he garden. I fell by chance from the tree yonder--I was seeking
a ball--then I asked those two if I might not come hither again, and so
have done some several times in all. But as for her--nay; it was not at
her bidding that I came, but through mine own asking."

The Earl gave a little grunt in his throat. "And how often hast thou
been here?" said he, presently.

Myles thought a moment or two. "This maketh the seventh time," said he.

Another pause of silence followed, and Myles began to pluck up some
heart that maybe all would yet be well. The Earl's next speech dashed
that hope into a thousand fragments. "Well thou knowest," said he, "that
it is forbid for any to come here. Well thou knowest that twice have men
been punished for this thing that thou hast done, and yet thou camest in
spite of all. Now dost thou know what thou wilt suffer?"

Myles picked with nervous fingers at a crack in the oaken post against
which he leaned. "Mayhap thou wilt kill me," said he at last, in a dull,
choking voice.

Again the Earl smiled a grim smile. "Nay," said he, "I would not slay
thee, for thou hast gentle blood. But what sayest thou should I shear
thine ears from thine head, or perchance have thee scourged in the great
court?"

The sting of the words sent the blood flying back to Myles's face again,
and he looked quickly up. "Nay," said he, with a boldness that surprised
himself; "thou shalt do no such unlordly thing upon me as that. I be thy
peer, sir, in blood; and though thou mayst kill me, thou hast no right
to shame me."

Lord Mackworth bowed with a mocking courtesy. "Marry!" said he.
"Methought it was one of mine own saucy popinjay squires that I caught
sneaking here and talking to those two foolish young lasses, and lo! it
is a young Lord--or mayhap thou art a young Prince--and commandeth
me that I shall not do this and I shall not do that. I crave your
Lordship's honorable pardon, if I have said aught that may have galled
you."

The fear Myles had felt was now beginning to dissolve in rising wrath.
"Nay," said he, stoutly, "I be no Lord and I be no Prince, but I be as
good as thou. For am I not the son of thy onetime very true comrade and
thy kinsman--to wit, the Lord Falworth, whom, as thou knowest, is poor
and broken, and blind, and helpless, and outlawed, and banned? Yet,"
cried he, grinding his teeth, as the thought of it all rushed in upon
him, "I would rather be in his place than in yours; for though he be
r