Isabel, seeing that they did not appear to recognize the young knight,
said:
"Our father has sent this gentleman, Sir Oswald Forster, whom you know,
to visit you."
The two girls looked with surprise at Oswald.
"Do you not know this gentleman?" their sister asked, in equal
surprise.
"He is not known to us," Jane replied. "I have never seen him
before--at least, that I can remember."
"We have met before, nevertheless, Lady," Oswald said, with a smile;
"though it may well be that you do not remember my face, or that of my
squire there; seeing that we were together but a few minutes, and that
in the moonlight."
The girls looked up at him puzzled, and then their eyes fell upon
Roger.
"Now I know!" Margaret exclaimed. "Look at the squire's height. Surely,
Jane, these are the two soldiers who allowed us to pass them, that
night when we fled from Sycharth."
"That is so," Oswald said. "I thought that you were more likely to
recognize my squire than myself, seeing that I have grown several
inches since then, and have but lately assumed this knightly armour in
which you see me."
"Oh, sir," Jane said, going swiftly up to him and holding out her hand,
which he raised to his lips; as he did that of Margaret, as she
followed her sister; "we have thought of you so often, and have prayed
that you should both be rewarded for your kindness to us! How glad I am
to see you again, and have an opportunity of thanking you!
"You have heard, Isabel, of our adventure, and how we escaped, by the
kindness of two Englishmen on guard near the edge of the forest, from
being carried as prisoners to London; where, but for them, we should
now be lodged in some dungeon of the usurper; but till now, I have
never known the name of our preserver.
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