and who stood still, though he seemed to keep out of reach of the
light. "Come, step forward, my friend, and do not play at bo peep;
knowest thou not, that they who walk like phantoms in the dark are
apt to encounter the conjuration of a quarterstaff? Step forward,
I say, and show us thy shapes, man."

"Why, so I can, Master Glover," said one of the deepest voices that
ever answered question. "I can show my shapes well enough, only I
wish they could bear the light something better."

"Body of me," exclaimed Simon, "I should know that voice! And is
it thou, in thy bodily person, Harry Gow? Nay, beshrew me if thou
passest this door with dry lips. What, man, curfew has not rung
yet, and if it had, it were no reason why it should part father
and son. Come in, man; Dorothy shall get us something to eat, and
we will jingle a can ere thou leave us. Come in, I say; my daughter
Kate will be right glad to see thee."

By this time he had pulled the person, whom he welcomed so cordially,
into a sort of kitchen, which served also upon ordinary occasions
the office of parlour. Its ornaments were trenchers of pewter,
mixed with a silver cup or two, which, in the highest degree of
cleanliness, occupied a range of shelves like those of a beauffet,
popularly called "the bink." A good fire, with the assistance of a
blazing lamp, spread light and cheerfulness through the apartment,
and a savoury smell of some victuals which Dorothy was preparing
did not at all offend the unrefined noses of those whose appetite
they were destined to satisfy.

Their unknown attendant now stood in full light among them, and