listen!"

She paused, and together they bent their heads and listened, but
nothing was to be heard save the rustling of the leaves.

"'Twas thy fancy," exclaimed Manners, "thou art frightened."

"I thought I saw the form of a man pass by those trees," she replied.
"It must be fancy, though, and yet, methought I saw him stop and then
pass on again."

"Sir George will stand by thee," pursued Manners, "he loves thee
better than himself."

"I know it, I know he loves me much, John; but he has promised me to
the Stanleys, and when I told him of our trothplight he laughed, and
said he was doing it all for the best. He forbade me to mention your
name ever more, or even think of you again--as if you were not ever in
my mind."

"Does not Lady Maude relent at all?"

"Lady Maude relent! Nay, rather does she grow more bitter against me
day by day, and that I may forget thee she makes me tenter-stitch from
morn till eve. Even Margaret gives her voice bitterly against me now."

"Thou hast no one to console thee, then?"

"Save Lettice, no."