ppeared
impossible to him that this was a mere entreaty that he should leave one
more priest at liberty; impossible that the mere shock and surprise
should have changed her so.... He looked at her.... Then he began again:

"It is no will of mine, mistress, beyond my duty. But I hold her Grace's
commission--"

She swept back again, motioning him to enter. He was astonished at his
own discomfort, but he followed, and his men pressed close after; and he
noticed, even in that twilight, that a look of despair went over the
girl's face, sharp as pain, as she saw them.

"You have come to search my house, sir?" she asked. Her voice was as
colourless as her features.

"My commission, mistress, compels me--"

Then he noticed that the doors into the hall had been pushed open, and
that she was moving towards them. And he thought he understood.

"Stand back, men," he barked, so fiercely that they recoiled. "This lady
shall speak with me first."

* * * * *

He passed up the hall after her. He was as unhappy as possible. He
wondered what she could have to say to him; she must surely understand
that no pleading could turn him; he must do his duty. Yet he would
certainly do this with as little offence as he could.

"Mistress Manners--" he began.

Then she turned on him again. They were at the further end of the hall,
and could speak low without being overheard.

"You must begone again," she whispered. "Oh! you must begone again. You
do not understand; you--"

Her eyes still burned with that terrible eloquence; it was as the face
of one on the rack.

"Mistress, I cannot begone again. I must do my duty. But I promise
you--"

She was close to him, staring into his face; he could feel the heat of
her breath on his face.

"You must begone at once," she whispered, still in that voice of agony.
He saw her begin to sway on her feet and her eyes turn glassy. He caught
her as she swayed.

"Here! you women!" he cried.

* * * * *

It was all that he could do to force himself out through the crowd of
folks that looked on him. It was not that they barred his way. Rather
they shrank from him; yet their eyes pulled and impeded him; it was by a
separate effort that he put each foot before the other. Behind he could
hear the long moan that she had given die into silence, and the
chattering whispers of her women who held her. He reassured himself
savagely; he would take