ever　drawn；　save　in　the　cause　of　the　poor　and　distressed？　　Wouldst　thou　rob　Him；　to　whose　service　thy　life　has　been　pledged；　and　devote　thyself　to　that　of　His　foe？　　Is　this　what　thou　hast　learnt　from　thy　blessed　father？〃
  Richard　made　no　answer；　but　he　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　to　hide　the　tears　which　were　fast　streaming。
  〃Lord　Abbot；　Lord　Abbot；　this　passes！〃　exclaimed　Bernard　the　Dane。　〃Our　young　Lord　is　no　monk；　and　we　will　not　see　each　spark　of　noble　and　knightly　spirit　quenched　as　soon　as　it　shows　itself。〃
  〃Count　of　Harcourt；〃　said　Abbot　Martin；　〃are　these　the　words　of　a　savage　Pagan；　or　of　one　who　has　been　washed　in　yonder　blessed　font？　Never；　while　I　have　power；　shalt　thou　darken　the　child's　soul　with　thy　foul　thirst　of　revenge；　insult　the　presence　of　thy　master　with　the　crime　he　so　abhorred；　nor　the　temple　of　Him　who　came　to　pardon；　with　thy　hatred。　　Well　do　I　know；　ye　Barons　of　Normandy；　that　each　drop　of　your　blood　would　willingly　be　given；　could　it　bring　back　our　departed　Duke；　or　guard　his　orphan　child；　but；　if　ye　have　loved　the　father；　do　his　biddinglay　aside　that　accursed　spirit　of　hatred　and　vengeance；　if　ye　love　the　child；　seek　not　to　injure　his　soul　more　deeply　than　even　his　bitterest　foe；　were　it　Arnulf　himself；　hath　power　to　hurt　him。〃
  The　Barons　were　silenced；　whatever　their　thoughts　might　be；　and　Abbot　Martin　turned　to　Richard；　whose　tears　were　still　dropping　fast　through　his　fingers；　as　the　thought　of　those　last　words　of　his　father　returned　more　clearly　upon　him。　　The　Abbot　laid　his　hand　on　his　head；　and　spoke　gently　to　him。　　〃These　are　tears　of　a　softened　heart；　I　trust；〃　said　he。　　〃I　well　believe　that　thou　didst　scarce　know　what　thou　wert　saying。〃
  〃Forgive　me！〃　said　Richard；　as　well　as　he　could　speak。
  〃See　there；〃　said　the　priest；　pointing　to　the　large　Cross　over　the　Altar；　〃thou　knowest　the　meaning　of　that　sacred　sign？〃
  Richard　bowed　his　head　in　assent　and　reverence。
  〃It　speaks　of　forgiveness；〃　continued　the　Abbot。　　〃And　knowest　thou　who　gave　that　pardon？　　The　Son　forgave　His　murderers；　the　Father　them　who　slew　His　Son。　　And　shalt　thou　call　for　vengeance？〃
  〃But　oh！〃　said　Richard；　looking　up；　〃must　that　cruel；　murderous　traitor　glory　unpunished　in　his　crime；　while　there　lies〃　and　again　his　voice　was　cut　off　by　tears。
  〃Vengeance　shall　surely　overtake　the　sinner；〃　said　Martin；　〃the　vengeance　of　the　Lord；　and　in　His　own　good　time；　but　it　must　not　be　of　thy　seeking。　　Nay；　Richard；　thou　art　of　all　men　the　most　bound　to　show　love　and　mercy　to　Arnulf　of　Flanders。　　Yes；　when　the　hand　of　the　Lord　hath　touched　him；　and　bowed　him　down　in　punishment　for　his　crime；　it　is　then；　that　thou；　whom　he　hath　most　deeply　injured；　shouldst　stretch　out　thine　hand　to　aid　him；　and　receive　him　with　pardon　and　peace。　　If　thou　dost　vow　aught　on　the　sword　of　thy　blessed　father；　in　the　sanctuary　of　thy　Redeemer；　let　it　be　a　Christian　vow。〃
  Richard　wept　too　bitterly　to　speak；　and　Bernard　de　Harcourt；　taking　his　hand；　led　him　away　from　the　Church。
  CHAPTER　III
  Duke　William　of　the　Long　Sword　was　buried　the　next　morning　in　high　pomp　and　state；　with　many　a　prayer　and　psalm　chanted　over　his　grave。
  When　this　was　over；　little　Richard；　who　had　all　the　time　stood　or　knelt　nearest　the　corpse；　in　one　dull　heavy　dream　of　wonder　and　sorrow；　was　led　back　to　the　palace；　and　there　his　long；　heavy；　black　garments　were　taken　off；　and　he　was　dressed　in　his　short　scarlet　tunic；　his　hair　was　carefully　arranged；　and　then　he　came　down　again　into　the　hall；　where　there　was　a　great　assembly　of　Barons；　some　in　armour；　some　in　long　furred　gowns；　who　had　all　been　attending　his　father's　burial。　　Richard；　as　he　was　desired　by　Sir　Eric　de　Centeville；　took　off　his　cap；　and　bowed　low　in　reply　to　the　reverences　with　which　they　all　greeted　his　entrance；　and　he　then　slowly　crossed　the　hall；　and　descended　the　steps　from　the　door；　while　they　formed　into　a　procession　behind　him；　according　to　their　ranks　the　Duke　of　Brittany　first；　and　then　all　the　rest；　down　to　the　poorest　knight　who　held　his　manor　immediately　from　the　Duke　of　Normandy。
  Thus；　they　proceeded；　in　slow　and　solemn　order；　till　they　came　to　the　church　of　our　Lady。　　The　clergy　were　there　already；　ranged　in　ranks　on　each　side　of　the　Choir；　and　the　Bishops；　in　their　mitres　and　rich　robes；　each　with　his　pastoral　staff　in　his　hand；　were　standing　round　the　Altar。　　As　the　little　Duke　entered；　there　arose　from　all　the　voices　in　the　Chancel　the　full；　loud；　clear　chant　of　Te　Deum　Laudamus；　echoing　among　the　dark　vaults　of　the　roof。　　To　that　sound；　Richard　walked　up　the　Choir；　to　a　large；　heavy；　crossed…legged；　carved　chair；　raised　on　two　steps；　just　before　the　steps　of　the　Altar　began；　and　there　he　stood；　Bernard　de　Harcourt　and　Eric　de　Centeville　on　each　side　of　him；　and　all　his　other　vassals　in　due　order；　in　the　Choir。
  After　the　beautiful　chant　of　the　hymn　was　ended；　the　service　for　the　Holy　Communion　began。　　When　the　time　came　for　the　offering；　each　noble　gave　gold　or　silver；　and；　lastly；　Rainulf　of　Ferrieres　came　up　to　the　step　of　the　Altar　with　a　cushion；　on　which　was　placed　a　circlet　of　gold；　the　ducal　coronet；　and　another　Baron；　following　him　closely；　carried　a　long；　heavy　sword；　with　a　cross　handle。　　The　Archbishop　of　Rouen　received　both　coronet　and　sword；　and　laid　them　on　the　Altar。　　Then　the　service　proceeded。　　At　that　time　the　rite　of　Confirmation　was　administered　in　infancy；　and　Richard；　who　had　been　confirmed　by　his　godfather；　the　Archbishop　of　Rouen；　immediately　after　his　baptism；　knelt　in　solemn　awe　to　receive　the　other　Holy　Sacrament　from　his　hands；　as　soon　as　all　the　clergy　had　communicated。　｛8｝
  When　the　administration　was　over；　Richard　was　led　forward　to　the　step　of　the　Altar　by　Count　Bernard；　and　Sir　Eric；　and　the　Archbishop；　laying　one　hand　upon　both　his；　as　he　held　them　clasped　together；　demanded　of　him；　in　the　name　of　God；　and　of　the　people　of　Normandy；　whether　he　would　be　their　good　and　true　ruler；　guard　them　from　their　foes；　maintain　truth；　punish　iniquity；　and　protect　the　Church。
  〃I　will！〃　answered　Richard's　young；　trembling　voice；　〃So　help　me　God！〃　and　he　knelt；　and　kissed　the　book　of　the　Holy　Gospels；　which　the　Archbishop　offered　him。
  It　was　a　great　and　awful　oath；　and　he　dreaded　to　think　that　he　had　taken　it。　　He　still　knelt；　put　both　hands　over　his　face；　and　whispered；　〃O　God；　my　Father；　help　me　to　keep　it。〃
  The　Archbishop　waited　till　he　rose；　and　then；　turning　him　with　his　face　to　the　people；　said；　〃Richard；　by　the　grace　of　God；　I　invest　thee　with　the　ducal　mantle　of　Normandy！〃
  Two　of　the　Bishops　then　hung　round　his　shoulders　a　crimson　velvet　mantle；　furred　with　ermine；　which；　made　as　it　was　for　a　grown　man；　hung　heavily　on　the　poor　child's　shoulders；　and　lay　in　heaps　on　the　ground。　　The　Archbishop　then　set　the　golden　coronet　on　his　long；　flowing　hair；　where　it　hung　so　loosely　on　the　little　head；　that　Sir　Eric　was　obliged　to　put　his　hand　to　it　to　hold　it　safe；　and；　lastly；　the　long；　straight；　two…handed　sword　was　brought　and　placed　in　his　hand；　with　another　solemn　bidding　to　use　it　ever　in　maintaining　the　right。　　It　should　have　been　girded　to　his　side；　but　the　great　sword　was　so　much　taller　than　the　little　Duke；　that；　as　it　stood　upright　by　him；　he　was　obliged　to　raise　his　arm　to　put　it　round　the　handle。
  He　then　had　to　return　to　his　throne；　which　was　not　done　without　some　difficulty；　encumbered　as　he　was；　but　Osmond　held　up　the　train　of　his　mantle；　Sir　Eric　kept　the　coronet　on　his　head；　and　he　himself　held　fast　and　lovingly　the　sword；　though　the　Count　of　Harcourt　offered　to　carry　it　for　him。　　He　was　lifted　up　to　his　throne；　and　then　came　the　paying　him　homage；　Alan；　Duke　of　Brittany；　was　the　first　to　kneel　before　him；　and　with　his　hand　between　those　of　the　Duke；　he　swore　to　be　his　man；　to　obey　him；　and　pay　him　feudal　service　for　his　dukedom　of　Brittany。　　In　return；　Richard　swore　to　be　his　good　Lord；　and　to　protect　him　from　all　his　foes。　　Then　followed　Bernard　the　Dane；　and　many　another；　each　repeating　the　same　formulary；　as　their　large　rugged　hands　were　clasped　within　those　little　soft　fingers。　　Many　a　kind　and　loving　eye　was　bent　in　compassion　on　the　orphan　child；　many　a　strong　voice　faltered　with　earnestness　as　it　pronounced　the　vow；　and　many　a　brave；　stalwart　heart　heaved　with　grief　for　the　murdered　father；　and　tears　flowed　down　the　war…worn　cheeks　which　had　met　the　fiercest　storms　of　the　northern　ocean；　as　they　bent　before　the　young　fatherless　boy；　whom　they　loved　for　the　sake　of　his　conquering　grandfather；　and　his　brave　and　pious　father。　　Few　Normans　were　there　whose　hearts　did　not　glow　at　the　touch　of　those　small　hands；　with　a　love　almost　of　a　parent；　for　their　young　Duke。
  The　ceremony　of　receiving　homage　lasted　long　and　Richard；　though　interested　and　touched　at　first；　grew　very　weary；　the　crown　and　mantle　were　so　heavy；　the　faces　succeeded　each　other　like　figures　in　an　endless　dream；　and　the　constant　repetition　of　the　same　words　was　very　tedious。　　He　grew　sleepy；　he　longed　to　jump　up；　to　lean　to　the　right　or　left；　or　to　speak　something　besides　that　regular　form。　　He　gave　one　great　yawn；　but　it　brought　him　such　a　frown　from　the　stern　face　of　Bernard；　as　quite　to　wake　him　for　a　few　minutes；　and　make　him　sit　upright；　and