"'Tis here plainly set down," say I, "as four-and-fourpence."
"Oh, charming!" cries she, "then all's straight!"
And, catching the Paper from mine Hand, she goes off with it, and I see no more of her nor her Accounts.
Only, about a Month after, Master Hewet says, "Well, Ned, I have not paid thee thy two Angels?"
"I have not earned them, Sir," I say, "Mistress Anne will none of my teaching."
"In Faith, then, she has schooled herself to some Purpose," saith he, smiling, "for she is ready enough now, both at Proportion and Practice. What a whimsical young Lass it is!"
In Fact she had, as about this Time, that Necessity for Application to practical Affairs which makes many Women good Reckoners whether they have a natural Turn for it or no. For Mistress Fraunces's Health failing her a little, Mistress Anne undertook the Conduct of the Household, which the other as readily yielded unto her, witting that the Pratique would do her good. So she went about, demurely, with the Keys, measuring this and weighing that, and setting down Everything in a little Book at her Girdle. 'Twas a Lesson, to see her Tendance, in all duteous Affectuousness, on good Mistress Fraunces, who indeed merited of her the Love of a Daughter, and whom she soon nursed well. Mistress Fraunces, always very softhearted, told me I should find she had not forgotten my Care of her, in her Will. Howbeit, I was thankful no Occasion came of opening it.
On my Birthday, Mistress Anne came to me smiling, with her Hands behind her, and said, "Which Hand will you have?"
I regarded her earnestly, and said, "The right Hand, Mistress."
"Oh, miserable Choice!" cried she, laughing, and throwing me a worn Glove of her own; "hadst thou said 'Left,' thou shouldest have had this brave new Pair of scented Gloves!"