a devil-me-care blade of a fellow, with a turn for poetry, they
said, and a merry man too, and much in request for a song at The
Moonrakers of an evening. Many 's the night I've heard the
windows rattling with the good company gathered round him. Yes,
he was a noble-looking man, a noble-looking man," he repeated
wistfully, and with an evident sympathy for the lovers which, I
need hardly say, won my heart.

"But how, I wonder, did they come to know each other?" I
interrupted, anxious to learn all I could, even if I had to ask
stupid questions to learn it.

"Well, of course, no one can say how these things come about.
She was the lady of the manor and the patroness of his school;
and then, as I say, he was a very noble-looking man, and
probably took her fancy; and, sir, whenever some women set their
hearts on a man there's no stopping them. Have him they will,
whatever happens. They can't help it, poor things! It's just a
freak of nature."

"Well, and how was it found out?" I again jogged him.

"One of Sir William's keepers played the spy on them. He spread
it all over the place how he had seen them on moonlight nights
sitting together in the dingle, drinking champagne, and laughing
and talking as merry as you please; and, of course, it came in
time to Sir William--"

"You see that green lane there," he broke off, pointing to a
romantic path winding along the heath side; "it was along there