Coming a pace or two nearer him, she looked wistfully into his face and asked: "Have they told you that there was one man of very goodly height, strong of arm and stout of heart, who dropped his mask in the heat of the fray, so that the moonbeams smote full upon his face, which was only blacked above and below?
Did you hear that news spoken by any ?" "I think I heard that something of that sort had befallen," answered Tom as carelessly as his beating heart would allow.
"But oh, sir," she asked yet more earnestly, "did any tell you that the tall bold robber was said to favour yourself?
Indeed, some say that it must surely be you--even though you were so far away!" Tom looked as he felt, a little startled at that.
"How heard you that, Mistress Rose ?" "Harry Gay heard it in the taverns.

It is the talk in some of them.
And he heard these four bad men, who were sworn to vengeance, as that they have a halter about your neck already, and they only wait till they have you safe to pull it tight.
"O Tom, Tom, do not let them do you this despite! Have a care, oh, have a care how you fall into their hands, for they are without mercy, and full of evil passions, and greedy for the promised gold.
They would swear any man's life away to obtain the reward; and how much sooner yours, whom they hate!" Tom felt a strange tremor run through him, half rage, with a dash of fear, and some emotion sweeter than he had ever experienced before, and therefore more strange.

He suddenly found himself clasping Rosamund's hands in his, and saying: "Sweet Rose, would you care if hurt were to befall me ?" Her brimming eyes and quivering lips gave eloquent answer.

He stood very still, holding her hands clasped between his; and when he released them, he answered with a new note in his voice: "Have no fears, sweetheart.

They shall not have me.