104 MASTER SKYLARK

was John, Hal Saddler’s older brother. No, it could not
be John, for John was with a carrier ; and Nick had doubts
if carriers were much acquainted at court.

Wondering, he stared, and bowed again.

“Why, boy,” said she, with a quaint air of surprise,
“thou art a very pretty fellow! Why, indeed, thou look-
est like a good boy! Why wilt thou be so bad and break
my father’s heart?”

“Break thy father’s heart?” stammered Nick. “ Pr’y-
thee, who is thy father, Mistress Princess?”

“Nay,” said the little maid, simply ; “I am no princess.
T am Cicely Carew.”

“ Cicely Carew?” cried Nick, clenching his fists. “ Art
thou the daughter of that wicked man, Gaston Carew?”

“My father is not wicked!” said she, passionately,
drawing back from the threshold with her hand trembling
upon the latch. “Thou shalt not say that—I will not
speak with thee at all!”

“IT donacare! If Master Gaston Carew is thy father,
he is the wickedest man in the world!”

“Why, fie, for shame!” she cried, and stamped her little
foot. “How darest thou say such a thing?”

“He hath stolen me from home,” exclaimed Nick, indig-
nantly; “and I shall never see my mother any more!”
With that he choked, and hid his face in his arm against
the wall.

The little maid looked at him with an air of troubled
surprise, and, coming into the room, touched him on the
arm. “There,” she said soothingly, “don’t ery!” and