"Now who be ye who would seek admittance to the house of a white witch?" asked Dame Margery's shrill voice. "Gramercy! we will show who we be," and there was a sound as of a man pressing against the panels of the door. The dame undid the fastenings and threw open the door. A man who had evidently put his shoulder against it for the purpose of forcing an entrance sprawled his entire length on the floor. With a loud laugh at his discomfiture several other men crowded into the room. "Marry! what an unmannerly welcome," cried the man picking himself up. "My good woman, is this the way to receive guests?" "Be that the way to enter a body's house?" cried the dame. "Ye bean't gentle, surely, else ye would know that an old woman can't move the swiftest when she's bent with the rheums." "I crave thy pardon, dame," said the leader who was evidently a man of high degree. "I crave thy pardon for such an unceremonious entrance. I thought that no one was within. Give us shelter from the storm and supper. Then must we on our way. We pay for your trouble." "Well, ye won't get either supper or shelter here. Do ye take this for an inn?" she asked querulously. "Nay, dame; for then would we find greeting and good cheer," returned the leader good naturedly. "This seemeth more in truth like witch's dwelling. Whatsoe'er it be here we stay until the storm abates. We are from the queen, woman." Dame Margery said no more, but began to bestir herself about the supper. "Some of you see about the horses," commanded the leader, placing himself before the fire. Two of the men went out and presently returned. "'Tis a crazy sort of a barn, sir," said one, "but it encloses as good a bit of horseflesh as e'er trod a heath. How now, dame? Where didst thou get so fine a horse?" "Are there men here other than us?" asked the leader hastily. "If there be we must look to ourselves for we are on the queen's business, and naught must delay us." "No men, sir," answered Margery. "The stable is bad, sayst thou, Martin?" with an expression of relief on his face as he heard the dame's reply. "The dwelling, too, is none of the best." "None asked ye to enter it," said the woman bluntly. "An ye like not mine abode, ye can leave it." "Hold thy tongue, old beldame!" said the leader imperiously. "Nay;" as the dame flashed an angry glance at him, "be not prodigal of thy looks. An thou cast the evil eye on me, I'll sheathe my blade in thy flesh. We want no witch's work here." Margery made no answer, but placed the supper before them. The men fell to, and soon disposed of all that was on the table. Then the leader began to show signs of impatience for the storm had not yet subsided. "Beshrew me!" he exclaimed to his companions. "I fear that we will be compelled to pass the night in this vile place. Marry! how it rains!"