ight sparkling dark eyes,
crisp black hair, healthy brown skin, and lithe active figure. Giles
had a stout roadster to ride on, the others were to travel in their own
waggon, furnished with four powerful horses, which, it possible, they
were to take to Calais, so as to be independent of hiring. Their
needments, clothes, and tools, were packed in the waggon, with store of
lances, and other appliances of the tourney. A carter and Will Wherry,
who was selected as being supposed to be conversant with foreign
tongues, were to attend on them; Smallbones, as senior journeyman, had
the control of the party, and Giles had sufficiently learnt
subordination not to be likely to give himself dangerous airs of
mastership.

Dennet was astir early to see them off, and she had a little gift for
each. She began with her oldest friend, "See here, Kit," she said,
"here's a wallet to hold thy nails and rivets. What wilt thou say to me
for such a piece of stitchery?"

"Say, pretty mistress? Why this!" quoth the giant, and he picked her up
by the slim waist in his great hands, and kissed her on the forehead.
He had done the like many a time nine or ten years ago, and though
Master Headley laughed, Dennet was not one bit embarrassed, and turned
to the next traveller. "Thou art no more a prentice, Giles, and canst
wear this in thy bonnet," she said, holding out to him a short silver
chain and medal of Saint George and the Dragon.

"Thanks, gentle maid," said Giles, taking the handsome gift a little
sheepishly. "My bonnet will make a fair show," and he bent down as she
stood on the step, and saluted her lips, then began eagerly fastening
the chain round his cap, as one delighted with the ornament.

Stephen was some distance off. He had turned aside when she spoke to
Giles, and was asking of Tibble last instructions about the restoration
of enamel, when he felt a touch on his arm, and saw Dennet standing by
him. She looked up in his face, and held up a crimson silken purse,
with S B embroidered on it within a wreath of oak and holly leaves.

With the air that ever showed his gentle blood, Stephen put a knee to
the ground, and kissed the fingers that held it to him, whereupon
Dennet, a sudden burning blush overspreading her face under her little
pointed hood, turned suddenly round and ran into the house. She was out
again on the steps when the waggon finally got under weigh, and as her
eyes met Stephen's, he doffed his flat cap wit