After many and various thoughts, sleep had at length overcome the stout armourer in the chair in which he had deposited himself.

His features, in repose, had a more firm and manly cast than Catharine had thought, who, having generally seen them fluctuating between shamefacedness and apprehension of her displeasure, had been used to connect with them some idea of imbecility.
"He looks very stern," she said; "if he should be angry?
And then when he awakes--we are alone--if I should call Dorothy--if I should wake my father?
But no! it is a thing of custom, and done in all maidenly and sisterly love and honour.

I will not suppose that Henry can misconstrue it, and I will not let a childish bashfulness put my gratitude to sleep." So saying, she tripped along the floor of the apartment with a light, though hesitating, step; and a cheek crimsoned at her own purpose; and gliding to the chair of the sleeper, dropped a kiss upon his lips as light as if a rose leaf had fallen on them.

The slumbers must have been slight which such a touch could dispel, and the dreams of the sleeper must needs have been connected with the cause of the interruption, since Henry, instantly starting up, caught the maiden in his arms, and attempted to return in ecstasy the salute which had broken his repose.
But Catharine struggled in his embrace; and as her efforts implied alarmed modesty rather than maidenly coyness, her bashful lover suffered her to escape a grasp from which twenty times her strength could not have extricated her.
"Nay, be not angry, good Henry," said Catharine, in the kindest tone, to her surprised lover.

"I have paid my vows to St.Valentine, to show how I value the mate which he has sent me for the year.