enter.

"O! how you frighted me!" she said, after she had carefully closed the
door. "You have sent all the blood into my heart; and it flutters so!"

"I will bring it back again into thy cheeks, where it shows so
prettily," replied Arundel, saluting her.

"Fie! Master Miles," exclaimed Prudence, but not looking at all
displeased. "It is well Master Prout sees thee not. Well, what do you
want? I suppose you came to see me?"

"I have seen thee, pretty Prudence, and am so unreasonable as to
desire also to be shown to thy mistress. She is well?"

"I humbly thank your Worship," said the girl, curtseying awkwardly,
and snuffling through her nose in a manner intended to ridicule the
grave Puritans, "worthy Dame Spikeman is well in body, albeit ill in
spirit, being afflicted with a grievous visitation called a husband."

"Come, come, you mad-cap girl," said the young man, laughing at the
caricature, "pervert not my meaning, but show me the way to Mistress
Eveline. If thou wilt, I promise thee a husband for thyself in good
time."

"From plague, pestilence, famine, and husbands, (I did ever think the
litany deficient,) good Lord deliver us," exclaimed Prudence, holding
up her hands. "Do I look, forsooth, like one in need of a husband, or
likely to assist my young mistress therewith? She deserves better at
my hands. I see, besides, Master Miles, that you are ignorant of the
law in this blessed country, which forbids young men to woo maidens. I
know all about it, for I had it from the lips of a venerable
Assistant. Shall I rehearse it to you?"

"Why, what has got into the girl?" said Arundel, tired of this
foolery. "I prithee no more, sweet Prudence, but conduct me at once to
Eveline. Consider how long it is since I saw her."

"Nay, an' you come to calling me sweet, there is no resisting you. I
do love sweet things, and it is pleasant to be called sweet by some
persons. I will delay you no longer," she added, resuming her natural
manner, "since Mistress Eveline must by this time have made up her
toilette. So, please you, follow me."

So saying, she tripped forward, and ushered Arundel into a room, where
we have already seen him, and retired. Almost instantly, the beautiful
Eveline came in with a smile upon her lips and a blush on her cheeks,
for from her room, the door of which was open in that warm season, she
had overheard the whole conversation, as indeed Prudence had intended
she should.

"A strange way, Miles,"