Dick, by mine honour!" He held his arms open, and the
lads embraced and kissed. "And, Dick," continued
Matcham, "my spirit bodeth ill. Y' are now to see a new
Sir Daniel; for heretofore hath all prospered in his hands
exceedingly, and fortune followed him; but now, methinks,
when his fate hath come upon him, and he runs the ad-
venture of his life, he will prove but a foul lord to both of
us. He may be brave in battle, but he hath the liar's eye;
there is fear in his eye, Dick, and fear is as cruel as the
wolf! We go down into that house, Saint Mary guide us
forth again!"

And so they continued their descent in silence, and
came out at last before Sir Daniel's forest stronghold,
where it stood, low and shady, flanked with round towers
and stained with moss and lichen, in the lilied waters of
the moat. Even as they appeared, the doors were opened,
the bridge lowered, and Sir Daniel himself, with Hatch
and the parson at his side, stood ready to receive them.

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