The story telling how she accomplished this has been told in many varying forms, but in the following pages the writer has sought to incorporate the essence of nearly all the legends, concerning not only Dorothy, but also of Sir George Vernon. A considerable amount of fresh matter has been introduced, and, without unduly intruding the dry facts of history, a few of the great events and persons of the time have been pressed into service; whilst at the same time, some of the old English customs of the days of "Good Queen Bess" have been made to serve the purpose of the narrative. W.E.D. CONTENTS. CHAPTER. PAGE. I.--AT FIRST SIGHT 1 II.--A JEALOUS HEART AND CRAFTY 7 III.--THE CLOSE OF THE DAY 13 IV.--DAME DURDEN'S ORDEAL 19 V.--A VISIT TO NOTTINGHAM 26 VI.--DE LA ZOUCH INDULGES IN A LITTLE VILLAINY 32 VII.--DOROTHY OVERHEARS SOMETHING 42 VIII.--A TOURNAMENT; THE COMBAT 49 IX.--AT THE COCK TAVERN, LONDON 55 X.--IN DIRE STRAITS 63 XI.--AN UNFORTUNATE DENOUEMENT 71 XII.--A CONFESSION OF LOVE 79 XIII.--FATHER PHILIP'S ACCIDENT 88 XIV.--AN UNPLEASANT NIGHT 94 XV.--SIR GEORGE AT WESTMINSTER 101 XVI.--A NIGHT ADVENTURE 107 XVII.--A DALE ABBEY HERMIT 114 XVIII.--THE CHAMBER OF DEATH 120 XIX.--"THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE." 126 XX.--THE TROTH-PLIGHT 133 XXI.--THE PLOT IN PROGRESS 139 XXII.--ON A FALSE SCENT 147 XXIII.--DARK SUSPICIONS 153 XXIV.--THE ESCAPE 159 XXV.--THE LAST OF DE LA ZOUCH 166 XXVI.--A DISGUISED LOVER 174 XXVII.--A NARROW ESCAPE 180 XXVIII.--"NOT YET" 188 XXIX.--THE ANGELS OF LIFE AND DEATH 197 XXX.--STOLEN SWEETS 206 XXXI.--THE TOKEN 215 XXXII.--PLAIN JOHN MANNERS WINS HIS BRIDE 222 XXXIII.--PEACE AT LAST 229 THE HEIRESS OF HADDON. CHAPTER I. AT FIRST SIGHT. There is a spirit brooding o'er these walls That tells the record of a bygone day, When 'mid the splendour of these courtly halls, A pageant shone, whose gorgeous array Like pleasure's dream has passed away. ANON. Where both deliberate the love is slight; Who ever loved that love not at first sight? MARLOWE. Amid the hills of Derbyshire which cluster around the Peak there rises, in a lovely dale slyly peeping out from behind the surrounding trees, the fine old pile of Haddon Hall.