Heiress of Haddon

can

I can speak in

long continu

ESPE

cksmith were forgotten amid the preparations which were being made for a grand ball. Sir Thomas Stanley, having wooed Margaret, h

al, with his braggadocio. Manners and Crowleigh were both there too, by special invitation, and, of course, cousin Benedict à Woode, who made no scrupl

oar's head was placed upon the table. Father Philip pronounced a ve

apri

peared with a truly marvellous rapidity, while Dorothy's confections had a very short lease of

e baron, "and drink to the healt

ied the guests, "to the hea

Zouch, whose eagle eye had discovered that HIS tankard was no

Manners, as he felt the eyes of

s down your throat or your arm makes little matter," and as he spoke he poi

he replied, "for I am sworn to taste no

cey, as he gazed in blank astonish

worn ale too?"

" replied Manners, smiling as he

e," commanded Doll, "and dri

ly one who did not heartily join in it being Sir Henry de la Zouch, who was annoyed to find that hi

muttered, "he shall no

tac

asked the page

Zouch. "Listen, you rem

oo well

ed, softly; "Master

ed the ast

ed his master,

hn Manners," re

us jelly of yours, sweet Dorothy," he added in a

why should he not win the younger? He clearly saw that Dorothy was receding from his grasp, and that the longer he delayed, the fainter grew his chance of success. Lady Vernon daily grew less

as surrounded by a number of knights and ladies, who contentedly watched her as she played at chess with Benedict. Sir John de Lacey racked his brains to the uttermost in order to sufficiently garnish t

rief sojourn in France. He had slain dragons, in different parts of the globe, in numbers enough to make St. Geor

rothy's party, and went out upon the

here are six of us, and I have only brought four balls

go," sai

ill go, and you must entertain the ladies while I am

s she turned the corner of the terra

and met the gaze of S

exclaimed, w

e replied, catching hold of her arm,

a great hurry

e long, but thou canst sta

" she replied. "There are som

for one," snee

tort which came readily to her tongue. Sir Henry saw that he ha

laimed, "and I have long been wooing thee, and now

get away, but her s

good time, perchance, and if you will but say 'aye' to my proposal you may b

his knee, he raised his clasped hand in the most a

he went on,

middle of his speech, and, finding herself at l

nd, staggered as he was, he remained in the same po

. "Father Phillip's grace at the table wa

restfallen lover, "I have been

hat sa

is ba

? That were hardly pol

ccess with thee?" pleaded Sir He

e, "we can talk it over there, and we shall not be distur

fain have seen Sir George alone, but there was no help for it, a

antage of to-day's festivity to ask for the hand of Doll. What think you; can we spare her

dame, as she seated herself. "Dorothy would be a sp

rm, he cannot live much longer, and I expect news of his death from Florence every day. And as for t

ut lately she had heard ill tidings of Sir Henry, and she was by no means so en

ld knight, "we don't w

use. "The thing must be done properly. Does Ashby

o whom else s

o Doll about it?"

her parents," answered De la Zouch. "But I doubt not, that when once a

George, "Doll was ev

ernon, "but I think she has another suitor. We must

hed the baron; "why th

mother-or a love either," she added shyly. "Bless his innocence, he knows

ht I trow," returned the King of the Peak, reflec

s a maiden as sweet Dorothy," interrupted the di

his duty," quickly

is a m

med the baron quickly, "and I fear an thou persist in it that it will prove awkw

in of it?" ask

ness," was th

"as I'm a justice o' the peace, he shall be f

hawkin

here at

pedlar, surely?" i

he was murdere

tale, and I for one don't believe a word of it. T

urned Sir Henry, "and I have a

the baron. "And, beshrew me, that's enough for any man"; and the Lord of Haddon reve

ou I saw it done myself, and I am r

. Doubtless Mary Durden got no more than she deserved, and mayhap she was punished for deeds we wot not of. Perchance Master Manners would not deny th

tace, who was left behind, saw them quarrell

xclaimed the knight. "You saw

N

or it. Truly, 'tis a right

actly the same spot. I was away when the ordeal was performed, else I had told thee what I had seen. Eustace will bear me out in all I have told you; question him fo

imed the dame, "and Master Manners

" said the baron, "for hither he comes; h

er, he had willingly acceded to the request of the ladies and had set forth to find her. Hearing voices in the ho

t I am in search of Mistress Dorothy. She lef

ave a serious charge preferred against th

me fair maiden's heart?"

murder; but I tell thee frankly

e of murder, and against me! This is past endurance, '

omptly returned De la Z

thee d

" returned the esquire, "or I shall have thee branded as a knave. There is some cause for this, Sir

on, sympathetically. "Then you deny the char

uck out the disappointed lover; "and Margaret

that, so were you," s

verything," continued Manners. "Crowleigh was with me all the day, save wh

in all that I have said," glibly responded the scion of the

de; "but since it cannot be agreed upon, I

within him he will step out and measure swords with me, for by my trot

t calculated for such a course as this; but, fortunately for him, L

she said, "and on so

De la Zouch, assuming a

knightly fashion at the tourney,"

lied Sir Henry; "but I had rather not have staine

leave me to decide that matt

g, besides showing him a trick or two with the sword that I learned in the Netherlands. In the meantime I disdain him as a dog;" and