lords, and despises us bold lasses?"

"Alack! master and the damsel have gone hours ago! I am alone in the
house; what's your will?"

"The crone looks parlous witchlike!" said Tim's father; crossing
himself, and somewhat retreating from her gray, unquiet eyes. And,
indeed, poor Madge, with her wrinkled face, bony form, and high cap,
corresponded far more with the vulgar notions of a dabbler in the
black art than did Adam Warner, with his comely countenance and noble
mien.

"So she doth, indeed, and verily," said a hump-backed tinker; "if we
were to try a dip in the horsepool yonder it could do no harm."

"Away with her, away!" cried several voices at that humane suggestion.

"Nay, nay," quoth the baker, "she is a douce creature after all, and
hath dealt with me many years. I don't care what becomes of the
wizard,--every one knows," he added with pride, "that I was one of the
first to set fire to his house when Robin gainsayed it! but right's
right--burn the master, not the drudge!"

This intercession might have prevailed, but unhappily, at that moment
Graul Skellet, who had secured two stout fellows to accomplish the
object so desired by Friar Bungey, laid hands on the model, and, at
her shrill command, the men advanced and dislodged it from its place.
At the same tine the other tymbesteres, caught by the sight of things
pleasing to their wonted tastes, threw themselves, one upon the faded
robe Sibyll's mother had worn in her chaste and happy youth; another,