dlady. "God
knows when I have seen a guinea of his money--but he was such a handsome,
fine young nobleman, and had such a way with a poor body, and ever a
smile and a chuck o' the chin for my Jenny."

"Look well after poor Jenny if he hath left her behind," said the tailor.

He did not come back, indeed; and hearing the rumour that he had fled his
creditors, the world of fashion received the news with small disturbance,
all modish persons being at that time much engaged in discussion of the
approaching nuptials of her ladyship of Dunstanwolde and the Duke of
Osmonde. Close upon the discussions of the preparations came the
nuptials themselves, and then all the town was agog, and had small
leisure to think of other things. For those who were bidden to the
ceremonials and attendant entertainments, there were rich habits and
splendid robes to be prepared; and to those who had not been bidden,
there were bitter disappointments and thwarted wishes to think of.

"Sir John Oxon has fled England to escape seeing and hearing it all," was
said.

"He has fled to escape something more painful than the spleen," others
answered. "He had reached his rope's end, and finding that my Lady
Dunstanwolde was not of a mind to lengthen it with her fortune, having
taken a better man, and that his creditors would have no more patience,
he showed them a light pair of heels."

Before my Lady Dunstanwolde left her house she gave orders that it be set
in order for closing for some time, having it on her mind that she should
not soon return. It was, however, to be left in such condition that at
any moment, should she wish to come to it, all could be made ready in two
days' time. To this end various repairs and changes she had planned were
to be carried out as soon as she went away from it. Among other things
was the closing with brickwork of the entrance to the passage leading to
the unused cellars.

"'Twill make the servants' part more wholesome and less damp and
draughty," she said; "and if I should sell the place, will be to its
advantage. 'Twas a builder with little wit who planned such passages and
black holes. In spite of all the lime spread there, they were ever
mouldy and of evil odour."

It was her command that there should be no time lost, and men were set at
work, carrying bricks and mortar. It so chanced that one of them, going
in through a back entrance with a hod over his shoulder, and being young
and lively, found his