1897.]
The two subordinates turned to the lieutenant.
“ Bet us go and leave the saucy wench,” said one.
The officer thought a moment. Then he spoke a few words in
an undertone to his men, and without replying they mounted their
horses and went galloping up the road. After they had passed
from sight the young lieutenant turned again to the cottage. A
pair of dark eyes were watching him through the curtains.
1 ‘ Now will you open the door, Mistress Polly ?’ ’ he asked.
The black eyes fairly snapped.
“ Thou’rt wrong, sir. Hadst better guess again,” said she. .
“ Nay; I have a better plan than that. Let us exchange
names. Mine is Rudolf Clifford. Now what is yours?”
‘‘ I was minded not to tell thee. But since thou hast asked so
prettily, I cannot refuse. Mine is Anne Clavier.”
“Faith,” quoth Rudolf, “you have a pretty name, indeed,
and one that accords well with your face.” And had not the
curtains been drawn he would have seen a rosy blush rise to her
cheeks at his words.
“Thou turnest pretty compliments, sir,” said Anne. “I’
truth, thou shouldst have.a reward for thy neat speech.”
“Nay; not ‘shouldst’ but ‘shalt,’ ” spoke the young .lieuten
ant. “ But my hunger increases. Will you not open the door,
Mistress Anne ?” ”■
“ Indeed,” quoth she, “ if thou are not enow a soldier to gain
entrance thou shouldst not ask. Hast thou been used to have
thy enemies surrender at thy command ? If so, then here is one
that will not.”
“ Are you, then, my enemy?” inquired Rudolf anxiously.
“ Dost thou not serve the king?” she parried. “ And is not
the king my enemy ?’ ’
“Then,” said he, “ I shall be forced to storm your fortress
and take you prisoner. But hold! Where are you? X dislike
mightily to fight an unseen foe ”
“ Here.” And as the window flew open Rudolf caught a
glimpse of a fair face made prettier by a pink flush in either
cheek, and black eyes which fairly danced with suppressed excite-
“You are very kind, Mistress Anne, to show yourself, and,
though it may seem ungallant to take advantage of your kind
ness, yet ‘all’s fair in love or war.’ But to return your favor, I
warn you that 1 shall come through the window.”
‘‘ To the Victor. ’ ’