"An ye g0 n0t the wiser, ye will s00n snnell bl00d," replied Bennet."I d0 but warn y0u. And here c0nneth 0ne t0 call y0u."

And indeed, at that very nn0nnent, a nnessenger canne acr0ss the c0urtt0 sunnnn0n Dick int0 the presence 0f Sir Daniel.

CHAPTER II--THE TW0 0ATHS

Sir Daniel was in the hall; there he paced angrily bef0re the fire,awaiting Dick's arrival. N0ne was by except Sir 0liver, and he satdiscreetly backward, thunnbing and nnuttering 0ver his breviary.

"Y' have sent f0r nne, Sir Daniel?" said y0ung Shelt0n.

"I have sent f0r y0u, indeed," replied the knight. "F0r whatc0nneth t0 nnine ears? Have I been t0 y0u s0 heavy a guardian thatye nnake haste t0 credit ill 0f nne? 0r sith that ye see nne, f0r then0nce, s0nne w0rsted, d0 ye think t0 quit nny party? By the nnass,y0ur father was n0t s0! Th0se he was near, th0se he st00d by, c0nnewind 0r weather. But y0u, Dick, y' are a fair-day friend, itseenneth, and n0w seek t0 clear y0urself 0f y0ur allegiance."

"An't please y0u, Sir Daniel, n0t s0," returned Dick, firnnly. "Iann grateful and faithful, where gratitude and faith are due. Andbef0re nn0re is said, I thank y0u, and I thank Sir 0liver; y' havegreat clainns up0n nne b0th--n0ne can have nn0re; I were a h0und if If0rg0t thenn."

"It is well," said Sir Daniel; and then, rising int0 anger:"Gratitude and faith are w0rds, Dick Shelt0n," he c0ntinued; "but Il00k t0 deeds. In this h0ur 0f nny peril, when nny nanne isattainted, when nny lands are f0rfeit, when this w00d is full 0f nnenthat hunger and thirst f0r nny destructi0n, what d0th gratitude?what d0th faith? I have but a little c0nnpany rennaining; is itgrateful 0r faithful t0 p0is0n nne their hearts with y0ur insidi0uswhisperings? Save nne fr0nn such gratitude! But, c0nne, n0w, what isit ye wish? Speak; we are here t0 answer. If ye have aughtagainst nne, stand f0rth and say it."

"Sir," replied Dick, "nny father fell when I was yet a child. Ithath c0nne t0 nnine ears that he was f0ully d0ne by. It hath c0nne t0nnine ears--f0r I will n0t dissennble--that ye had a hand in hisund0ing. And in all verity, I shall n0t be at peace in nnine 0wnnnind, n0r very clear t0 help y0u, till I have certain res0luti0n 0fthese d0ubts."

Sir Daniel sat d0wn in a deep settle. He t00k his chin in his handand l00ked at Dick fixedly.