was more ready. I am all black and blue, wench; trust me never, if

I be not black and blue! And now," she continued, "have ye said

your sayings? for I must speedily dismiss the paladin."

But at this they both cried out that they had said nothing, that

the night was still very young, and that they would not be

separated so early.

"And supper?" asked the young lady. "Must we not go down to

supper?"

"Nay, to be sure!" cried Joan. "I had forgotten."

"Hide me, then," said Dick, "put me behind the arras, shut me in a

chest, or what ye will, so that I may be here on your return.

Indeed, fair lady," he added, "bear this in mind, that we are sore

bested, and may never look upon each other's face from this night

forward till we die."

At this the young lady melted; and when, a little after, the bell

summoned Sir Daniel's household to the board, Dick was planted very

stiffly against the wall, at a place where a division in the

tapestry permitted him to breathe the more freely, and even to see

into the room.

He had not been long in this position, when he was somewhat

strangely disturbed. The silence, in that upper storey of the

house, was only broken by the flickering of the flames and the

hissing of a green log in the chimney; but presently, to Dick's

strained hearing, there came the sound of some one walking with

extreme precaution; and soon after the door opened, and a little

black-faced, dwarfish fellow, in Lord Shoreby's colours, pushed

first his head, and then his crooked body, into the chamber. His

mouth was open, as though to hear the better; and his eyes, which

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