''Welcome, Master Deconinck, my good friend; how is it with you? With me, you see, it is ill enough. Every breath I draw is painful to me: but I can not always keep my tent: the narrow room oppresses me. I have come out to see my father's loyal subjects at their work—if, indeed, my feet will carrv me so far; and you, Master Deconinck, shall accompany me. I have many things to ask you; and, I pray you, answer truly to my questions. I hope to find in your discourse some refreshment for my weary heart. There is no need for the guards to follow us. Ah! the bright morning sunshine does me good; it cheers me."
She moved forward with Deconinck by her side, who replied to her inquiries as they walked along. With that admirable tact and facility of expression by which he was distinguished, he continued to suggest matter for consolation and cheerful hope, and so for the while dispelled the heavy melancholy that weighed upon her spirits. Everywhere, as she passed, the Guildsmen greeted the young girl with loud expressions of homage and affection, and soon one universal shout of "Long live the Lady Matilda! long live our noble Lion's daughter!" resounded through the wood. Matilda felt a genuine thrill of joy as she received these testimonies of warm and loyal attachment to her father and her father's house; and approaching the Dean of the Butchers with a gracious smile:
"Master Breydel," she said, "I have been noticing you from afar. You really labor harder than the lowest of your Guildsmen; work seems to be a pleasure to you."
"Lady," answered the delighted Breydel, "we are making 'good-days' for the deliverance of our country and of our lord the Lion, and that is a work I enjoy with my whole heart; for I feel as if each one we finish bore a Frenchman's death upon its point, and every blow I strike seems struck upon the body of an enemy."
Matilda could not look without admiration upon the young hero, in whose countenance, as in that of some Grecian deity, the fierce energy of passion was marvelously softened and tempered down by the noble refinement of the features. Its manly beauty seemed but the mirror of the generous soul within, and its whole aspect glowed with the fervor of self-devotion and patriotic zeal. Again graciously smiling on him, she replied:
"Come with us, I pray you, Master Breydel; it will give me pleasure to have your company in my walk."
Quickly Jan Breydel cast his ax aside, stroked back his long fair locks behind his ears, set his cap more jauntily on his head, and followed the princess, his heart bounding and his step elastic with honest pride.
"If my father," she whispered softly to Deconinck, "had but a thousand such, so fearless and so true, our enemies would not long keep foot in Flanders."
"Flanders has but one Breydel," replied the Clothworker. "It is but seldom that nature sets so fiery a soul in so mighty a body; and that is a wise providence of God, else should men, when they learnt to know their force, become too proud of heart, like the giants of old, who sought to climb up into Heaven—"
He would have proceeded; but at this moment he was interrupted by a sentinel running breathlessly up, and calling out aloud to Breydel:
"Master Dean, my fellows of the watch have sent me to let you know that a thick cloud of dust has been seen rising in the distance from just before our city gates, and that a noise as of an army in full march is clearly audible. Some considerable body is leaving the city, and advancing toward our camp."
"To arms! to arms!" cried Breydel in a voice that was heard far and near through the encampment; "each man to his place!—quick!"
The work-people hastily seized their arms, and ran confusedly hither and thither; but this was only for a moment. The companies were speedily formed, and soon the Guildsmen might be seen standing firm and motionless in their serried phalanx. Breydel's first care was to post five hundred chosen men about Matilda's tent, to which she had with all speed returned; a carriage, too, well horsed, was drawn up before it, and everyj preparation made for her escape in case of need; then with the whole remainder of his force he issued from the wood in full array, and ready at all points for battle.
It was not long ere they became aware that it was a false alarm. The body which raised the dust was evidently advancing in no kind of order; and it was soon perceptible that a large proportion of it consisted of women and children confusedly mingled together. A prominent object was a bier, or rather handbarrow, borne by men, round which the women crowded, filling the air with the most piteous lamentations. But although the cause of alarm no longer existed, the Guildsmen still kept their ranks, resting upon their arms, and awaiting with anxious curiosity the solution of the enigma. At last the approaching train drew near; and while wives and children pressed through the ranks to embrace a husband or a father, a frightful spectacle presented itself to the assembled multitude.
The four bearers of the bier carried it to within a short distance of the Dean of the Butchers, and there set it down upon the ground. Upon it lay two female corpses, their clothes dabbled with blood, their features indiscernible, being concealed from sight by a black veil thrown over the heads. The women meanwhile still kept up their cries; one continued heartrending "Woe! woe!" was all that could be heard, till at last a voice exclaimed:
"The French soldiers have murdered them!"
Hitherto the Guildsmen had looked on silently in mingled surprise and curiosity; but as these fearful
