"You can trust me now?"

"Aye, indeed, I can," he replied, with glistening eyes. "Forgive me,
Doll, I know you will."

"I do; I did long ago. I knew you could not doubt me long. How good of
you to come, and to risk so much--for my sake," she added, raising her
lustrous eyes up to his.

"Nay, Doll, it were for my sake, too. I could not be far from thee
long; the saints forfend I should. But tell me, Dorothy, how go our
fortunes now; I fear not well?"

"Alas, no! Lady Maude is stricter than ever," she replied. "Were I a
lazy serving-maid mine were a happier lot."

"And Sir Edward, what of him?"

"He wooes me with threats. Was ever a maiden won thus, John? He vows I
shall be his bride, and O--"

"What, dearest?"

"Margaret is to be wedded soon, and Sir Edward swears there shall be
two weddings at the same time. He says I shall like him well enough
in time to come. Margaret wishes it, Lady Maude wishes it, Sir Thomas
wishes it, and Edward Stanley says it shall be."

"He knows it not," sturdily replied Manners, as he clasped her to his