t. "Hie thee back again to
the lodge and wait for me there. Wilton shall let you share his supper
if thou wilt. I will tell them you are a gardener if they ask aught
about thee," and in answer to the beckoning of his wife, Sir Ronald
left his newly-discovered relation and hastened across the green.

CHAPTER VI.

DE LA ZOUCH INDULGES IN A LITTLE VILLANY.

If I can do it
By aught that I can speak in his dispraise,
She shall not long continue love to him.

SHAKESPEARE.

The Courtly hall of Haddon was never quiet for long together, and very
soon both the death of the witch and the warning of the locksmith
were forgotten amid the preparations which were being made for a grand
ball. Sir Thomas Stanley, having wooed Margaret, had successfully
petitioned the sanction and blessing of Sir George and Lady Vernon,
and the event was to celebrate their betrothal.

The morning of the festive day had opened fair, and as the day sped
on, the guests rapidly assembled. De Lacey was there, delighting the
ladies, as usual, with his braggadocio. Manners and Crowleigh were
both there too, by special invitation, and, of course, cousin Benedict
a Woode, who made no scruple of inviting himself to Haddon Hall if by
any means his invitation had not come; and also, to Dorothy's great
disgust, Sir Henry de la Zouch was there.

The musicians struck up a lively tune, and very soon the steaming
boar's head was placed upon the table. Father Philip pronounced a very
long benediction, and the singing of an old Latin rhyme beginning--

"Caput apri defero,"

announced that the feast had commenced in earnest. The venison pasties
of Margaret's make disappeared with a truly marvellous rapidity, while
Dorothy's confections had a very short lease of life, and fared no
better, either because they were nice or that Dorothy was the maker of
them.

"Pass round the wine," hailed the baron, "and drink to the health of
the ladies of Haddon Hall."

"Hurrah!" vociferously replied the guests, "to the health of the
ladies of Haddon."

"But stay; what's the matter with Master Manners?" asked De la Zouch,
whose eagle eye had discovered that HIS tankard was not upraised with
the rest. "A discourteous guest, upon my troth."

"May I drink it in water?" asked Manners, as he felt the eyes of his
host fixed sternly upon him.

"Nay, you must have the wine, sir," replied Sir George, "but whether
it goes down your throat or your arm makes little