serving-maid mine were a happier lot."

"And Sir Edward, what of him?"

"He wooes me with threats. Was ever a maiden won thus, John? He vows I
shall be his bride, and O--"

"What, dearest?"

"Margaret is to be wedded soon, and Sir Edward swears there shall be
two weddings at the same time. He says I shall like him well enough
in time to come. Margaret wishes it, Lady Maude wishes it, Sir Thomas
wishes it, and Edward Stanley says it shall be."

"He knows it not," sturdily replied Manners, as he clasped her to his
breast. "Our love is strong enough to conquer all that, Doll."

"I hope it will. I think it will in the end," she replied, "but the
way is very dark for us at present. But naught shall stay us now. Our
love is too true not to win."

"It shall!" he returned, decisively. "Be of good heart, my precious
one, we shall soon have passed all this and be happy together."

"Heaven grant it," replied Dorothy, fervently, "but it is a terrible
time now. With you exposed to danger every hour outside, and every
hand against me in the house, save Lettice, 'tis terrible, terrible!"
and the maiden burst into tears.

"Poor Doll," said Manners, as he tenderly supported her. "Your lot is
hard, but there will be a change ere long. The wind does not always
blow from one quarter, you know; it will alter soon."

"I fear me not," replied the maiden disconsolately.

"Oh, surely, when they see what an unconquerable will thou hast. Sir
George loves thee too well to lightly disregard thy happiness. He
loves you dearly; he will surely repent ere the time comes, for he
hath a tender heart for thee."

Dorothy laid her hand upon his arm and beckoned him to be still,
pointing at the same time to a thick mass of the thick foliage with
which they were surrounded.

"Hist," she whispered. "Methought I heard the sound of footsteps,
listen!"

She paused, and together they bent their heads and listened, but
nothing was to be heard save the rustling of the leaves.

"'Twas thy fancy," exclaimed Manners, "thou art frightened."

"I thought I saw the form of a man pass by those trees," she replied.
"It must be fancy, though, and yet, methought I saw him stop and then
pass on again."

"Sir George will stand by thee," pursued Manners, "he loves thee
better than himself."

"I know it, I know he loves me much, John; but he has promised me to
the Stanleys, and when I told him of our trothplight he laughed, and
said he was doing it all for