And now go. It boots
not that we be seen talking together thus. When thou hast fitting
opportunity, come secretly to my house; thou wilt be welcome
there."

And half pushing Cuthbert from him before the bewildered youth had
time to speak a single word, the printer disappeared within his own
door, and Cuthbert was left to make his way to his uncle's house.

"Beshrew me if I know what Master Anthony means!" said Cuthbert to
himself. "I trow there be matters stirring in London town of which
we in the country know nothing. How strange it is that one can
hardly set foot in this great seething city without hearing words
of mystery--without feeling oneself enwrapped in its strange
atmosphere of doubt and perplexity. Something is doubtless astir of
which I know naught; but at my uncle's house I shall hear all."

The shutters were just being put up at Martin Holt's as Cuthbert
stepped across the threshold. The servant uttered a cry of
astonishment as he saw his master's nephew, and Martin himself came
forward from the little room behind.

"Bless me, is it thou, Cuthbert?" he exclaimed in surprise. "Well,
boy, thou art welcome since thou art come, though we had almost
begun to think thou hadst forgot us and thy promise to return. Come
upstairs and greet thy aunt and cousins. Hast thou seen aught of
Cherry, as thou comest from the south?"

Cuthbert stepped back a pace, and some of the light went out of his
face.

"Cherry!" he stammered, taken aback. "How should I have seen her?
Is she not here?"

"Not for a matter of four days. She is helping her aunt, Prudence
Dyson at the Cross Way House, to wait upon some guests the ladies
are entertaining. Methought if you had come that way you might have
chanced upon her."

A keen thrill of disappointment ran through Cuthbert's frame. To
think how near he had been to Cherry and had never guessed it! If
only he had called at the Cross Way House that day!

"I have not been there for the matter of a week. I was last at
Trevlyn Chase; but mine uncle and his son have gone to London, as I
heard. I had hoped to find Cherry here."

"Well, thou wilt find all but her. Go up, go up! Thou wilt need
refreshment after thy journey, and thou shalt hear the news as we
sup. Thine old room shall be made ready for thee. I am glad to see
thy face again, boy; and would hear thy story anon."

Cuthbert received a warmer welcome than he had looked for from the
aunt and cousins upstairs. Perhaps they