ou vile man, for putting
myself to all this trouble on your account. But I would have you to
know that I am no more a Puritan, Philip Joy, than thyself, if I do
wear a close-fitting cap, which is none of the most becoming either.
If I do give into their ways, it is for the sake of my mistress, whom
no Geneva cloak, nor bishop's sleeves, for that matter, shall make me
desert."

"Bravo, bravissimo, as the outlandish fellows say," exclaimed the
soldier; "thou art of the genuine game breed, Prudence, and were it
not that thy pretty person might come to harm, I would desire no
better front rank man than thee. But this is a dangerous litany, and I
beseech thee, dear Prudence, to remember how thou art named."

He said this in a tone of emotion, which, if anything were wanting,
would have been sufficient to convince the girl of the interest he
felt for her; but she needed no such supplementary proof. It had the
effect, however, of making the conversation assume a more serious
aspect, and the girl more gravely replied:

"I will be careful, Philip, for my mistress' sake and mine own, and--"

"And for mine, too," interrupted the soldier.

"And for the sake of all them," continued Prudence, "who find anything
in me to take an interest in. O, Philip, I tremble lest you should do
or say something again that these dreadful solemn folk, who look sour
enough to curdle milk, and hate you because you laugh, may get hold of
to do you an injury. O, Philip, pray be prudent about laughing."

"Nay, Prudence," said he, drawing his illustration from what he
happened to see at the moment, "you might as well bid yon squirrel not
to jump from bough to bough. It is our nature, and you cannot change a
squirrel into an owl, or a man into a block. But," he continued,
taking her hand, "I have not told thee all. I know not when I shall
see thee again, for I am a banished man."

"Banished!" repeated Prudence, turning pale; "I thought they had
already wronged thee enough for a few innocent words--and now
banished! What will become of thee, Philip, and of me?"

"Never fear, sweetheart; we will turn their flank yet. I have been
thinking, as I came wandering along, that this Master Spikeman, who
keeps mistress Eveline as a sort of prisoner on parole, has an object
in getting me out of his way, so as better to carry on his wicked
plans. My jealous pate at first could think only of thee; but now I
begin to fancy he may have designs upon pretty mistress