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〃Well； if I must；〃 said Jack； 〃but it's desperate hard that because you can't keep faith without these barbarous oaths； I must take them too； that have kept faith these three years without any。〃
At this pathetic appeal Frank nearly melted： but Amyas and Cary had thrust the victim into a chair and all was prepared for the sacrifice。
〃Bind his eyes； according to the classic fashion；〃 said Will。
〃Oh no； dear Mr。 Cary； I'll shut them tight enough； I warrant： but not with your dagger； dear Mr。 Williamsure； not with your dagger？ I can't afford to lose blood； though I do look lustyI can't indeed； sure； a pin would doI've got one here； to my sleeve； somewhereOh！〃
〃See the fount of generous juice！ Flow on； fair stream。 How he bleeds！pints； quarts！ Ah； this proves him to be in earnest！〃
〃A true lover's blood is always at his fingers' ends。〃
〃He does not grudge it； of course not。 Eh； Jack？ What matters an odd gallon for her sake？〃
〃For her sake？ Nothing； nothing！ Take my life； if you will： but oh； gentlemen； a surgeon； if you love me！ I'm going offI 'm fainting！〃
〃Drink； then； quick； drink and swear！ Pat his back； Cary。 Courage； man！ it will be over in a minute。 Now； Frank！〃
And Frank spoke
〃If plighted troth I fail； or secret speech reveal； May Cocytean ghosts around my pillow squeal； While Ate's brazen claws distringe my spleen in sunder； And drag me deep to Pluto's keep； 'mid brimstone； smoke； and thunder！〃
〃Placetne； domine？〃
〃Placet！〃 squeaked Jack； who thought himself at the last gasp； and gulped down full three…quarters of the goblet which Cary held to his lips。
〃UghAhPuh！ Mercy on us！ It tastes mighty like wine！〃
〃A proof； my virtuous brother；〃 said Frank； 〃first； of thy abstemiousness； which has thus forgotten what wine tastes like； and next； of thy pure and heroical affection； by which thy carnal senses being exalted to a higher and supra…lunar sphere； like those Platonical daemonizomenoi and enthusiazomenoi （of whom Jamblichus says that they were insensible to wounds and flame； and much more； therefore； to evil savors）； doth make even the most nauseous draught redolent of that celestial fragrance； which proceeding； O Jack！ from thine own inward virtue； assimilates by sympathy even outward accidents unto its own harmony and melody； for fragrance is； as has been said well； the song of flowers； and sweetness； the music of applesAhem！ Go in peace； thou hast conquered！〃
〃Put him out of the door； Will；〃 said Amyas； 〃or he will swoon on our hands。〃
〃Give him some sack；〃 said Frank。
〃Not a blessed drop of yours； sir；〃 said Jack。 〃I like good wine as well as any man on earth； and see as little of it； but not a drop of yours； sirs； after your frumps and flouts about hanging…on and trencher…scraping。 When I first began to love her； I bid good… bye to all dirty tricks； for I had some one then for whom to keep myself clean。〃
And so Jack was sent home； with a pint of good red Alicant wine in him （more； poor fellow； than he had tasted at once in his life before）； while the rest； in high glee with themselves and the rest of the world； relighted the candles； had a right merry evening； and parted like good friends and sensible gentlemen of devon； thinking （all except Frank） Jack Brimblecombe and his vow the merriest jest they had heard for many a day。 After which they all departed： Amyas and Cary to Winter's squadron； Frank （as soon as he could travel） to the Court again； and with him young Basset； whose father Sir Arthur； being in London； procured for him a page's place in Leicester's household。 Fortescue and Chicester went to their brothers in Dublin； St。 Leger to his uncle the Marshal of Munster； Coffin joined Champernoun and Norris in the Netherlands； and so the Brotherhood of the Rose was scattered far and wide； and Mistress Salterne was left alone with her looking…glass。
CHAPTER IX
HOW AMYAS KEPT HIS CHRISTMAS DAY
〃Take aim； you noble musqueteers； And shoot you round about； Stand to it； valiant pikemen； And we shall keep them out。 There's not a man of all of us A foot will backward flee； I'll be the foremost man in fight； Says brave Lord Willoughby！〃
Elizabethan Ballad。
It was the blessed Christmas afternoon。 The light was fading down； the even…song was done； and the good folks of Bideford were trooping home in merry groups； the father with his children； the lover with his sweetheart； to cakes and ale； and flapdragons and mummer's plays； and all the happy sports of Christmas night。 One lady only； wrapped close in her black muffler and followed by her maid； walked swiftly； yet sadly； toward the long causeway and bridge which led to Northam town。 Sir Richard Grenville and his wife caught her up and stopped her courteously。
〃You will come home with us； Mrs。 Leigh；〃 said Lady Grenville； 〃and spend a pleasant Christmas night？〃
Mrs。 Leigh smiled sweetly； and laying one hand on Lady Grenville's arm； pointed with the other to the westward； and said：
〃I cannot well spend a merry Christmas night while that sound is in my ears。〃
The whole party around looked in the direction in which she pointed。 Above their heads the soft blue sky was fading into gray； and here and there a misty star peeped out： but to the westward； where the downs and woods of Raleigh closed in with those of Abbotsham； the blue was webbed and turfed with delicate white flakes； iridescent spots； marking the path by which the sun had sunk； showed all the colors of the dying dolphin； and low on the horizon lay a long band of grassy green。 But what was the sound which troubled Mrs。 Leigh？ None of them； with their merry hearts； and ears dulled with the din and bustle of the town； had heard it till that moment： and yet nowlisten！ It was dead calm。 There was not a breath to stir a blade of grass。 And yet the air was full of sound； a low deep roar which hovered over down and wood； salt…marsh and river； like the roll of a thousand wheels； the tramp of endless armies； orwhat it wasthe thunder of a mighty surge upon the boulders of the pebble ridge。
〃The ridge is noisy to…night；〃 said Sir Richard。 〃There has been wind somewhere。〃
〃There is wind now； where my boy is； God help him！〃 said Mrs。 Leigh： and all knew that she spoke truly。 The spirit of the Atlantic storm had sent forward the token of his coming； in the smooth ground…swell which was heard inland； two miles away。 To… morrow the pebbles； which were now rattling down with each retreating wave； might be leaping to the ridge top； and hurled like round…shot far ashore upon the marsh by the force of the advancing wave； fleeing before the wrath of the western hurricane。
〃God help my boy！〃 said Mrs。 Leigh again。
〃God is as near him by sea as by land；〃 said good Sir Richard。
〃True； but I am a lone mother； and one that has no heart just now but to go home and pray。〃
And so Mrs。 Leigh went onward up the lane； and spent all that night in listening between her prayers to the thunder of the surge； till it was drowned； long ere the sun rose； in the thunder of the storm。
And where is Amyas on this same Christmas afternoon？
Amyas is sitting b