I have won
a flower that he would fain have possessed himself."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, sweetheart, that Jasper was much in love with Mistress Rose
Herrick, and liked not that Humphrey Salkeld should win her.
There--perhaps I have done wrong to tell thee this; but, indeed, I like
not mysteries."

But so strange are women, that Rose immediately fell to sighing and
lamenting on Jasper's woes. "It is sad," she said, "that any man should
sorrow over a maiden's pretty face, when there are so many girls in the
world." This train of thought, however, suddenly slipped from her when
she remembered Master Jasper's ugly looks.

"He will do you a mischief, Humphrey," she said. "I saw it in his eyes.
He hates you. They say that jealousy breeds murder--oh! what if Jasper
should try to kill you?"

I laughed at the notion. I was so cock-a-whoop at that time, so elated
with my love and my fair prospects, that I did not believe anything
could harm me, and said so. Nevertheless, I believe Rose was from that
time much concerned as to the relations between me and Jasper, having
some woman-born notion that all might not go so well as I, in my boyish
confidence, anticipated. But when she set forth her fears from time to
time, I only laughed at her, never thinking that my cousin's opportunity
was already close at hand.

Early in the month of October in that year Sir Thurstan called Jasper
and myself into the library one morning, and informed us that he had
business for us at the port of Scarborough. There was, he said, a ship
coming over from Hamburg, the master of which had been entrusted with a
certain commission from him, and as the vessel was now due, he wished us
to go over to Scarborough and complete the matter, by receiving certain
goods and paying the master his money. Neither Jasper nor I were
displeased at the notion of this trip, for we were both minded to see a
little of the world. True, I did not like the idea of being separated
from my sweetheart for several days; but then, as she said, there would
be the delight of looking forward to our meeting again. Alas! neither of
us knew that that meeting was not to take place for three long and
weary years.

We set out from Beechcot, Jasper and I, one Monday morning, having with
us money wherewith to pay the charges of the ship-master. From the
manor-house to Scarborough there was a distance of twenty odd miles, and
therefore we rode our horses. Sir Thurstan had