The latter part of this speech was uttered with a sly chuckle on the part of the old farmer, not altogether agreeable to Jocelyn.  The growing interest he felt in the fair Puritan rendered him susceptible.  The eyes of the two young persons had met again more than once, and were not quite so quickly withdrawn on either side as before; perhaps, because Aveline was less alarmed by the young man’s appearance, or more attracted by it; and perhaps, on his part, because he had grown a little bolder.  We know not how this might be; but we do know that the fair Puritan had gradually advanced towards the front of the window, and was now leaning slightly out of it, so that her charms of face and figure were more fully revealed.

Meanwhile, the May-pole had been planted, and the first dance round it concluded.  At its close, Gillian, quitting her post of honour near the tree, and leaving the morrice-dancers and mummers to resume their merry rounds, unsanctioned by her sovereign presence, took a tambourine from one of the minstrels, and proceeded to collect gratuities within it intended for the hired performers in the ceremony.  She was very successful in her efforts, as the number of coins, soon visible within the tambourine, showed.  Not without blushing and some hesitation did the May Queen approach Dick Taverner.  The ’prentice made a pretence of fumbling in his pouch in order to prolong the interview, which chance had thus procured him; and after uttering all the complimentary phrases he could muster, and looking a great deal more than he said, he wound up his speech by declaring he would bestow a mark (and that was no slight sum, for the highest coin yet given was a silver groat) upon the minstrels, if they would play a lively dance for him, and she, the May Queen, would grace him with her hand in it.  Encouraged by the laughter of the bystanders, and doubtless entertaining no great dislike to the proposal, Gillian, with a little affected coyness, consented; and the mark was immediately deposited in the tambourine by Dick, who, transported by his success, sprang from his saddle, and committing his steed to the care of a youth near him, whom he promised to reward for his trouble, followed close after the May Queen, as she proceeded with her collection.  Ere long she came to Jocelyn, and held out the tambourine towards him.  An idea just then occurred to the young man.

“You have a pretty nosegay there, fair maiden,” he said, pointing to a bunch of pinks and other fragrant flowers in her breast.  “I will buy it from you, if you list.”

“You shall have it and welcome, fair Sir,” Gillian replied, detaching the bouquet from her dress, and offering it to him.

“Well done, Gillian,” the old farmer cried approvingly.

“Ah! are you there, grandsire!” the May Queen exclaimed.  “Come! your gift for the minstrels and mummers—­quick! quick!”

And while old Greenford searched for a small coin, Jocelyn placed a piece of silver in the tambourine.