Heiress of Haddon

her heart so

ld did run thr

rror all her

, that down sh

EN

was the innocent cau

question between them. Though she was petted and admired on almost every hand, yet she had sense enough to value such conduct at its proper worth; and whilst with the coquetry of a queen of hea

nuine, and in spite of all his protestations of love towards her, he had failed to convince her that he loved her for herself alone. A little watching on her part had quickly convinced her that the di

or, were she in a lighter mood, she had retreated into safer ground under cover of a burst of merriment. Had De la Zouch been possessed of ordinary perceptions he would have not

detaining her against her will would have deprived her of the power of expressing the prettily turned speech so long prepared, even if she had remembered it. She fled into the house, and without cas

ars. How long she would have so remained would be impossible to say, but she had bar

uch would never venture to follow her to her own boud

le for Sir Henry, it must be her tire-maid, Lettice, or her sister Marga

your maid," repli

she stood in need of most at such a moment

the maid, as she entered. "Is the

own her cheeks in quick succession, "see that he does not c

hall I stop? No one d

tement; she fell upon the bed and wept, while the sympathetic Le

ne has been frightening thee. Tell me who it was! Who

ere was

d hare, and cast never a look at one of us, and now-the saints prese

asked Dorothy, raising her head

ho's he? There was no

he was cl

ho

la Z

has been treating thee so ill. Were he not a noble, my Will sh

composing herself as well as she was able. "You will find him wait

e to the command whilst Dorothy re-arranged her disordered head-dress, h

, Lettice returned. Her face was deeply

?" asked Dorothy. "Has

or thy hand. O, Dorothy, believe me, 'tis only that thou art so fair and so rich that he seeks thee, and when he has thy gol

it, Le

De la Zouch is jealous of another, and is seeking to get him out of the way. He says

ners?" echo

ht, your father, won't believe him. Master Manners denies it, of course-b

sank down into a chair. "I am a trifl

with her mistress's behest. "Thou canst not throw me off like that. Come,

" she replied, "but prithee go on; what

or I heard footsteps approaching; but come, I can read

thyself, Lettice," Doro

f her pretty head. "I will do thy biddin

ry with thee. I tell the

d Lettice, "he is head and ears in love with

sighed Dorothy, "fo

lied her companion, decisively.

word; don't breathe it to

ther, "an you would but let him try. H

re of your tongue. No one must even so m

y have settled the matter?" suggeste

y they went through room after ro

he stepped upon a chair and silently pushed the latticed window open. The balmy breeze ca

" she said. "Now,

use, Sir Henry. I don't

ir George, it's

same, you will have to fight him now. We shall make quite a grand affai

in a stern contest with naked weapons. "It is only by thy direct command that I have consented to enter the li

enough pointed out, his word would count for little in such a circumstance. But apart from all such

la Zouch, who was rapidly losing contr

rrupted Lady Maude. "You do not

whispered Lettice, "T

sid

hear them comin

'twas but Eustace, the page, stealing

" laughed

s talking. How exc

fair lady. When shall I learn wha

ournament, at least,"

rn

will be-pr

well with your arms," and, added the baron with grim humour, "say your prayers

ernon, at the conclusion of the tourney," he lo

" supplemented Sir George, considerably nettled at the other'

d can wield the mace;" and without deigning to cast a look behind him he strode away in an ill hum

Dorothy, as her suitor walked away,

dy," whisper

or a week to-day, and you shall be queen o

dame. "Pooh! my queening days are gone.

attice, "you the que

us

y to lose the Ashby est

hat. He would be a

y,

ouches, but King Henry granted them back before

r Henry, but in truth,

pity, but I tell thee Dorothy is too

shall be much mistaken if, after the tournament, he is able t

ll go now and see how they are faring on the bowling green. I have a lighter heart now." And