e, were fixed indelibly
on his heart. Away from the bustle and cares of office,--which, like
waves on the surface, for a while effaced their image,--the whole
beauteous impression was revealed before him in all its loveliness and
truth. His heart bounded at the thought:--it was but for a moment. Again
he stood, hopeless and desolate, gazing upon the soft mist-wreath in the
valley, as though expecting it would render up the form of his beloved.

Suddenly the short swift steps of a steed were heard hurrying up the
avenue. A horseman approached the gateway: it was his friend, the
_soi-disant_ knight of the silver mantle!

"How now, Weldon![36]--whither have thy unlucky familiars carried thee?
Hast thou bestridden the enchanted horse, or wert thou bidden to a
witch-feast?"

"I have been to Myerscough with your message,--and the pains I have had
for my labour."

"My message!" said Sir John, with amazement: "I sent thee on no other
errand than to guard the lady, whom thou hast either made away with or
she hath slipped from thine hold."

"You are pleasant, Sir John. Your tricks are well enough in court-hours.
Come, be serious, and tell me thou hast had a fool's errand out of me."

"I never was more serious in my life, Weldon, I do vouch, as my head
shall swing safely on its pivot. But who gave thee a message--and to
whom?"

"To our fair hostess at Myerscough. Thy page thrust a scrap of writing
into my hand after prayers. The request was, that I should see the
accompanying billet safely delivered, and with mine own hand, without
loss of time. It was one of your curiously-folded fantastic
love-billets, as I thought. Knowing I could well be spared hence, I
immediately took horse, and came in a bath of foam to the lady; but when
she opened her pretty token, she drew herself erect with great majesty.
'Tell Sir John Finett,' said she, 'that when he next sends thee forth on
his fooleries, to choose another butt; to shoot his arrows where they
will stick, or his goose-feathers may fly back again.'"

Horror almost deprived Sir John of utterance. That some foul play had
been meditated, and in all probability accomplished, was but too plain;
but how, or by whom, was inscrutable as ever.

The page was straitly questioned; but he merely said that his message
was given him by some person he did not recognise in the crowd at the
chapel-doors, who said he was to seek Weldon forthwith, and deliver him
the papers from his master. Wha