scraps of his own autobiography, and succeeded both in making
the group around him open their eyes wide with surprise, and at the
same time in making his listeners roar with laughter.

A marvellous hero was Sir John. He had been the ruling spirit in more
than one Continental Court during his one brief sojourn in France. He
had slain dragons, in different parts of the globe, in numbers enough
to make St. George turn green with envy; and only his excessive
modesty has prevented his name from being handed down to posterity.

Manners, naturally enough, joined Dorothy's party, and went out upon
the lawn to take part in a game at bowls.

"Dear me, how careless I am to-day," she exclaimed; "there are six of
us, and I have only brought four balls; I must fetch some more," and
she started to go back.

"Let me go," said Manners.

"You," replied Doll, "you could never find them; I will go, and you
must entertain the ladies while I am away," and she tripped across the
green to the Hall.

"Ha, Doll, dearest," said a voice, as she turned the corner of the
terrace, "I have been searching for thee."

Dorothy turned round and met the gaze of Sir Henry de la Zouch.

"For me!" she exclaimed, without pausing.

"Nay, prithee, now don't hurry so," he replied, catching hold of her
arm, "I would ask thee a weighty question."

"But I am in a great hurry," she replied.

"Then I shall not keep thee long, but thou canst stay a little while,
surely?"

"Indeed, I cannot, Sir Henry," she replied. "There are some visitors
awaiting my return."

"John Manners for one," sneered the knight.

Dorothy blushed deeply, and bit her lip to repress the sharp retort
which came readily to her tongue. Sir Henry saw that he had committed
an error, and he endeavoured to recover his position.

"Sir Thomas has wooed thy sister Margaret," he exclaimed, "and I have
long been wooing thee, and now the time has come when I am to offer
you my hand."

Dorothy struggled to get away, but her suitor held her fast.

"Nay, cruel one," he continued, "I must have an answer. I shall be
an earl in good time, perchance, and if you will but say 'aye' to my
proposal you may be a countess--think of it, Dorothy, a countess--and
the hostess of Ashby Castle."

He let go his hold of her, and dropping down upon his knee, he
raised his clasped hand in the most approved fashion of the time, and
continued his suit.

"Dorothy," he went on, "will you--?"

"Never," she rep