THEREwasonce an old manor-housewithmuddy ditches¹ and a drawbridge， which was more often up thandown； fornot all guestswho comeare good．Under the eaves were holes for shooting from， and pouring boiling water，and even melted lead，down over the enemy if he cametoo near. Inside it was high to therafters，and that was goodforthe smoke which came from the hearth，where the great damp logs² lay． There hung on the wallspicturesof men in armour， and proud ladies in heavy clothes，but the stateliestofthem all was livinghere still；shewas called Metta Mogens； shewas the lady of themanor．Oneeveningrobbers came there； they killed three of her men， and the watch－dog besides， and then theychained Lady Metta to the kennelwith the dog－chain， and sat themselves down in the hall， and drank the wine from her cellar，and all the good ale．Lady Metta stood chained up like a dog，butshecouldnot even bark．

Then therobber's boycametoher；hesneaked along quietly， so that he might not be noticed； otherwisethey would have killed him．

"LadyMetta Mogens，"said theboy，"can you re- member when my father had toride on thewooden horse in your husband's time？ You begged mercy for him then， but it had no effect； he had to sit till he was crippled；but you slipped down，asI donow，andyou placed a lit－ tlestone under each of his feet， so that he could get some ease． No one saw it， or they pretended not to； you were the young，gracious lady．My father has toldmethis，and Ihave kept it to myself， buthave not forgotten it！ NowI will set you free，Lady Metta Mogens．"Then theytook horses from the stable， and rode in rain and in wind， andgot friendly help.

"Thatwasagoodreturn for the little bit of service to the old man，" said Metta Mogens．

"Hidden is not forgotten！" said the boy．

The robbers³ were hanged．

There stood another old mansion， it stands therestill； it was not Lady Metta Mogens'； it belonged toanother noble family．

It is inourown days． The sun shineson the gilt⁴ spireof the tower，littlewooded islands lie likebouquets on the water， and round about them swim the wild swans．

Roses grow in the garden． The lady of the house is herselfthefinest rose－leaf， shining ingladness， thegladness of gooddeeds， not out in the wideworld， but inwardly in the heart， where they are hidden， but not forgotten．

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1 ditches
n.沟，渠( ditch的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The fields are crisscrossed by irrigation canals and ditches. 田野上沟渠纵横。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 We moved through fields and over ditches. 我们穿过田野，跨过沟渠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 logs
n.练习用球瓶；原木，木材，木料( log的名词复数 )；航海[飞行]日志
参考例句：
logs for the fire 烧火用的木材 The logs were knocked together as they floated down the stream. 圆木顺流而下时互相碰撞着。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 robbers
n.抢劫者，强盗，盗贼( robber的名词复数 )；盗匪
参考例句：
The robbers fled empty-handed. 抢劫犯一无所获地逃走了。 The policeman discharged his gun at the fleeing robbers. 警察向逃跑的强盗开了枪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 gilt
adj.镀金的；n.金边证券
参考例句：
The plates have a gilt edge.这些盘子的边是镀金的。 The rest of the money is invested in gilt.其余的钱投资于金边证券。

5 invalid
n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的
参考例句：
He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。 A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

6 concealed
a.隐藏的，隐蔽的
参考例句：
The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。 I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

7 widow
n.寡妇
参考例句：
Martha was a very rich young widow.玛莎是个很有钱的年轻寡妇。 All this money was appropriated for the support of his widow.所有这些钱作为给他的遗孀的抚养费。

8 betokens
v.预示，表示( betoken的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
His smile betokens his satisfaction. 他的微笑表示他满意了。 来自辞典例句