by. I would I could light upon't! When ye lose an old friend,

Master Richard, the best consolation is to heir him. See, now,

this chest. I would go a mighty wager there is a bushel of gold

therein. He had a strong hand to get, and a hard hand to keep

withal, had Appleyard the archer. Now may God rest his spirit!

Near eighty year he was afoot and about, and ever getting; but now

he's on the broad of his back, poor shrew, and no more lacketh; and

if his chattels came to a good friend, he would be merrier,

methinks, in heaven."

"Come, Hatch," said Dick, "respect his stone-blind eyes. Would ye

rob the man before his body? Nay, he would walk!"

Hatch made several signs of the cross; but by this time his natural

complexion had returned, and he was not easily to be dashed from

any purpose. It would have gone hard with the chest had not the

gate sounded, and presently after the door of the house opened and

admitted a tall, portly, ruddy, black-eyed man of near fifty, in a

surplice and black robe.

"Appleyard"--the newcomer was saying, as he entered; but he stopped

dead. "Ave Maria!" he cried. "Saints be our shield! What cheer

is this?"

"Cold cheer with Appleyard, sir parson," answered Hatch, with

perfect cheerfulness. "Shot at his own door, and alighteth even

now at purgatory gates. Ay! there, if tales be true, he shall lack

neither coal nor candle."

Sir Oliver groped his way to a joint-stool, and sat down upon it,

sick and white.

"This is a judgment! O, a great stroke!" he sobbed, and rattled

off a leash of prayers.

Hatch meanwhile reverently doffed his salet and knelt down.

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