woman's whim."

He glanced suspiciously round the cot, but finding no suspicious
tokens he led them out and set them to work to discover him. Few of
them, however, were zealous, for Manners had made himself popular
among them during his visits to the Hall. Dorothy they adored and
they were not at all anxious to bring sorrow upon her to oblige the
imperious Stanleys. Besides these considerations, the whole affair was
so romantic that it seemed more like an acted ballad than a serious
reality while Manners' position appealed to them in such a powerful
fashion that they sympathised with him, and had not the search been
conducted immediately under the eyes of the two nobles it would have
been far more half-hearted than it was. A few, and a few only, were
tempted to diligence by the offer of reward, and made a display of
alacrity, and amongst the busiest, with a price upon his head, John
Manners searched vigilantly for himself.




CHAPTER XXVIII.

NOT YET

You might esteem him
A child for his might,
Or you may deem him
A coward through his flight.
But if she whom love honours
Be concealed from the day,