Who shall it be ?" "You have named him yourself, sir," replied Alizon, in a voice which she endeavoured to keep firm, but which, in spite of all her efforts, sounded tremulously--"Master Richard Assheton." "Next to choosing me, you could not have chosen better," observed Nicholas, approvingly.

"Dick, lad, I congratulate thee." "I congratulate myself," replied the young man.

"Fair queen," he added, advancing, "highly flattered am I by your choice, and shall so demean myself, I trust, as to prove myself worthy of it.

Before I go, I would beg a boon from you--that flower." "This pink," cried Alizon.

"It is yours, fair sir." Young Assheton took the flower and took the hand that offered it at the same time, and pressed the latter to his lips; while Lady Assheton, who had been made a little uneasy by Alizon's apparent emotion, and who with true feminine tact immediately detected its cause, called out: "Now, forward--forward to the May-pole! We have interrupted the revel too long." Upon this the May Queen stepped blushingly back with the usher, who, with his white wand in hand, had stood bolt upright behind her, immensely delighted with the scene in which his pupil--for Alizon had been tutored by him for the occasion--had taken part.