‘I am so hungry!’ said the little lady, in a weak, famished tone.  ‘Hast aught to eat?’

‘I have finished my wallet, more’s the pity!’ said the boy, ’but never fear!  Hold out but a few steps more, and Mother Doll will give thee bite and sup and bed.’

‘Alack!  Is it much further!  My feet! they are so sore and weary—­’

‘Poor maiden, let me bear thee on!’

Hal took her up again, but they went more slowly, and were glad to see a tall figure before them, and hear the cry, ’How now, Hal boy, where hast been?  What hast thou there?’

’A sorely weary little lady, Daddy Hob, lost from the hawking folk from the Priory,’ responded Hal, panting a little as he set his burthen down, and Hob’s stronger arms received her.

Hal next asked whether the flock had come back under charge of Piers, and was answered that all were safely at home, and after ’telling the tale’ Hob had set out to find him.  ‘Thou shouldst not stray so far,’ he said.

‘I heard the maid cry, and went after her,’ said Hal, ’all the way to the Blackreed Moss, and the springs, and ’twas hard getting over the swamp.’

‘Well indeed ye were not both swallowed in it,’ said Hob; ’God be praised for bringing you through!  Poor wee bairn!  Thou hast come far!  From whence didst say?’

‘From Greystone Priory,’ wearily said the girl, who had her head down on Hob’s shoulder, and seemed ready to fall asleep there.

’Her horse fell with her, and they were too bent on their sport to heed her,’ explained the boy, as he trudged along beside Hob and his charge, ‘so she wandered on foot till by good hap I heard her moan.’

‘Ay, there will be a rare coil to-night for having missed her,’ said Hob; ’but I’ve heard tell, my Lady Prioress heeds her hawks more than her nuns!  But be she who she may, we’ll have her home, and Mother Doll shall see to her, for she needs it sure, poor bairn.  She is asleep already.’

So she was, with her head nestled into the shepherd’s neck, nor did she waken when after a tramp of more than a mile the bleatings of the folded sheep announced that they were nearly arrived, and in the low doorway there shone a light, and in the light stood a motherly form, in a white woollen hood and dark serge dress.  Tired as he was, Hal ran on to her, exclaiming ‘All well, Mammy Doll?’

‘Ah well!’ she answered, ’thank the good God!  I was in fear for thee, my boy!  What’s that Daddy hath?  A strayed lamb?’

’Nay, Mammy, but a strayed maiden!  ’Twas that kept me so long.  I had to bear her through the burn at Blackreed, and drag her on as best I might, and she is worn out and weary.’

‘Ay,’ said Hob, as he came up.  ‘How now, my bit lassie?’ as he put her into the outstretched arms of his wife, who sat down on the settle to receive her, still not half awake.

‘She is well-nigh clemmed,’ said Hal.  ’She has had no bite nor sup all day, since her pony fell with her out a-hawking, and all were so hot on the chase that none heeded her.’