done for--O man, had you not come I--I should have killed him,
maid though I am! See, here is the dagger I snatched from his
girdle as he strove with me. O, take it--take it!" And, with a
passionate gesture, she thrust the weapon into my grasp.

"O madam--my lady!" cried her companion, "Look, yonder be lights
--lanthorns aflare on the road. 'Tis Gregory as I do think, with
folk come to seek for us. Shall we go meet them?"

"Nay wait, child--first let us be sure!" So side by side we
stood all three amid the dripping trees, watching the tossing
lights that grew ever nearer until we might hear the voices of
those that bare them, raised, ever and anon, in confused
shouting.

"Aye, 'tis Gregory!" sighed my lady after some while. "He hath
raised the village and we are safe--"

"Hark!" cried I, starting forward. "What name do they cry upon?"

"Mine, sir!"

"Oho, my lady!" roared the hoarse chorus. "Oho, my Lady Joan--my
Lady Brandon--Brandon--Brandon!"

"Brandon!" cried I, choking upon the word.

"Indeed, sir--I am the Lady Joan Brandon of Shene Manor, and so
long as life be mine needs must I bear within my grateful heart
the memory of--"