Chapter I: Preface

A SMALL portion of this tale appeared in _Once a Week_, July--September, 1859, under the title of "A Good Fight."

After writing it, I took wider views of the subject, and also felt uneasy at having deviated _unnecessarily_ from the historical outline of a true story. These two sentiments have cost me more than a year's very hard labour, which I venture to think has not been wasted. After this plain statement I trust all who comment on this work will see that, to describe it as a reprint, would be unfair to the public and to me. The English language is copious and, in any true man's hands, quite able to convey the truth; namely, that one fifth of the present work is a reprint, and four fifths of it a new composition.

ILLUSTRATIONS

All in a moment she was looking at him, full _Frontispiece_

PAGE

They had taught him penmanship 4

She turned her head away, and her long eyelashes
drooped sweetly 22

Not more than thirty feet below him were Margaret
and Martin 70

Suddenly a huge dog burst out of the coppice 102

In that strange and mixed attitude of tender offices
and deadly suspicion the trio did walk 150

Denys saw a steel point come out of the Abbot 216

They unbonneted and louted low, and she curtsied 258

The constant lover lay silent on the snow 272

The black boat driving bottom upward 430

The slighted beauty started to her feet 474

"Aha! ladies," said she, "here is a rival an' ye will" 490

Soon Gerard was at Father Anselm's knees 506

Margaret had moments of bliss 548

He scanned, with great tearful eyes, this strange
figure that looked so wild 652

The death of Gerard 704

THE CLOISTER AND THE HEARTH

THE CLOISTER & THE HEARTH