"Poor Dorothy. And Father Nicholas, what saith he? He is a friend of
mine."

"He is so grave I have not mentioned it to him."

"Then by my troth, Doll, bid him meet me here to-morrow night. He
shall help us, he shall befriend thee. Tell him all, he can be well
trusted, I wot, unless he has strangely changed since he hath taken
the cowl. Bid him come here alone and without fail."

Soon, all too soon, the brief interview came to an end, and Dorothy
had to go back to the Hall, while her lover, having reluctantly parted
from her when he dare accompany her no further, slowly wound his way
back to the sorry hut which served him, in common with the rest of his
fellows, as a home.

He had no heart to join in the boisterous fun with which his
companions were making themselves merry as he entered, and passing
them unnoticed by, he took a seat in the furthest corner of the room
and watched the faggots as they blazed and burned away upon the hearth
in front of him.

Dorothy returned with a sad heart, too. The moment of bliss which had
so transported her with delight had passed away again, and she found
herself in pretty well the same downcast frame of mind in which she
had been before, for she knew not when she would see her lover again,
and she dare not let herself ponder on the terrible risks her noble
lover ran.

"Well, Dorothy," said Lady Maude, as she burst into the maiden's room