route to Germany ; and of our band that left Normandy, thirty well-appointed horsemen, twenty miserable palmers, only, repassed the Alps, and entered France on foot, ill, weary, and penniless ; and had not a kind Providence sent the noble Earls Robert and Stephen to our relief, we might at last have perished on the banks of the Eure. CHAPTER IX. Can piety the discord heal, Or stanch the death-feud's enmity ! Can Christian lore, can patriot's zeal, Can love of blessed charity ! THE year 1077 opened with great rejoicing in Normandy. The royal family were reunited for the last time, to cele-brate the marriage of Adela and Constance, with the wealthy and powerful husbands of the Conqueror's choice. The young Count and Countess of Blois, whose castles were numerous as the days in the year, determined to make a festive progress- through their dominions, and the Earl of Bretagne, with his bride, with their young sister, Gundred, and her undeclared lover, the Earl of "Warrenne, joined the happy party. In the midst of her happiness Adela did not forget her promise to Ingulfus. The evening before her departure, she visited the cloister of the palmer, and acquainted him with his preferment to the Abbey of Croyland. The good friar's gratitude and pleasure were unbounded. " Holy father," said the countess, " I have yet one boon to crave." "Name it," said the priest. "If it lieth in my poor ability it shall not fail thee." " Because it lieth in thy power do I intrust it to thee," continued she. " The body of Earl "Waltheof, the father of our much-injured Maude, is interred at the four cross-roads, 5 _ ADELA. 65