whose hand?"

Sibyll glanced her bright eye at the questioner, and seeing his wistful
face, laughed outright.

"What, thinkest thou, Master Nevile, I can read thee all riddles without
my sieve and my shears?"

"They are essentials, then, Mistress Sibyll?" said the Nevile, with
blunt simplicity. "I thought ye more learned damozels might tell by the
palm, or the--why dost thou laugh at me?"

"Nay," answered Sibyll, composing herself. "It is my right to be
angered. Sith thou wouldst take me to be a witch, all that I can tell
thee of thy future" (she added touchingly) "is from that which I have
seen of thy past. Thou hast a brave heart, and a gentle; thou hast a
frank tongue, and a courteous; and these qualities make men honoured and
loved,--except they have the gifts which turn all into gall, and bring
oppression for honour, and hate for love."

"And those gifts, gentle Sibyll?"

"Are my father's," answered the girl, with another and a sadder change
in her expressive countenance. And the conversation flagged till
Marmaduke, feeling more weakened by his loss of blood than he had
conceived it possible, retired to his chamber to repose himself.

CHAPTER VI. MASTER MARMADUKE NEVILE FEARS FOR THE SPIRITUAL WEAL OF HIS
HOST AND HOSTESS.

Before the hour of supper, which was served at six o'clock, Nicholas
Alwyn arrived at the house indicated to him by Madge. Marmaduke, after
a sound sleep, which was little flattering to Sibyll's attractions, had
descended to the hall in search of the maiden and his host, and finding
no one, had sauntered in extreme weariness and impatience into the
little withdrawing-closet, where as it was now dusk, burned a single
candle in a melancholy and rustic sconce; standing by the door that
opened on the garden, he amused himself with watching the peacock,
when his friend, following Madge into the chamber, tapped him on the
shoulder.

"Well, Master Nevile. Ha! by Saint Thomas, what has chanced to thee?
Thine arm swathed up, thy locks shorn, thy face blanched! My honoured
foster-brother, thy Westmoreland blood seems over-hot for Cockaigne!"

"If so, there are plenty in this city of cut-throats to let out the
surplusage," returned Marmaduke; and he briefly related his adventure to
Nicholas.

When he had done, the kind trader reproached himself for having
suffered Marmaduke to find his way alone. "The suburbs abound with these
miscreants," said he; "and there is more danger in a night w