stammered
Stephen, not catching the tone of the strange interrogation, and
expecting any amount of terrible consequences for his presumption.

"Then thou wilt be a faithful spouse to her, and son to me? And Dennet,
my daughter, hast thou any distaste to this youth--though he bring
nought but skill and honesty!"

"O, father, father! I--I had rather have him than any other!"

"Then, Stephen Birkenholt and Dennet Headley, ye shall be man and wife,
so soon as the young man's term be over, and he be a freeman--so he
continue to be that which he seems at present. Thereto I give my word,
I, Giles Headley, Alderman of the Chepe Ward, and thereof ye are
witnesses, all of you. And God's blessing on it."

A tremendous hurrah arose, led by Kit Smallbones, from every workman in
the court, and the while Stephen and Dennet, unaware of anything else,
flew into one another's arms, while Goldspot, on whom the operation had
been fortunately completed, took refuge upon Stephen's head.

"O, Mistress Dennet, I have made you black all over!" was Stephen's
first word.

"Heed not, I ever loved the black!" she cried, as her eyes sparkled.

"So I have done what was to thy mind, my lass?" said Master Headley,
who, without ever having thought of consulting his daughter, was
delighted to see that her heart was with him.

"Sir, I did not know fully--but indeed I should never have been so happy
as I am now.

"Sir," added Stephen, putting his knee to the ground, "it nearly wrung
my heart to think of her as belonging to another, though I never durst
utter aught,"--and while Dennet embraced her father, Stephen sobbed for
very joy, and with difficulty said in broken words something about a
"son's duty and devotion."

They were broken in upon by Mistress Headley, who, after standing in
mute consternation, fell on them in a fury. She understood the device
now! All had been a scheme laid amongst them for defrauding her poor
fatherless child, driving him away, and taking up this beggarly brat.
She had seen through the little baggage from the first, and she pitied
Master Headley. Rage was utterly ungovernable in those days, and she
actually was flying to attack Dennet with her nails when the alderman
caught her by the wrists; and she would have been almost too much for
him, had not Kit Smallbones come to his assistance, and carried her,
kicking and screaming like a naughty child, into the house. There was
small restraint of temper in those