ound helpmate.

"Nay, I am no butcher, I am but a woodsman, and should cut it wrong,
I fear," returned Manners, as he laid the chopper down. "Were it a
tree--"

"Now, come," interrupted the cook, persuasively. "I am wearied out;
I have no strength left in my arm. See you, here, here, and here, and
the thing is done."

"I will do it an you will serve me a good turn, too?" he replied.

"Done, then," said the other; "what is it?"

"Show me the Hall; I have long wished to see the ballroom. 'Tis a fine
room, Roger says."

"Fine!" exclaimed the cook. "I should think it is fine. There's not
another in all Queen Elizabeth's land to equal it. I will show it thee
afterwards."

"Help me with this sack of flour," exclaimed the baker, "and I will
show it thee now."

Manners chopped the carcase up, for which he was promised a share of
the pie, and quickly satisfied the baker. His strength, indeed, was
wonderful, and what two bakers had failed to do together, he easily
accomplished alone.

"Thou shalt have a cake to-night," exclaimed the baker, admiringly.
"A milk-white cake hot off the hearthstone, such as my lord the baron
loveth so well," and they passed through the stone-flagged passage
into the banqueting-room beyond to see the wonders of the Hall.

"Nay," exclaimed the chamberlain, as they attempted to pass up the
steps leading to the upper part of the Hall. "'tis against the rules,
you know."

"All right, John, 'tis all right," replied the baker. "Hubert is going
to help me, and you cannot stay me, I trow, or Lady Vernon will come
upon thee about the cakes for the feast."

There was no gainsaying this argument, for John stood in mortal fear
of his mistress, and at the mention of her name he stepped aside and
allowed them to pass by.

"John likes to be flattered," laughed the baker, as the door closed
upon them, "but I use a different weapon. I speak of Lady Vernon, and
he always yields."

"I saw he was there," replied Manners, "else I had needed no
assistance to pass through. He despises us, I verily believe,
and likes to show his power. So this is the ballroom, eh? 'Tis a
magnificent room, surely," he exclaimed in well-feigned innocence.

"The ballroom!" laughed the other, contemptuously. "No, this is but
the dining-room. Come, I will show thee the ballroom."

"I would linger here awhile," responded Manners, with charming
simplicity, "this tapestry takes my fancy so; and the ceiling, with
such quaint dev