ence,
upstairs.

"Hush!" she said, "and come. 'Shalt talk hereafter."

Somewhat bewildered, Dick suffered himself to be pulled upstairs,
bustled along a corridor, and thrust suddenly into a chamber, lit, like
so many of the others, by a blazing log upon the hearth.

"Now," said the young lady, forcing him down upon a stool, "sit ye there
and attend my sovereign good-pleasure. I have life and death over you,
and I will not scruple to abuse my power. Look to yourself; y' have
cruelly mauled my arm. He knew not I was a maid, quoth he! Had he known
I was a maid, he had ta'en his belt to me, forsooth!"

And with these words she whipped out of the room, and left Dick gaping
with wonder, and not very sure if he were dreaming or awake.

"Ta'en my belt to her!" he repeated. "Ta'en my belt to her!" and the
recollection of that evening in the forest flowed back upon his mind,
and he once more saw Matcham's wincing body and beseeching eyes.

And then he was recalled to the dangers of the present. In the next room
he heard a stir, as of a person moving; then followed a sigh, which
sounded strangely near; and then the rustle of skirts and tap of feet
once more began. As he stood hearkening, he saw the arras wave along the
wall; there was the sound of a door being opened, the hangings divided,
and, lamp in hand, Joanna Sedley entered the apartment.

She was attired in costly stuffs of deep and warm colours, such as befit
the winter and the snow. Upon her head, her hair had been gathered
together and became her as a crown. And she, who had seemed so little
and so awkward in the attire of Matcham, was now tall like a young
willow, and swam across the floor as though she scorned the drudgery of
walking.

Without a start, without a tremor, she raised her lamp and looked at the
young monk.

"What make ye here, good brother?" she inquired. "Ye are doubtless
ill-directed. Whom do ye require?" And she set her lamp upon the
bracket.

"Joanna," said Dick; and then his voice failed him. "Joanna," he began
again, "ye said ye loved me; and the more fool I, but I believed it!"

"Dick!" she cried. "Dick!"

And then, to the wonder of the lad, this beautiful and tall young lady
made but one step of it, and threw her arms about his neck and gave him
a hundred kisses all in one.

"O the fool fellow!" she cried. "O dear Dick! O, if ye could see
yourself! Alack!" she added, pausing, "I have spoilt you, Dick! I have
knocked some of the pai