"Nay, prithee, now don't hurry so," he replied, catching hold of her arm, "I would ask thee a weighty question."
"But I am in a great hurry," she replied.
"Then I shall not keep thee long, but thou canst stay a little while, surely?"
"Indeed, I cannot, Sir Henry," she replied. "There are some visitors awaiting my return."
"John Manners for one," sneered the knight.
Dorothy blushed deeply, and bit her lip to repress the sharp retort which came readily to her tongue. Sir Henry saw that he had committed an error, and he endeavoured to recover his position.
"Sir Thomas has wooed thy sister Margaret," he exclaimed, "and I have long been wooing thee, and now the time has come when I am to offer you my hand."
Dorothy struggled to get away, but her suitor held her fast.
"Nay, cruel one," he continued, "I must have an answer. I shall be an earl in good time, perchance, and if you will but say 'aye' to my proposal you may be a countess—think of it, Dorothy, a countess—and the hostess of Ashby Castle."
He let go his hold of her, and dropping down upon his knee, he raised his clasped hand in the most approved fashion of the time, and continued his suit.