as tightening his girths with deep
pleasure.

"Enough, my friend, is as good as a feast," said his rider to him,
gently, yet strongly pulling up the far-stretched head, "and too much is
worse than a famine."

The horse, though he did not belong to this gentleman, but was hired by
him only yesterday, had already discovered that, with him on his back,
his own judgment must lie dormant, so that he quietly whisked his tail
and glanced with regret at the waste of his drip, and then, with a
roundabout step, to prolong the pleasure of this little wade, sadly but
steadily out he walked, and, after the necessary shake, began his
first invasion of the village. His rider said nothing, but kept a sharp
look-out.

Now this was Master Geoffrey Mordacks, of the ancient city of York, a
general factor and land agent. What a "general factor" is, or is not,
none but himself can pretend to say, even in these days of definition,
and far less in times when thought was loose; and perhaps Mr. Mordacks
would rather have it so. But any one who paid him well could trust him,
according to the ancient state of things. To look at him, nobody would
even dare to think that money could be a consideration to him, or
the name of it other than an insult. So lofty and steadfast his whole
appearance was, and he put back his shoulders so manfully. Upright,
stiff, and well appointed with a Roman nose, he rode with the seat of a
soldier and the decision of a tax-collector. From his long steel spurs
to his hard coned hat not a soft line was there, nor a feeble curve.
Stern honesty and strict purpose stamped every open piece of him so
strictly that a man in a hedge-row fostering devious principles, and
resolved to try them, could do no more than run away, and be thankful
for the chance of it.

But in those rough and dangerous times, when thousands of people were
starving, the view of a pistol-butt went further than sternest aspect of
strong eyes. Geoffrey Mordacks well knew this, and did not neglect his
knowledge. The brown walnut stock of a heavy pistol shone above either
holster, and a cavalry sword in a leathern scabbard hung within easy
reach of hand. Altogether this gentleman seemed not one to be rashly
attacked by daylight.

No man had ever dreamed as yet of coming to this outlandish place for
pleasure of the prospect. So that when this lonely rider was descried
from the washing field over the low wall of the lane, the women made
up their minds at o