they are faring on the
bowling green. I have a lighter heart now." And followed by a "God
speed you" from her maid, she opened the door and passed out of the
room.

CHAPTER VIII.

A TOURNAMENT. THE COMBAT.

At this the challenger, with fierce defy,
His trumpet sounds; the challenged makes reply.

DRYDEN.

Grass did not grow beneath the feet of the good people of Haddon
during the week which ensued. Inside the Hall everything was in
confusion and disorder. Rooms were being emptied of hangings which had
lain undisturbed repose for many a long year, and everybody was eager
to bring to light such old relics of previous tourneys which had ever
taken place there as could be discovered outside, and the stir was not
one whit less. The level sward through which the Wye rippled on its
way to join the Derwent, having once been selected as the battle
ground, was immediately transformed from a scene of lovely rustic
peacefulness to a very pandemonium of noisy workmen, out of which
slowly evolved tents and pavilions for the accommodation of the
numerous visitors who were expected to witness the struggle.

The news had spread far and wide, and a large number of persons,
attracted by the well-known splendour and hospitality of the King of
the Peak, as well as by the desire to witness the rare exhibition of
a tournament, which was now about extinct, assembled at Haddon as the
time appointed for the fray drew nigh.

At length the eventful morning dawned. Everything was fully prepared.
The white tents, with their fluttering pennons of many lines, occupied
one side of the ground; the balconies, decked with their brightly
coloured hangings, faced them from the other side, and a slightly
elevated platform, upon which was the throne for the queen of the
tourney, filled one end, while the other was left open for such of the
neighbouring villagers as liked to come.

Long before the appointed hour the space had been filled up by eager
sightseers. Men and women, lads and lasses, old folk and young,
all alike were there, tricked out in holiday attire. Not a coign of
vantage was lost sight of, and every tree which might reasonably have
been expected to yield a glimpse of the scene was crowded by rustics,
eager to gaze upon so rare an exhibition. Behind all rose the grey old
towers of the Hall, which presented a very picturesque appearance as
the sun flashed upon its turrets, and its flags waved to and fro in
the gentle bre