of Joan, he set forth on foot to walk away his impa-
tience.

For some while he made rounds among the soldiery,
who were getting to arms in the wintry twilight of the
dawn and by the red glow of torches; but gradually he
strolled further afield, and at length passed clean beyond
the outposts, and walked alone in the frozen forest, waiting
for the sun.

His thoughts were both quiet and happy. His brief
favour with the Duke he could not find it in his heart to
mourn; with Joan to wife, and my Lord Foxham for a
faithful patron, he looked most happily upon the future;
and in the past he found but little to regret.

As he thus strolled and pondered, the solemn light of
the morning grew more clear, the east was already coloured
by the sun, and a little scathing wind blew up the frozen
snow. He turned to go home; but even as he turned,
his eye lit upon a figure behind a tree.

"Stand!" he cried. "Who goes?"

The figure stepped forth and waved its hand like a dumb
person. It was arrayed like a pilgrim, the hood lower-
ed over the face, but Dick, in an instant, recognized Sir
Daniel.

He strode up to him, drawing his sword; and the
knight, putting his hand in his bosom, as if to seize a hid-
den weapon, steadfastly awaited his approach.

"Well, Dickon," said Sir Daniel, "how is it to be? Do
ye make war upon the fallen?"

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