A Maid of Many Moods

Now and then a party of belated students or merry-makers came by, singing a round or madrigal. A melancholy night-jar called incessantly ov

his heavy knocking roused the man, who

fellow; "keep me not waiting." Then, as the door flew o

g abed-an' thou too. Thou art become a pranked-out coxcomb with all thy foppery-a coxcomb an' a devil-

unheeding; at the s

"Well, fetch thy furred cloak; the nigh

d. "Oh! what now

' the road; tarry n

ll they came to London Bridge. The flickering links flashed by them as they pass

sly. "Oh! tell me, Darby, an' keep me not waiting. Where go

stabbed by one he differed with at 'The Mermaid.' He is at

heart, it cannot be. I will not believe it-he will not die,-he

reak. He may be gone now. See! the horses have

irl asked, faintly. "Tell m

e whirling of wheels and the ringing

hough 'tis not easy

ve thee names, for there were men from 'The Rose' playhouse and 'The Swan.' 'Twas a gay company and a rare. Ay! Sherwood was there for half an hour, though

" she said. "O

party had thinned out, still silent. I mind his face, 'twas white as death at a feast. Not half an hour ago-an' there were but ten of us left-a

lemen, each a foot on the table! I drink to a new beauty. For as I live 'twas no man, b

t her breath-"

; for Nick Berwick caught hi

den loosened his hold. As he did so, the player drew a poniard from its sheath at his hip, sprang forward, and struck Berwick ful

n the centre of it was a huge table, in disorder of flagons and dishes. The place was blue with smoke, and overheated, for a fire yet burned in the great fire

y toward them with

with a little half-stifled

rly, raising up on his elbow. "'Twill make it eas

him gently back and sp

bleeding, and would not have it break out afresh. Thy life

ove nor speak. I will keep watch beside thee. But why did'st deny it or say aught? 'Twould have been better that the

e thy name on every tongue-but would silence them all-an' I had lives enough. Yet thou we

ink no more of it. It breaks my heart to see thee here, Nick

heart to see t

the man, a light breaking over his gray,

he girl. "I will have it so, Nick.

t I asked thee las

aid, not mee

ss me no

and laid her lips to his, th

l be something to remember-should I live-an' if not, we

not talk,

tly, "nor keep thee. Ye

d'st have

he morrow to Shottery. Lond

irl; "though I would fain t

e replied. "I will fare-as God w

to them and laid his white

. "Art so over-ready to die, Master Berwick? One m

And now I will away, as 'tis best, but my brother will stay, and carry out thy orders. Nay, Nick, thou

y on the morrow

him with tear-blinded eyes,