step further in orders, and make you my
father-confessor. Know then that this man has been a suitor for my hand,
less as I think for my own sweet sake than because he hath ambition and
had it on his mind that he might improve his fortunes by dipping into
my father's strong box--though the Virgin knows that he would have found
little enough therein. My father, however, is a proud man, a gallant
knight and tried soldier of the oldest blood, to whom this man's
churlish birth and low descent----Oh, lackaday! I had forgot that he was
of the same strain as yourself."

"Nay, trouble not for that," said Alleyne, "we are all from good mother
Eve."

"Streams may spring from one source, and yet some be clear and some be
foul," quoth she quickly. "But, to be brief over the matter, my father
would have none of his wooing, nor in sooth would I. On that he swore
a vow against us, and as he is known to be a perilous man, with many
outlaws and others at his back, my father forbade that I should hawk or
hunt in any part of the wood to the north of the Christchurch road. As
it chanced, however, this morning my little Roland here was loosed at a
strong-winged heron, and page Bertrand and I rode on, with no thoughts
but for the sport, until we found ourselves in Minstead woods. Small
harm then, but that my horse Troubadour trod with a tender foot upon a
sharp stick, rearing and throwing me to the ground. See to my gown, the
third that I have befouled within the week. Woe worth me when Agatha the
tire-woman sets eyes upon it!"

"And what then, lady?" asked Alleyne.

"Why, then away ran Troubadour, for belike I spurred him in falling,
and Bertrand rode after him as hard as hoofs could bear him. When I rose
there was the Socman himself by my side, with the news that I was on
his land, but with so many courteous words besides, and such gallant
bearing, that he prevailed upon me to come to his house for shelter,
there to wait until the page return. By the grace of the Virgin and the
help of my patron St. Magdalen, I stopped short ere I reached his
door, though, as you saw, he strove to hale me up to it. And
then--ah-h-h-h!"--she shivered and chattered like one in an ague-fit.

"What is it?" cried Alleyne, looking about in alarm.

"Nothing, friend, nothing! I was but thinking how I bit into his hand.
Sooner would I bite living toad or poisoned snake. Oh, I shall loathe my
lips forever! But you--how brave you were, and how quick! How meek fo