, came soft and distant on the
serene air. The balm and freshness of spring were felt in the dews, in
the skies, in the sweet breath of young herb and leaf; through the calm
of ever-watchful nature, it seemed as if you might mark, distinct and
visible, minute after minute, the blessed growth of April into May.

Suddenly Madge uttered a cry of alarm, and pointed towards the opposite
wall. Sibyll, startled from her revery, looked up, and saw something
dusk and dwarf-like perched upon the crumbling eminence. Presently this
apparition leaped lightly into the garden, and the alarm of the women
was lessened on seeing a young boy creep stealthily over the grass and
approach the open door.

"Hey, child!" said Madge, rising. "What wantest thou?"

"Hist, gammer, hist! Ah, the young mistress? That's well. Hist! I say
again." The boy entered the room. "I'm in time to save you. In half
an hour your house will be broken into, perhaps burned. The boys are
clapping their hands now at the thoughts of the bonfire. Father and all
the neighbours are getting ready. Hark! hark! No, it is only the wind!
The tymbesteres are to give note. When you hear their bells tinkle, the
mob will meet. Run for your lives, you and the old man, and don't ever
say it was poor Tim who told you this, for Father would beat me to
death. Ye can still get through the garden into the fields. Quick!"

"I will go to the master," exclaimed Madge, hurrying from the room.

The child caught Sibyll's cold hand through the dark. "And I say,
mistress, if his worship is a wizard, don't let him punish Father and
Mother, or poor Tim, or his little sister; though Tim was once naughty,
and hooted Master Warner. Many, many, many a time and oft have I seen
that kind, mild face in my sleep, just as when it bent over me, while I
kicked and screamed, and the poor gentleman said, 'Thinkest thou I would
harm thee?' But he'll forgive me now, will he not? And when I turned
the seething water over myself, and they said it was all along of the
wizard, my heart pained more than the arm. But they whip me, and groan
out that the devil is in me, if I don't say that the kettle upset of
itself! Oh, those tymbesteres! Mistress, did you ever see them? They
fright me. If you could hear how they set on all the neighbours! And
their laugh--it makes the hair stand on end! But you will get away,
and thank Tim too? Oh, I shall laugh then, when they find the old house
empty!"

"May our dear Lord ble