me greet thee with the kiss of charity."

The girl averted not her glowing cheek, whereon, with these words, he
imprinted a passionate kiss, which he attempted to repeat, but
Prudence drew a little back, and removed his arm. His lips burned like
fire. She felt as if they had left behind a mark to betray her, and
she shuddered with aversion; but she believed the fate of the soldier
to be in his hands, and dared not to offend him. Besides, she was no
delicate lady, but strong and full of confidence, and feared no danger
to herself. As she marked his heightened color and kindling eyes, and
he made another attempt to salute her, she said, with half a
disposition to cry and half to laugh:

"Is not kissing and toying forbid by the elders and worshipful
magistrates?"

"They are forbid to them outside of the congregation, and who have no
Christian liberty," answered Spikeman--"to them who make a display of
what should be concealed, to avoid the scandal of the wicked; but not
to the elect and discreet, who can use their liberty as not abusing
it. Therefore, let me kiss thee with the kisses of my mouth, for thy
love is better than wine. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou
art fair," he continued, pressing upon her; "thou hast dove's eyes
within thy locks. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet."

"Hark!" cried Prudence, pushing him back, "I hear a noise." "I hear no
sound," said Spikeman, after listening for a moment, "save the voice
of my beloved. O, speak, and say unto me, 'rise up, my love, and come
away, for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the time
of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard
in our land,'"

So saying, he caught her in his arms, and giving license to his fiery
passions, stamped repeated kisses upon her lips and bosom, in spite of
her struggles. But the sounds which the quick ears of Prudence had
detected became more and more distinct, and persons on foot and on
horseback were seen in the street returning from the lecture. Without
difficulty she broke from the now yielding arms of Spikeman, and had
just time to compose her disordered hair and tunic, when the voice of
the dame at the door was heard demanding admission.

CHAPTER IV.

"Oh, give me liberty!
For were even Paradise my prison,
Still I should long to leap the crystal walls."

DRYDEN.

The motives which animated Spikeman to play the part which he did in
the c