Now, when I fell into my daily Course, Part of my Time was spent under the Eye of my Master, and within hearing of his pleasant Talk, Part in running about the Town, and Part with Tomkins; so that I was happy from Morning to Night. For, Miles not being fond of waiting upon the poor lame Journeyman, I made it a Labour of Love; and he, being a tender-spirited Man, very sensitive to small Kindnesses, took hugely to me, as I shortly did to him. He had a busy Mind that was always at Work, and his Occupation leaving him much Leisure for Headwork, he was always chewing the Cud upon this or that Problem he had conned at odd Minutes out of his old Books, or brooding upon Mysteries that were harder to crack, and less safe for an unlearned Man to meddle with. Also he had a mechanical Turn, which he exercised at what he called his Play Hours, thereby only exchanging one hard Work for another; but he was so fond of it that I was always glad to see his little File and Pincers in his Hand. Thus it came to pass, that he never cared to stir from his Attick into the World beneath, (though I found, afterwards, he generally contrived to creep out somewhere on Sundays when we were all in Church,) for, he said, Air he had plenty of, Exercise was a Misery to him, and as for Company, had he not all he cared for, already? A few kind Words from Master Hewet, continual Chat with me, a bright Glimpse of Mistress Anne, and a Visit now and then from Mistress Fraunces, were all he had and all he liked. For Mistress Fraunces he had a wonderful Respect and even Admiration; commending her gentle Temper, womanly Carriage, and pleasant Voice; and bidding me note, (which I did on his naming,) that she had, for her Years, the finest Hand that a Woman was ever graced with. I said I wondered she had never married. He said, "Aye, indeed, what can the Men have been about?" with a little Smile that I did not feel to be quite respectful; and I wondered that even the gentle Tomkins must have his Fling at single Women.
Mistress Fraunces was used to accompany my Master to the Hall Dinners; indeed, being a Sister of the Company, she was liable to a Fine if she did not, except by Reason of Illness. However, now and then, she stayed away; and then, when my Master returned, she would ask him with great Interest what had been served up; and, being a shrewd Marketer, would price each Item as he went along: thus,—
"Well, Brother, and what did you have to-day?"
"Why," saith he, "there was a Porpoise, to begin with."
"A Porpoise!" then cries she, "oh! what a nasty coarse Fish! They are seldom or never now seen at Table. Well, what else?"
"Two Congers and two Turbot."
"Ah! of course, Nobody would touch the Porpoise. Congers, the largest in Wetfishmongersrow, six Shillings each, this Morning. Turbots, three—eighteen. Well?"
"Sirloin of Beef—Half a Veal—a standing Coney with a blue Ribbon round his Neck."
"Hold, Brother, not so fast. Beef, we all know, is a Penny a Pound—we thank King Harry for that. I saw Half a Veal to-day at Half-a-crown."
"Two dozens Pigeons."