short laugh.

"And very surely if Sir Randolph be shot over yonder you will be shot
down here."

"That," said Evander, still smiling, "is why I say that I have come
to stay at Harby."

"You take your fate blithely," Halfman commented, scanning Evander
with curiosity. He was familiar with the sight of men in peril of
death; in most men he took courage for granted, but it was courage of
a gaudier quality than the composure of the young Puritan, who had
fenced with him and played bowls with him that very morning and
talked so learnedly of roses with Luke, the gardener. Was there
really something in the Puritan stuff that strengthened men's
spirits? Evander answered his words and unconsciously his thoughts.

"I should not have taken up arms if I held my life too precious. It
will need three days to get the answer, the inevitable answer, and in
the mean time the autumn air is kind and these gardens delightful."

Halfman stared at him in an ecstasy of admiration, and then dealt
him an applauding clap on the shoulder.

"Come to the kitchen-garden, philosopher," he cried. "A fellow of
your phlegm should find pleasure in the contemplation of cabbages."

"It is a sage vegetable," Evander answered. "But I fear I tax your
time. There must be much for you to do."

"I have done much already," Halfman replied. "But, indeed, these be
busy times."

"Then," protested Evander, "when I have stared my fill at your
meditative cabbage I shall entreat no more of your kindness but that
you convoy me to the safe port of the library, where I shall be
content enough."

"As you please," Halfman responded. "I was never a bookish man; I
care for no books but play-books and these I carry here," and he beat
his brown forehead. "But you may nose out some theologies in odd
corners, as a pig noses truffles."

"I shall rout out something to fill my leisure I doubt not," Evander
answered.

"Then hey for the kitchen-garden," cried Halfman, taking Evander's
arm, and the two men, passing through a yew arch opposite to that by
which they had entered, left my lady's pleasaunce as solitary as they
had found it.

XVI

A PURITAN APPRAISED

It did not remain solitary long. Unawares, the steps of Halfman and
Evander had been dogged ever since they crossed the moat and set out
on their pilgrimage through the gardens. Crouching behind hedges,
lingering in coppices, peeping through thickets, two persistent
trackers had pursued the unconscio