This Hob would not hear, and if he did, it produced a rough
imprecation on the pony, and a sharp cut with his switch.

They had crossed another burn, travelled through the moss, and
mounted to the brow of another hill, when, far away against the sky,
on the top of yet another height, were to be seen moving figures, not
cattle, but Anne recognised them at once. 'Men-at-arms! archers!
lances! A search party for me! The Prioress must have sent to the
Warden's tower.'

'Off with thee, lad!' said Hob, at once turning round upon Hal.
'I'll not have thee lingering to gape at the men-at-arms! Off I say,
or--'

He raised his stout staff as though to beat the boy, who looked up in
his face with a laugh, as if in very little alarm at his threat,
smiled up in the young lady's face, and as she held out her hand with
'Farewell, Hal; I'll keep your rose-leaves in my breviary,' he bent
over and kissed the fingers.

'How now! This impudence passes! As if thou wert of the same blood
as the damsel!' exclaimed Hob in considerable anger, bringing down
his stick. 'Away with thee, ill-bred lubber! Back to thy sheep,
thou lazy loiterer! Get thee gone and thy whelp with thee!'

Hal obeyed, though not without a parting grin at Anne, and had sped
away down the side of the hill, among the hollies and birches, which
entirely concealed him and the bounding puppy.

Hob went on in a gruff tone: 'The insolence of these loutish lads!