pray thee to tell me why I am called Sir John. Adam is my baptismal
name."

"Ha! ha! good--very good, your honour--to be sure, and your father's
name before you. We are all sons of Adam, and every son, I trow, has
a just right and a lawful to his father's name."

With that, followed by the housekeeper, the honest landlord, chuckling
heartily, rolled his goodly bulk from the chamber, which he carefully
locked.

"Comprehendest thou yet, Sibyll?"

"Yes, dear sir and father, they mistake us for fugitives of mark and
importance; and when they discover their error, no doubt we shall go
free. Courage, dear father!"

"Me seemeth," quoth Adam, almost merrily, as the good man filled his
cup from the wine flagon, "me seemeth that, if the mistake could
continue, it would be no weighty misfortune; ha! ha!" He stopped
abruptly in the unwonted laughter, put down the cup; his face fell.
"Ah, Heaven forgive me!--and the poor Eureka and faithful Madge!"

"Oh, Father! fear not; we are not without protection. Lord Hastings
is returned to London,--we will seek him; he will make our cruel
neighbours respect thee. And Madge--poor Madge!--will be so happy at
our return, for they could not harm her,--a woman, old and alone; no,
no, man is not fierce enough for that."

"Let us so pray; but thou eatest not, child."