eed will be
rested. Canst give me a guide to Newnham? I want a Captain Dawe."

"Ah!" cried Johnnie, all ears in a moment.

"The knight hath commissioned me to deliver a letter to a Mistress
Dorothy Dawe."

"Then I'll get me out of my workday suit and walk to Newnham with
thee," exclaimed the farmer. "There's nought so refreshing as a tramp
along the shaded, woodland ways, and I have a little business of mine
own to do with Captain Dawe. I shall serve thee and myself at the same
time." So much the yeoman said aloud. Inwardly he muttered, "I'll not
have this bowing and scraping image ducking and bobbing before my
Dolly, and sniffing round her parlour like a dog that hopes to start
some quarry from behind chair or table. He'll be in luck if his
message-carrying doesn't get him a cracked crown. I hope the knight
hath not many such as he in his train."

Jeffreys stared when his guide came again into the sunny parlour
prepared for his walk to Newnham. The rough farmer in hodden gray had
disappeared, and in his place stood a stalwart and handsome young
gentleman in green slashed doublet and hosen of soft cream cloth. A
green cap with a white swan's feather perched jauntily on the dark,
curling hair, and from a belt of pale buckskin hung a sword with a
delicately chased handle. The "poor gentleman of Devon" fresh from
London and the court felt as gay as a dusty barndoor fowl might feel
beside a lordly peacock.

"La! Master Morgan," he cried, "I'm glad thou hast no mind for London
in my company. In good sooth, I've no wish to walk down Chepe or
Whitehall with thee at my elbow. Ne'er a wench would give an eye to
me. Even through the forest, with nought save the birds and beasts to
quiz at us, I think I'll come along humbly in the rear with my cap in
my hand. You foresters go a-visiting in as smart a guise as a town
gallant goes to the play. Dost mind if I wash my face, comb my locks,
and have another brushing ere we set forth?"

"Ha' done with thy jesting, good sir; thou art a traveller from afar,
and lookest the part to perfection. I am at mine ease at home going to
pay a call to a pretty neighbour. Let us be jogging; 'tis a long walk
to Newnham, and the afternoon is wearing late."

The two young men set out for the little river town. Morgan at first
had little to say, and let his companion rattle on as he pleased about
London--its streets, shops, taverns, and theatres. But, by-and-by, he
became eag