o to the wars again."

"Hush, your words are over loud, John. If you go, I die. Listen!"

Manners needed not the injunction, for someone was unmistakably
rushing towards them. He turned, and faced the intruder.

"Hold!" he cried, "or you shall rue it. Stand back," he added, as the
figure of a man ran towards Dorothy.

"Lettice," exclaimed the other, "could I think this of thee? I had
trusted thee better. What have I done that thou should'st treat me
thus? As for thee--" he said, turning to Manners.

"Tut, man, doff thy cap," interrupted the latter. "This is Mistress
Dorothy Vernon."

"Thou hast met here often enough before," continued the unbelieving
Will, "but I'll warrant me this shall be the last time. Mistress
Dorothy, indeed! A likely story that; but I know that hood too well to
be deceived. You are Sir Edward Stanley, or Master Manners, perchance,
I suppose. Roger Morton shall know of this."

"Lettice is in the hall," said Dorothy. "I know thou art to be
trusted, Will, for Lettice ofttimes speaks of thee. This is Master
Manners. Hush! not a word, tell it not to anyone."

It was the voice of Dorothy, beyond dispute, and not the voice of
Lettice, and the astonished youth dropped down upon his knees and sued
forgiveness.

"And you knew me not?" asked Manners, as he clapped his companion
familiarly upon the back. "I deceived thee, then? Have not the others
found out my disguise? Methinks they have looked at me askance of
late."

The young woodsman rubbed his eyes to convince himself that it was a
reality, and that it was not a vivid dream.

"Nay," he replied, at length; "they said thou wert seeking to rob me
of my Lettice, for we knew thee not."

"I am a craftsman still," returned Manners, "mind you tell them not.
There, I shall rejoin thee soon."

Lettice's lover took the hint and departed, not at all loth to get out
of the way, and feeling mightily relieved that things happened to be
as they were, and were not any worse.

"Doll," said her lover, as the retreating sound died away in the
distance, "we have another friend in him. Do thou tell this to
Lettice, happen it will enliven her. I will not press thee for thy
answer now; we shall love each other to the end, I know. Remember
this, Doll, thy happiness as well as mine is at stake. Sir George
cannot take back his words even though he repent them. He cannot
relent, for he has promised thee, and he is the very soul of honour,
but, an we please ourse