y-actress, and win her before his eyes.'

'Play-actress, Maister Derriman?'

'Yes. I saw her this very day, met her by accident, and spoke to her.
She's still in the town--perhaps because of him. I can meet her at any
hour of the day-- But I don't mean to marry her; not I. I will court
her for my pastime, and to annoy him. It will be all the more death to
him that I don't want her. Then perhaps he will say to me, "You have
taken my one ewe lamb"--meaning that I am the king, and he's the poor
man, as in the church verse; and he'll beg for mercy when 'tis too
late--unless, meanwhile, I shall have tired of my new toy. Saddle the
horse, Cripplestraw, to-morrow at ten.'

Full of this resolve to scourge John Loveday to the quick through his
passion for Miss Johnson, Festus came out booted and spurred at the time
appointed, and set off on his morning ride.

Miss Johnson's theatrical engagement having long ago terminated, she
would have left the Royal watering-place with the rest of the visitors
had not matrimonial hopes detained her there. These had nothing whatever
to do with John Loveday, as may be imagined, but with a stout, staid boat-
builder in Cove Row by the quay, who had shown much interest in her
impersonations. Unfortunately this substantial man had not been quite so
attentive since the end of the season as his previous manner led her to
expect; and it was a great pleasure to the lady to see Mr. Derriman
leaning over the harbour bridge with his eyes fixed upon her as she came
towards it after a stroll past her elderly wooer's house.

'Od take it, ma'am, you didn't tell me when I saw you last that the
tooting man with the blue jacket and lace was yours devoted?' began
Festus.

'Who do you mean?' In Matilda's ever-changing emotional interests, John
Loveday was a stale and unprofitable personality.

'Why, that trumpet-major man.'

'O! What of him?'

'Come; he loves you, and you know it, ma'am.'

She knew, at any rate, how to take the current when it served. So she
glanced at Festus, folded her lips meaningly, and nodded.

'I've come to cut him out.'

She shook her head, it being unsafe to speak till she knew a little more
of the subject.

'What!' said Festus, reddening, 'do you mean to say that you think of him
seriously--you, who might look so much higher?'

'Constant dropping will wear away a stone; and you should only hear his
pleading! His handsome face is impressive, and his manners a