CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF THE HOME-COMING TO HAMPSHIRE.

cewithhishandsout-stretched,andhisfaceshining,andthelightofloveinhisgrayeyes.Herfootisontheverylintelofthechurch,andyethebarstheway—andshe,shethinksnomoreofthewisewordsandholyredeoftheladyabbess,butshehathgivenasobbingcryandhathfallenforwardwithhisarmsaroundherdroopingbodyandherwetcheekuponhisbreast.Asorrysightthisforthegauntabbess,anilllessontooforthestainlesstwo-and-twentywhohaveeverbeentaughtthatthewayofnatureisthewayofsin.ButMaudeandAlleynecarelittleforthis.Adank,coldaircomesoutfromtheblackarchbeforethem.Without,thesunshinesbrightandthebirdsaresingingamidtheivyonthedroopingbeeches.Theirchoiceismade,andtheyturnawayhand-in-hand,withtheirbackstothedarknessandtheirfacestothelight. VeryquietwastheweddingintheoldpriorychurchatChristchurch,whereFatherChristopherreadtheservice,andtherewerefewtoseesavetheLadyLoringandJohn,andadozenbowmenfromthecastle.TheLadyofTwynhamhaddroopedandpinedforwearymonths,sothatherfacewasharsherandlesscomelythanbefore,yetshestillhopedon,forherlordhadcomethroughsomanydangersthatshecouldscarcebelievethathemightbestrickendownatlast.IthadbeenherwishtostartforSpainandtosearchforhim,butAlleynehadpersuadedhertolethimgoinherplace.Therewasmuchtolookafter,nowthatthelandsofMinsteadwerejoinedtothoseofTwynham,andAlleynehadpromisedherthatifshewouldbutbidewithhiswifehewouldnevercomebacktoHampshireagainuntilhehadgainedsomenews,goodorill,ofherlordandlover. Theyellowcoghadbeenengaged,withGoodwinHawtayneincommand,andamonthaftertheweddingAlleynerodedowntoBucklershardtoseeifshehadcomeroundyetfromSouthampton.OnthewayhepassedthefishingvillageofPitt'sDeep,andmarkedthatalittlecreyerorbrigwastackingofftheland,asthoughabouttoanchorthere.Onhiswayback,asherodetowardsthevillage,hesawthatshehadindeedanchored,andthatmanyboatswereroundher,bearingcargototheshore. Abow-shotfromPitt'sDeeptherewasaninnalittlebackfromtheroad,verylargeandwide-spread,withagreatgreenbushhunguponapolefromoneoftheupperwindows.Atthiswindowhemarked,asherodeup,thatamanwasseatedwhoappearedtobecraninghisneckinhisdirection.Alleynewasstilllookingupathim,whenawomancamerushingfromtheopendooroftheinn,andmadeasthoughshewouldclimbatree,lookingbackthewhilewithalaughingface.Wonderingwhatthesedoingsmightmean,Alleynetiedhishorsetoatree,andwaswalkingamidthetrunkstowardstheinn,whenthereshotfromtheentranceasecondwomanwhomadealsoforthetrees.Closeatherheelscameaburly,brown-facedman,wholeanedagainstthedoor-postandlaughedloudlywithhishandtohisside,“Ah,mesbelles!”hecried,“andisitthusyoutreatme?Ah,mespetites!Iswearbythesefinger-bonesthatIwouldnothurtahairofyourprettyheadsbutIhavebeenamongtheblackpaynim,and,bymyhilt!itdoesmegoodtolookatyourEnglishcheeks.Come,drinkastoupofmuscadinewithme,mesanges,formyheartiswarmtobeamongyeagain.” AtthesightofthemanAlleynehadstoodstaring,butatthesoundofhisvoicesuchathrillofjoybubbledupinhisheartthathehadtobitehisliptokeephimselffromshoutingoutright.Butadeeperpleasureyetwasinstore.Evenashelooked,thewindowabovewaspushedoutwards,andthevoiceofthemanwhomhehadseentherecameoutfromit.“Aylward,”criedt