“An ey’m glad to see yo, Alizon,” replied the little girl.  “Jem has towd me whot a grand partner you’re to ha’ this e’en.”  And, she added, with playful malice, “Who was wrong whon she said the queen could choose Master Richard—­”

“Hush, Jennet, not a word more,” interrupted Alizon, blushing.

“Oh! ey dunna mean to vex ye, ey’m sure,” replied Jennet.  “Ey’ve got a present for ye.”

“A present for me, Jennet,” cried Alizon; “what is it?”

“A beautiful white dove,” replied the little girl.

“A white dove!  Where did you get it?  Let me see it,” cried Alizon, in a breath.

“Here it is,” replied Jennet, opening her kirtle.

“A beautiful bird, indeed,” cried Alizon.  “Take care of it for me till I come home.”

“Which winna be till late, ey fancy,” rejoined Jennet, roguishly.  “Ah!” she added, uttering a cry.

The latter exclamation was occasioned by the sudden flight of the dove, which, escaping from her hold, soared aloft.  Jennet followed the course of its silver wings, as they cleaved the blue sky, and then all at once saw a large hawk, which apparently had been hovering about, swoop down upon it, and bear it off.  Some white feathers fell down near the little girl, and she picked up one of them and put it in her breast.

“Poor bird!” exclaimed the May Queen.

“Eigh, poor bird!” echoed Jennet, tearfully.  “Ah, ye dunna knoa aw, Alizon.”

“Weel, there’s neaw use whimpering abowt a duv,” observed Jem, gruffly.  “Ey’n bring ye another t’ furst time ey go to Cown.”

“There’s nah another bird like that,” sobbed the little girl.  “Shoot that cruel hawk fo’ me, Jem, win ye.”

“How conney wench, whon its flown away?” he replied.  “Boh ey’n rob a hawk’s neest fo ye, if that’ll do os weel.”

“Yo dunna understand me, Jem,” replied the child, sadly.

At this moment, the music, which had ceased while some arrangements were made, commenced a very lively tune, known as “Round about the May-pole,” and Robin Hood, taking the May Queen’s hand, led her towards the pole, and placing her near it, the whole of her attendants took hands, while a second circle was formed by the morris-dancers, and both began to wheel rapidly round her, the music momently increasing in spirit and quickness.  An irresistible desire to join in the measure seized some of the lads and lasses around, and they likewise took hands, and presently a third and still wider circle was formed, wheeling gaily round the other two.  Other dances were formed here and there, and presently the whole green was in movement.

“If you come off heart-whole to-night, Dick, I shall be surprised,” observed Nicholas, who with his young relative had approached as near the May-pole as the three rounds of dancers would allow them.

Richard Assheton made no reply, but glanced at the pink which he had placed in his doublet.