"Nay, I meant not to say they took every thing," replied Gregory Vellum, his voice faltering more as the other's grew the louder. "It was a mistake. Francis knew they took nothing. A good youth! an admirable sweet youth! I have been more than a father to him." "My money! my plate! my jewels! my papers!" thundered out the colonel. 66 "You-you-you shall have them, noble colonel,” cried the scrivener more tremulously than ever. They shall be safely restored to you anon. But there be certain charges, good sweet colonel-amounting mayhap to a matter of two hundred crowns or so, for my infinite pains, and labour, and honest stewardship". "Honest!" shouted his companion sarcastically. "Didst say honest? Honest stewardship ?-Honest devilship! Dost not blush at using such a word? Art not ashamed of thy villany? Why, thou abominable, cheating, pitiful old rogue! 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 dishonour 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 piecesbut 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." 66 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 given 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 a store of treasure. "Francis! Francis !" cried the old man very movingly, as soon as he noticed the entrance of his nephew, and was making towards him-"Sweet-excellent"What more he would have said I know not, but his utterance was at that mo ment completely stopped upon finding himself swung to the other end of the chamber. "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, "Seest 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 forebore 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 cannot 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. CHAPTER XII. To make some sire acknowledge his lost son, RETURNE FROM PARNASSUS.. How now? Even as quickly may one catch the plague, SHAKSPEARE. Where did I leave? No matter where, quoth he, IBID. "HEIGHO!" exclaimed Alice, as she sat at work with her cousin in her tiring-room at Sherborne. "What aileth thee, coz ?" inquired Dame Elizabeth, "it be something strange to hear thee sigh; yet of late 'tis a fashion thou hast taken to marvellously." "What I?" asked the other, in a seeming monstrous surprise. "What I sigh? Nay, Bess, that must be clean impossible. I'd be hanged if I'd sigh." And the merry Alice commenced very briskly humming of a tune, as if to show how careless of heart she was. 66 Nay, but I have noticed thee to be in a most sighing humour of late," continued her kinswoman, "and thou hast looked melancholy-hast ceased to be ever breaking of jests —and art monstrously given to solitary walks. Thou art the last person I should suspect of unreasonable sadness, and that thou art sad in reality I feel assured. Prythee tell me why thou art sad, Alice ?" "I tell thee I am not sad, coz," replied the other, attempting to laugh at the idea of such a thing. ""Tis an excellent good jest indeed to say I be given to sadness, and melancholy and solitary walks forsooth! By my troth, an infinite fine jest! Why, there cannot be so merry a cricket in the whole realm," and then she hummed her tune louder than before. "If thou art sad, it is not kind of thee to keep the cause of it from me, dear Alice," observed her companion affectionate ly. "Methinks too 'tis somewhat strange thou shouldest be sad at all at such a time as this-now that I am so exceeding happy." It may here be mentioned that Sir Walter having reconciled to each other my Lord of Essex and Sir Robert Cecil, and for his right gallant behaviour at the taking of Cadiz was called to court at the queen's express command, and had been restored to all his dignities and his place in the queen's favour. I marvel thou art not as happy as am I," 66 added Dame Elizabeth. "I am happy, dear Bess," answered her cousin, but there was a slight tremulousness in her voice that seemed to deny the truth of her statement. 66 Very happy-wonderfully 'happy." "It delighteth me to hear thee say so," said the other, "for I was beginning to fear thou wert vexing thyself at something or another. For mine own part there is nothing on this earth I care for possessing, now Walter hath again acquired the queen's countenance, which he lost by the nobleness of his behaviour to me, who but little deserved it of him; and though I was the cause of such deep mishap, never gave he me one cross look or impatient word, from first to last. Truly, a more kind husband fond woman was never blessed with; and to notice his extreme satisfaction now he is again all I wished him to be, giveth me such perfect pleasure as I never felt before. Surely there cannot be greater happiness than is enjoyed by Walter and I." Here Alice sighed again, and her pretty face looked singularly thoughtful and melancholy. 66 By my troth, there is another sigh !" exclaimed her cousin," and it came so from the heart, I am half inclined to think thou art in love." "In love!" cried her companion in some amazement, yet blushing up to her eyes the whilst she spoke. "In love, Bess? why what man animal thinkest thou I would be in love with?" "In truth I cannot say, dear Alice," answered the other, "for thou hast so turned thy lovers into ridicule, no man dare accost thee affectionately. Yet glad at heart should I be could I meet with some proper match for thee." "Dost Proper fiddlestick!" exclaimed Alice quickly. think I be such a firelock I cannot go off without a proper match? Well-Heaven help them that can't help themselves, say I. Matched quotha! am I a coach horse that I am to be 46 thought nothing of unless I have my fellow? or so odd a fish that like a sole I cannot be taken save as one of a pair ?" Nay, Alice," observed Dame Elizabeth more gravely; "this is the way thou hast ever treated the subject. If I press thee on the matter thou art sure to answer with a jest. I would thou wouldst grow more serious." 66 'Alack, Bess! how difficult it be to please thee," answered her cousin. "A moment since I was blamed for my gravity, and now I am rated for my mirth." There was a silence of some minutes after this. Mayhap Dame Elizabeth liked not the other's speech, and felt too hurt to reply; or, perchance, Alice found there was no more to say on the subject: however, let the cause be what it may, both plied their needles and held their prates, and Alice again got to look marvellous thoughtful and reserved. Presently she stopped in what she was doing of. "Dost not take Master Francis to be a most gentleman-like youth, sweet Bess?" inquired she. Immediately upon hearing of the question, her cousin fixed on her a glance of mingled wonder and curiousness; at the which Alice's eyes, albeit though she looked famously unconcerned, appeared to shrink a little. "Indeed he appeareth well enough," replied Dame Elizabeth in such a tone as seemed to show she thought not much of him. 66 "Well enough!" cried Alice, laying down her work, and darting a look at the other of extreme astonishment. 'Only well enough! I doubt much thou wilt find, search the world through, so proper-looking a gallant." 66 Why, what dost see in him, Alice?" asked her kinswoman carelessly 66 What do I not see in him?" replied her companion with increasing earnestness. "Didst ever see so noble a carriage? Dost note elsewhere limbs of such just proportion, or of such infinite gracefulness? Where canst meet with features so delicate and lovely? Doth not Sir Walter speak everlastingly of his 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 |