Beatrix of Clare

"The parole is lifted," she said. "Will you put me up?"

With his sound arm he swung her into saddle--and with Rollo in advance and him beside her they went slowly back to Windsor. And now he did the talking--telling first the story of the outlaws.

When the towers of the huge castle showed afar through the trees, De Lacy halted.

"Would you deem me rude if I went no further with you?" he asked.

She smiled kindly. "On the contrary, I would deem you very wise."

"I care not to proclaim my adventure with the outlaws. It would make me a merry jest in the hall."

"I understand--and yet, wounded and without bonnet or doublet, you will not pass unnoted; an explanation will be obligatory."

"The wound is easy," he said; "my own dagger made it, you remember--but the doublet and bonnet, particularly the doublet, are bothersome."

She looked at him wit