ded Dick.

"But come," she said, with great cheerfulness, "you that are a captain,
ye must eat. Why sup ye not?"

"Dear Mistress Risingham," replied Dick, "I did but wait first upon my
prisoner; but, to say truth, penitence will no longer suffer me to
endure the sight of food. I were better to fast, dear lady, and to
pray."

"Call me Alicia," she said; "are we not old friends? And now, come, I
will eat with you, bit for bit and sup for sup; so if ye eat not,
neither will I; but if ye eat hearty, I will dine like a ploughman."

So there and then she fell to; and Dick, who had an excellent stomach,
proceeded to bear her company, at first with great reluctance, but
gradually, as he entered into the spirit, with more and more vigour and
devotion: until, at last, he forgot even to watch his model, and most
heartily repaired the expenses of his day of labour and excitement.

"Lion-driver," she said, at length, "ye do not admire a maid in a man's
jerkin?"

The moon was now up; and they were only waiting to repose the wearied
horses. By the moon's light, the still penitent but now well-fed Richard
beheld her looking somewhat coquettishly down upon him.

"Madam--" he stammered, surprised at this new turn in her manners.

"Nay," she interrupted, "it skills not to deny; Joanna hath told me, but
come, sir lion-driver, look at me--am I so homely--come!"

And she made bright eyes at him.

"Ye are something smallish, indeed--" began Dick.

And here again she interrupted him, this time with a ringing peal of
laughter that completed his confusion and surprise.

"Smallish!" she cried. "Nay, now, be honest as ye are bold; I am a
dwarf, or little better; but for all that--come, tell me!--for all that,
passably fair to look upon; is't not so?"

"Nay, madam, exceedingly fair," said the distressed knight, pitifully
trying to seem easy.

"And a man would be right glad to wed me?" she pursued.

"O, madam, right glad!" agreed Dick.

"Call me Alicia," said she.

"Alicia," quoth Sir Richard.

"Well, then, lion-driver," she continued, "sith that ye slew my kinsman,
and left me without stay, ye owe me, in honour, every reparation; do ye
not?"

"I do, madam," said Dick. "Although, upon my heart, I do hold me but
partially guilty of that brave knight's blood."

"Would ye evade me?" she cried.

"Madam, not so. I have told you; at your bidding, I will even turn me a
monk," said Richard.

"Then, in honour, ye belong to me?" s