o the shop a man, tall, haggard, but
noble to look at, and seeming like a hunted lion. He looked round him
wildly, and then asked, was this the printer's house outside Temple Bar?
The father answered shortly, yes. 'Then,' said he 'is there one here,
Humphrey Dexter by name?' 'No,' said the father, who, I thought,
mistrusted the fellow's looks, and wanted to be rid of him. Without a
word, then, he turned and left us; before I could so much as cry to him
that you would be back anon. Where he went I know not, but that this
was Sir Ludar, and that he goes in peril of his life I am as sure as
that I speak now to thee."

Now, I understood why, as I lay dreaming that night at Rochester, I had
heard my master's voice calling me back, while that of the maiden urged
me forward. To think he had been here, in this very spot, calling for
me, and I not at hand to answer! It was too bitter a cup; and late as
it was, I rushed out once again into the street, in the foolish hope of
seeing or hearing of him. But it was all too late!

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

HOW A CERTAIN MAN WAS HANGED AT TYBURN.

Months passed, and the Irish maiden became one of Master Walgrave's
ordinary household. And she and my Jeannette were as sisters.

It was not without a struggle that my master and mistress were prevailed
upon to open their home to the fair stranger. At first, my master,
being sorely wroth with the miscarriage of my errand to his Grace, vowed
so roundly that he would turn both me and my papist wench--so he called
her--out of doors, that it seemed likely there would be broken heads as
well as hearts over this business. For it was hard to keep my temper
even with Jeannette's step-father, when he talked like that.

But I deemed it wise to leave the management of the matter to daintier
hands than mine; and when Jeannette, clinging to her father's knees,
besought him with tears at least to let the maiden stay a few days till
she could find a shelter, he surlily yielded so much, provided she
stayed in a chamber by herself, and brought not her papist blasphemy
within earshot of any in the house. Then, when a day after, my
mistress, being won over by her sweet daughter, saw how ill and withal
how gentle the maiden was, it was even permitted her to walk in the
garden and exchange civilities with the two ladies of the house. Soon
after, yet another event served to put my master in humour. For a
message came from his Grace's secretary p