248 MASTER SKYLARK

and made for the open door again; but almost instantly
perceiving the boy to be alone, slammed shut the door
and followed him instead, dragging Cicely over the stones,
and shouting hoarsely, “Stop there! stop!”

Nick’s heart came up in his very throat. His legs went
water-weak. He ran for the open thoroughfare without
once looking back. Yet while he ran he heard Cicely ery
out suddenly in pain, “Oh, Gregory, Gregory, thou art
hurting me so!” and at the sound the voice of Gaston
Carew rang like a bugle in his ears: “Thou ‘It keep my
Cicely from harm?” He stopped as short as if he had
butted his head against a wall, whirled on his heel, stood
fast, though he was much afraid; and standing there, his
head thrown back and his fists tight clenched, as if some
one had struck him in the face, he waited until they came
to where he was. “Thou hulking, cowardly rogue!” said
he to the bandy-legged man.

But the bandy-legged man caught him fast by the arm,
and hurried on into the street, scanning it swiftly up and
down. “Two birds with one stone, by hen!” he chuckled,
when he saw that the coast was clear. “They ’ll fetch a
pretty penny by and by.”

Poor Cicely smiled through her tears at Nick. “I knew
thou wouldst come for me soon,” said she. “But where
is my father?”

“He ’s dead as a herring,” snarled Gregory.

“That ’s a lie,” said Nick; “he is na dead.”

“Don’t call me liar, knave—by hen, I ’ll put a stopper
on thy voice!”