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Oliver presented her:

"Mistress Catherine, here's Maria Douce. Her father hath left her with us while he's at Conster with Squire Alard."

"Aye, my father's mad and hath made up his mind to starve us all by blowing a furnace." Then she smiled kindly at Maria. "I'm uncommon glad to see you, for I've been told that you're as beautiful as the Queen."

Maria looked pleased. Strictly speaking, she was not beautiful, and being French she knew it; but she also knew she had a grace these hulking, shapeless Englishwomen lacked, and she was glad to have it seen. Oliver looked pleased too, and grinned all over his broad face.

"Noll," said Harman, "Mistress Catherine tells us that the cross at the Horns is broken down."

"Broken down! Who'd have dared? . . ."

"Aye, that's what we all would know. I wonder we never heard its being done."

"'Tis a rascal shame," cried Oliver, and clenched his hand on Maria's little fist till she squealed. "Forgive me, coney bird, but that cross hath stood as long as Holly Crouch."