d puzzled. The lounging lout looked at their
perplexity, and grinned satirically.

This youth was Tom Leicester, born in wedlock, and therefore, in the
law's eye, son of old Simon Leicester; but gossips said his true father
was the late Captain Gaunt. Tom ran with the hounds for his own
sport,--went out shooting with gentlemen, and belabored the briers for
them at twopence per day and his dinner,--and abhorred all that sober
men call work.

By trade, a Beater; profession, a Scamp.

Two maids came out together now,--one with the milk and a roll, the
other with a letter. Catharine drank the milk, but could not eat. Then
says the other maid,--

"If so be you are Mistress Peyton, why, this letter is for you. Master
left it on his table in his bed-room."

Kate took the letter and opened it, all in a flutter. It ran thus:--

"SWEET MISTRESS,--When this reaches you, I shall be no more here to
trouble you with my jealousy. This Neville set it abroad that you had
changed horses with him, as much as to say you had plighted troth with
him. He is a liar, and I told him so to his teeth. We are to meet at
noon this day, and one must die. Methinks I shall be the one. But come
what may, I have taken care of thee; ask Jack Houseman else. But, O dear
Kate, think of all that hath passed between us, and do not wed this
Neville, or I could not rest in my grave. Sweetheart, many a letter have
I written thee, but none so sad as this. Let the grave hide my faults
from thy memory; think only that I loved thee well. I leave thee my
substance--would it were ten times more!--and the last thought of my
heart.

"So no more in this world

"From him that is thy true lover

"And humble servant till death,

"GRIFFITH GAUNT."

There seems to be room in the mind for only one violent emotion at one
instant of time. This touching letter did not just then draw a tear from
her, who now received it some hours sooner than the writer intended. Its
first effect was to paralyze her. She sat white and trembling, and her
great eyes filled with horror. Then she began to scream wildly for help.
The men and women came round her.

"Murder! murder!" she shrieked. "Tell me where to find him, ye wretches,
or may his blood be on your heads!"

The Scamp bounded from his lounging position, and stood before her
straight as an arrow.

"Follow me!" he shouted.

Her gray eyes and the Scamp's black ones flashed into one another
dire