fighting, he and his
old foe, Sorley Boy, had become friends, and all was quiet in the
country of the Glynns.

There was naught to be said to all this, and the maiden, though the
tears stood in her eyes as she spoke, told us she must leave us and go
home to her father.

It went hard with me then. For my duty to Ludar seemed to demand that I
should see the maiden safe to her journey's end. Yet, while a shred of
hope remained that he still lived, how dare I quit the place I was in?
Besides, my master every day had more need of my service for his secret
printing, and was indeed so restless and nervous concerning the work,
that he even grudged my walking out of an evening, or stealing an hour
now and again in the company of my sweet Jeannette.

But one day the maiden called me to her, and said--

"Humphrey, you have been a friend and a brother to me. I have two
things to ask of you now. One I even command, the other I beg as a
precious boon."

"Before you ask," said I, "I will obey the command, for you have a right
to command anything; and I will grant the boon, for nothing I can give
you can come up to what I would fain give you."

She smiled gently at that and said--

"Wait till you hear, Humphrey. My command is that you quit not London
at present."

"I understand," said I, "and had already resolved that only your command
should move me hence."

"That makes me happier," said she, with a sigh of relief. "Now for the
boon. What if I asked you to spare me Jeannette for a season?"

I think I looked so taken aback by that, that she had it on her lips to
take back the request. But I recovered myself in time. "What says
she?" I asked.

"I have not asked her," said she.

"I will ask her then," said I, and we went together to where Jeannette
sat waiting for us.

"Jeannette," said I, "this maiden asks me to lend her the most precious
thing I possess. Say, shall I do so?"

"Yea, Humphrey, and with a willing heart."

"Then, sweetheart," said I, kissing her, "I will even lend her thee."

It surprised me that when it came to asking my master and mistress they
gave their leave after but a short parley. For the two maids were so
bound together, and the lot of the one was so pitiful and desolate, that
it seemed, after all, not too great a boon to ask. And when Jeannette
herself seconded the request, and I encouraged it, they yielded.

In truth, my master was just then so full of his work and of the peril