person ever crosses the ferry:--yet is he dumb as a tortoise as to who
does. Well, the Major and the young gentleman went off in a flash of
lightning, or something of the sort; for Sir Willmott and my master
could not find him. And I asked Barbara about it! but marry, she knows
nothing, and therefore says nothing----"

"Which proves her different from the other sex; for they sometimes know
next to nothing, yet say a great deal," retorted Robin, sarcastically.

"Humph!" replied Grundy; "you look chuffish this morning, Master Robin:
have you got any thing ready for the bridal?"

"Don't worry me," exclaimed Robin; "what care I for bridals, or bridles
either, unless I could fix one in your mouth? Where's Barbara?"

"The very thing I want to know; for that holy man, the preacher
Fleetword, having communed with the pasty, would fain commune with the
maid--not in the buttery though. And now, methinks, I had a question to
put to you--Why is it unseemly for a man to----" The cook held up his
hand in his usual oratorical style, so that it stood out like a
substantial fan before his face, and touching the second finger of his
left with the forefinger of his right, was proceeding with his inquiry,
when he perceived that Robin had vanished! "Robin! Robin Hays! oh! thou
heedless, and most faithless person! thou Jacky Lantern!" he exclaimed,
and then followed, as he thought, the passage that Robin had taken. It
happened, however, to be the opposite one, so that he received not the
required information.

Robin sought Barbara in every place where it was likely she might be
found, but without success; being unable to enter the more private
apartments of the dwelling, he applied to one of the damsels of Lady
Frances' suite.

"Oh, you seek Mistress Barbara, do you, young man?" and she cast her
eyes over Robin's mis-shapen figure with an expression of contempt that
could not be mistaken; then passed her finger along the braid of hair
that bounded the border of a plain cap, made of the richest lace; pulled
down her stomacher, and apparently waited for the Ranger's reply. Robin
reddened to the eyes, for he could but impatiently brook such personal
scrutiny; and his annoyance increased when he saw that his embarrassment
was noticed by his courtly companion.

"We do not call her mistress here," he said at length; "but I pray you
tell me where she is--I mean the Lady Constantia's attendant, little
Barbara Iverk."

"I know who you mean