ing the disagreeable attention she might otherwise
have received.

As she passed, the beruffled gentlemen were laughing, and she heard one
of them say:

"God buy you, friends, our ruffs and bilbos have had careful
measurement, I warrant you."

"Right careful, in sooth," said one of those with the yardsticks. "They
come within a hair's breadth of her Majesty's prohibition."

Phoebe had scant time for wonder at this, for she saw in a grove not a
hundred yards beyond the gate the trappings of a horse, and near by what
seemed a human figure, motionless, under a tree.

Making a circuit before entering the grove, she came up behind the
waiting figure, far enough within the grove to be quite invisible from
the highway.

She hesitated for some time ere she felt certain that it was indeed Sir
Guy who stood before her. He was dressed in the extreme of fashion, and
she fancied that she could smell the perfumes he wore, as they were
borne on the soft breeze blowing toward her.

His hair fell in curls on either side from beneath a splendid murrey
French hat, the crown of which was wound about with a gold cable, the
brim being heavy with gold twist and spangles. His flat soft ruff,
composed of many layers of lace, hung over a thick blue satin doublet,
slashed with rose-colored taffeta and embroidered with pearls, the front
of which was brought to a point hanging over the front of his hose in
what was known as a peascod shape. The tight French hose was also of
blue satin, vertically slashed with rose. His riding-boots were of soft
brown Spanish leather and his stockings of pearl-gray silk. A pearl-gray
mantle lined with rose-colored taffeta was fastened at the neck, under
the ruff, and fell in elegant folds over his left arm, half concealing
the hand resting upon the richly jewelled hilt of a sword whose scabbard
was of black velvet.

"God ild us!" Phoebe exclaimed in low tones. "What foppery have we
here!"

Then, slipping behind a tree, she clapped her hands.

Guy turned his head and gazed about in wonder, for no one was visible.
Phoebe puckered her lips and whistled softly twice. Then, as her lover
darted forward in redoubled amazement, she stepped into view, and smiled
demurely upon him with hands folded before her.

The young knight leaped forward, and, dropping on one knee, carried her
hand rapturously to his lips.

"Now sink the orbed sun!" he exclaimed. "For behold a fairer cometh,
whose love-darting eyes do sla