her limbs slight, but exquisitely symmetrical; her features small, and cast in the most delicate mould; her eyes of the softest blue; and her hair luxuriant, and of the finest texture and richest brown.  Her other beauties must be left to the imagination; but it ought not to be omitted that she was barely eighteen, and had all the freshness, the innocence, and vivacity of that most charming period of woman’s existence.  No wonder she ravished every heart.  No wonder, in an age when love-making was more general even than now, that she was beset by admirers.  No wonder her father’s apprentice became desperately enamoured of her, and proportionately jealous.

And this brings us to his rival.  On the 10th of April, two gallants, both richly attired, and both young and handsome, dismounted before the grocer’s door, and, leaving their steeds to the care of their attendants, entered the shop.  They made sundry purchases of conserves, figs, and other dried fruit, chatted familiarly with the grocer, and tarried so long, that at last he began to suspect they must have some motive.  All at once, however, they disagreed on some slight matter—­Bloundel could not tell what, nor, perhaps, could the disputants, even if their quarrel was not preconcerted—­high words arose, and in another moment, swords were drawn, and furious passes exchanged.  The grocer called to his eldest son, a stout youth of nineteen, and to Leonard Holt, to separate them.  The apprentice seized his cudgel—­no apprentice in those days was without one—­and rushed towards the combatants, but before he could interfere, the fray was ended.  One of them had received a thrust through the sword arm, and his blade dropping, his antagonist declared himself satisfied, and with a grave salute walked off.  The wounded man wrapped a lace handkerchief round his arm, but immediately afterwards complained of great faintness.  Pitying his condition, and suspecting no harm, the grocer led him into an inner room, where restoratives were offered by Mrs. Bloundel and her daughter Amabel, both of whom had been alarmed by the noise of the conflict.  In a short time, the wounded man was so far recovered as to be able to converse with his assistants, especially the younger one; and the grocer having returned to the shop, his discourse became so very animated and tender, that Mrs. Bloundel deemed it prudent to give her daughter a hint to retire.  Amabel reluctantly obeyed, for the young stranger was so handsome, so richly dressed, had such a captivating manner, and so distinguished an air, that she was strongly prepossessed in his favour.  A second look from her mother, however, caused her to disappear, nor did she return.  After waiting with suppressed anxiety for some time, the young gallant departed, overwhelming the good dame with his thanks, and entreating permission to call again.  This was peremptorily refused, but, notwithstanding the interdiction, he came on the following day.  The grocer chanced to be out at the time, and the gallant, who had probably watched him go forth, deriding the remonstrances of the younger Bloundel and Leonard, marched straight to the inner room, where he found the dame and her daughter.  They were much disconcerted at his appearance, and the latter instantly rose with the intention of retiring, but the gallant caught her arm and detained her.