of
the Knight of the Golden Melice, and it is my purpose to go thither
to-day?"

"Young ladies affect not to send messages to thy over bold sex," said
Prudence, tossing her head, "but an' thou dost see the gentleman, thou
mayest tell him, as from me, that she is well, and desires his
prosperity."

"A cold message, truly, and it is well the weather is warm, else would
poor Master Arundel be in danger of being frozen into an icicle."

"A hundred such messages would not, I fear, cool thy hot blood; but
Master Miles is gentle born, and less presumptuous than thou; thou
mayest therefore say, rather than hurt his feelings, that my mistress
would have no objection to seeing him."

"What a buttermilk kind of a message is that!" said the soldier. Dost
think that a man of any spirit is going to be satisfied with an errand
that runs like a stream of cold water down one's back? Come, Prudence,
perk thy red lips into more reasonable and comforting words."

"Thou art thyself unreasonable, Philip. Dost suppose it becomes a
young woman to let her gallant know all she thinks about him? He ought
to be ravished to believe that she does not hate him like the rest of
them who wear beards; at any rate, thou wilt get nothing else from
me."

"I must perforce, then, be content," said Philip, "since it may not be
otherwise; and the less unwillingly because having had some experience
in the nature of women, I know they mean more than they say. So I will
even translate thy words into thy mistress' intention, and say she is
dying of melancholy till she sees him."

"Thou wilt be a false varlet an' thou dost, and I will never trust
thee with message more. Such leasing will only harm thee, for Master
Miles knows there is not in America nor in dear old Devonshire a
modester or properer young lady. O dear, how glad I should be just to
step into the grand cathedral in sweet Exeter, and see the brave
knights who died so long ago all lying cross-legged, so decent on
their marble tombs by the sides of their ladies."

"Take care, my little Puritan," said Philip, "this is no fitting
country for such talk. The reverend elders have long ears, and for
aught I know, there may be one in the tree overhead listening."

Prudence jumped hastily from her seat, and cast a frightened glance at
these words into the tree, while Philip burst into a laugh.

"Why, how you scared me," said the girl, recovering from her
trepidation. "This is the way you treat me, y