er over the wild beauties of river and forest, and he told
tales of cave and cliff and pool, of boar and deer, pirate and
fisherman, and forced Master Jeffreys to listen. And so they got to
Newnham and the pretty cottage with fair flowers outside and a fairer
flower within. "This is Captain Dawe's house," said Johnnie.

"I thank thee heartily. I can knock and introduce myself and mine
errand, and leave thee free to go at once to the pretty maid in whose
honour thou hast decked thyself so gallantly."

"Trouble not thyself, Master Jeffreys; I shall do my business the
better by coming in to quicken thine. Follow me; I am in the habit of
entering this house without going through the ceremony of knocking."
Saying this, the forester lifted the latch and stood aside for his
companion to cross the threshold first. A sound of singing came from
the kitchen.

"A pretty bird in a pretty cage," said Jeffreys.

"E'en so," commented Morgan; "thine eyes and ears are passably good for
a townsman. Pardon me leaving thee for a moment."

Morgan strode off kitchenwards. There was a sudden, "La, Jack! thou
dost look like a feast day. Mind the flour!" After that Jeffreys
always declared that he heard the sound of a vigorous kiss. Silence
followed; then excited whisperings; then a scamper of light feet; and
Morgan returned and ushered his waiting companion into the parlour.
"Captain Dawe is down by the river," he said; "Mistress Dorothy will be
with us anon."

"And the pretty bird that sang in the kitchen over the flour tub?"

"Was Mistress Dorothy."

"Thy sleeve is whitened, Master Morgan."

Johnnie coolly brushed away the tell-tale smudge. "Women always
smother a room up on baking-day," he replied.

Dorothy came in.

"This is Sir Walter's man, who hath a packet for thee.--Master
Jeffreys, this is Mistress Dawe."

Dorothy curtsied, and the messenger bowed. "Never had long journey so
pretty and pleasant an ending," he said. "Here is a packet from my
master, the gallant knight Sir Walter Raleigh. I am to take back an
answer."

Dorothy took the packet, blushing at the sight of the pretty ribbons
wherewith it was tied. "I am honoured indeed," she murmured; "pray you
be seated, fair sir."

Chapter XVI.

TO LONDON TOWN.

The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and too
heavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promises
of Raleigh's, at once suspected that some Lo