ce to transact,
deputed A'Dale and me as usual to escort the ladies. We had two
attendants, well-armed, while A'Dale and I carried pistols in our
holsters. We were both of us adepts in the use of the sword. A'Dale
was able to encounter any trooper, however skilful, with his favourite
weapon. Madam Clough was a good horsewoman, having learned the art in
Wales, where she had been accustomed to ride over her native mountains,
and on the summits of the dizzy precipices. She generally took the
lead, Aveline and I riding side by side. Margery often fell to the
share of A'Dale, for the damsel was in no way inclined to associate with
the serving-men, nor would she have been could she have understood their
language; indeed, she was in all respects superior to an ordinary
tire-woman. We had gone for some distance along the Mechlin road; soon
after passing the village of Berchem it was proposed that we should turn
off to the right, where we might enjoy a gallop over the open ground, it
being there higher and drier than the surrounding country. The fresh
air gave us all spirits, and we rode on rapidly, little thinking of the
distance we were going. I was not sorry when Madam Clough took the
lead, sitting her horse with an upright figure and stately air,
apparently regardless of Aveline and me, who followed out of ear-shot.
The rest of the party were still farther off. I enjoyed more than ever
being alone with Aveline; and she did not, so it seemed to me, object to
my society. There were many things we had to talk of, but I could not
yet bring myself to speak of one subject which was at my heart. I felt
myself still a dependant on the bounty of Sir Thomas Gresham. He
supported me, and supplied me liberally with the wherewithal to pay for
my clothes and other expenses, and to leave me an ample supply of
pocket-money. But as yet he had never spoken of paying me a fixed
salary; and with the possession of that alone should I feel justified in
proposing to marry Aveline. She was much in the same condition, for
although Lady Anne had carefully preserved the document given to me by
her mother, as yet it did not appear that she would benefit thereby.
Still I did not despair. I knew that Sir Thomas was generous, and that
he had a true regard both for Aveline and for me; and I hoped that, if I
put the matter before him, he would enable me to carry out my wishes.
Several times during this ride I was on the point of speaking to
A