`` What ails ye at my face , fair sir ? '' she inquired , curtseying to the very ground ; and then , when Dick had at length and most tepidly embraced her , `` Joanna , '' she added , `` your sweetheart is very backward under your eyes ; but I warrant you , when first we met he was more ready . I am all black and blue , wench ; trust me never , if I be not black and blue ! And now , '' she continued , `` have ye said your sayings ? for I must speedily dismiss the paladin . '' But at this they both cried out that they had said nothing , that the night was still very young , and that they would not be separated so early . `` And supper ? '' asked the young lady . `` Must we not go down to supper ? '' `` Nay , to be sure ! '' cried Joan . `` I had forgotten . '' `` Hide me , then , '' said Dick , `` put me behind the arras , shut me in a chest , or what ye will , so that I may be here on your return . Indeed , fair lady , '' he added , `` bear this in mind , that we are sore bested , and may never look upon each other 's face from this night forward till we die . '' At this the young lady melted ; and when , a little after , the bell summoned Sir Daniel 's household to the board , Dick was planted very stiffly against the wall , at a place where a division in the tapestry permitted him to breathe the more freely , and even to see into the room . He had not been long in this position , when he was somewhat strangely disturbed . The silence , in that upper storey of the house , was only broken by the flickering of the flames and the hissing of a green log in the chimney ; but presently , to Dick 's strained hearing , there came the sound of some one walking with extreme precaution ; and soon after the door opened , and a little black-faced , dwarfish fellow , in Lord Shoreby 's colours , pushed first his head , and then his crooked body , into the chamber . His mouth was open , as though to hear the better ; and his eyes , which were very bright , flitted restlessly and swiftly to and fro . He went round and round the room , striking here and there upon the hangings ; but Dick , by a miracle , escaped his notice . Then he looked below the furniture , and examined the lamp ; and , at last , with an air of cruel disappointment , was preparing to go away as silently as he had come , when down he dropped upon his knees , picked up something from among the rushes on the floor , examined it , and , with every signal of delight , concealed it in the wallet at his belt .
XXXXX 's heart sank , for the object in question was a tassel from his own girdle ; and it was plain to him that this dwarfish spy , who took a malign delight in his employment , would lose no time in bearing it to his master , the baron .
Dick Joanna ails arras colours first flickering fro paladin wench