ved
oak chair, which, when she had turned from the window, she had grasped
at the entrance of the young Squire.

'My business, sir, will not detain you long,' she said. 'My poor
grandfather, Mr Palmer, to save a son, _my father_'--this was said with
infinite sadness--'yes, my father, from disgrace, borrowed a sum of
money, a very large sum, from the old Squire. He never pressed him for
payment, and indeed it is doubtful that he ever expected it. I came to
ask you, sir, to be pitiful, and give my grandfather time, at least. He
has had years of poor crops, and many losses of stock. He is already
behind hand. If you press him, as I heard you did last night, you will
ruin him, you will kill him,' she added with vehemence--'yes, you will
kill an old man, who is over seventy, and,' clasping her hands, 'make us
all wretched and miserable.'

'Madam,' David Bayfield began, coming nearer, while Bryda, with the
shield of the old magistrate's chair before her, felt secure, 'madam, I
feel like a poacher on trial, you the judge. Listen to a prisoner
pleading; I pray you, be merciful. You speak of ruin--the money I claim
by right of your respected grandfather it is absolutely necessary I
should have. I hold the note of hand. I showed it to the old man last
night. It sets forth that the money is payable on demand to my father,
or heirs of his body. I _must have_ the money.'

Bryda looked straight into the face before her, and with flashing eyes,
drawing her small figure up to its full height, she said,--

'Very good, sir; I need detain you no longer, but return whence I came
from my bootless errand. I do not envy you, sir; it is always better to
be the injured than the injurer. Permit me to pass, sir, as I must lose
no time.'

The door opened at this moment, and an old man-servant came shuffling
in, a tray in his hand, loaded with a silver goblet of spiced wine and a
few wheaten cakes. He eyed Bryda curiously, and placing the tray on a
small table covered with dust, he put a chair before it, and was
retiring, when Bryda seized the moment for escape. She came swiftly
round from the chair, and before the servant could close the door she
had gone out into the hall.

'Nay, madam, I pray you, do not leave my house thus. It will put me in
the position of an inhospitable brute. I beseech you take some
refreshment ere you depart.'

'I did not come here for refreshment, sir,' Bryda said. 'I came in the
hope of finding a merciful gentle