernard advised the King to 
 send him home, since no true Norman could 
 bear the sight of him, the hot-headed Franks 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 169 
 
 vowed no Norman should hinder them from 
 bringing whom they chose. So a tent was set 
 up by the river side, wherein the two Kings, 
 with Bernard, Alan of Brittany, and Count 
 Hugh, held their meeting. We all stood without 
 and the two hosts began to mingle together, we 
 Normans making acquaintance with the Danes. 
 There was a red-haired wild-looking fellow, who 
 told me he had been with AnlafF in England, 
 and spoke much of the doings of Hako in Nor- 
 way, when suddenly he pointed to a Knight who 
 was near, speaking to a Cotentinois, and asked 
 me his name. My blood boiled, as I answered, 
 for it was Montreuil himself ! ' The cause of 
 your Duke's death ! ' said the Dane. - Ha, ye 
 Normans are fallen sons of Odin to see him yet 
 live/ " 
 
 " You said, I trust, my son, that we follow 
 not the laws of Odin ? " said Fru Astrida. 
 
 " I had no space for a word, grandmother, 
 the Danes took the vengeance on themselves. 
 In one moment they rushed on Herluin with 
 their axes, and the unhappy man was dead. AD 
 was tumult. Every one struck without knowing 
 at whom, or for what. Some shouted Thor 
 Hulfe, some Dieu aide, others Monbjoie St. 
 Denis. Northern blood against French, that 
 
 8 
 
170 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 was all our guide. I found myself at the foot 
 of this standard, and had a hard combat for it, 
 but I bore it away at last/' 
 
 "And the Kings ?" 
 
 " They hurried out of the tent, it seems, to re- 
 join their men. Louis mounted, but you know of 
 old, my Lord, he is but an indifferent horseman, 
 and the beast carried him into the midst of the 
 Danes, where King Harald caught his bridle, 
 and delivered him to four Knights to keep. 
 Whether he dealt secretly with them, or whether 
 they, as they declared, lost sight of him whilst 
 plundering his tent, I cannot say ; but when 
 Harald demanded him of them he was gone ! " 
 
 " Gone ! is this what you call having the 
 King prisoner ? " 
 
 u You shall hear. He rode four leagues and 
 met one of the baser sort of Eouennais, whom 
 he bribed to hide him in the Isle of Willows. 
 However, Bernard made close enquiries, found 
 the fellow had been seen in speech with a French 
 horseman, pounced on his wife and children, and 
 threatened they should die if he he did not dis- 
 close the secret. So the King was forced to 
 come out of his hiding-place, and is now fast 
 guarded in Hollo's tower ; a Dane with a battle- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 171 
 
 axe on his shoulder keeping guard at every turn 
 of the stairs." 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! " cried Kichard. " I wonder how 
 he likes it. I wonder if he remembers holding 
 me up to the window, and vowing that he meant 
 me only good." 
 
 " When you believed him, my Lord," said 
 Osmond, slyly. 
 
 "I was a little boy then," said Kichard, 
 proudly. " Why the very walls must remind 
 him of his oath, and how Count Bernard said, as 
 he dealt with me, so might Heaven deal with 
 him." 
 
 " Kemember it, my child, beware of broken 
 vows," said Father Lucas, " but remember it not 
 in triumph over a fallen foe. It were better 
 that all came at once to the Chapel, to bestow 
 their thanksgivings where alone they are due." 
 
CHAPTEK X. 
 
 After nearly a year's captivity, trie King 
 engaged to pay a ransom, and until the terms 
 could be arranged, his two sons were to be 
 placed as hostages in the hands of the Normans, 
 whilst he returned to his own domains. The 
 Princes were to be sent to Bayeux ; whither 
 Richard had returned, under the charge of the 
 Centevilles, and was now allowed to ride and 
 walk abroad freely, provided he was accompanied 
 by a guard. 
 
 " I shall rejoice to have Carloman and make 
 him happy," said Richard, " but I wish Lothaire 
 were not coming." 
 
 "Perhaps," said good Father Lucas, "he 
 comes that you may have a first trial in your 
 father's last lesson, and Abbot Martin's, and 
 return good for evil." 
 
 The Duke's cheek flushed and he made no 
 answer. 
 
 He and Alberic betook themselves to the 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 173 
 
 watch-tower, and, by and bye, saw a cavalcade 
 approaching, with a curtained vehicle in the 
 midst, slung between two horses. " That cannot 
 be the Princes/' said Alberic, "that must 
 surely be some sick lady." 
 
 "I only hope it is not the Queen," ex- 
 claimed Richard in dismay. " But no ! Lo- 
 thaire is such a coward ! No doubt he was afraid 
 to ride, and she would not trust her darling, 
 without shutting him up like a demoiselle. 
 But come down, Alberic, I will say nothing un- 
 kind of Lothaire, if I can help it." 
 
 Eichard met the Princes in the court, his 
 sunny hair uncovered, and bowing with such 
 becoming courtesy, that Fru Astrida pressed her 
 son's arm, and bade him say if their little Duke 
 was not the fairest and noblest :child in Chris- 
 tendom. 
 
 With black looks, Lothaire stepped from 
 the litter, took no heed of the Little Duke, but 
 roughly calling his attendant Chariot to follow 
 him, he marched into the hall, vouchsafing 
 neither word nor look to any as he passed, threw 
 himself into the highest seat, and ordered Char- 
 lot to bring him some wine. 
 
 Meanwhile, Richard looking into the litter, 
 
174 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 saw Carloman crouching in a corner, sobbing 
 with fright. 
 
 " Carloman, dear Carloman, do not cry ! 
 Come out, it is I, your own Richard. Will 
 you not let me welcome you ? " 
 
 Carloman looked up, caught at the out- 
 stretched hand, and clung to his neck. 
 
 " Oh Richard, send us back, do not let the 
 savage Danes kill us." 
 
 "No one will hurt you. There are no 
 Danes here ; you are my guest, my friend, my 
 brother. Look up, here is my own Fru Astrida." 
 
 " But my mother said the Northmen would 
 kill us for keeping you captive. She wept and 
 raved, and the cruel men dragged us away by 
 force. Oh, let us go back." 
 
 " I cannot do that," said Richard, " for you 
 are the King of Denmark's captives, not mine ; 
 but I will love you, "and you shall have all that 
 is mine, if you will only not cry, dear Carloman. 
 Oh, Fru Astrida, what shall I do ? You com- 
 fort him — " as the poor little boy clung sob- 
 bing to him. 
 
 Fru Astrida advanced to take his hand, 
 speaking in a soothing voice, but he shrank and 
 started with a fresh cry of terror, her tall figure, 
 high cap, and wrinkled face, were to him witch- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 175 
 
 like, and as she knew no French, he understood 
 not her kind words. However, he let Kichard 
 lead him into the hall, where Lothaire sat mood- 
 ily in the chair, with one leg tucked under him, 
 and his ringer in his month. 
 
 "I say, Sir Duke/' said he, "is there noth- 
 ing to be had in this old den of yours ? Not a 
 drop of Bourdeaux?" 
 
 Kichard tried to repress his anger at this 
 uncivil way of speaking, and answered, that he 
 thought there was none, but there was plenty 
 of Norman cider. 
 
 "As if I would taste your mean peasant 
 drinks ! I bade them bring the supper, why 
 does it not come ? " 
 
 Because you are not master here, trembled 
 on Kichard's lips, but he forced it back, and 
 answered that it would soon be ready, and Car- 
 loman looked imploringly at his brother and 
 said, " Do not make them angry, Lothaire." 
 
 " What, crying still, foolish child ? " said Lo- 
 thaire. " Do you not know that if they dare to 
 cross us, my father will treat them as they 
 deserve? Bring supper, and let me have a 
 pasty of ortolans." 
 
 " There are none, they are not in season," 
 said Kichard. 
 
176 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 " Do you mean to give me nothing I like ? 
 I tell you it shall be the worse for you." 
 
 " There is a pullet roasting," began Richard. 
 
 "I tell you, I do not care for pullets, I 
 will have ortolans." 
 
 "If I do not take order with that boy, my 
 name is not Eric," muttered the Baron. 
 
 " What must he not have made our poor 
 child suffer ! " returned Fru Astrida, " but the 
 little one moves my heart. How small and 
 weakly he is, but it is worth any thing to see 
 our little Duke so tender to him." 
 
 " He is too brave not to be gentle," said 
 Osmond ; and, indeed, the high-spirited impe- 
 tuous boy was as soft and kind as a maiden, 
 with that feeble timid child. He coaxed him 
 to eat, consoled him, and, instead of laughing 
 at his fears, kept between him and the great 
 blood-hound, Hardigras, and drove it off when 
 it came too -near. 
 
 " Take that dog away," said Lothaire, im- 
 periously. No one moved to obey him, and the 
 dog, in seeking for scraps, again came towards 
 him. " Take it away," he repeated, and struck 
 it with his foot. The dog growled, and Richard 
 started up in indignation. 
 
 "Prince Lothaire," he said, "I care not 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 177 
 
 what else you do, but my dogs and my people 
 you shall not maltreat." 
 
 " I tell you I am Prince, I do what I will ! 
 ha ! who laughs there ? M cried the passionate 
 boy, stamping on the floor. 
 
 " It is not so easy for French Princes to 
 scourge freeborn Normans here/' said the rough 
 voice of Walter the huntsman ; " there is a 
 reckoning for the stripe my Lord Duke bore for 
 me." 
 
 " Hush, hush, Walter," began Kichard, but 
 Lothaire had ^caught up a footstool, and was 
 aiming it at the huntsman, when his arm was 
 caught. Osmond, who knew him well enough 
 to be prepared for some such outbreak, held him 
 fast by both hands, in spite of his passionate 
 screams and struggles, which were like those of 
 one frantic. 
 
 Sir Eric, meanwhile, thundered forth in his 
 Norman patois, "I would have you to know, 
 young Sir, Prince though you be, you are our 
 prisoner, and shall taste of a dungeon, and bread 
 and water, unless you behave yourself." 
 
 Either Lothaire did not hear, or did not 
 
 believe, and fought more furiously in Osmond's 
 
 arms, but he had little chance with the stalwart 
 
 young warrior, and in spite of Kichard's remon- 
 
 8* 
 
178 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 strances, he was carried from the hall, roaring 
 and kicking, and locked up alone in an empty 
 room. 
 
 " Let him alone for the present," said Sir 
 Eric, putting the Duke aside, "when he knows 
 his master, we shall have peace." 
 
 Here Kichard had to turn, to re-assure Car- 
 \k>man, who had taken refuge in a dark corner, 
 and there shook like an aspen leaf, crying bit- 
 terly, and starting with fright, when Kichard 
 touched him. " Oh do not put me in the dun- 
 geon, I cannot bear the dark." 
 
 Kichard again tried to comfort him, but he 
 did not seem to hear or heed. " Oh ! they said 
 you would beat us and hurt us for what we did 
 to you ! but, indeed, it was not I that burnt 
 your cheek ! " 
 
 " We would not hurt you for worlds, dear 
 Carloman : Lothaire is not in the dungeon, he 
 is only shut up till he is good/' 
 
 " It was Lothaire that did it," repeated Car- 
 loman, "and, indeed, you must not be angry 
 with me, for my mother was so cross with me 
 for not having stopped Osmond when I met him 
 with the bundle of straw, that she gave me a 
 blow, that knocked me down. And were you 
 really there, Richard ? " 
 
THE LITTLE DUK.E. 179 
 
 Richard told his story, and was glad to find 
 Carloman could smile at it ; and then Fru 
 Astrida advised him to take his little friend to 
 bed. Carloman would not lie down without still 
 holding Richard's hand, and the little Duke 
 spared no pains to set him at rest, knowing what 
 it was to be a desolate captive far from home. 
 
 " I thought you would be good to me," said 
 Carloman. " As to Lothaire, it serves him right 
 that you should use him as he used you/' 
 
 " Oh, no, Carloman ; if I had a brother, I 
 would never speak so of him." 
 
 " But Lothaire is so unkind/' 
 
 " Ah ! but we must be kind to those who 
 are unkind to us." 
 
 The child rose on his elbow, and looked in- 
 to Richard's face. "No one ever told me so 
 before." • 
 
 " Oh, Carloman, not Brother Hilary ? " 
 
 " I never heed Brother Hilary, he is so 
 lengthy, and wearisome ; besides, no one is ever 
 kind to those that hate them." 
 
 " My father was, said Richard." 
 
 " And they killed him ! " said Carloman. 
 
 " Yes," said Richard, crossing himself, " but 
 he is gone to be in peace." 
 
 " I wonder if it is happier there, than here," 
 
180 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 said Carloroan. " I am not happy. But tell 
 me why should we be good to those that hate 
 us ? " " 
 
 " Because the Holy Saints were, and look 
 at the Crucifix, Carloman. That was for them 
 that hated Him. And, don't you know what 
 our Pater Noster says ? " 
 
 Poor little Carloman could only repeat the 
 Lord's prayer in Latin ; he had not the least 
 notion of its meaning, in which Richard had 
 been carefully instructed by Father Lucas. He 
 began to explain it, but before many words had 
 passed his lips, little Carloman was asleep. 
 
 The Duke crept softly away to beg to be 
 allowed to go to Lothaire ; he entered the room, 
 already dark, with a pine torch in his hand, that 
 so flickered in the wind, that he could at first 
 see nothing, but presently beheld a dark lump 
 on the floor. 
 
 " Prince Lothaire/ 7 he said, " here is — " 
 
 Lothaire cut him short. " Get away," he 
 said. " If it is your turn now, it will be mine 
 by and by. I wish my mother had kept her 
 word, and put your eyes out." 
 
 Richard's temper did not serve for such a 
 reply. "It is a foul shame of you to speak so, 
 when I only came out of kindness to you, so I 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 181 
 
 shall leave you here all night, and not ask Sir 
 Eric to let you out." 
 
 And he swung hack the heavy door with a 
 resounding clang. But his heart smote him 
 when he told his beads, and remembered what 
 he had said to Carloman. He knew he could 
 not sleop in his warm bed when Lothaire was in 
 that cold gusty room. To be sure, Sir Eric said 
 it would do him good, but Sir Eric little knew 
 how tender the French Princes were. 
 
 So Kichard crept down in the dark, slid 
 back the bolt, and called, " Prince, Prince, I am 
 sorry I was angry. Come out and let us try 
 to be friends." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " said Lothaire. 
 
 " Come out of the cold and dark. Here am 
 I. I will show you the way. • Where is your 
 hand ? Oh how cold it is ! Let me lead you 
 down to the hall fire." 
 
 Lothaire was subdued by fright, cold, and 
 darkness, and quietly allowed Kichard to lead 
 him down. Kound the fire, at the lower end of 
 the hall, snored half-a-dozen men-at-arms ; at 
 the upper hearth, there was only Hardigras, who 
 raised his head as the boys came in. Kichard' s 
 whisper and soft pat quieted him instantly, and 
 the two young Princes sat on the hearth to- 
 
182 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 gether, Lothaire surprised but sullen. Richard 
 stirred the embers so as to bring out more 
 heat, then spoke, " Prince, will you let us be 
 friends ? " 
 
 " I must, if I am in your power." 
 
 " I wish you would be my guest and com- 
 rade." 
 
 " Well I will ; I can't help it." 
 
 Richard thought his advances might have 
 been more graciously met, and having little en- 
 couragement to say more, took Lothaire to bed 
 as soon as he was warm. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 As the Baron had said, there was more 
 peace now that Loth aire had learnt to know 
 that he must submit, and that no one cared for 
 his threats of his father's or his mother's ven- 
 geance. He was very sulky and disagreeable, 
 and severely tried Richard's forbearance, but 
 there were no fresh outbursts, and on the whole, 
 from one week to another, there might be said 
 to be an improvement. He could not always 
 hold aloof from one so good-natured and good- 
 humored as the little Duke, and the fact of 
 being kept in order, could not but have some 
 beneficial effect on him, after such spoiling as 
 his had been at home. 
 
 Indeed, Osmond was once heard to say, it 
 was a pity the boy was not to be a hostage for 
 life ; to which Sir Eric replied, " So long as we 
 have not the training of him/' 
 
 Little Carloman, meanwhile, recovered from 
 
184 THE LITTLE DtJKE. 
 
 his fears of all the inmates, of the castle, ex- 
 cepting Hardigras, at whose approach he al- 
 ways shrank and trembled. 
 
 He renewed his friendship with Osmond, 
 no longer started at the entrance of Sir Eric, 
 laughed at Alberic's merry ways, and liked to 
 sit on Fru Astrida's lap, and hear her sing, 
 though he understood not one word, but his es- 
 pecial love was still for his first friend, Duke 
 Kichard. Hand-in-hand they went about to- 
 gether ; Kichard sometimes lifting him up the 
 steep steps, and out of consideration for him, re- 
 fraining from rough-play ; and Bichard led him to 
 join with him in those lessons that Father Lu- 
 cas gave the children of the castle, every Fri- 
 day and Sunday evening in the Chapel. The 
 good Priest stood on the Altar steps, with the 
 children in a half circle round him. the son and 
 daughter, of the armourer, the huntsman's lit- 
 tle son, the young Baron de Montemar, the 
 Duke of Normandy, and the Prince of France, 
 all were equal there, and together they learnt, 
 as he explained to them the things most need- 
 ful to believe, and thus Carloman left off won- 
 dering why Richard thought it right to be good 
 to his enemies ; and though at first he had 
 known less than even the little leather-coated 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 185 
 
 huntsman, he seemed to take the holy lessons in 
 faster than any of them, yes, and to act upon 
 them too. His feeble health seemed to make 
 him enter into their comfort and meaning more 
 than even Kichard and Alberic, and Father 
 Lucas soon told Fru Astrida -that it was a 
 saintly-minded child. 
 
 Indeed, Carloman was the more disposed to 
 thoughtful ness, because he was incapable of 
 joining in the sports of the other boys. A race 
 round the court was beyond his strength, the 
 fresh wind on the battlements made him shiver 
 and cower, and loud shouting play was dreadful 
 to him. In old times, he used to cry when Lo- 
 thaire told him he must have his hair cut and 
 be a Priest ; now, he only said, quietly, he should 
 like it very much if he could be good enough. 
 
 Fru Astrida sighed, and shook her head, and 
 feared the poor child would never grow up to be 
 anything on this earth. Great as had been the 
 difference at first between him and Richard, it 
 was now far greater. Richard was an unusu- 
 ally strong boy for ten years old, upright and 
 broad-chested, and growing very fast, while Car- 
 loman seemed to dwindle, stooped forward from 
 weakness, had thin pinched feature s, and sallow 
 cheeks, looking like a plant kept in the dark. 
 
186 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 The old Baron said that hardy healthy hab- 
 its would restore the puny children, and 
 Lothaire improved in health, and therewith in 
 temper, but his little brother had not strength 
 enough to bear the seasoning. He pined and 
 drooped more each day, and as the Autumn 
 came on, and the wind was chilly, he grew 
 worse, and was scarcely ever off the lap of the 
 kind Lady Astrida. It was not a settled sick- 
 ness, but he grew weaker and wasted away. 
 They made up a little couch for him by the 
 fire, with a high settle between it and the door, 
 to keep off the draughts, and there he used 
 patiently to lie, hour after hour, speaking feebly, 
 or smiling and seeming pleased, when any one 
 of those he loved approached. He liked Father 
 Lucas to come and say prayers with him, and 
 he never failed to have a glad look, when his 
 dear little Duke came to talk to him in his 
 cheerful voice, about his rides, and his hunting 
 and hawking adventures. Kichard's sick guest 
 took up much of his thoughts, and he never 
 willingly spent many hours at a distance from 
 him, softening his step, and lowering his voice, 
 as he entered the hall, lest Carloman should be 
 asleep. 
 
 " .Richard, is it you ? " said the little boy, 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 187 
 
 as the young figure came round the settle in 
 the darkening twilight. 
 
 " Yes ; how do you feel now, Carloman, are 
 you better ? " 
 
 " No better, thanks, dear Kichard," and the 
 little wasted fingers were put into his. 
 
 " Has the pain come again ? " 
 
 " No, I have been lying still, musing ; 
 Kichard, I shall never be better." 
 
 " do not say so : you will, indeed you 
 will, when spring comes." 
 
 " I feel as if I should die," said the little 
 boy. "I think I shall, but do not grieve, 
 Kichard. I do not feel much afraid. You said 
 it was happier there than here, and I know it 
 now." 
 
 " Where my blessed father is," said Kichard 
 thoughtfully. " But 0, Carloman, you are so 
 young to die." 
 
 " I do not want to live. This is a fighting 
 hard world, full of cruel people, and it is peace 
 there. You are strong, and brave, and will 
 make them better ; but I am weak and fearful, 
 I could only sigh and grieve." 
 
 " 0, Carloman ! Carloman ! I cannot spare 
 you. I love you like my own brother. You 
 

 
 188 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 must not die, you must live to see your father 
 and mother again ! " 
 
 " Commend me to them/' said Carloman, " I 
 am going to my Father in Heaven. I am glad 
 I am here, Richard. I never was so happy be- 
 fore. I should have been afraid indeed to die, 
 if Father Lucas had not taught me how my sins 
 are pardoned. Now, I think, the Saints and 
 Angels are waiting for me." 
 
 He spoke feebly, and his last words faultered 
 into sleep. He slept on, and when supper was 
 brought, and the lamps were lighted, Fru Astrida 
 thought the little face looked unusually pale and 
 waxen, but he did not awake. At night they 
 carried him to his bed, and he was roused into 
 a half conscious state, moaning at being dis- 
 turbed. Fru Astrida would not leave him, and 
 Father Lucas shared her watch. 
 
 At midnight, all were wakened by the slow 
 notes, falling one by one on the ear, of the 
 solemn passing-bell, calling them to awaken that 
 their prayers might speed a soul on its way. 
 Richard and Lothaire were soon at the bed-side. 
 Carloman still lay asleep, his hands folded on 
 his breast, but his breath came in long gasps. 
 Father Lucas was praying over him, and can- 
 dles were placed on each side of the bed. All 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 189 
 
 was still, the boys not daring to speak or move. 
 There came a longer breath — then they heard 
 no more ! He was, indeed, gone to a happier 
 home, a truer royalty than ever had been his on 
 earth. 
 
 Then the boys' grief burst out. Lothaire 
 screamed for his mother, and sobbed out that he 
 should die too, he must go home. Richard 
 stood by the bed, large silent tears rolling down 
 his cheeks, and his chest heaving with suppressed 
 sobs. 
 
 Fru Astrida led them from the room, back to 
 their beds. Lothaire soon cried himself to 
 sleep ; Richard lay awake, sorrowful, and in 
 deep thought, while that scene in St. Mary's at 
 Rouen returned before his eyes, and though it 
 had passed nearly two years ago, its meaning 
 and its teaching had sunk deep into his mind, 
 and now stood before him more completely. 
 
 " Where shall I go, when I come to die, if 
 I have not returned good for evil ? " And a reso- 
 lution was taken in the mind of the little 
 Duke. 
 
 Morning came, and brought back the sense 
 that his gentle little companion was gone from 
 him ; and Richard wept again, as if he could 
 not be consoled, as he beheld the screened couch 
 
190 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 where the patient smile would never again greet 
 him. He now knew that he had loved Carlo- 
 man all the more for his weakness and helpless- 
 ness ; but his grief was not like Lothaire's ; for 
 with the Prince's, was still joined a selfish fear ; 
 his cry was still, that he should die too, if not 
 set free, and violent weeping really made him 
 heavy and ill. 
 
 The little corpse embalmed and lapped in 
 lead, was to be sent back to France, that it 
 might rest with its forefathers in the city of 
 Rheims ; and Lothaire seemed to feel this as an 
 additional stroke of desertion. He was almost 
 beside himself with despair, imploring every 
 one, in turn, to send him home, though he well 
 knew they were unable to do so. 
 
CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 "Sir Eric," said Eichard, "you told me 
 there was a Parlement to be held at Falaise, 
 between Count Bernard and the King of Den- 
 mark. I mean to attend it. Will you come 
 with me, or shall Osmond go, and you remain 
 in charge of the Prince ? " 
 
 " How now, Lord Eichard, you were not 
 wont to love a Parlement ? " 
 
 " I have something to say," replied Eichard, 
 
 The Baron made no objection, only telling 
 his mother that the Duke was a marvellous 
 wise child, and that he would soon be fit to take 
 the government himself. 
 
 Lothaire lamented the more when he found 
 that Eichard was going away ; his presence 
 seemed to him a protection, and he fancied, now 
 Carloman was dead, that his former injuries 
 were about to be revenged. The Duke assured 
 him repeatedly, that he meant him nothing but 
 
192 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 kindness, adding, " When I return, you will see, 
 Lothaire ; " then commending him to the care 
 and kindness of Fru Astrida, Osmond, and Al- 
 beric, Eichard set forth upon his pony, attended 
 by Sir Eric and three men-at-arms. 
 
 Eichard felt sad when he looked back at 
 Bayeux, and thought that it no longer contained 
 his dear little friend ; but it was a fresh, bright 
 frosty morning, the fields were covered with a 
 silvery white coating, the flakes of hoar-frost 
 sparkled on every bush, and the hard ground 
 rung cheerily to the tread of the horses 7 feet. 
 As the yellow sun fought his way through the 
 grey mist that dimmed his brightness, and shone 
 out merrily in the blue heights of the sky, 
 Eichard' s spirits rose, and he laughed and 
 shouted, as hare or rabbit rushed across the 
 heath, or as the plover rose, screaming above 
 his head, flapping her broad wings across the 
 wintry sky. 
 
 One night they slept at a Convent, where 
 they heard that Hugh of Paris had passed on 
 to join the conference at Falaise. The next 
 day they rode on, and towards the afternoon, 
 the Baron pointed to a sharp rocky range of 
 hills, crowned by a tall solid tower, and told 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 193 
 
 Richard, yonder was his keep of Falaise> the 
 strongest castle in Normandy. 
 
 The country was far more broken as they 
 advanced ; narrow valleys, and sharp hills, each 
 little vale full of wood and interspersed with 
 rocks. "A choice place for ganie," Sir Eric 
 said ; and Richard, as he saw a herd of deer 
 dash down a forest glade, exclaimed, " that they 
 must come here to stay, for some Autumn 
 sport." 
 
 There seemed to be huntsmen abroad in the 
 woods, for through the frosty air came the bay- 
 ing of dogs, the shouts and calls of men, and now 
 and then, the echoing ringing notes of a bugle. 
 Richard's eyes and cheeks glowed with excite- 
 ment, and he pushed his brisk little pony on 
 faster and faster, unheeding that the heavier 
 men and horses of his suite, were not keeping 
 pace with him, on the rough ground, and through 
 the tangled boughs. 
 
 Presently, a strange sound of growling and 
 snarling was heard close at hand ; his pony 
 swerved aside, and could not be made to ad- 
 vance, so Richard, dismounting, dashed through 
 some briars, and there, on an open space, be- 
 neath a precipice of dark ivy-covered rock that 
 ruse like a wall, he beheld a huge grey wolf, and 
 9 
 
194 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 a large dog in mortal combat. It was as if they 
 had fallen or rolled down the precipice together, 
 not heeding it in their fury. Both were bleed- 
 ing, and the eyes of both glared like red fiery 
 glass in the dark shadow of the rock. The dog 
 lay undermost, almost overpowered, making but 
 a feeble resistance; and the wclf would, in 
 another moment, be at liberty to spring on the 
 lonely child ! 
 
 But not a thought of fear passed through his 
 breast ; to save the dog, was Richard's only 
 idea ; in one moment, he had drawn the dag- 
 ger he wore at his girdle, ran to the two strug- 
 gling animals, and with all his force plunged it 
 into the throat of the wolf, which happily was 
 still held by the teeth of the hound. 
 
 The struggles relaxed, the wolf rolled heavily 
 aside, dead ; the dog lay panting and bleeding, 
 and Eichard feared he was cruelly torn. " Poor 
 fellow, noble dog, what shall I do to help you ? " 
 and he gently smoothed the dark brindled 
 head. 
 
 A voice was now heard shouting aloud, at 
 which the dog raised and crested his head, as a fig- 
 ure in a hunting-dress was coming down a rocky 
 pathway, an extremely tall, well-made man of 
 noble features. " Ha ! hallo ! Vige ! Vige ! 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 195 
 
 How now ? my brave hound ! " he said in the 
 Northern tongue, though not quite with the ac- 
 cent Richard was accustomed to hear, " Art 
 hurt ? " 
 
 u Much torn, I fear," Richard called out, as 
 the faithful creature wagged his tail, and strove 
 to rise and meet his master. 
 
 " Ha ! lad ! what art thou ? " exclaimed 
 the hunter, amazed at seeing the boy between 
 the dead wolf and wounded dog. "You look 
 like one of those Frenchified Norman gentilesse, 
 with your smooth looks and gilded baldrick, yet 
 your words are Norse. By the hammer of Thor ! 
 that is a dagger in the wolfs throat/'' 
 
 "It is mine/' said Richard. " I found your 
 dog nearly spent, and I made in to the rescue." 
 
 " You did ? Well done ! I would not have 
 lost Yige for all the plunder of Italy. I am be- 
 holden to you, my brave young lad," said the 
 stranger, all the time examining and caressing 
 the hound. " What is your name ? you cannot 
 be southern bred." 
 
 As he spoke, more shouts came nearer, and 
 the Baron de Centeville rushed through the 
 trees, holding Richard's pony by the bridle. 
 " My Lord, my Lord ! oh ! thank Heaven, I 
 see you safe S " At the same moment a party 
 
196 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 of hunters also approached by the path, and at 
 the head of them, Bernard the Dane. 
 
 " Ha ! " exclaimed he, " what do I see ? 
 My young Lord ! what brought you here ? " 
 And with hasty obeisance, Bernard took Rich- 
 ard's outstretched hand. " I came hither to at- 
 tend your council/' replied Richard. " I have a 
 boon to ask from the King of Denmark/' 
 
 " Any boon the King of Denmark has in 
 his power will be yours," said the dog's master, 
 slapping his hand on the little Duke's shoulder, 
 with a rude hearty familiarity that took him by 
 surprise, and he looked up with a shade of 
 offence, till, on a sudden flash of perception, he 
 took of his cap, exclaiming " King Harald him- 
 self ! pardon me, Sir King." 
 
 "Pardon, Jarl Richard! what would you 
 have me pardon ? your saving the life of Vige 
 here ? No French politeness for me. Tell me 
 your boon, and it is yours. Shall I take you a 
 voyage, and harry the fat monks of Ireland ? " 
 
 Richard recoiled a little from his new friend. 
 
 u Oh, ah ! I forgot. They have made a 
 Christian of you, more's the pity. You have 
 the northern spirit so strong, I had forgotten it. 
 Come, walk by my side, and let me hear what 
 you would ask. Holla ! you Sweyn, carry Vige 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 197 
 
 up to the castle, and look to his wounds. Now 
 for it, young Jarl." 
 
 "My boon is, that you would set free 
 Prince Lothaire." 
 
 " What ? The young Frank ? Why ! 
 they kept you captive, burnt your face, and 
 would have made an end of you, but for your 
 clever bonder." 
 
 "That is long past, and Lothaire is so 
 wretched. His brother is dead, and he is sick 
 with grief, and he says he shall die, if he does 
 not go horne." 
 
 " A good thing too, for the treacherous race 
 to die out in him ! What should you care for 
 him ? he is your foe." 
 
 " I am a Christian," was Richard's answer. 
 
 " Well, I promised you whatever you might 
 ask. All my share of his ransom, or his person, 
 bond or free, is yours. You have only to pre- 
 vail with your own Jarls and Bonders." 
 
 Richard feared this would be more difficult, 
 but Abbot Martin came to the meeting, and 
 took his part. Moreover, the idea of their host- 
 age dying in their hands, so as to leave them 
 without hold upon the King, had much weight 
 with them ; and after long deliberation, they 
 
198 THE LITTLE DUEE. 
 
 consented that Lothaire should be restored to 
 his father without ransom, but only on condi- 
 tion that Louis should guarantee to the Duke 
 the peaceable possession of the country, as far as 
 St. Clair sur Epte, which had long been in dis- 
 pute, so that Alberic became, indisputably, a 
 vassal of Normandy. 
 
 Perhaps it was the happiest day in Richard's 
 life, when he rode back to Bayeux, to desire 
 Lothaire to prepare to come with him to St 
 Clair, there to be given back into the hands of 
 his father. 
 
 And there they met King Louis, grave and 
 sorrowful for the loss of his little Carloman, and, 
 for the time, repenting of his misdeeds towards 
 the orphan heir of Normandy. 
 
 He pressed the Duke in his arms, and his 
 kiss was a genuine one, as he sa'd, " Duke 
 Richard, we have not deserved this of you. I 
 did not treat you as you have treated my children. 
 We will be true Lord and vassal frpm henceforth. 
 Lothaire's last words were, " Farewell, Richard. 
 If I lived with you, I might be good like you. 
 I will never forget what you have done for me." 
 
 When Richard once more entered Rouen in 
 state, his subjects shouting round him in trans- 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 199 
 
 ports of joy, better than all his honour and glory, 
 was the being able to enter the Church of our 
 Lady, and kneel by his father's grave with 
 a clear conscience, and the sense that he had 
 tried to keep that last injunction. 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 Years had passed away. The oaths of Louis, 
 and promises of Lothaire, had been broken; and 
 Arnulf of Flanders, the murderer of Duke 
 William, had incited them to repeated and 
 treacherous inroads on Normandy, so that 
 Richard's life from fourteen to five or six and 
 twenty, had been one long war in defence of his 
 country. But it had been a glorious war for him, 
 and his gallant deeds had well earned for him, 
 the title of " Bichard the Fearless," a name well 
 deserved, for there was but one thing he feared, 
 and that was to do wrong. 
 
 By and by, success and peace came, and 
 then Arnulf of Flanders, finding open force would 
 not destroy him, three times made attempts to 
 assassinate him, like his father, by treachery; 
 but all these had failed, and now Bichard had 
 enjoyed many years of peace and honour, whilst 
 his enemies had vanished from his sight. 
 
 King Louis was killed by a fall from his 
 
T.HE LITTLE DUKE. 201 
 
 horse, Lothaire died in early youth, and in him, 
 ended the degenerate line of Charlemagne ; Hugh 
 Capet, the son of Richard's old friend, Hugh the 
 White, was on the throne of France, his sure 
 ally and brother-in-law ; looking to him for 
 advice and aid in all his undertakings. 
 
 Fru Astrida and Sir Eric had long been in 
 their quiet graves; Osmond and Alberic were 
 among Richard's most trusty councillors and 
 warriors ; Abbot Martin, in extreme old age, 
 still ruled the Abbey of Jumieges, where Ki ch- 
 ard, like his father, loved to visit him, hold 
 converse with him, and refresh himself in the 
 peaceful cloister, after the affairs of state and 
 war. 
 
 And Richard himself, was a grey-headed 
 man, of lofty stature, and majestic bearing. His 
 eldest son was older than he had been himself, 
 when he became the little Duke, and he had 
 even begun to remember his father's project of 
 an old age, to be spent in retirement and peace. 
 
 It was on a summer eve, that Duke Richard 
 sat beside the white-bearded old Abbot within 
 the porch, looking at the sun shining with soft 
 declining beams on the arches and columns ; 
 they spoke together of that burial at Rouen, 
 and of the silver key; the Abbot delighting to 
 9* 
 
202 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 tell over and over again, all the good deeds 
 and good sayings of William Longsword. 
 
 As they sat, a man, also very old, shrivelled, 
 and bent, came up to the cloister gate with the 
 tottering feeble step of one pursued beyond his 
 strength, coming to take sanctuary. 
 
 " What can be the crime of one so aged and 
 feeble ? " said the Duke, in surprise. 
 
 At the sight of him, a look of terror shot 
 from the old man's eye. He clasped his hands 
 together, and turned, as if to flee, then finding 
 himself incapable of escape, he threw himself on 
 the ground before him. 
 
 " Mercy, mercy ! noble, most noble Duke ! " 
 was all he said. 
 
 " Rise up, kneel not to me. I cannot brook 
 this from one who might be my father," said 
 Richard, trying to raise him; but at those words 
 the old man groaned, and crouched lower still. 
 
 " Who art thou ? " said the Duke. " In this 
 holy place thou art secure, be thy deed what it 
 may. Speak ! who art thou? " 
 
 " Dost thou not know me ? " said the sup- 
 pliant. " Promise mercy, ere thou dost hear my 
 name." 
 
 "I have seen that face under a helmet," said 
 the Duke. " Thou art Arnulf of Flanders ! ' 
 

 The Revenue. Pare 202. 
 
THE LITTLE DUKE. 203 
 
 There was a deep silence. 
 
 " And wherefore art thou here ? " 
 
 " I delayed to own the French King Hugh. 
 He has taken my towns, and ravaged my lands. 
 Each Frenchman, and each Norman, vows to 
 slay me in revenge for your wrongs, Lord Duke. 
 I have been driven hither and thither, in fear 
 of my life, till I thought of the renown of Duke 
 Richard, as not merely the most fearless, but the 
 most merciful of Princes. I sought to come 
 hither, trusting, that when the holy Father 
 Abbot beheld my bitter repentance, he would 
 intercede for me, with you, most noble Prince, 
 for my safety and forgiveness. Oh gallant Duke, 
 forgive and spare ! " 
 
 " Rise up, Arnulf," said Richard. " Where 
 the hand of the Lord hath stricken, it is not for 
 man to exact his own reckoning. My father's 
 death has been long forgiven, and what you 
 have planned against myself, has, by the bless- 
 ing of Heaven, been brought to naught. From 
 Normans, at least you are safe and it shall be 
 my work, to ensure your pardon from my brother 
 the King. Come into the refectory, you need 
 refreshment, the Lord Abbot makes you wel- 
 come."* 17 
 
 Tears of gratitude and true repentance 
 
204 THE LITTLE DUKE. 
 
 choked ArniuTs speech, and he allowed himself 
 to be raised from the ground, and was forced to 
 accept the support of the Duke's arm. 
 
 The venerable Abbot slowly rose, and held 
 up his hand in an attitude of blessing. 
 
 " The blessing of a merciful God, be upon 
 the sinner who turneth from his evil way, and 
 ten thousand blessings of pardon and peace are 
 already on the head of him who hath stretched 
 out his hand to forgive and aid him, who was 
 once his most grievous foe ! " 
 
 THE END. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. —Page 8. 
 
 1 Richard's place of education was Bayeux, for as Duke 
 William says in the rhymed Chronicle of Normandy : — 
 
 Si a Roem le faz garder 
 E norir, gaires longement 
 II ne saura parlier neiant 
 Daneis, kar nul n l'i parole. 
 Si voil qu'il seit a tele escole 
 Ou Fen le sache endoctriner 
 Que as Daneis sache parler. 
 Ci ne sevent riens fors Romanz, 
 Mais a Baieux en a tanz 
 Qui ne sevent si Daneis non. 
 
 Page 12. 
 
 2 Bernard was founder of the family of Harcourt of Nune- 
 ham. Ferrieres the ancestor of that of Ferrars. 
 
 Page 14. 
 
 3 In the same Chronicle, William Longsword directs that: — 
 
 Tant seit apris qu'il lise un bref 
 Kar ceo ne li ert pas trop gref. 
 
 Page 15. 
 
 4 Hako of Norway was educated by Ethelstane of England. 
 It was Foulques le bon, the contemporary Count of Anjou, 
 who, when derided by Louis IV. for serving in the choir of 
 Tours, wrote the following retort : — " The Count of Anjou to 
 the King of France. Apprenez, Monseigneur, qu'un roi sans 
 lettres est un ane couronne." 
 
206 NOTES. 
 
 Page 17. 
 
 5 The banner of Normandy was a Cross till William the 
 Conqueror adopted the Lion. 
 
 CHAPTER II— Page 26. 
 
 6 " Sire, soies mon escus, soies mes defendeinens." 
 
 Histoire des Dues of Normandie. — (Michel.) 
 
 Page 33. 
 
 7 The Cathedral was afterwards built by Richard himself. 
 
 CHAPTER III.— Page 43. 
 
 8 Sus le maistre autel del iglise 
 Li unt sa feaute juree. 
 
 Page 49. 
 
 9 Une clef d'argent unt trovee 
 A sun braiol estreit noee. 
 Toute la gent se merveillont 
 Que eete clef signifiont. 
 
 Ni la cuoule e l'estamine 
 En aveit il en un archete, 
 Que disfermeront ceste clavete. 
 De sol itant ert tresorier 
 Kar nul tresor n'avait plus cher. 
 The history of the adventures of Jumieges is literally true, 
 as is Martin's refusal to admit the Duke to the cloister : — 
 Dun ne t'a Deus mis e pose 
 Prince gardain de sainte iglise 
 E pur tenir leial justise. 
 
 CHAPTER IV.— Page 54. 
 10 An attack, in which Riouf, Vicomte du Cotentin, placed 
 Normandy in the utmost danger. He was defeated on the 
 banks of the Seine, in a field still called the Pre de Bataille, 
 on the very day of Richard's birth, so that the Te Deum was 
 sung at once for the victory and the birth of the heir of Nor- 
 mandy. 
 
NOTES. 207 
 
 CHAPTER V.— Page 87. 
 
 11 " Biaus Segnors, vees chi vo segneur, je ne le vous voel 
 tolir, mais je estoie verms en cestewille, prendre consel a vous, 
 comment je poroie vengier la mort son pere, qui me rapiela 
 d'Engletiere. II me fist roi, il me fist avoir l'amour le roi 
 dAlemaigne, il leva mon fil de fons, il me fist toz les biens, et 
 jou en renderai au fill le guerredon se je puis." Michel. 
 
 CHAPTER VIL— Page 126. 
 
 12 In a battle fought with Lothaire at Charmenil, Richard 
 saved the life of Walter the huntsman, who had been with 
 him from his youth. 
 
 Page 127. 
 
 1 3 At fourteen years of age, Richard was betrothed to Eu- 
 macette of Paris, then but eight years old. # In such esteem 
 did Hugues le blanc hold his son-in-law, that on his death- 
 bed, he committed his son Hugues Capet to his guardianship, 
 though the Duke was then scarcely above twenty, proposing 
 him as the model of wisdom and of chivalry. 
 
 Page 133. 
 
 14 " Osmons, qui l'enfant ensenguoit Fen menai jour en ri- 
 viere, et quant il revint, la reine Gerberge dist que se il jamais 
 l'enmenait fors des murs, elle li ferait les ielx crever." Michel. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII.— Page 157. 
 
 15 " Gules, two wings conjoined in lure, or," is the original 
 coat of St. Maur or Seymour, said to be derived from Osmond 
 de Centeville, who assumed them in honour of his flight with 
 Duke Richard. His direct descendants in Normandy were 
 the Marquises of Osmond, whose arms were, gules, two wings 
 ermine. In 1789, there were two survivors of the line of 
 Centeville, one a canon of Notre Dame, the other a Chevalier 
 de St. Louis, who died childless. 
 
 Page 158. 
 
 16 Harald of Norway, who made a vow never to trim his 
 hair till he had made himself sole king of the country. The 
 
208 . NOTES. 
 
 •war lasted tea years, and he thus might well 'come to deserve 
 his title of Horrid-locks, which was changed to that of Har- 
 fagre, or fair-haired, when he celebrated his final victory, by 
 going into a bath at More, and committing his shaggy hair to 
 be cut and arranged by his friend, Jarl Rognwald, father of 
 Rollo. 
 
 CONCLUSION".— Page 203. 
 17 Richard obtained for Arnulf the restitution of Arras, and 
 several other Flemish towns. He died eight years afterwards, 
 in 996, leaving several children, among whom, his daughter 
 Emma is connected with English history by her marriage, 
 first with Ethelred the Unready, and secondly, with Knute, 
 the grandson of his firm friend and ally, Harald Blue-tooth. 
 His son was Richard, called the Good, his grandson, Robert 
 the Magnificent, his great-grandson, William the Conqueror, 
 who brought the Norman race to England. Few names in 
 history shine with so consistent a lustre as that of Richard, at 
 first the little Duke, afterwards Richard aux longues jambes, 
 but always Richard Sans peur. This little sketch has only 
 brought forward the perils of his childhood, but his early man- 
 hood was likewise full of adventures, in which he always 
 proved himself brave, honourable, pious, and forbearing ; but 
 for these, our readers must search for themselves into early 
 French history, where all they will find concerning our hero, 
 will only tend to exalt his character. 
 
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