ay. 'Is he here?'

'Yes; out there--he with the white bull on his surcoat,' said Alice,
dreading to look that way.

'And hast spoken with him?' asked the lady next, feeling as if the stout,
commonplace, hardy-looking soldier she saw was scarce what she would have
chosen for her little wild rose of an Alice, comely and brave though he
were.

'He hath kissed mine hand,' faltered Alice, but it was quite credible
that not a word had passed. The marriage was a business contract between
the houses of Wark and Raby, and a grand speculation for Sir Richard
Nevil, that was all; but gentle Alice had no reluctance beyond mere
maidenly shyness, and unwillingness to enter on an unknown future under a
new lord. She even whispered to her dear Clairette that she was glad Sir
Richard never tormented her by talking to her, and that he was grave, and
so old.

'So old? why, little one, he can scarce be seven-and-twenty!'

'And is not that old? oh, so old!' said Alice. 'Able to take care of me.
I would not have a youth like that young Lord of Glenuskie. Oh
no--never!'

'That is well,' said Esclairmonde, smiling; 'but wherefore put such
disdain in thy voice, Alice? He used to be our playfellow, and he hath
grown older and more manly in this year.'

'His boyhood was better than such manhood,' said Alice; 'he was more to
my taste when he was meek, than now that he seems to say, "I would be
saucy if I durst." And he hath not the stuff to dare any way.'

'Fie! fie! Alice, you are growing slanderous.'

'Nay, now, Clairette, own verily--you feel the like!'

'Hush, silly one, what skills it? Youths must pass through temptation;
and if his king hindered his vocation, maybe the poor lad may rue it
sorely, but methinks he will come to the right at last. It were better
to say a prayer for his faults than to speak evil of them, Alice.'

Poor Malcolm! He was at that very moment planning with an embroiderer a
robe wherein to appear, covered with flashes of lightning transfixing the
world, and mottoes around--'Esclaire mais Embrase'

Every moment that he was absent from Esclairmonde was spent in composing
chivalrous discourses in which to lay himself at her feet, but the mere
sight of her steady dark eyes scattered them instantly from his memory;
and save for very shame he would have entreated King James again to break
the ice for him, since the lady evidently supposed that she had last year
entirely quashed his suit. And in this