that he had failed to wipe away entirely, and she stopped him with an imperious gesture. “You are wounded!” she cried, her tone as full of emotion as he could desire; “what have you done?” “’Tis but a scratch,” he answered lightly; “a little water will soon remove the traces of it.” But she was not to be put off so easily. “You have been fighting with Henge!” she exclaimed. “I felt it, and I am thankful that it is no worse.” “You do not inquire into his fate,” Raby rejoined, smiling, “yet you know not what it is.” “Nor care,” she answered, her eyes sparkling with anger; “sir, he was unworthy of your steel.” “That I know now, Mistress Carew,” Simon said heartily; “until a few hours ago I believed him, after his own fashion, a gentleman, save for his pursuit of you, and for that--except the manner of it--there is an excuse.” “He is too base a man to be aught but a coward,” said Betty, scornfully. “But that cut upon your forehead,” she added in a changed tone, “I grieve to see it; you must call a leech.” Raby looked at her with a smile, and his expression brought the color to her cheeks. “Mistress Carew,” he said softly, “you told me the prophecy, and was it not natural I should strive for a scar?” “But I told you also that I liked it not,” she answered archly. “Ay, but, then, what if the prophecy held?” he said, still smiling. “I thought it safe to be on the winning side.” “Alas, sir!” she exclaimed, “I fear that your heart has already too many scars; add not one only to your face.” She had stepped back a little and was laughing and blushing, her face framed with the furs that muffled it. He thought her charming, and her wayward mood pleased his fancy. “Ah, mistress!” he replied, “my heart has left my keeping, therefore I have only my face to scar, unless you give me back the other.” Betty looked down demurely. “Master Raby,” she said, “I have been with two queens, and both have warned me about the hearts of men. One called them ships that rode uneasy at their moorings, and the other, quicksands. After such goodly advice and wise discourse, verily, sir, I have my doubts about the matter also.” “Then there is greater reason for you to listen to a truthful argument,” he answered, smiling; “these poor ladies manifestly have not found a faithful heart.” “That is the very point of the matter,” Betty answered quickly; “are any faithful?” “Ay, surely,” he answered more earnestly; “and mine--” “Hush!” exclaimed Betty, softly, “look yonder, sir, and judge a man’s heart by the king’s.”