A BROTHER TO DRAGONS
AND
OTHER OLD-TIME TALES
By AMÉLIE RIVES
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE
1888
All rights reserved.
WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
TO
THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH
MY FIRST EDITOR
PREFACE.
Of the tales published in this volume,"A Brother to Dragons" appeared in theAtlantic Monthly for March, 1886; "TheFarrier Lass o' Piping Pebworth" in Lippincott'sMagazine for July, 1887; and "NurseCrumpet tells the Story" in Harper's Magazinefor September, 1887.
CONTENTS.
A BROTHER TO DRAGONS.
I.
In the year of grace, 1586, on the lastday of the month of May, to all who maychance to read this narrative, these:
I will first be at the pains of statingthat had it not been for Marian I hadnever indited these or any other papers,true or false. Secondly, that the facts hereinset down be true facts; none the lesstrue that they are strange. I will furthermoreexplain that Marian is the Christianname of my lawful wife, and that our surnameis Butter.
My wife had nursed the Lady Margaretfrom the moment of her birth; and here Imust make another digression. The Lady[2]Margaret was the twin sister of the thenLord of Amhurste, Lord Robert, and mylady and his lordship had quarrelled—Mariansaith, with a great cause, but I cannotherein forbear also expressing my opinion,which is to the effect that for that quarrelthere was neither cause, justice, nor reason.Therefore, before those who maychance to read these words, I will lay barethe facts pertaining to the said quarrel.
It concerned the family ghost, whichghost was said to haunt a certain bluechamber in the east wing of the castle.Now I myself had never gainsaid thesereports; for although I do not believe inghosts, I have a certain respect for them, asthey have never offered me any affront, eitherby appearing to me or otherwise maltreatingme. But Marian, who like manyof her sex seemed to consort naturally withbanshees, bogies, apparitions, and the like,declared to me that at s