The Herd Boy and His Hermit

ct you, lad

tage where yo

her quest

n coat, and stout leathern leggings over wooden shoes. Twilight was fast coming on; only a gleam of purple light rested on the top of the eastern hills

as comes in the morning betimes, when we do not have it at night? Like that it shines with steady light and twinkles not. I would that I knew! There! there's mine, my own star, far up, only paling while the sun glaring blazes in the sky; mine own, he that from afar drives the stars in Charles's Wain. There they come, the good old twinkling team of three, and the four of the Wain! Old Billy Goat knows them too! Up he gets, and all i

along, between the rocks and thorn-bushes that guarded the slope of the hill, to a valley

ok, which the boy knew, and he made his way from one to the other, calling out cheerily to the little figure that he began to discern in the fading l

! Haste is no good here!

maiden of ten or twelve years old, who somehow, even in the darkness, ha

e said, as he stood beside

ony fell with me when we were riding after a heron. No one saw me or heard me, and my pony galloped home. I saw none

ust come with me to Hob Hogward, where Doll will give thee

hogward's house,

t carry thee over the burn, it gets wider below! Nay, 'tis no use

s and touch were not those of a rustic shepherd boy; but nothing was said till he had waded through the little narrow stre

me for questions. Look to thy feet, maid, or thou wilt

place! Is there much more of it?' 'Not much! Come bravely on! There's a good maid.' 'Oh, I must get my breath.' 'Don't stand still. That means sinking. Leap! Leap! That's right. No, not that way, turn to the big stair.' 'Oh-h!' 'That's my brave wench! Not far now.' 'I'm down, I'm down!' 'Up!

ld was a soft and delicate one, and the girl that those which had grasped and lifted her were rough with country labours. She began to asser

odd off-hand tone, before whooping again his answ

ittle lady, in a weak, famis

e boy, 'but never fear! Hold out but a few steps more

rther! My feet! they

n, let me b

glad to see a tall figure before them, and hear the cry,

g folk from the Priory,' responded Hal, panting a little as

d was answered that all were safely at home, and after 'telling the tale

Hal, 'all the way to the Blackreed Moss, and th

Hob; 'God be praised for bringing you through! Poor w

girl, who had her head down on Hob's shoul

eed her,' explained the boy, as he trudged along beside Hob and his

my Lady Prioress heeds her hawks more than her nuns! But be she who she may, we'll have her ho

of the folded sheep announced that they were nearly arrived, and in the low doorway there shone a light, and in the light stood a

d God! I was in fear for thee, my boy!

ong. I had to bear her through the burn at Blackreed, and

s he put her into the outstretched arms of his wife, who s

nor sup all day, since her pony fell with her out a-hawki

wooden bowls, two of which she placed before Hal and the shepherd, making signs to the heavy-browed Piers to wait; and getting no reply from her worn-out guest, she t

'Poor bairn! 'Twas scurvy treatment. Now will we put her

he recess behind the projecting hearth-a strange luxury for a farm boy; and Doll yielded very unwillingly when he sp