rasped at an
opportunity of pleading his cause.

"I thank you, Tom, and I'll be glad of it," said the humbled and
harassed Jenny.

So they went back together, Tom showing no sign that he heard Dorothy's
derisive cry of--

"Room for Her Majesty's Grace's Highness and her servant the carpenter!"

The word lover, at that day, meant simply a person who loved you; where
we say "lover," they said "servant."

At the farmhouse door Tom took his leave.

"No, I thank you, Jenny," he said, when she asked him to come in; "I'm
going on to Uncle Anthony's to dinner. Good morning."

And Jenny felt that some mysterious change in Tom had put a distance
between him and her.

CHAPTER FIVE.

WILL JACKSON REAPPEARS.

Fortune May, the dairy-maid at Bentley Hall, came into the farmhouse at
supper-time that Sunday evening.

"Well, they're all gone," said she, "and the house shut up. They say
the Parliament 'll send folks down to take it some day this week, and
'll give it to some of their own people."

"Ay, I hear Mr Chadderton, whose land joins the Colonel's, has applied
for it," answered Farmer Lavender. "Though he's a Roundhead, he's a
friend of the Colonel's, and I shouldn't wonder if he give it him back
when King Charles comes in."

"That'll not be so soon, I take it," observed his mother.

"The time's out of joint," said the farmer. "I'd as lief not say
what'll be or won't be."

"Jenny, I've a good jest to tell you," said Fortune, with a twinkle in
her eyes. "I did not see you in time afore you left the Hall. You'll
mind, maybe, that Robin and me and Dolly Campion went together to the
green, Sunday even?"

Yes, Jenny did remember, and had been rather put out that Featherstone
should prefer Fortune's company to hers, though a little consoled by the
reflection that it was on account of her superior dignity.

"Well!" said Fortune, telling her tale with evident glee, "as we went up
the blind lane come a little lad running down as hard as ever he could
run. `What's ado?' says I. `Mad bull! mad bull!' quoth he. Dolly was
a bit frighted, I think; I know I was. But will you believe it, Robin,
he takes to his heels without another word, and leaves us two helpless
maids a-standing there. Dolly and me, we got over the gate into the
stubble-field, and hid behind the hedge; and presently we saw some'at
a-coming down the lane, but I thought it came mortal slow for a mad
bull. And when it got a bit nigh, lo and be