210 MASTER SKYLARK

So Nick rode home upon the back of the Earl of Arun-
del’s man-at-arms; and that, too, seemed a dream like all
the rest.

When they came to Master Carew’s house the street
was dark, and Nick’s foot was asleep. He stamped it,
tingling, upon the step, and the empty passage echoed
with the sound. Then the earl’s man beat the door
with the pommel of his dagger-hilt, and stood with
his hands upon his hips, carelessly whistling a little
tune.

Nick heard a sound of some one coming through the
hall, and felt that at last the day was done. A tired
wonder wakened in his heart at how so much had come
to pass in such a little while; yet more he wondered why
it had ever come to pass at all, And what was the worth
of it, anyway, now it was over and gone?

Then the door opened, and he went in.

Master Gaston Carew himself had come to the door,
walking quickly through the hallway, with a queer, nervous
twitching in his face. But when he made out through the
dusk that it was Nick, he seemed in no wise moved, and
said quite simply, as he gave the man-at-arms a penny:
“Oh, is it thou? Why, we have heard somewhat of thee;
and upon my word I thought, since thou wert grown so
great, thou wouldst come home in a coach-and-four, all
blowing horns!”

Nevertheless he drew Nick quickly in, and kissed him
thrice; and after he had kissed him kept fast hold of his
hand until they came together through the hall into the