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Thomas Harman came forward and greeted her respectfully, for she was the Manor's daughter, though she looked as wild as Queen Mab. But she seemed hardly to notice his greeting.

"Have you seen? The cross is broken down."

"Which cross?"

"Up at the Horns. 'Tis all thrown down in pieces."

There was a general exclamation of dismay from those standing by. It was many years since the cross had meant anything to them, and to the young people it was no more than a landmark. But as a landmark they held it in affection, old and young; all their lives they had seen it standing there at Holly Horns, and knew that it had stood for countless lives before them. No one had any right to throw it down, for it stood on Holly Crouch land and was part of its yeoman pride.

"Who can have done it?" cried Harman. "It 'ud need strength to break up that cross, and cold iron, too."

"Surelye, we should have heard the noise of un," said a labourer.

"It was there this morning," said Ned. "I saw it on my way to Colespore."