. And she turned her head towards
me.

So I took my run and cleared the bar.

"A match! a match!" cried the crowd, closing in a step; "a match between
Will Peake and Humphrey Dexter."

"And take my sword and cloak," shouted a Bridge boy, who owned neither,
"if Will Peake do not over-jump the printer's devil's head."

This made me angry. Not that I cared for the gibe; but because I
disliked that one there should hear me called by so graceless a name.

Well, we jumped once more; but this time I dared not look anywhere, but
straight before me. Yet I cleared the bar.

Whereupon the Bridge boys vaunted themselves more soberly, and he who
had offered his cloak and sword now offered only his belt.

"Set the bar two points higher," I cried, "and clear me that, Will
Peake, if you can."

At that our lads rent the air with shouts, and Will Peake pulled a long
face. For the bar now stood level with his eyes, though it only reached
my chin.

It fell out as I hoped. He jumped, and the bar sprang six yards into
the air as he missed it.

Then our 'prentices made up for the silence of those of the Bridge; and
this time the gamester offered not so much as a shoe lace.

For all that, I must clear the bar, if I was to make good my challenge;
and I drew a long breath as I stood a moment and glanced round.

Yes. Her eyes of blue were on me, her lips were the least bit parted,
and a glow of expectation was in her cheeks.

So I took my run and cleared the bar, with an inch to spare.

Then, as I heard nothing of the shouts which yet deafened me, and durst
not so much as raise my eyes, the cheery alderman's voice cried:

"So Master Dexter hath won the high jump. See if he also win the broad.
Clear away there, and stand back, good people, to give our brave lads
fair play."

When I took courage at last to look up, I saw a sight which made the
blood in my veins tingle.

She stood still where she was; but next to her had squeezed himself a
smirking gallant, bravely bedizened, who looked round impudently into
her face, and whispered something in her ear.

To me it seemed as if at first she was heedless of his presence, then,
hearing him, she turned upon him a startled gaze, and, flushing angrily,
moved a scornful pace away.

This I saw, while the alderman was saying--

"The first leap is yours, Master Dexter. See you set us a good lead."

I leapt, scarcely thinking what I did, and leapt badly; for though one
by one