lowed
by the clatter of horses' hoofs, and then above the storm came a loud
knocking at the door.

"Open in the name of the queen," came the stern command.

CHAPTER XX

FRANCIS FINDS A HELPER

"It is the pursuivants," cried Francis in consternation. "Good mother,
hide me, I entreat. They must not know that I am here."

Then, indeed, was she thankful that she had taken the old woman into her
confidence. The beldame arose and with an agility that was surprising in
one of her years glided across the room, and opened a small door that was
so small, and black, and grimy that it had escaped the girl's attention.

"Enter," whispered the woman. "Enter and fear nothing. They shall not
know of thy presence."

Francis passed through the entrance and closed the door after her just as
the rapping came again with renewed vigor.

"What, ho inside!" came a voice. "Give entrance, whosoe'er ye be, else it
will be made by force."

"Now who be ye who would seek admittance to the house of a white witch?"
asked Dame Margery's shrill voice.

"Gramercy! we will show who we be," and there was a sound as of a man
pressing against the panels of the door. The dame undid the fastenings
and threw open the door. A man who had evidently put his shoulder against
it for the purpose of forcing an entrance sprawled his entire length on
the floor. With a loud laugh at his discomfiture several other men
crowded into the room.

"Marry! what an unmannerly welcome," cried the man picking himself up.
"My good woman, is this the way to receive guests?"

"Be that the way to enter a body's house?" cried the dame. "Ye bean't
gentle, surely, else ye would know that an old woman can't move the
swiftest when she's bent with the rheums."

"I crave thy pardon, dame," said the leader who was evidently a man of
high degree. "I crave thy pardon for such an unceremonious entrance. I
thought that no one was within. Give us shelter from the storm and
supper. Then must we on our way. We pay for your trouble."

"Well, ye won't get either supper or shelter here. Do ye take this for an
inn?" she asked querulously.

"Nay, dame; for then would we find greeting and good cheer," returned the
leader good naturedly. "This seemeth more in truth like witch's dwelling.
Whatsoe'er it be here we stay until the storm abates. We are from the
queen, woman."

Dame Margery said no more, but began to bestir herself about the supper.

"Some of you see about the horses