e,
for me; and for yourself, go where your better fortune calls you, and
think no more of Ellis."

CHAPTER VIII--CONCLUSION

About nine in the morning, Lord Foxham was leading his ward, once more
dressed as befitted her sex, and followed by Alicia Risingham, to the
church of Holywood, when Richard Crookback, his brow already heavy with
cares, crossed their path and paused.

"Is this the maid?" he asked; and when Lord Foxham had replied in the
affirmative, "Minion," he added, "hold up your face until I see its
favour."

He looked upon her sourly for a little.

"Ye are fair," he said at last, "and, as they tell me, dowered. How if I
offered you a brave marriage, as became your face and parentage?"

"My lord duke," replied Joanna, "may it please your grace, I had rather
wed with Sir Richard."

"How so?" he asked, harshly. "Marry but the man I name to you, and he
shall be my lord, and you my lady, before night. For Sir Richard, let me
tell you plainly, he will die Sir Richard."

"I ask no more of Heaven, my lord, than but to die Sir Richard's wife,"
returned Joanna.

"Look ye at that, my lord," said Gloucester, turning to Lord Foxham.
"Here be a pair for you. The lad, when for good services I gave him his
choice of my favour, chose but the grace of an old, drunken shipman. I
did warn him freely, but he was stout in his besottedness. 'Here dieth
your favour,' said I; and he, my lord, with a most assured impertinence,
'Mine be the loss,' quoth he. It shall be so, by the rood!"

"Said he so?" cried Alicia. "Then well said, lion-driver!"

"Who is this?" asked the duke.

"A prisoner of Sir Richard's," answered Lord Foxham; "Mistress Alicia
Risingham."

"See that she be married to a sure man," said the duke.

"I had thought of my kinsman, Hamley, an it like your grace," returned
Lord Foxham. "He hath well served the cause."

"It likes me well," said Richard. "Let them be wedded speedily. Say,
fair maid, will you wed?"

"My lord duke," said Alicia, "so as the man is straight"--And there, in a
perfect consternation, the voice died on her tongue.

"He is straight, my mistress," replied Richard, calmly. "I am the only
crookback of my party; we are else passably well shapen. Ladies, and
you, my lord," he added, with a sudden change to grave courtesy, "judge
me not too churlish if I leave you. A captain, in the time of war, hath
not the ordering of his hours."

And with a very handsome saluta