ay of labour and excitement.

"Lion-driver," she said, at length, "ye do not admire a maid in a man's
jerkin?"

The moon was now up; and they were only waiting to repose the wearied
horses. By the moon's light, the still penitent but now well-fed Richard
beheld her looking somewhat coquettishly down upon him.

"Madam"--he stammered, surprised at this new turn in her manners.

"Nay," she interrupted, "it skills not to deny; Joanna hath told me, but
come, Sir Lion-driver, look at me--am I so homely--come!"

And she made bright eyes at him.

"Ye are something smallish, indeed"--began Dick.

And here again she interrupted him, this time with a ringing peal of
laughter that completed his confusion and surprise.

"Smallish!" she cried. "Nay, now, be honest as ye are bold; I am a
dwarf, or little better; but for all that--come, tell me!--for all that,
passably fair to look upon; is't not so?"

"Nay, madam, exceedingly fair," said the distressed knight, pitifully
trying to seem easy.

"And a man would be right glad to wed me?" she pursued.

"O, madam, right glad!" agreed Dick.

"Call me Alicia," said she.

"Alicia," quoth Sir Richard.

"Well, then, lion-driver," she continued, "sith that ye slew my kinsman,
and left me without stay, ye owe me, in honour, every reparation; do ye
not?"

"I do, madam," said Dick. "Although, upon my heart, I do hold me but
partially guilty of that brave knight's blood."

"Would ye evade me?" she cried.

"Madam, not so. I have told you; at your bidding, I will even turn me a
monk," said Richard.

"Then, in honour, ye belong to me?" she concluded.

"In honour, madam, I suppose"--began the young man.

"Go to!" she interrupted; "ye are too full of catches. In honour do ye
belong to me, till ye have paid the evil?"

"In honour, I do," said Dick.

"Hear, then," she continued; "Ye would make but a sad friar, methinks;
and since I am to dispose of you at pleasure, I will even take you for my
husband. Nay, now, no words!" cried she. "They will avail you nothing.
For see how just it is, that you who deprived me of one home, should
supply me with another. And as for Joanna, she will be the first,
believe me, to commend the change; for, after all, as we be dear friends,
what matters it with which of us ye wed? Not one whit!"

"Madam," said Dick, "I will go into a cloister, an ye please to bid me;
but to wed with anyone in this big world besides Joanna Sedley is what I
wil