his debts and keep him out of the spunging house, for to that he will
come if he does not play his cards with skill."

Sir Jeoffry looked at her askance and rubbed his red chin.

"I wish thou hadst liked him, Clo," he said, "and ye had both had
fortunes to match. I love the fellow, and ye would have made a handsome
pair."

Mistress Clorinda laughed, sitting straight in her saddle, her fine eyes
unblenching, though the sun struck them.

"We had fortunes to match," she said--"I was a beggar and he was a
spendthrift. Here comes Lord Dunstanwolde."

And as the gentleman rode near, it seemed to his dazzled eyes that the
sun so shone down upon her because she was a goddess and drew it from the
heavens.

In the west wing of the Hall 'twas talked of between Mistress Wimpole and
her charges, that a rumour of Sir John Oxon's marriage was afloat.

"Yet can I not believe it," said Mistress Margery; "for if ever a
gentleman was deep in love, though he bitterly strove to hide it, 'twas
Sir John, and with Mistress Clorinda."

"But she," faltered Anne, looking pale and even agitated--"she was always
disdainful to him and held him at arm's length. I--I wished she would
have treated him more kindly."