Still the cat came not.
"Then ey mun do the wark without him," pursued the little girl; "an ey win no longer delay it."
And with this she crept stealthily round the arbour, and, approaching the side where Richard sat, watched an opportunity of touching him unperceived.
As her finger came in contact with his frame, a pang like death shot through his heart, and he fell upon Alizon's shoulder.
"Are you ill?" she exclaimed, gazing at his pallid features, rendered ghastly white by the moonlight.
Richard could make no reply, and Alizon, becoming dreadfully alarmed, was about to fly for assistance, but the young man, by a great effort, detained her.
"Ey mun now run an tell Mester Potts, so that hoo may be found wi' him," muttered Jennet, creeping away.
Just then Richard recovered his speech, but his words were faintly uttered, and with difficulty.
"Alizon," he said, "I will not attempt to disguise my condition from you. I am dying. And my death will be attributed to you—for evil-minded persons have persuaded the King that you have bewitched me, and he will believe the charge now. Oh! if you would ease the pangs of death for me—if you would console my latest moments—leave me, and quit this place, before it be too late."
"Oh! Richard," she cried distractedly; "you ask more than I can perform. If you are indeed in such imminent danger, I will stay with you—will die with you."