Master Skylark

Trinity church rising above it against the sky; and as the master-player and the boy came climbing upward fro

e great monastery had played their holy mysteries and miracle-plays for over a hundred years; here the trade-guilds

Here and there were little knots of country folk making holiday: a father and mother with a group of rosy children; a lad and his lass, spruce in new finery, and gay with bits of ribbon--merry groups

tale; so he pushed through the crowded thoroughfares, amid a throng th

rywhere rushed the busy innkeeper, with a linen napkin fluttering on his arm, his cap half off, and in

t; "for there is Gregory Goole, my groom, and Ste

a little air of patronage, a

Around the walls stood rough tables, at which a medley of guests sat eating, drinking, dicing, playi

d in ruffs and bands, embroidered shirts, Italian doublets slashed and laced, Venetian hose, gay velvet caps with jeweled bands,

orks, a new trick from the London court, which Nick had never seen before. But all the di

is hand fo

gentle friends," said he, with

e, Gaston," they all sho

, "ye fled, and left me to be spoiled by the spo

then, laying his hand upon Nick's shoulder, bowed to them all, and to him with courtly grace, and said: "Be known, be kno

at Carew standing up behind him, and several grinned mockingly and winked in a knowing way. He stole a

ice than Cyril Davy's, the best woman's-voice in all London town. Upon my word, it is the sweetest voice a body ever heard

ed a jeering voice, wher

hark 'e; what I say is so. It is, upon my word, and on the remnant of mine hono

Nick must sit down and eat with them; so the

y offered him wine, which, when he refused, they pressed upon him, until Carew stopped them, saying that he would have no more of that. As he spoke he clapped his hand upon his poniard and scowled blackly. They all laughed, but offered Nick

aid he; "he hath just eaten his fill, so he cannot sing. Moreover, he is no jackda

doubting if Nick could sing at all; but--"Hark 'e," said Master Carew, shor

r he took Nick away, and left them ove

ace for Carew; at which he smiled grimly, said he'd not forget it, and

he master-player protested warmly; so, little loath, and much flattered by the

nd the light dim; Nick was young, and his yellow hair was very curly. Carew could hear the faint breath murmuring through the boy's lips as he prayed, and while he stared at the little white figure his

he weird night noises in the town, and strange, tremendous dreams, he scarce could get to sleep at all