Part 18 (1/2)

”Nay,” said Joanna; ”oeth farther”

And she pushed on But a few yards farther the passage ended at the top of a short flight of steps; and it beca as the soldiers occupied the hall, escape was impossible upon that side

They retraced their steps with all iinable speed, and set forward to explore the other branch It was exceedingly narrow, scarce wide enough for a large man; and it led them continually up and down by little break-neck stairs, until even dick had lost all notion of his whereabouts

At length it grew both narrower and lower; the stairs continued to descend; the walls on either hand became damp and slimy to the touch; and far in front of the of the rats

”We eons,” dick remarked

”And still there is no outlet,” added Joanna

”Nay, but an outlet there h, they caht of steps On the top of that there was a solid flag of stone by way of trap, and to this they both set their backs It was iested Joanna

”Not so,” said dick; ”for were aas ten, he must still yield a little But this resisteth like dead rock There is a weight upon the trap Here is no issue; and, by h the gyves were on our ankle bones Sit ye then down, and let us talk After a while we shall return, when perchance they shall be less carefully upon their guard; and, who knoweth? we may break out and stand a chance But, in ood as shent”

”dick!” she cried, ”alas the day that ever ye should have seen me! For like a most unhappy and unthankful maid, it is I have led you hither”

”What cheer!” returned dick ”It was all written, and that which is written, willy nilly, cometh still to pass But tell me a little what manner of a maid ye are, and how ye came into Sir Daniel's hands; that will do better than to bemoan yourself, whether for your sake or mine”

”I am an orphan, like yourself, of father and reat misfortune, dick, and hitherto for yours, I ae My Lord Foxhae of ht dear price he paid for it So here was I, poor babe, with two great and richwhich should ed, and there was a new chancellor, and Sir Daniel bought the warding of ain, and Lord Foxhae over Sir Daniel's; and from then to noent on ill betwixt the two of theood lord to me And at last I was to be married--or sold, if ye like it better Five hundred pounds Lord Foxharoom's name, and to-morrow, dick, of all days in the year, was I to be betrothed Had it not come to Sir Daniel, I had been wedded, sure--and never seen thee, dick--dear dick!”

And here she took his hand, and kissed it, with the prettiest grace; and dick drew her hand to him and did the like

”Well,” she went on, ”Sir Daniel took arden, and made me dress in these men's clothes, which is a deadly sin for a woman; and, besides, they fitme I was to marry you; but I, in my heart, made sure I would marry Hamley in his teeth”

”Ay!” cried dick, ”and so ye loved this Hamley!”

”Nay,” replied Joanna, ”not I I did but hate Sir Daniel And then, dick, ye helped ht kind, and very bold, and my heart turned towards you in mine own despite; and now, if we can in any way cooodwill And if, by cruel destiny, it may not be, still ye'll be dear to me While my heart beats, it'll be true to you”

”And I,” said dick, ”that never cared a straw for any ht ye were a boy I had a pity to you, and knew not why When I would have belted you, the hand failed me

But when ye owned ye were a maid, Jack--for still I will call you Jack--Ioff--”one cometh”

And indeed a heavy tread was now audible in the echoing passage, and the rats again fled in armies

dick reconnoitred his position The sudden turn gave hie He could thus shoot in safety froht was too near hi some way forward, he set down the lae, and then returned to watch

Presently, at the far end of the passage, Bennet hove in sight He see torch, which made him the better mark

”Stand, Bennet!” cried dick ”Another step, and y' are dead”

”So here ye are,” returned Hatch, peering forward into the darkness ”I see you not Aha! y' 'ave done wisely, dick; y' 'ave put your lah it was done to shoot my own knave body, I do rejoice to see ye profit of my lessons! And nohat make ye? what seek ye here? Why would ye shoot upon an old, kind friend? And have ye the young gentlewoman there?”

”Nay, Bennet, it is I should question and you answer,” replied dick

”Why am I in this jeopardy of my life? Why doinhouse, and fro and never injured?”

”Master dick, Master dick,” said Bennet, ”what told I you? Y' are brave, but the most uncrafty lad that I can think upon!”