SELWICK HALL, MARCH THE II. Never, methinks, saw I any so changed as our _Milly_ by the illness and death of poor _Blanche_. From being the merriest of all us, methinks she is become well-nigh the saddest. I count it shall pass in time, but she is not like _Milisent_ at this present. All we, indeed, have much felt the same: but none like her. I never did reckon her so much to love _Blanche_. I have marvelled divers times of late, what did bring _Robin Lewthwaite_ here so oft; and I did somewhat in mine own mind, rhyme his name with _Milisent's_, for all (as I find on looking) my damsel hath set down never a time he came. The which, as methinks, is somewhat significant. So I was little astonied this afternoon to be asked of _Robin_, as we two were in the garden, if I reckoned _Milisent_ had any care touching him. "Thou wist, _Edith_," saith he, "I did alway love her: but when yon rogue came in the way betwixt that did end all by the beguilement of our poor _Blanche_, I well-nigh gave up all hope, for methought she were fair enchanted by him." "I think she so were, for a time, _Robin_," said I, "until she saw verily what manner of man he were: and that it were not truly he that she had loved, but the man she had accounted him." "Well," saith _Robin_, "I would like to be the man she accounted him. Thinkest there is any chance?" "Thou wist I can but guess," I made answer, "for _Milisent_ is very close of that matter, though she be right open on other: but I see no reason, _Robin_, wherefore thou shouldst not win her favour, and I do ensure thee I wish thee well therein." "_Edith_, thou art an angel!" crieth he out: and squeezed mine hand till I wished him the other side the Border. "Nay!" said I, a-laughing: "what then is _Milly_?" "Oh, aught thou wilt," saith he, also laughing, "that is sweet, and fair, and delightsome. Dost know, _Edith_, our _Nym_ goeth about to be a soldier? He shall leave us this next month." "A soldier!" cried I: for in very deed _Nym_ and a soldier were two matters that ran not together to my thoughts. Howbeit, I was not sorry to hear that _Nym_ should leave this vicinage, and thereby cease tormenting of our _Helen_. The way he gazeth on her all the sermon-time in church should make me fit to poison him, were I she, and desired not (as I know she doth not) that he should be a-running after me. But, _Nym_ a soldier! I could as soon have looked to see _Moses_ play the virginals. Why, he is feared of his own shadow, very nigh: and is worser for ghosts than even _Austin Park_. I do trust, if we need any defence here in _Derwentdale_, either the Queen's Majesty shall not send _Nym_ to guard us, or else that his men shall have stouter hearts than he. An hare were as good as _Nym Lewthwaite_.