pursuers into widely divergent paths. Hence,
in but a little while, Dick and Joanna paused, in a close covert, and
heard the sounds of the pursuit, scattering abroad, indeed, in all
directions, but yet fainting already in the distance.

"An I had but kept a reserve of them together," Dick cried bitterly, "I
could have turned the tables yet! Well, we live and learn; next time it
shall go better, by the rood."

"Nay, Dick," said Joanna, "what matters it? Here we are, together once
again."

He looked at her, and there she was--John Matcham, as of yore, in hose
and doublet. But now he knew her; now, even in that ungainly dress, she
smiled upon him, bright with love; and his heart was transported with
joy.

"Sweetheart," he said, "if ye forgive this blunderer, what care I? Make
we direct for Holywood; there lieth your good guardian and my better
friend, Lord Foxham. There shall we be wed; and whether poor or wealthy,
famous or unknown, what matters it? This day, dear love, I won my spurs;
I was commended by great men for my valour; I thought myself the
goodliest man of war in all broad England. Then, first, I fell out of my
favour with the great; and now I have been well thrashed, and clean lost
my soldiers. There was a downfall for conceit! But, dear, I care
not--dear, if ye still love me and will wed, I would have my knighthood
done away, and mind it not a jot."

"My Dick!" she cried. "And did they knight you?"

"Ay, dear, ye are my lady now," he answered fondly; "or ye shall, ere
noon to-morrow--will ye not?"

"That will I, Dick, with a glad heart," she answered.

"Ay, sir? Methought ye were to be a monk!" said a voice in their ears.

"Alicia!" cried Joanna.

"Even so," replied the young lady, coming forward. "Alicia, whom ye left
for dead, and whom your lion-driver found, and brought to life again,
and, by my sooth, made love to, if ye want to know."

"I'll not believe it," cried Joanna. "Dick!"

"Dick!" mimicked Alicia. "Dick, indeed!--Ay, fair sir, and ye desert
poor damsels in distress," she continued, turning to the young knight.
"Ye leave them planted behind oaks. But they say true--the age of
chivalry is dead."

"Madam," cried Dick in despair, "upon my soul I had forgotten you
outright. Madam, ye must try to pardon me. Ye see, I had new found
Joanna!"

"I did not suppose that ye had done it o' purpose," she retorted. "But I
will be cruelly avenged. I will tell a secret to my Lady Shelton--she
tha