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service of the French ambassador's wife。 A gasp of admiration went up from the crowd。 My lord's rapier was out； the hand that held it shaking with passion。 I had my blade in my hand； but the point was upon the ground。 〃I'll lesson you； you madman！〃 he said thickly。 Suddenly； without any warning； he thrust at me； had he been less blind with rage； the long score which each was to run up against the other might have ended where it began。 I swerved； and the next instant with my own point sent his rapier whirling。 It fell at the Governor's feet。
〃Your lordship may pick it up；〃 I remarked。 〃Your grasp is as firm as your honor； my lord。〃
He glared at me； foam upon his lips。 Men were between us now； … the Governor； Francis West； Master Pory； Hamor； Wynne； … and a babel of excited voices arose。 The diversion I had aimed to make had been made with a vengeance。 West had me by the arm。 〃What a murrain is all this coil about； Ralph Percy？ If you hurt hair of his head； you are lost！〃
The favorite broke from the Governor's detaining hand and conciliatory speech。
〃You'll fight； sir？〃 he cried hoarsely。
〃You know that I need not now； my lord；〃 I answered。
He stamped upon the ground with rage and shame； not true shame for that foul thrust； but shame for the sword upon the grass； for that which could be read in men's eyes； strive to hide it as they might； for the open scorn upon one face。 Then； during the minute or more in which we faced each other in silence； he exerted to some effect that will of which he had boasted。 The scarlet faded from his face； his frame steadied； and he forced a smile。 Also he called to his aid a certain soldierly； honest…seeming frankness of speech and manner which he could assume at will。
〃Your Virginian sunshine dazzleth the eyes； sir；〃 he said。 〃Of a verity it made me think you on guard。 Forgive me my mistake。〃
I bowed。 〃Your lordship will find me at your service。 I lodge at the minister's house； where your lordship's messenger will find me。 I am going there now with my wife； who hath ridden a score of miles this morning and is weary。 We give you good…day； my lord。〃
I bowed to him again and to the Governor； then gave my hand to Mistress Percy。 The crowd opening before us； we passed through it； and crossed the parade by the west bulwark。 At the further end was a bit of rising ground。 This we mounted； then； before descending the other side into the lane leading to the minister's house； we turned as by one impulse and looked back。 Life is like one of those endless Italian corridors； painted； picture after picture； by a master hand； and man is the traveler through it； taking his eyes from one scene but to rest them upon another。 Some remain a blur in his mind； some he remembers not； for some he has but to close his eyes and he sees them again； line for line； tint for tint； the whole spirit of the piece。 I close my eyes； and I see the sunshine hot and bright； the blue of the skies； the sheen of the river。 The sails are white again upon boats long lost； the Santa Teresa； sunk in a fight with an Algerine rover two years afterward； rides at anchor there forever in the James； her crew in the waist and the rigging； her master and his mates on the poop； above them the flag。 I see the plain at our feet and the crowd beyond； all staring with upturned faces； and standing out from the group of perplexed and wondering dignitaries a man in black and scarlet； one hand busy at his mouth； the other clenched upon the newly restored and unsheathed sword。 And I see； standing on the green hillock； hand in hand； us two； myself and the woman so near to me； and yet so far away that a common enemy seemed our only tie。
We turned and descended to the green lane and the deserted houses。 When we were quite hidden from those we had left on the bank below the fort； she dropped my hand and moved to the other side of the lane； and thus； with never a word to spare； we walked sedately on until we reached the minister's house。
CHAPTER IX IN WHICH TWO DRINK OF ONE CUP
WAITING for us in the doorway we found Master Jeremy Sparrow； relieved of his battered armor； his face wreathed with hospitable smiles； and a posy in his hand。
〃When the Spaniard turned out to be only the King's minion； I slipped away to see that all was in order；〃 he said genially。 〃Here are roses； madam； that you are not to treat as you did those others。〃
She took them from him with a smile； and we went into the house to find three fair large rooms； something bare of furnishing； but clean and sweet； with here and there a bow pot of newly gathered flowers； a dish of wardens on the table； and a cool air laden with the fragrance of the pine blowing through the open window。
〃This is your demesne；〃 quoth the minister。 〃I have worthy Master Bucke's own chamber upstairs。 Ah； good man； I wish he may quickly recover his strength and come back to his own； and so relieve me of the burden of all this luxury。 I； whom nature meant for an eremite； have no business in kings' chambers such as these。〃
His devout faith in his own distaste for soft living and his longings after a hermit's cell was an edifying spectacle。 So was the evident pride which he took in his domain； the complacence with which he pointed out the shady； well…stocked garden； and the delight with which he produced and set upon the table a huge pasty and a flagon of wine。
〃It is a fast day with me；〃 he said。 〃I may neither eat nor drink until the sun goes down。 The flesh is a strong giant； very full of pride and lust of living； and the spirit must needs keep watch and ward； seizing every opportunity to mortify and deject its adversary。 Goodwife Allen is still gaping with the crowd at the fort； and your man and maid have not yet come； but I shall be overhead if you need aught。 Mistress Percy must want rest after her ride。〃
He was gone； leaving us two alone together。 She stood opposite me； beside the window； from which she had not moved since entering the room。 The color was still in her cheeks； the light in her eyes； and she still held the roses with which Sparrow had heaped her arms。 I was moving to the table。
〃Wait！〃 she said； and I turned toward her again。
〃Have you no questions to ask？〃 she demanded。
I shook my head。 〃None； madam。〃
〃I was the King's ward！〃 she cried。
I bowed； but spoke no word； though she waited for me。
〃If you will listen；〃 she said at last； proudly； and yet with a pleading sweetness； … 〃if you will listen； I will tell you how it was that I … that I came to wrong you so。〃
〃I am listening； madam；〃 I replied。
She stood against the light； the roses pressed to her bosom； her dark eyes upon me； her head held high。 〃My mother died when I was born； my father； years ago。 I was the King's ward。 While the Queen lived she kept me with her； … she loved me； I think； and the King too was kind； … would have me sing to him； and would talk to me about witchcraft and the Scriptures； and how rebellion to a king is rebellion to God。 When I was sixteen； and he tendered me marriage with a Scotch lord； I； who loved the gentleman not； never having seen him； prayed the King to take the value of my marriage and leave me my freedom。 He was so good to me then tha