ad already
given her heart to some town gallant?"

Lindley's brows were black and his lips, too, were curled. But curses
were the rods that twisted them.

"What devil's work is the girl up to now?" he demanded, savagely.
"She's doubtless met some ne'er-do-well unbeknown to Master Ogilvie. I
must see Mistress Judith at once, on the very instant, and have it out
with her."

"Oh, no, no!" cried Johan, the player's boy. "You'll but drive her on
in any prank she's bent on."

"Then it's Master Ogilvie I'll see," declared Lindley. "Where have all
your eyes been that the girl could have met a lover; that she could
have seen anyone with whom to fall in love? She must not fall in love
with anyone save me. Do you hear, boy? I love her. I love her."

"Ah, then it is your heart that's engaged in this matter," commented
Johan. "I thought, perhaps--why, perhaps it was merely Mistress
Judith's defiance of her father's wishes that led you on to wish to
marry her. You--you really do love Mistress Judith, for herself?
Really love her as a lover ought to love?"

"You're over curious, my lad," growled Lindley. "And yet 'tis my own
fault, I suppose. I've given you my confidence."

"But how know you that you love Mistress Judith?" persisted the boy.

"I love her--I love her because I've loved her always," answered
Lindley, passionately. "I loved her when I was ten, when she was six,
when her golden head was no higher than my heart."

"'Tis somewhat higher now, I think." The boy's words were very low.
"More like her heart would match to yours. Her eyes are as high above
the ground as your own. Her lips would not be raised to meet your
lips."

Lindley's face had grown scarlet.

"Be silent, boy," he cried. "You speak over freely of sacred things."

The lad, backing away from under Lindley's upraised arm, still
murmured, echoing Lindley's words: "Sacred things!" and added:
"Mistress Judith's heart! Her eyes! Her lips!"

What Lindley's answer might have been from lips and hand the lad never
knew. It was checked by a sudden onslaught from behind. Out from the
low bushes that hedged the woods sprang two figures in hoods and
cloaks. The foremost was tall and burly, though agile enough. The
second seemed but a clumsy follower. In an instant Lindley's sword was
engaged with that of the leader. For only an instant Johan hesitated.
Drawing a short sword from under his cloak, he sprang upon the second
of the highwaymen. Their battle was s