ROSAMOND FANE. J CHAPTER I. A PIECE OF NEWS. 'Proudly his red roan charger trod. MARMION. HE crimson glow of sunset was reflected on the windows of an old Hampshire manor-house, and deep shadows were falling across the lawn. Four o'clock had but just been announced in loud hoarse tones, proceeding from the quaint old clock-tower which adorned one side of the house; and yet the short November day was already drawing to a close. The house was approached by a long avenue of lime trees, the yellow leaves of which were falling fast beneath the frosty wind that rustled among the branches. Walking up the avenue were two of the children of the 16 A house, a boy of about fourteen years old, and a pretty girl who seemed a year or two younger. They were advancing at a brisk pace, almost too brisk, it seemed, for the girl, for she would pause every now and then, breathless from battling with the wind, and try to push back under her hood the thick brown curls that were blowing in wild disorder over her face. 'You are not going in yet, Rosamond?' said the boy, as they reached the garden gate. 'Just one turn more to the end of the avenue and back.' 'Oh! really, Maurice, we have been out so long already, that my aunt will wonder what has become of us.' 'Oh no, she will not mind. Come, Rosamond, I always respect you as the only woman in the house who is never tired.' And Rosamond smiled, and yielded, partly because she did not wish to lose Maurice's respect, and partly, perhaps, because, like many another young lady of thirteen, she was not ill-pleased at being called 'a woman.' At all events, Maurice gained his point, as he generally did with Rosamond, and the two continued their walk. She was the only companion the lad had of his own age, and he could not afford to lose her; so, though they never entered into a discussion without presently disagreeing on some important point, they had continued fast friends ever since Rosamond's arrival at her uncle's house; and the temporary discord occasioned by a hot argument never disturbed their Maurice and Rosamond.. 3 friendship longer than for half an hour at the farthest. It would seem as if they could scarcely avoid an occasional quarrel, so opposed in almost every respect were their thoughts, opinions, and associations. Rosamond's father had fallen, among many others, on King Charles's side at the battle of Naseby, and her only brother was now with Queen Henrietta in France; while her uncle, Colonel Carewe, was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the Parliament, and the personal friend of General Cromwell; and Maurice was already looking forward to the time when he should be old enough to join his father's regiment, and become one of that body of soldiers who were beginning to be acknowledged on all sides as the finest that England had ever possessed. To-day the great topic of interest at Hazlitt Cross was the king's escape from Hampton Court, the news of which had reached the quiet little Hampshire village that morning, where it created no little excitement, especially as the king was reported to be in hiding somewhere within the county itself, though as to the exact place of his retreat, opinions were many and various. 'You see, Rosamond,' Maurice said, in a half apologetic tone, as they began to retrace their steps, "'tis very well for you girls indoors, I daresay. You have your needlework, and music, and all that sort of thing; but 'tis weary work for me with only women to speak to, and nothing to do. One can't be always in a humour to read. Besides, I know all our books by heart; at least all the ones worth |