Lady Margaret rang the bell on her table. Candles were
brought from where they stood ready in the ante-chamber, and as soon
as they began to burn clear, lord Herbert repeated his question.
'My lord,' answered Dorothy, 'I look to you to tell me so much, for
before God I know not.'
'Nay, child! thou need'st not buttress thy words with an oath,' said
his lordship. 'Thy fair eyes are worth a thousand oaths. But to the
question: tell me wherefore didst thou not let the young man go when
first thou spied him? Wherefore didst ring the alarm-bell? Thou
sawest he was upon his own mare, for thou knewest her--didst thou
not?'
'I did, my lord; but he had no business there, and I was of my lord
Worcester's household. Here I am not Dorothy Vaughan, but my lady's
gentlewoman.'
'Then why didst thou go to his room thereafter? Didst thou not know
it for the most perilous adventure maiden could undergo?'
'Perilous it hath indeed proved, my lord.'
'And might have proved worse than perilous.
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