better than
to make them up. Wise people and signs have naught to do with each
other."

Still Sally felt happy. She was glad that in white array, with flowers
and midst sunshine and songs of birds, she had first come face to face
with her Fairy Prince.

"But he had been hurt," reminded the Fairy.

"Not badly," serenely smiled Maid Sally. "He soon came around with a
little attention."

That evening Sally strolled around to her seat in the hedge, hoping and
wishing that she might hear some of the reading that had always charmed
her. But long she sat there before any one came to the arbor. The pale
stars came out in the azure heavens, and indeed the maiden had a quiet
nap before there came a sound to break the stillness of the pretty
evening.

Then the family coach drew up before the gate, and a gay company
alighted. Sally knew by this that there had been a supper party
somewhere, and that the young people had been away.

Would they go directly to the house, she wondered, or would they stroll
over to the arbor for awhile?

Ah, they were coming over. She wished she might peep at them in their
fine attire, but no, it would not do to try, and besides, she could not
see them very plainly now. Pretty soon she heard Lucretia say:

"I saw fair brows grow into a frown, when it was found you were too lame
to dance to-night, my brother."

"Ah, but very lucky was I to be able to go out at all to-night, after
the hard fall of this morning," cried Lionel. "Hotspur hath no gentle
plunge once his blood is up."

"Has he ever thrown you before?" asked the Lady Rosamond.

"No, nor did he in truth throw me to-day," Lionel replied. "I had left
the saddle of my own will, but by some strange bound Hotspur tossed me
nearly up again, then banged me like a wisp against a tree. The heavy
fall stunned me."

"And Sam thought you inclined to wander in speech after the men found
you," remarked Rosamond.

"Which is entirely untrue!" exclaimed Lionel, with some warmth. Then he
added, in a gentler tone:

"I would I might know who was the bonny maid that bent over me and gave
me cooling drops of water and bathed my face and brow."

"Dost really think there was such a person, brother?" inquired Lucretia.

"It is quite as true as that I sit here this moment! Whether a wood
Fairy or a forest nymph I cannot tell, but a heartsome creature, all in
white except for flowers of brightest hue, dropped water into my mouth
and laved my hot brow."