Now, though Master Hewet so liberally supplied her Privy-purse, there were certain Household Expenses he made her reckon to a Penny; and, if she were at Fault, she had to make it good. 'Twas pretty, and diverting, to hear these two sometimes arguing together over their Account-book: for Mistress Anne was not a ready Reckoner, and he would by no Means be put off with a Quip. One Day, they were counting out their Money, when he said, "Ned, this young Gentlewoman can never attain to a competent Knowledge of Figures. I'll give thee a Couple of Angels to carry her on into Practice, for I shall save Money i' the End."
So when he is gone, I say, "Come, Mistress, the Bribe is very high ... where shall we begin? I suppose 'twill shame you to be put too far back."
"I hardly know what will be too far back," saith she, rogueing a little—"My Father sayeth I have done this wrong—" and she gives me a little Slip of Paper, inscribed with the neatest, prettiest little Figures.
"Good now!" said I, "the only Mistake herein is,—you have essayed to subtract the greater Number from the less; which you know can never be."
"Yes, it can be, sometimes," saith she, quickly.
"Never!" say I. "How?"
"Take V from IV and I remains!" quod she. So I laughed, and told her many a Spendthrift would like that Reckoning.
"Well," said I, "I suppose you desire not to begin with Enumeration."
"Since your Time is so valuable," sayth she, "you need not teach me at all."
"Nay, Mistress," say I, "count a Million if you will! I can tarry."