deep yellow sunbeams which fell upon the greensward, in unimaginable and picturesque forms. Now and then one of the herd halted to pluck a mouthful of grass, or elevated its head to crop an overhanging branch, while another, paused to low at the entrance of some winding dell, or moved along in an awkward waddling trot when struck by the slip of hazel which the damsel carried, until safe beyond her reach; when the same slow easy pace was again resumed. There was something graceful, and almost dignified in the maiden's gait; in the stately ease with which she stepped across the glade to fetch up one or other of her loitering charge, or crop a sprig from the fragrant woodbines, that here and there hung waving over the road, and scattered a rich odour on the evening air. Our travellers reined in their horses to allow the herd time to cross the road, when the knight inquired of the damsel, the direction to Newstead Priory.

"You have ridden too far, noble sir," answered the maiden, "and should have taken the bridlepath by which the stream runneth; your nearest course will now be by the way my herd has taken, which leadeth to the village of Papple

wick, from whence if you ride with fair speed, you may reach the Priory before it is dark."

Both the knight and lady were struck with the sweet voice of the maiden; and the correctness of her language, which far excelled the barbarous dialect spoken at that time by the peasantry. The lady stooped gracefully from her saddle, and taking from her pouch a gold piece, presented it to the damsel, saying,

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Accept this slight token, kind maiden; it might have fared ill with us, but for meeting with thee; as the day is hastening apace, and we were unacquainted with the paths of this wild forest."

"It would ill become me, fair lady," replied the damsel, tendering back the gift, "to take guerdon for so slight a duty; the remembrance of your proffered kindness, without accepting it, is a sufficient reward for a Saxon maiden."

Nay, by the blessed Mary!" exclaimed the lady, waving back the offered coin, "thou hast said enough; I will not now take back the trifle, for I am also Saxon, at least by my mother's side.-But tell me why thou, who appearest free-born, dost follow so rude an occupation?"

"Tis partly my own desire, lady," replied the damsel, "my father claims the rights of free pasturage in the forest, and is withal eager in enforcing them, and our herdsmen have also had so many quarrels with the forest-keepers, that for his behoof, and the love I bear to peace, I took charge of the herd, although much against his will."

"Thy conduct is highly praise-worthy," said the lady," and has won my esteem. Tell me thy father's name. It may be that I can render his house some service during these unsettled times."

"He is called Hereward the Ready, lady," answered the maiden, "through his readiness in opposing all innovations on the rights of commonage, and withstanding all oppression; and although it but ill becometh a daughter to speak his praise, yet is he well beloved by the inhabitants of the forest, and hath often taken part in their quarrels against the rangers."

"Ah," exclaimed the knight, turning half round in his saddle, and addressing the lady, for he had ridden a little beyond his companion, "By the bones of the holy martyr! that is he of whom we discoursed, who disputed the boundary mark with Geoffrey de Marchmont."

The knight was checked in his further reply by a sudden plunge made by his steed, which would have unhorsed an inferior rider, for a noble stag sweeping across the glade, between the knight and the advanced herd, was struck through the head with an arrow, and fell dead at his horse's feet.

"By St. Hubert," said the knight, "that is well done, and the missing of a foot in breadth might have maimed my good steed." Then falling back a few paces, he planted himself between the lady, and the thicket from whence the arrow was shot. In the next moment a rustling was heard among the branches, and an archer, parting the thickly woven hazels, stepped into the grassy glade, with a long bow in his hand, and stood boldly eyeing the group before him.

"Fore God! sir yeoman, thou art a bold archer!" said the knight; "an' thou hadst not have hit thy mark, I should have deemed that thou hadst taken my horse for thy target, and broken thy bones for practising thine archery so

near me."

"Gramercy for thy courtesy, proud knight,” replied the archer; "I could have saved my

bones, in spite of thy boast, by winging a shaft through thy ventail."

"By the holy rood! I may believe thee," said the knight, "after the proof thou hast already given."

The archer smiled at the compliment paid to his skill, and without appearing to take any further notice of the group, took his stand beside the fallen stag, while our travellers passed on. It was however evident, from the looks exchanged between himself and the maiden, that they were not strangers to each other, as a slight blush mantled the face of the latter when their eyes met. This did not escape the glance of the lady, who was in nowise deficient of that acute observation which interprets a look, or sigh, a gift which has descended with improvements to the gentle sex of our own time, whose commentaries on this art are tolerably accurate.

"If I read aright," said the lady, addressing the damsel, whose herd still kept in advance, and allowed her to fall back and converse with the fair traveller, without being heard by the knight, "If I read aright, yonder yeoman wears a costume, somewhat at variance with that commonly donned by a forest-keeper, he bears