"Tut, tut! Keep them, keep them, my dear woman. I only jested. So you traffic in the prison markets with the French?" "No--the Yankees. I understand their speech, and they've got more money," said Lovey, stroking the coppers. "Ah!--'tis an ill wind that blows good to nobody. So you begin to get money, my poor soul? But be very careful, I beg of you. "'For Satan now is wiser than of yore, And tempts by making rich, not making poor,'" "Rich! Great riches mine! Look around." "For my part I pray daily that these ghastly wars will soon be over," said Peter. "That's where we be of different minds, then," she answered. "Different minds and different interests, Mrs. Lee. Well, I'm glad to see you again. It may happen some day that you can do me a service, or I can do you one." "I see--with that maiden?" Her eyes glittered, and she pointed down the valley to Fox Tor Farm. "Good gracious! No," said Peter, astonished that she had guessed so near his thoughts. "The days of witchcraft and love-potions are past, ma'am. Not that I want anything of that sort. Grace Malherb adores me." She looked at him with curiosity. "My grandson be her groom now," she said; but did not add that John Lee had confided to her the girl's dislike for Peter. "It is a wise and rare maiden who knows her own mind, mother. I may add that 'None but the brave deserves the fair,' as Dryden so happily remarks. Farewell." Lovey nodded, and he rode away. "A strong, dangerous fashion of man," she thought with her eyes upon him. "An' wants my friendship for his own ends. Well, my friendship is always open to the highest bidder, Lord He knows. An' the maiden be going to take a bit of managing by the looks of it. John Lee had more in his mind than he spoke, last time he comed to tell with me an' pay me half his wages." Meantime Peter trotted forward, and presently he beheld the raw stone walls and broken lands of the farm. He shook his head at this display of much futile labour, then turned at the thud of galloping horses and saw his sweetheart and her groom approaching over the shaggy crest of the Beam. John Lee dropped back quickly as Mr. Norcot stopped, but the wool-stapler had sharp eyes, and he made a mental note of what he saw. "Well met, my lovely lady!" he cried a few minutes later. "Of all maidens who sat a steed none ever became one as you do! "''Tis well in stone to have three Graces With lovely limbs and lovely faces; But better far, and not in stone, To have the three combined in One.' Isn't that a pretty thing? I kept it to greet you with." "Not your own, I'll wager," said Grace; "but never mind--don't come nearer, please; 'Cæsar,' is fidgety. I hope that you are well, Peter." "Your groom was near enough as you came over the hill, my treasure." "Yes, 'Cæsar' knows him. We were talking about his grandmother." "The horse's?" Peter turned and beckoned to Lee; then, as John cantered up, Mr. Norcot regarded him critically.