would ye more?"

"Nay," sighed Joanna, with a smile, "they have changed me my friend
Dick, 'tis sure enough. When I beheld him, he was rough indeed. But it
matters little; there is no help for my hard case, and I must still be
Lady Shoreby!"

"Nay, then," said Dick, "I will even make the adventure. A friar is not
much regarded; and if I found a good fairy to lead me up, I may find
another belike to carry me down. How call they the name of this spy?"

"Rutter," said the young lady; "and an excellent good name to call him
by. But how mean ye, lion-driver? What is in your mind to do?"

"To offer boldly to go forth," returned Dick; "and if any stop me, to
keep an unchanged countenance, and say I go to pray for Rutter. They
will be praying over his poor clay even now."

"The device is somewhat simple," replied the girl, "yet it may hold."

"Nay," said young Shelton, "it is no device, but mere boldness, which
serveth often better in great straits."

"Ye say true," she said. "Well, go, a-Mary's name, and may Heaven speed
you! Ye leave here a poor maid that loves you entirely, and another that
is most heartily your friend. Be wary, for their sakes, and make not
shipwreck of your safety."

"Ay," added Joanna, "go, Dick. Ye run no more peril, whether ye go or
stay. Go; ye take my heart with you; the saints defend you!"

Dick passed the first sentry with so assured a countenance that the
fellow merely fidgeted and stared; but at the second landing the man
carried his spear across and bade him name his business.

"_Pax vobiscum,_" answered Dick. "I go to pray over the body of this
poor Rutter."

"Like enough," returned the sentry; "but to go alone is not permitted
you." He leaned over the oaken balusters and whistled shrill. "One
cometh!" he cried; and then motioned Dick to pass.

At the foot of the stair he found the guard afoot and awaiting his
arrival; and when he had once more repeated his story, the commander of
the post ordered four men out to accompany him to the church.

"Let him not slip, my lads," he said. "Bring him to Sir Oliver, on your
lives!"

The door was then opened; one of the men took Dick by either arm,
another marched ahead with a link, and the fourth, with bent bow and the
arrow on the string, brought up the rear. In this order they proceeded
through the garden, under the thick darkness of the night and the
scattering snow, and drew near to the dimly illuminated windows of the
abbey church.