riend； of whom more hereafter。 On three sides； to the north； west； and south； the lofty walls of the old ballium still stood； with their machicolated turrets； loopholes； and dark downward crannies for dropping stones and fire on the besiegers； the relics of a more unsettled age： but the southern court of the ballium had become a flower…garden； with quaint terraces； statues； knots of flowers； clipped yews and hollies； and all the pedantries of the topiarian art。 And toward the east； where the vista of the valley opened； the old walls were gone； and the frowning Norman keep； ruined in the Wars of the Roses； had been replaced by the rich and stately architecture of the Tudors。 Altogether； the； house； like the time； was in a transitionary state； and represented faithfully enough the passage of the old middle age into the new life which had just burst into blossom throughout Europe； never； let us pray； to see its autumn or its winter。
From the house on three sides； the hill sloped steeply down； and the garden where Sir Richard and Amyas were walking gave a truly English prospect。 At one turn they could catch； over the western walls； a glimpse of the blue ocean flecked with passing sails； and at the next； spread far below them； range on range of fertile park； stately avenue； yellow autumn woodland； and purple heather moors； lapping over and over each other up the valley to the old British earthwork； which stood black and furze…grown on its conical peak； and standing out against the sky on the highest bank of hill which closed the valley to the east； the lofty tower of Kilkhampton church； rich with the monuments and offerings of five centuries of Grenvilles。 A yellow eastern haze hung soft over park； and wood； and moor； the red cattle lowed to each other as they stood brushing away the flies in the rivulet far below； the colts in the horse… park close on their right whinnied as they played together； and their sires from the Queen's Park； on the opposite hill； answered them in fuller though fainter voices。 A rutting stag made the still woodland rattle with his hoarse thunder； and a rival far up the valley gave back a trumpet note of defiance； and was himself defied from heathery brows which quivered far away above； half seen through the veil of eastern mist。 And close at home； upon the terrace before the house； amid romping spaniels and golden…haired children； sat Lady Grenville herself； the beautiful St。 Leger of Annery； the central jewel of all that glorious place； and looked down at her noble children； and then up at her more noble husband； and round at that broad paradise of the West； till life seemed too full of happiness； and heaven of light。
And all the while up and down paced Amyas and Sir Richard； talking long； earnestly； and slow； for they both knew that the turning point of the boy's life was come。
〃Yes；〃 said Sir Richard； after Amyas； in his blunt simple way； had told him the whole story about Rose Salterne and his brother； 〃yes； sweet lad； thou hast chosen the better part； thou and thy brother also； and it shall not be taken from you。 Only be strong； lad； and trust in God that He will make a man of you。〃
〃I do trust；〃 said Amyas。
〃Thank God；〃 said Sir Richard； 〃that you have yourself taken from my heart that which was my great anxiety for you； from the day that your good father； who sleeps in peace； committed you to my hands。 For all best things； Amyas； become； when misused； the very worst； and the love of woman； because it is able to lift man's soul to the heavens； is also able to drag him down to hell。 But you have learnt better； Amyas； and know； with our old German forefathers； that； as Tacitus saith； Sera juvenum Venus； ideoque inexhausta pubertas。 And not only that； Amyas； but trust me； that silly fashion of the French and Italians； to be hanging ever at some woman's apron string； so that no boy shall count himself a man unless he can vagghezziare le donne； whether maids or wives； alas！ matters little； that fashion； I say； is little less hurtful to the soul than open sin； for by it are bred vanity and expense； envy and heart…burning； yea； hatred and murder often； and even if that be escaped； yet the rich treasure of a manly worship； which should be kept for one alone； is squandered and parted upon many； and the bride at last comes in for nothing but the very last leavings and caput mortuum of her bridegroom's heart； and becomes a mere ornament for his table； and a means whereby he may obtain a progeny。 May God； who has saved me from that death in life； save you also！〃 And as he spoke； he looked down toward his wife upon the terrace below； and she； as if guessing instinctively that he was talking of her； looked up with so sweet a smile； that Sir Richard's stern face melted into a very glory of spiritual sunshine。
Amyas looked at them both and sighed； and then turning the conversation suddenly
〃And I may go to Ireland to…morrow？〃
〃You shall sail in the 'Mary' for Milford Haven； with these letters to Winter。 If the wind serves； you may bid the master drop down the river tonight； and be off； for we must lose no time。〃
〃Winter？〃 said Amyas。 〃He is no friend of mine； since he left Drake and us so cowardly at the Straits of Magellan。〃
〃Duty must not wait for private quarrels； even though they be just ones； lad： but he will not be your general。 When you come to the marshal； or the Lord Deputy； give either of them this letter； and they will set you work；and hard work too； I warrant。
〃I want nothing better。〃
〃Right； lad； the best reward for having wrought well already； is to have more to do； and he that has been faithful over a few things； must find his account in being made ruler over many things。 That is the true and heroical rest； which only is worthy of gentlemen and sons of God。 As for those who； either in this world or the world to come； look for idleness； and hope that God shall feed them with pleasant things； as it were with a spoon； Amyas； I count them cowards and base； even though they call themselves saints and elect。〃
〃I wish you could persuade my poor cousin of that。〃
〃He has yet to learn what losing his life to save it means； Amyas。 Bad men have taught him （and I fear these Anabaptists and Puritans at home teach little else）； that it is the one great business of every one to save his own soul after he dies； every one for himself； and that that； and not divine self…sacrifice； is the one thing needful； and the better part which Mary chose。〃
〃I think men are inclined enough already to be selfish； without being taught that。〃
〃Right； lad。 For me； if I could hang up such a teacher on high as an enemy of mankind； and a corrupter of youth； I would do it gladly。 Is there not cowardice and self…seeking enough about the hearts of us fallen sons of Adam； that these false prophets； with their baits of heaven； and their terrors of hell； must exalt our dirtiest vices into heavenly virtues and the means of bliss？ Farewell to chivalry and to desperate valor； farewell to patriotism and loyalty； farewell to England and to the manhood of England； if once it shall become the fashion of our preachers to bid every man； as the Jesuits do； take care first of what they call the safety of his soul。 Every man will be afraid to die at his post； because he will be afraid that he is not fit to die。 Amyas； do thou do thy duty like a man； to thy country； thy queen； and thy God； and count thy life a worthless thing； as did the holy men of old。 Do thy work； lad； and leave thy soul to the care of Him who is just and merciful in this； that He rewards every man according to his work。 Is there respect of persons with God？ Now come in； and take the letters； and to horse。 And if I hear of thee dead there at Smerwick fort； with all thy wounds in front； I shall weep for thy mother； lad； but I shall have never a sigh for thee。〃
If any one shall be startled at hearing a fine gentleman and a warrior like Sir Richard quote Scripture； and think Scripture also； they must be referred to the writings of the time； which they may read not without profit to themselves； if they discover therefrom how it was possible then for men of the world to be thoroughly ingrained with the Gospel； and yet to be free from any taint of superstitious fear； or false devoutness。 The religion of those days was such as no soldier need have been ashamed of confessing。 At least； Sir Richard died as he lived； without a shudder； and without a whine； and these were his last words； fifteen years after that； as he lay shot through and through； a captive among Popish Spaniards； priests； crucifixes； confession； extreme unction； and all other means and appliances for delivering men out of the hands of a God of love：
〃Here die I； Richard Grenville； with a joyful and quiet mind； for that I have ended my life as a true soldier ought； fighting for his country； queen； religion； and honor： my soul willingly departing from this body； leaving behind the lasting fame of having behaved as every valiant soldier is in his duty bound to do。〃
Those were the last words of Richard Grenville。 The pulpits of those days had taught them to him。
But to return。 That day's events were not over yet。 For； when they went down into the house； the first person whom they met was the old steward； in search of his master。
〃There is a manner of roog； Sir Richard； a masterless man； at the door； a very forward fellow； and must needs speak with you。〃
〃A masterless man？ He had better not to speak to me； unless he is in love with gaol and gallows。〃
〃Well； your worship；〃 said the steward； 〃I expect that is what he does want； for he swears he will not leave the gate till he has seen you。〃
〃Seen me？ Halidame！ he shall see me； here and at Launceston too； if he likes。 Bring him in。〃
〃Fegs； Sir Richard； we are half afeard。 With your good leave〃
〃Hillo； Tony；〃 cried Amyas； 〃who was ever afeard yet with Sir Richard's good leave？〃
〃What； has the fellow a tail or horns？〃
〃Massy no： but I be afeard of treason for your honor； for the fellow is pinked all over in heathen patterns； and as brown as a filbert； and a tall roog； a very strong roog； sir； and a foreigner too； and a mighty staff with him。 I expect him to be a manner of Jesuit； or wild Ir