ost fair, most mellific damsel, your unworthy servitor
was erring enchanted in the paradise of your divine idea when that the
horrific alarum did wend its fear-begetting course through the
labyrinthine corridors of his auricular sensories."

Phoebe laughed, half in amusement half in soft content. Then she
turned to Rebecca, who stood with wide-open eyes and mouth contemplating
this strange apparition.

"Be not confounded, sweetheart," she said. "Have I not told thee I have
ta'en on another's self. Come--thou art none the less dear, nor I less
thine own."

She stepped forward and put her hand gently on her sister's.

Rebecca looked with troubled eyes into Phoebe's face and said,
timidly:

"Won't ye go to a doctor's with me, Phoebe?"

There was a rude clatter of hoofs as the elder of the new-comers trotted
past the two women and, with his whip drove back the advancing crowd,
which had begun to close in upon them again.

"You were best mount and away with the ladies, Sir Guy," he said. "Yon
scurvy loons are in poor humor for dalliance."

With a graceful gesture, Sir Guy invited Phoebe to approach his horse.
She obeyed, and stepping upon his hand found herself instantly seated
before his saddle. She seemed to find the seat familiar, and her heart
beat with a pleasure she could scarce explain when, a moment later, the
handsome cavalier swung into place behind her and put one arm about her
waist to steady her.

Rebecca started forward, terror-stricken.

"Phoebe--Phoebe!" she cried. "Ye wouldn't leave me here!"

"Nay--nay!" said a gruff but kindly voice at her side. "Here, gi'e us
your hand, dame, step on my foot, and up behind you go."

Sir Guy's horse was turning to go, and in her panic Rebecca awaited no
second bidding, but scrambled quickly though clumsily to a seat behind
the serving-man.

They were all four soon free of the crowd and out of danger, thanks to
the universal respect for rank and the essential good nature of the
May-day gathering.

The horses assumed an easy ambling gait, a sort of single step which was
far more comfortable than Rebecca had feared she would find it.

The relief of deliverance from the rude mob behind her gave Rebecca
courage, and she gazed about with some interest.

On either side of the street the houses, which hitherto had stood apart
with gardens and orchards between them, were now set close together,
with the wide eaves of their sharp gables touching over narrow and d