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 a little red shoe that old Grannie Haggerty told me was mine, though it may not ha' been, only something the old woman had stolen. She once muttered o' a gold chain around my neck, too, but it must have been sold when I was a baby, for I remember nothing of it. However, no one cares, so what matters it!" ended the girl bitterly. Suddenly she jumped at the sound of Mistress Todd's step upon the stairs.

"Sally!" snapped that lady, entering the kitchen and glancing at the unprepared supper table. "An ye ha' time for loitering, why is not supper ready?"

As Sally, flushed and humiliated, turned away, the young Englishman looked after her in pity.

When supper was over. Master Todd ofi'ered to help the boy up the steep, narrow stairs.

"Nay, sir," the latter smilingly refused his aid. "There be naught the matter wi' my legs, forsooth!"

As though struck by a sudden thought, at that, Master Todd looked at him keenly. "I ha' your promise not to escape an I do not bind ye, sir?" he asked.

The other hesitated. "Aye, sir," he said then, with a smile. Twill do my hurt no good to wander about a strange country at night. Aye, I promise—for to-night—well," as he saw Master Todd hesitate, "for three days. Will that do, sir?"

"Aye." Master Todd glanced at him shrewdly.