t it may be worth--it is worth something. Pardon me again;
but if ye were base enough to slay a man under trust, here were,
perhaps, reasons enough to move you to the lesser baseness."

"When I was a lad of your years," returned Sir Daniel sternly, "my mind
had not so turned upon suspicions. And Sir Oliver here," he added, "why
should he, a priest, be guilty of this act?"

"Nay, Sir Daniel," said Dick, "but where the master biddeth there will
the dog go. It is well known this priest is but your instrument. I speak
very freely; the time is not for courtesies. Even as I speak, so would I
be answered. And answer get I none! Ye but put more questions. I rede ye
beware, Sir Daniel; for in this way ye will but nourish and not satisfy
my doubts."

"I will answer you fairly, Master Richard," said the knight. "Were I to
pretend ye have not stirred my wrath, I were no honest man. But I will
be just even in anger. Come to me with these words when y' are grown and
come to man's estate, and I am no longer your guardian, and so helpless
to resent them. Come to me then, and I will answer you as ye merit,
with a buffet in the mouth. Till then ye have two courses: either
swallow me down these insults, keep a silent tongue, and fight in the
meanwhile for the man that fed and fought for your infancy; or else--the
door standeth open, the woods are full of mine enemies--go."

The spirit with which these words were uttered, the looks with which
they were accompanied, staggered Dick; and yet he could not but observe
that he had got no answer.

"I desire nothing more earnestly, Sir Daniel, than to believe you," he
replied. "Assure me ye are free from this."

"Will ye take my word of honour, Dick?" inquired the knight.

"That would I," answered the lad.

"I give it you," returned Sir Daniel. "Upon my word of honour, upon the
eternal welfare of my spirit, and as I shall answer for my deeds
hereafter, I had no hand nor portion in your father's death."

He extended his hand, and Dick took it eagerly. Neither of them observed
the priest, who, at the pronunciation of that solemn and false oath, had
half arisen from his seat in an agony of horror and remorse.

"Ah," cried Dick, "ye must find it in your great-heartedness to pardon
me! I was a churl indeed to doubt of you. But ye have my hand upon it; I
will doubt no more."

"Nay, Dick," replied Sir Daniel, "y' are forgiven. Ye know not the world
and its calumnious nature."

"I was the mo