home, Mas

ure stood in the doorway peer

ohn Stich was

ave no fear, my lord, 'tis onl

Stich?" queried the same tremulous

ght, Jock Miggs," said the

ad a curious shrunken, timid air about his whole personality, as he removed his soft felt hat and began scratching his scanty tow-coloured locks: he

ess and apology, as with obvious admiration he stopped to watch the b

ohn, not looking up from his

us shake of the head. "Badly, I expec' ... same

at's the

ter," explained Jock Miggs with slow and sad deli

laughed at the quaint

at him with the same apathe

o' Nottingham," said John

his high treble, as he extended

"any one'd know he was one o' you

ivelled hand against the other, looking wit

h a chuckle; "he'll be turning the heads of a

ome, eh, Jim lad?-or maybe more than one. Bu

e face assumed a

nted to tell ye about the soldiers I seed

out 'em,

ots of fellers in red .... some say

carelessly, "Wha

uineas he took out of it, he did...." And Jock Miggs chuckled feebly with apparent but irresponsible delight. "Some folk say it were Sir Humphrey Challoner

rs over at the Royal Ge

r getting twenty guineas if we shoot one o' them rebels. I'd be mighty glad to get twenty guineas, Master Stich," he said reflectivel

olution Jock Miggs t

he said decisively. "Mo

ing,

's visit to the forge was not so p

nd. "I'd almost forgot why I came. Farmer Crabtree wanted to kn

bench on which lay a number of metal articles. "You'll find it

e bench and picked up

is that hot! So don't 'ee charge him too much for the c

n spite of his anxiety, could not help being amused at the quaint figure of t

Mornings" and final leave-takings, once more reached the doorway, he came in violent collision with a short, be-cloaked and closely-hooded

d flew off the head of its wearer and disclosed in the setting of its shell-pink lining a merry, p

ring the unfortunate shepherd with a scornful g

usual humble vagueness. "Morning, miss

t his forelock, re-adjusted his hat over his yellow curls, took his final

f the young girl's voice, Stretton had

ed, eagerly clutchi

"but I beg you, my lord, keep in the bac

n eyes followed Jock Miggs'

, ain't ye?" she shouted after him, with a

eered into

Stich!" she said, "h

etired into the remote corner of the forge. John Sti

Betty," he said, "for a

ed completely to have deserted him. In fact, not to put too fine a

retty, and has not tired of the hearing. John Stich, moreover, was so big and burly, folks called him hard and rough, and it

inside, Master S

f in admiration of a pair of tiny buckled shoes muddy to the ankles-such

behind him, however, quickly

eive a letter, mistre

nterest in other matters. However, the demon of mischief no doubt whispered something in her ear for the further undoing of the worth

Master Stich! and such an air, and oh!" adde

wrought deadly havoc in poor John's heart, he conce

casting a furtive glance behind him

retorted Mistress Betty, adding with all the artif

There had been such a wealth o

lous frown, "and pray what had he to say to

sfied and Betty was disposed to be

"he gave me a letter which I gave to

? ...

though he was literally hanging on pretty Mistress Betty's lips. Now he could contain himself no longer. Lady Patience had ha

d John Stich aside, and seizing the youn

? ... then ... then ... w

eady to drown her fright in tears. She had n

etty?" asked Philip,

the two men before her, and s

ord ... I ..." s

ss," said John, sternly, "try and remember th

had been. Thomas is driving and Timothy is our only other

e from two pair

lity, "and she told me to run on here, to see that the coast was clear. She knew I could find my way

she, Betty?

like ghostly sentinels on the crest of the hil

watch until I came round the bend and in sight of the fo

h was outside, beckon

crazy with impatience. By your leave, my lord, I'll help Mistress Bet

you can! I'll be safe! I'll not show myself. God give you

le. He even laughed whole-heartedly as he watched Betty, with many airs and graces, "Luds!" and "I vow

ay up the so-called road, a perfect qu

h the purple shoots of the bramble laden with ripening fruit! how delicate the more tender green of the gorse, and there that vivid patch of mauve, the first glimpse of opening he

ey and sad and dreary, and Hope had met Youth and shaken him by the

ad its gaunt arm over that fluttering bit of parchment: the Proclamation of His Majesty's Pa

bore the onslaught of the wind twice, thrice, and once again. But the nor'-wester was not to be outdone, and again it renewed the attack, took the parchment by the corner, pulled and twisted at it, until at l