44 MASTER SKYLARK

avery good name! I'll do it—I will, upon my word, and
on the remnant of mine honour!”

“Did ye speak to me, sir?” asked Nick, timidly.

“Nay, Nicholas; I was talking to the moon.”

“Why, sir, the moon has not come yet,” said Nick, star-
ing into the western sky.

“To be sure,” replied Master Carew, with a queer laugh.
“Well, the silvery jade has missed the first act.”

“Oh,” eried Nick, reminded of the purpose of his long

walk, “what will ye play for the Mayor’s play, sir?”
' “T don’t know,” replied Carew, carelessly ; “it will all
be done before I come. They will have had the free play
this afternoon, so as to catch the pence of all the May-day
erowd to-morrow.”

Nick stopped in the road, and his eyes filled up with
tears, so quick and bitter was the disappointment. “Why,”
he cried, with a tremble in his tired voice, “I thought the
free play would be on the morrow—and now I have not a
farthing to go in!”

“Tut, tut, thou silly lad!” laughed Carew, frankly ;
“am I thy friend for naught? What! let thee walk all
the way to Coventry, and never see the play? Nay, on
my soul! Why, Nick, I love thee, lad; and I ll do for
thee in the twinkling of an eye. Canst thou speak lines
by heart? Well, then, say these few after me, and bear
them in thy mind.”

And thereupon he hastily repeated some half a dozen
disconnected lines in a high, reciting tone.

“Why, sir,” cried Nick, bewildered, “it is a part!”