crookback of my party; we are else passably well shapen. Ladies, and

you, my lord," he added, with a sudden change to grave courtesy, "judge

me not too churlish if I leave you. A captain, in the time of war, hath

not the ordering of his hours."

And with a very handsome salutation he passed on, followed by his

officers.

"Alack," cried Alicia, "I am shent!"

"Ye know him not," replied Lord Foxham. "It is but a trifle; he hath

already clean forgot your words."

"He is, then, the very flower of knighthood," said Alicia.

"Nay, he but mindeth other things," returned Lord Foxham. "Tarry we no

more."

In the chancel they found Dick waiting, attended by a few young men; and

there were he and Joan united. When they came forth again, happy and yet

serious, into the frosty air and sunlight, the long files of the army

were already winding forward up the road; already the Duke of

Gloucester's banner was unfolded and began to move from before the abbey

in a clump of spears; and behind it, girt by steel-clad knights, the

bold, black-hearted, and ambitious hunchback moved on towards his brief

kingdom and his lasting infamy. But the wedding party turned upon the

other side, and sat down, with sober merriment, to breakfast. The father

The Black Arrow