brought him there; he came but at my prayer, and thought to do no hurt.
While yet Sir Daniel was a good lord to him, he fought with them of the
Black Arrow loyally; but when his foul guardian sought his life by
practices, and he fled by night, for his soul's sake, out of that bloody
house, whither was he to turn--he, helpless and penniless? Or if he be
fallen among ill company, whom should ye blame--the lad that was unjustly
handled, or the guardian that did abuse his trust?"

And then the short young lady fell on her knees by Joanna's side.

"And I, my good lord and natural uncle," she added, "I can bear
testimony, on my conscience and before the face of all, that what this
maiden saith is true. It was I, unworthy, that did lead the young man
in."

Earl Risingham had heard in silence, and when the voices ceased, he still
stood silent for a space. Then he gave Joanna his hand to arise, though
it was to be observed that he did not offer the like courtesy to her who
had called herself his niece.

"Sir Daniel," he said, "here is a right intricate affair, the which, with
your good leave, it shall be mine to examine and adjust. Content ye,
then; your business is in careful hands; justice shall be done you; and
in the meanwhile, get ye incontinently home, and have your hurts
attended. The air is shrewd, and I would not ye took cold upon these
scratches."

He made a sign with his hand; it was passed down the nave by obsequious
servants, who waited there upon his smallest gesture. Instantly, without
the church, a tucket sounded shrill, and through the open portal archers
and men-at-arms, uniformly arrayed in the colours and wearing the badge
of Lord Risingham, began to file into the church, took Dick and Lawless
from those who still detained them, and, closing their files about the
prisoners, marched forth again and disappeared.

As they were passing, Joanna held both her hands to Dick and cried him
her farewell; and the bridesmaid, nothing downcast by her uncle's evident
displeasure, blew him a kiss, with a "Keep your heart up, lion-driver!"
that for the first time since the accident called up a smile to the faces
of the crowd.

CHAPTER V--EARL RISINGHAM

Earl Risingham, although by far the most important person then in
Shoreby, was poorly lodged in the house of a private gentleman upon the
extreme outskirts of the town. Nothing but the armed men at the doors,
and the mounted messengers that kept arriving