“Nay, Master Manners, listen.  Thou art to be a musician for the once, and must join the minstrels in the gallery.”

“In the banqueting-room!  Then I must seek a fresh disguise,” he said.  “Hey, Lettice, I would it were night already, the day will drag wearily enough for me, I trow; but I shall look for my reward to-night.  Thou art sure of what thou hast told me, Lettice, for were she to refuse me after all, it were hard indeed!”

“Trust me, I am not like to be deceived; she wears her heart upon her sleeve.  Unless she changes, I have told thee aright, but my lady never changes in her love.  Ah, me, I shall lose my mistress soon, and I am sad to think of it.”

“Nay, Lettice,” interposed Manners, “thou shalt marry honest Will, and he shall be my chamberlain.  Thou shalt be near Dorothy yet.”

The maid’s countenance flushed with joy at the prospect of such bliss.

“That were happiness, indeed,” she cried, “for or!  Master Manners, I love her; I cannot help it—­who could?  I love her dearly; to part from her—­”

“Aye,” interrupted Manners, “who could help it indeed.  Tell her I shall see her, I shall be there.”

“And if it be ‘yes,’ my mistress will drop her fan upon the floor,” went on Lettice; “but if the answer is ‘no’ she will tie a black ribbon on it.  Thou must watch well, but it will surely fall.”

“Amen,” said Manners.  “Then I should be the happiest man on all the earth.”

“But happen my lady will not be there,” the maid went on.

The lover groaned at the thought, and interrupted the maiden by so doing.

“Well, then,” she continued, “either will I give thee a letter, or, if that cannot be, thou must go to Bakewell Church to-morrow eve, and thou shalt find the letter squeezed behind the font.  But there, I must away; the day will pass all too quickly for me, for I have much to do.”

“Stay,” he exclaimed, and plucking a sprig of holly from the bush which grew beside the door, he placed it in the maiden’s hand.

“Give her this,” he said, “and tell her it came from me.  Bid her keep a stout heart within her; she must smile to-night.”

Lettice took the little bunch of green and red, and making a reverential curtsey to her lady’s lover, she hastened away towards the Hall; and, as Manners watched her retreating figure, he saw the form of a man step out from among the bushes and join her company.  It was her lover, who had waited with an anxious heart to discover the effect of the promised mediation.

True to his promise, Manners presented himself at the appointed time at the door of the orchestra, though not without inward misgivings as to the character of the reception in store for him.  He need, however, have had no apprehension on that score, for everything had been conveniently arranged.  The leader of the musicians (they were principally hired Derby men) had been bribed, and when the esquire presented himself for admittance he was warmly greeted.