ghtly colored tapestry, representing the achievements of sir

bevis of hampton, and behind this convenient screen were stored

the tables dormant and benches which would be needed for banquet

or high festivity. the floor was of polished tiles, with a

square of red and black diapered flemish carpet in the centre;

and many settees, cushions, folding chairs, and carved bancals

littered all over it. at the further end was a long black buffet

or dresser, thickly covered with gold cups, silver salvers, and

other such valuables. all this alleyne examined with curious

eyes; but most interesting of all to him was a small ebony table

at his very side, on which, by the side of a chess-board and the

scattered chessmen, there lay an open manuscript written in a

right clerkly hand, and set forth with brave flourishes and

devices along the margins. in vain alleyne bethought him of

where he was, and of those laws of good breeding and decorum

which should restrain him: those colored capitals and black even

lines drew his hand down to them, as the loadstone draws the

needle, until, almost before he knew it, he was standing with the

romance of garin de montglane before his eyes, so absorbed in its

contents as to be completely oblivious both of where he was and

why he had come there.

he was brought back to himself, however, by a sudden little

ripple of quick feminine laughter. aghast, he dropped the

manuscript among the chessmen and stared in bewilderment round

the room. it was as empty and as still as ever. again he

stretched his hand out to the romance, and again came that

roguish burst of merriment. he looked up at the ceiling, back at

the closed door, and round at the stiff folds of motionless

tapestry. of a sudden, however, he caught a quick shimmer from

the corner of a high-backed bancal in front of him, and, shifting

a pace or two to the side, saw a white slender hand, which held a

mirror of polished silver in such a way that the concealed

observer could see without being seen. he stood irresolute,

uncertain whether to advance or to take no notice; but, even as

he hesitated, the mirror was whipped in, and a tall and stately

young lady swept out from behind the oaken screen, with a dancing

light of mischief in her eyes. alleyne started with astonishment

as he recognized the very maiden who had suffered from his

brother's violence in the forest. she no longer wore her gay

riding-dress, however, but was attired in a long sweeping robe of

black velvet of bruges, with delicate tracery of white lace at

neck and at wrist, scarce to be seen against her ivory skin.

beautiful as she had seemed to him before, the lithe charm of her

figure and the proud, free grace of her bearing were enhanced now

by the rich simplicity of her attire.

"ah, you start," said she, with the same sidelong look of

mischief, "and i cannot marvel at it. didst not look to see the

distressed damosel again. oh that i were a minstrel, that i

might put it into rhyme, with the whole romance--the luckless

maid, the wicked socman, and the virtuous clerk! so might our

fame have gone down together for all time, and you be numbered

with sir percival or sir galahad, or all the other rescuers of

oppressed ladies."

"what i did," said alleyne, "was too small a thing for thanks;

and yet, if i may say it without offence, it was too grave and

near a matter for mirth and raillery. i had counted on my

brother's love, but god has willed that it should be otherwise.

it is a joy to me to see you again, lady, and to know that you

have reached home in safety, if this be indeed your home."

"yes, in sooth, castle twynham is my home, and sir nigel loring

my father, i should have told you so this morning, but you said

that you were coming thither, so i bethought me that i might hold

it back as a surprise to you. oh dear, but it was brave to see

you!" she cried, bursting out a-laughing once more, and standing

with her hand pressed to her side, and her half-closed eyes

twinkling with amusement. "you drew back and came forward with

your eyes upon my book there, like the mouse who sniffs the

cheese and yet dreads the trap."

"i take shame," said alleyne, "that i should have touched it."

"nay, it warmed my very heart to see it. so glad was i, that i

laughed for very pleasure. my fine preacher can himself be

tempted then, thought i; he is not made of another clay to the

rest of us."

"god help me! i am the weakest of the weak," groaned alleyne.

"i pray that i may have more strength."

"and to what end?" she asked sharply. "if you are, as i

understand, to shut yourself forever in your cell within the four

walls of an abbey, then of what use would it be were your prayer

to be answered?"

"the use of my own salvation."

she turned from him with a pretty shrug and wave. "is that all?"

she s