aid the more careful Robin, "never speak words of secret,
openly--See ye yonder?"

"Yes," replied Springall, "two horsemen on the other road; too far off
to hear my words, unless they had the ears of a hare."

"I had better go with you, sir," observed Robin earnestly: "I will go
with you, that's the truth of it. Good night, Spring--steer to the left
till you come to the red gap; after that, along the stone fence, on the
right; it will lead you to the orchard, then you know your way."

"Why did you not go with him?" inquired the Cavalier, kindly; "it is a
dark night, poor boy, he has small skill in land-steering."

"He must learn, sir, as I do," answered Robin; "and my duty calls me to
attend on you, particularly when strange people are a-stir."

"You are to be my champion, Robin?"

"Your servant, sir. A servant who learned his duty before it was the
fashion for servants to forget what they owe their masters. Alack!
alack! service now, like liberty, is but a name, and servants do as they
please."

"Did you so with the Master of Burrell?"

"But indifferently, sir; I fled, in a very servant-like manner, as you
know, when he was in danger. But I had my reasons for it, as well as for
going with him to London; only I'd rather not talk of that to-night,
sir. It is a mortal pity that such a sweet lady as Mistress Constance
should be forced to marry such a brute; for my part, I never could
discover any wisdom in those contracts, as they call them. Ah, little
Barbara is a discreet girl. But I have heard some one say, that, for all
her fine lands, poor lady, her heart is breaking, and chipping away bit
by bit. 'Tis very fine to be rich, but, being rich, very hard to be
happy, because the troubles we make ourselves are less easy to be borne,
than those that come upon us in the course of nature. If I had my wish,
it is not gold I'd ask for."

"Indeed! What then, Robin?"

"Just enough of beauty to win one woman's heart; I think I have wit
enough to keep it."

"Pshaw, Robin! though you may not be very comely, there are many worse."

"Ay, sir, apes and baboons; but they are like their kind--while I am a
poor withered creature, that Nature, in spite, threw from her, coarse
and unfinished."

"I wonder a person of your sense, Robin, should fret at such trifles.
Remember, beauty is as summer fruits, easy to corrupt, and quick to
perish."

"But for all that we look for them in summer, sir, just as youth seeks
out beauty."