ground; and then, when Dick had at length and most tepidly embraced her,

Joanna," she added, "your sweetheart is very backward under your eyes;

but I warrant you, when first we met he was more ready. I am all black

and blue, wench; trust me never, if I be not black and blue! And now,"

she continued, "have ye said your sayings? for I must speedily dismiss

the paladin."

But at this they both cried out that they had said nothing, that the

night was still very young, and that they would not be separated so

early.

And supper?" asked the young lady. "Must we not go down to supper?"

Nay, to be sure!" cried Joan. "I had forgotten."

Hide me, then," said Dick, "put me behind the arras, shut me in a chest,

or what ye will, so that I may be here on your return. Indeed, fair

lady," he added, "bear this in mind, that we are sore bested, and may

never look upon each other's face from this night forward till we die."

At this the young lady melted; and when, a little after, the bell

summoned Sir Daniel's household to the board, Dick was planted very

stiffly against the wall, at a place where a division in the tapestry

permitted him to breathe the more freely, and even to see into the room.

He had not been long in this position, when he was somewhat strangely

disturbed. The silence, in that upper storey of the house, was only

The Black Arrow