Dost think I am ignorant of how thou hast misused the confidence I reposed in thee? Dost think I know not to what extent thou hast strove to dishonor the dead, and rob the living? All thy tricks are familiar to me! I have made inquiry, and discovered thee to be the horrible villain thou art. By this sword, I have a great mind to hew thee in pieces-but thou art only fit to be hanged like a mangy cur. Here, Master Constable!" cried he in a louder voice, "take me this caitiff to prison."

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Say not so, good colonel, I pray you!" exclaimed the miser in marvellous moving accents. "All your property lieth secure in yonder chest." And then the old miser began wringing of his hands, and crying out in a wonderful pitiful voice," Alack! Alack! I am ruined! I am ruined!"

At this moment entered Master Francis, who had till now hesitated whether he should come up or turn back, and he beheld Gregory Vellum sinking into a chair, trembling like an aspen, whilst Colonel Harquebus was giving directions to certain of Sir Walter's serving-men to take away a chest, the young secretary remembered was the one wherein his uncle had put such store of treasure.

"Francis! Francis!" cried the old man very movingly, as soon as he noticed the entrance of his nephew, and was making toward him-"Sweet-excellent"What more he would have said I know not, but his utterance was at that moment completely stopped upon finding himself swung to the other end of the chamber.

66 'Breathest thou another word to that fellow, I will kill thee on the spot!" exclaimed the colonel with a fierce look, as he drew his dagger out of its sheath, the sight whereof appeared to have taken the miser's breath away: then turning to Master Francis, who looked as if he marvelled exceedingly to see what he did, added somewhat contemptuously, "See'st thou not, sirrah! we are on private business? Hast forgot thy manners? We want no intruders. Prythee get thee gone!" Master Francis made a hurried apology, in the midst of which the colonel turned on his heel, muttering the words "paltry secretary!" Master Francis involuntarily put his hand to his rapier, but in the same moment remembering what obligations he owed Sir Walter Raleigh, he forbore taking notice of the affront; and with a courteous bow, yet with a dreadful aching

heart, he left the room, and as quickly as possible the house.

"Ah me!" thought Master Francis, as he hastened dejectedly along the street, this Colonel Harquebus putteth my patience to sore trials! I would he were far away from me. I fear me I can not abide these indignities much longer: but if I could get to know my parentage be honest, and I come of a creditable family, I could bear them without their moving me a jot. I will to my uncle's as soon as I may, and I doubt not, with proper temptation, now his dishonesty is found out, I shall get the secret from him." It so happened Master Francis never could get an opportunity to go to St. Mary Axe, he was kept in such constant employ by Sir Walter Raleigh on matters that would stand no delay; and in a few days he was suddenly obliged to start for Sherborne.

valiant spirit, his modest nature, his excellent fine talent in the writing of plays and the like, and his wonderful great learning in all profound matters? I tell thee, Bess, never saw I so noble a figure, or so admirable a countenance. He hath eyes that be very stars, and a mouth so small, so rosy, and of so gracious a smile, 'tis a pleasure to look at it. What do I see in him?" added Alice with more emphasis, her pretty dimpled face lighted up with a wonderful animation. "I see in him the sweetest, bravest, comeliest, gallantest, noblest, wisest, worthiest, young gentleman ever saw I in all my days!"

Dame Elizabeth smiled, but said never a word.

"Then to hear his voice," continued her cousin, who had stopped only to take breath; "there can be no such music in this world. What mellowness it hath !what richness it hath !-what expressiveness it hath! O' my life! every other singing hath seemed to be the very absolutest paltry poor stuff ever attempted, since I heard Master Francis singing a love-ditty, sitting by himself under the elms in the park one midsummer noon. I shall never forget hiding behind the trees listening to that love-ditty. There was he lying of his length on the grass, looking as youthful and handsome as a very Cupid, resting of his head on his arm, whilst in the other hand he held an open book; and so filling the air with exquisite sweet melody that the very birds held themselves silent the better to hear his singing. Some time after this, upon pressing of him very much-for never knew I a creature of such exceeding shyness-I got him to sing me that loveditty when we were together in the grove, and methought it sounded more exquisite sweet than the time before. All the loveditties I had ever heard seemed such wretched paltry nonsense I would as soon have given my ears to a fool as listened to them; but what Master Francis sung, to say naught of the moving manner in which he gave it, was a love-ditty indeed. By my troth, I could listen to such the whole day long!"

Dame Elizabeth smiled again; and, as she had done before looked with a peculiar arch meaning in her beautiful coun

tenance.

"And then to hear how wisely he discourseth," added her pretty kinswoman with greater eagerness. "He hath spoken so of some little flower, its marvellous beauty, and wonderful excellent virtues,

that I would have given all I possessed to have been that little flower, that he might have spoken so eloquently of me. And he hath described to me on some fair night we have been taking of a moonlight walk, the bright stars that were shining over our heads, in language so choice and noble, and in a manner so earnest and moving, that many a time I have envied those bright stars for having such rare things said of them. But he discourseth not of flowers and stars alone in so admirable a style: there can not be a subject ever so profound, or a thing of ever so little account, that I have not known him dilate on with such bountiful store of learning it was a marvel to hear. Indeed, I do believe there is not so wise a man living."

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Wise man!" exclaimed Dame Elizabeth, archly. "Wise fiddlestick! In what is he wise? Doth he not talk admirably? So doth a parrot if he be well taught."

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Ah, Bess!" cried Alice, endeavoring to hide her confusion under an assumed carelessness. "I knew not Master Francis when I said that."

"Wise calf!" continued her companion, in the same humor. "Why there is more philosophy in a forked radish than ever you will find in your wise man."

"When I said that, I had not seen Master Francis," observed the other with increased embarrassment.

"And what be this same animal called man ?" added Dame Elizabeth, mimicking her cousin's voice as well as she could. "A thing to laugh at. A joke that goes upon two legs. A walking piece of provocation for women to break a jest upon."

So be all men but Master Francis," replied Alice, gravely.

"As for me," continued her kinswoman, "if there be any that would have me at mine own valuation, then shall they coin all the man's flesh that is above ground into rose nobles, and lack the greatest portion of what I would go for after all."

"I tell thee, Bess, I knew not Master Francis when I said these things,” answered the other, looking frowningly, as if she liked not to be reminded of them. If the sky were to rain lovers, I'd keep under shelter," said her cousin, in the same tone and manner.

"So I would ere I had known Master

Francis," replied Alice, sharply, and evidently getting to be a little out of temper with her cousin's raillery.

Nay, Alice-dear, sweet Alice!—I meant not to vex thee!" exclaimed her kinswoman affectionately, as she threw her arms round her neck; "I did it but to tease thee a little for having been so secret with me about this. And dost really love Master Francis?" inquired Dame Elizabeth, after she had succeeded in quieting this sudden burst of passion in her pretty cousin.

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"I do believe I love him right heartily," replied Alice, hiding her blushing face on the bosom of her companionfor she was no longer afraid or ashamed to acknowledge the truth.

"And how came it first about?" asked the other.

"Nay, I know not, for a certainty," answered her cousin. "Mayhap it was when I was so besieged by suitors upon their getting knowledge of what Aunt Dorothy had left me, I had him play the lover to me, to make the others jealous; and he played the lover in jest, so well, I had a mind he should play it in earnest." "A goodly beginning, o' my word!" exclaimed Dame Elizabeth, with a smile; “but hath he ever shown any such earnestness of affection thou didst desire to see in him?"

"From first to last-never, dear Bess," replied Alice, dejectedly; and that hath made me oft so dull at heart."

"And didst give him any sort of encouragement, Alice?" asked her companion. "Didst show him any sign of regard? Was it likely, from thy behavior, he could guess his company was not distasteful to thee?"

"I know not the encouragement I have not given him," answered the other. "I have shown him all sorts of signs-my behavior hath ever been of the kindest to him, whilst other suitors were used with extreme uncivilness. Yet all hath been to no manner of profit. He treateth me with a very gentlemanlike courtesy, certainly, but in every other thing appeareth as indifferent to me as is a beggar to the stocks. I never meet him save with a welcome smile, and he straightway accosts me with a bow. I ask affectionately how he hath fared of late, and he will reply by inquiring, with a

like affectionateness after my dog. I get him to talk of love, hoping it will embolden him to discourse lovingly to me; and thereupon he entertaineth me with a famous account of Æneas and Dido, or Hero and Leander, or some other people I would as lief hear of, as of my grandmother. This perfect carelessness, and monstrous lack of affection in him, doth make me fancy he hath given his heart to another; and that, dear Bess, driveth me into an utter despair."

"'Tis marvellous thou shouldst have gone on regarding him as thou hast done, and he so indifferent," observed Dame Elizabeth.

"O' my life, 'twas that which so provoked me," replied Alice. Had he addressed me with such fine phrases as had others, I doubt much I should have cared for him at all; but noting how insensible he was, let me do or say what I would, put me upon using greater efforts, and taking more interest in my endeavors, till he possessed all my thoughts, and I was no better off than at first."

"Thou hast played a very gambling game with thy affections, dear Alice," said her kinswoman, seriously; "thou hast lost a little, hoping to make a great gain; and kept losing till thou hast nothing more to stake. I would give thee comfort if I could: but, supposing Master Francis to be attached to some other, which looketh to be exceeding like, thou hast but a sorry prospect of it."

"Alack! say not so, sweet Bess!" cried Alice, very movingly.

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As far as mine own wishes go, I should like nothing better than to see Master Francis a lover of thine," added her cousin; "for I have marked what excellent good disposition he hath, and how rare a nature; and knowing Walter holdeth him in huge esteem, I can not think he would object to it in any way. I will acknowledge I have observed in him all the commendable qualities thou hast spoken of, and do take him to be as noble and gallant a young gentleman as any that breathes."

"Indeed is he," cried Alice, her eyes again becoming brilliant with animation, and her rosy-dimpled cheek expressing all its pleasantness, "hadst thou seen him as I have, and heard him as I have, thou wouldst say as I do there can not be another in the world like unto Master Francis."

"Possibly he thinketh his condition to be too low to allow him to have any thoughts of thee," continued her kinswo