lost
my soldiers. There was a downfall for conceit! But, dear, I care
not--dear, if ye still love me and will wed, I would have my knighthood
done away, and mind it not a jot."

"My Dick!" she cried. "And did they knight you?"

"Ay, dear, ye are my lady now," he answered, fondly; "or ye shall, ere
noon to-morrow--will ye not?"

"That will I, Dick, with a glad heart," she answered.

"Ay, sir? Methought ye were to be a monk!" said a voice in their ears.

"Alicia!" cried Joanna.

"Even so," replied the young lady, coming forward. "Alicia, whom ye left
for dead, and whom your lion-driver found, and brought to life again,
and, by my sooth, made love to, if ye want to know!"

"I'll not believe it," cried Joanna. "Dick!"

"Dick!" mimicked Alicia. "Dick, indeed! Ay, fair sir, and ye desert
poor damsels in distress," she continued, turning to the young knight.
"Ye leave them planted behind oaks. But they say true--the age of
chivalry is dead."

"Madam," cried Dick, in despair, "upon my soul I had forgotten you
outright. Madam, ye must try to pardon me. Ye see, I had new found
Joanna!"

"I did not suppose that ye had done it o' purpose," she retorted. "But I
will be cruelly avenged. I will tell a secret to my Lady Shelton--she
that is to be," she added, curtseying. "Joanna," she continued, "I
believe, upon my soul, your sweetheart is a bold fellow in a fight, but
he is, let me tell you plainly, the softest-hearted simpleton in England.
Go to--ye may do your pleasure with him! And now, fool children, first
kiss me, either one of you, for luck and kindness; and then kiss each
other just one minute by the glass, and not one second longer; and then
let us all three set forth for Holywood as fast as we can stir; for these
woods, methinks, are full of peril and exceeding cold."

"But did my Dick make love to you?" asked Joanna, clinging to her
sweetheart's side.

"Nay, fool girl," returned Alicia; "it was I made love to him. I offered
to marry him, indeed; but he bade me go marry with my likes. These were
his words. Nay, that I will say: he is more plain than pleasant. But
now, children, for the sake of sense, set forward. Shall we go once more
over the dingle, or push straight for Holywood?"

"Why," said Dick, "I would like dearly to get upon a horse; for I have
been sore mauled and beaten, one way and another, these last days, and my
poor body is one bruise. But how think ye? If the men, upon th