ying,--

"You shan't, Wrinstone. If he has done amiss, let him go, and I'll give
thee some plums out of my midlent pasty."

The meekness and peaceable demeanour of this unoffending servant of the
Church had in a moment won the heart of the child, and she pulled him by
the hand, as if to convey him from the grasp of his persecutor.

"May Heaven bless thee, my child, and make thee a blessing!" He lifted
up his eyes while he thus spake. "Thy nature hath not yet learnt the
cruel disposition of these tormentors."

It is said that his prayer was heard; and a passage in the subsequent
history of this little girl may, in all likelihood, find a place in
another series of our Traditions.

A tear for the first time trembled in the poor man's eye as he looked on
this tender and compassionate babe. He thought upon his own sufferings,
and the hard fate of his own little ones. But he soon repressed the
rising murmur, calmly awaiting the result.

The child still clung to him; nor would she depart, though threatened
with Sir Roger's displeasure by his deputy. Indeed, she cared little for
the issue, being fully indulged in all her caprices by the knight, her
grandfather, who was mightily entertained with her humours. But threats
and cajolements failing in their effect, they were glad to let this
wilful creature accompany them to the presence of Sir Roger as the
dispenser of justice, or rather of his own vindictive will; and to his
private chamber they were shortly summoned.

Now this distinguished knight was heavy and well-fed, and of a rich and
rubicund countenance. From over-indulgence he had become unwieldy, being
propped up in a well-stuffed chair, one leg resting on a low stool, his
whole frame bloated by indolence and sensuality. He was short-necked and
full-chested. His eyes, gray and fiery, were almost starting from his
head, by reason of some obstruction to the free current of the blood in
that direction. This was accompanied by a wheezing and phlethoric
cough, which oft troubled him. At his side sat a priest, who had a fair
smooth face, and a shining head sprinkled over with a few pale-coloured
locks close cut and combed back with becoming care from his temples. His
eyes were small and restless, scarcely for an instant keeping to one
position. He seemed to pay a silent deference to his patron, allowing
Sir Roger to begin the examination as follows:--

"So thy relatives have ferreted thee forth at last. Nothing like maki