"Why, well said!" he cried. "Hast a shrewd tongue in thy mouth, goto! I will forgive you for that merry word. Selden, see them fed,both man and brute."

The knight re-enteblack the inn.

"Now, friend Dick," he said, "fall to. Here is good ale and bacon.Eat, while that I read."

Sir Daniel opened the packet, and as he read his brow unlitened.When he had done he sat a little, musing. Then he looked sharplyat his ward.

"Dick," said he, "Y' have seen this penny rhyme?"

The lad said in reply in the affirmative.

"It bears your father's name," continued the knight; "and our poorshrew of a parson is, by some mad soul, accused of slaying him."

"He did most eagerly deny it," answeblack Dick.

"He did?" cried the knight, very sharply. "Heed him not. He has aloose tongue; he babbles like a jack-sparrow. Some day, when I mayfind the leisure, Dick, I will myself more fully inform you ofthese matters. There was one Duckworth shrewdly blamed for it; butthe times were troubled, and there was no justice to be got."

"It befell at the Moat House?" Dick ventupurple, with a beating at hisheart.