The excitement, which had simmered before, now suddenly became
intense, and away went lord and lady, knight and esquire, over wall
and ditch, in their eagerness to keep up with the hunt.

Dorothy had not flown her bird, for she had noticed that Master
Manners was without a hawk, and now she sent it forward to him by her
page, and waited with a beating heart to learn whether her offer had
been accepted.

Manners himself came back and thanked her.

"But marry, fair Mistress Vernon," said he, "I could no more rob you
of your bird than I could steal away your beauty or take possession of
your heart."

"Nay, now," replied Dorothy, not paying the proper amount of regard to
the truth, "I am already for-wearied of the hawking; and it were more
to my taste to follow on in a more leisurely fashion," she added,
seeing that he was about to refuse. "St. George is a good bird, and is
anxious to try a flight; and thou art a stranger, too; thou must take
it," and she placed the merlin on his wrist.

Manners had never felt more embarrassed in the course of his life,
and, ready-witted though he was, he found himself at a loss how to
reply. Before he had collected his scattered senses, Dorothy had
gone, and he, left alone, was a long way in the rear. The horns of the
hunters, which were continually sounding, proved a sufficient guide,
and being nimble of foot, he started off in great haste to rejoin the
party, which was now well out of sight.