"And he is not the only one lying in wait; nor is he the master hand in this business. You verderers must bestir yourselves, or that which is entrusted to you will go up to the heavens in smoke. I will wend with thee to Newnham. The admiral goes thither on the tide this afternoon on the Queen's business, and 'twill be as well that he, and those that come to meet him, should see evidence of the activity of our secret foes." So the knight and Master Morgan mended their pace along the woodland way. [1] A warden of the forest and an administrator of "forest law." Chapter V. MASTER WINDYBANK. "Then thou dost refuse to listen to my suit, Mistress Dorothy?" "Refuse! Alack, good Master Windybank, what a word to utter. Look at yonder sundial and thou wilt see that I have hearkened most patiently for more than an hour." Mistress Dorothy opened her blue eyes very widely, and her tone was a trifle indignant. "Ay, but there is listening and listening, mistress," was the testy response. "And surely my listening deserves commendation, seeing that I made no interruption, scarcely speaking a word." "But I wanted thee to speak, to interrupt, to contradict, to argue. Thy silence betokened indifference. I had rather that thou hadst flown into a temper and bidden me begone than sat mum all the while." Windybank jumped up from the garden seat and began to pace to and fro, to the peril of Dorothy's flower-beds. "But why should I argue or contradict or fly into a passion if thou dost tell me my eyes are blue? 'Tis the truth." Dorothy opened them wider, and made them look more innocent and beautiful than ever. "Was that all I said for the space of an hour?" was the sullen rejoinder. "No," said the cool little maiden, "'twas not; but thou didst offer no ground for argument. I heard a catalogue of virtues recited, and was bidden to believe that mine own small person gave lodging and nourishment to them all. Well, in good faith, sir, 'tis my earnest hope that some are guests in my heart, and I would fain believe that I give harbourage to all the noble train. Thou didst speak at some length of thyself, thy hopes and aspirations, they were such as would become thy youth and station: why should I quarrel with thee concerning them? Again, I had a list of thy possessions, the tale of gold in thy coffers. Should I give thee the lie over thy arithmetic? Thy uncle is rich, and thou art his heir. Shall I lose my temper because of John Windybank's money?" The youth turned fiercely upon the maiden and gripped her by the shoulders so that she winced with the pain. "I--told--thee--that--I--loved--thee!" he said with deliberate emphasis. "What hast thou to say to that?" "That a maid is honoured by the affection of any good man." "Dost thou love me?" "No," said Dorothy, rising also and removing his hands.