kiss me, either one of you, for luck and kindness; and then kiss each

other just one minute by the glass, and not one second longer; and then

let us all three set forth for Holywood as fast as we can stir; for these

woods, methinks, are full of peril and exceeding cold."

"But did my Dick make love to you?" asked Joanna, clinging to her

sweetheart's side.

"Nay, fool girl," returned Alicia; "it was I made love to him. I offered

to marry him, indeed; but he bade me go marry with my likes. These were

his words. Nay, that I will say: he is more plain than pleasant. But

now, children, for the sake of sense, set forward. Shall we go once more

over the dingle, or push straight for Holywood?"

"Why," said Dick, "I would like dearly to get upon a horse; for I have

been sore mauled and beaten, one way and another, these last days, and my

poor body is one bruise. But how think ye? If the men, upon the alarm

of the fighting, had fled away, we should have gone about for nothing.

'Tis but some three short miles to Holywood direct; the bell hath not

beat nine; the snow is pretty firm to walk upon, the moon clear; how if

we went even as we are?"

"Agreed," cried Alicia; but Joanna only pressed upon Dick's arm.

Forth, then, they went, through open leafless groves and down snow-clad

alleys, under the white face of the winter moon; Dick and Joanna walking

hand in hand and in a heaven of pleasure; and their light-minded

The Black Arrow