Part 28 (1/2)
”Well, then!” he returned, triumphant ”So was it with you, poor Matchah at But now!”
So they ran on, holding each other by both hands, exchanging s ht long But presently there was a noise behind theer on her lips
”Saints!” she cried, ”but what a noise ye keep! Can ye not speak in compass? And now, Joanna, ossip for bringing you your sweetheart?”
Joanna ran to her, by way of answer, and e lady, ”what do ye give me?”
”Madam,” said dick, ”I would fain offer to pay you in the same money”
”Come, then,” said the lady, ”it is per like a peony, only kissed her hand
”What ails ye at round; and then, when dick had at length and most tepidly embraced her, ”Joanna,” she added, ”your sweetheart is very backward under your eyes; but I warrant you, when first we met he was more ready I am all black and blue, wench; trust me never, if I be not black and blue! And now,”
she continued, ”have ye said your sayings? for I must speedily dismiss the paladin”
But at this they both cried out that they had said nothing, that the night was still very young, and that they would not be separated so early
”And supper?” asked the young lady ”Must we not go down to supper?”
”Nay, to be sure!” cried Joan ”I had forgotten”
”Hide me, then,” said dick, ”put me behind the arras, shut me in a chest, or what ye will, so that I may be here on your return Indeed, fair lady,” he added, ”bear this in mind, that we are sore bested, and ht forward till we die”
At this the young lady melted; and when, a little after, the bell summoned Sir Daniel's household to the board, dick was planted very stiffly against the wall, at a place where a division in the tapestry permitted him to breathe the more freely, and even to see into the roo in this position, when he was soely disturbed The silence, in that upper storey of the house, was only broken by the flickering of the fla in the chi, there ca with extreme precaution; and soon after the door opened, and a little black-faced, dwarfish fellow, in Lord Shoreby's colours, pushed first his head, and then his crooked body, into the chah to hear the better; and his eyes, which were very bright, flitted restlessly and swiftly to and fro He went round and round the roos; but dick, by a miracle, escaped his notice Then he looked below the furniture, and examined the lamp; and, at last, with an air of cruel disappointo away as silently as he had co fro the rushes on the floor, exaht, concealed it in the wallet at his belt
dick's heart sank, for the object in question was a tassel froirdle; and it was plain to hiht in his e it to his master, the baron He was half-tempted to throw aside the arras, fall upon the scoundrel, and, at the risk of his life, re, a new cause of concern was added A voice, hoarse and broken by drink, began to be audible fro, and heavy footsteps sounded without along the passage
”Whatthe voice ”What make ye here? Hey! sots, what hter; and then, once :
”If ye should drink the clary wine, Fat Friar John, ye friend o'thedrunk, andering the house, seeking for a corner wherein to slued The spy, at first terrified, had grown reassured as he found he had to deal with an intoxicated man, and noith a moveone from Richard's eyes
What was to be done? If he lost touch of Lawless for the night, he was left impotent, whether to plan or carry forth Joanna's rescue If, on the other hand, he dared to address the drunken outlaw, the spy ht, and the most fatal consequences ensue
It was, nevertheless, upon this last hazard that dick decided Slipping from behind the tapestry, he stood ready in the doorway of the cha hand upraised Lawless, flushed cri on his feet, drew still unsteadily nearer At last he hazily caught sight of his conals, hailed him instantly and loudly by his name
dick leaped upon and shook the drunkard furiously
”Beast!” he hissed--”beast and no man! It is worse than treachery to be so witless We hed and staggered, and tried to clap young Shelton on the back