I found that some Change in Household Arrangements had been made in mine Absence, whereby my old Quarters were pre-occupied; and that Master Hewet had taken a Lodging for me at the Barbitonsor's over the Way; where, in Sooth, both Master Soper and the young Women failed not in Aught that should be for my Comfort, and at very reasonable Charges. Howbeit, an Alarm of Housebreakers soon recalled me to mine old Post again, save that I had the Attick in Place of the Loft; every Woman in the House thinking it safe with me and unsafe without me. And Master Hewet said I made the old Place look more like itself.
Now, mark me, Hew! Thus went I on for three whole Years, and ne'er once lost Hold of my Stay. What Man hath done, Man may do. I was not like one working on Hope, for I had had none given me. I say not that I was always borne up to High-water Mark. Questionless, there were daily Ebbs and Flows; and ever and anon, a mighty, powerful, rushing Wind would come, and drive back the Current on an Heap, leaving bare the stony Channel; till after a While, with strong Recoil, it came hurrying back, ready to sweep all before it. But, I never let go the Rope! Many Waters cannot quench Love, neither can the Floods drown it. Deep might call hoarsely unto Deep, but not prevail....
Speak as if I felt it? Why, I do! I am an oldish Man now, at least you think me not over young; but there are some good and pure Feelings, Lad, thou wilt never become dull to, so long as thou keepest thy Heart with all Diligence. And the best of it is, that whilst those Feelings, so far as they were pleasant, are pleasant still, the Pains, then so bitter, that came from keeping down all that was wrong with a strong Hand, are now Pleasures too!—that are recalled over and over again: when, maybe, we seem cogitating or dozing. Give me thy Hand, Lad: I see you believe me.
So did Master Hewet believe me. We were, I fancy, often thinking at the same Time of the same Matter; but thereof spake we none. I was not watched; neither did he make a Shew of not watching me: only gave me daily Proofs of a deepening and enlarging Confidence. I heard him say one Day to one of his fellow Aldermen, ere the Door was well closed behind me, "It were a poor Word, Master Bowyer, to say I could trust that young Man with untold Gold."
But those Ebbs and Flows I spake of ... sometimes they arose from mine own unmanageable Thoughts, I wist not why nor wherefore; sometimes from the Approach of this or that Suitor ... for, towards the End of the Term I named, there were full many, I promise you; though, for the most Part, not dangerous ones: sometimes from Mistress Anne herself, who began to have her Ebbs and Flows too, both of Spirits and Temper; and who, when some of her Suitors, more unpleasing unto her than the Rest, did make Suit to her with Over-boldness, would become pettish and captious, not only with them but with me and with every one else.
In one of these little Humours, she accused me of being less regardful of pleasing her than any one in the House: I would do Nothing for her. I said there was Nothing I would not do. She said that was fine Talking. I said, Would she prove me? She was leaning over the Balcony at the Time; and, looking down therefrom, said, Would I bring her that yellow Fumitory that grew in the Cleft of the Bridge-buttress? I looked at it and then at her, and said gravely, it could not be done without imperilling of Life, but that if she bade me, I would try. She said, turning red as she spake, she did bid me. Then I said I would take my Reward beforehand, as I might not be fortunate enough to come back. And kissed her Hand, and the same Instant was over the Parapet. She cries, "Oh Edward, stay!" and gives a Scream that rings through my Ears and makes People look forth of their Casements. I was hanging by my two Hands to the Ballusters, seeking some Ledge for my Foot; but, seeing her white Face, and knowing she had sent me on a sinfully reckless Errand, I, without more Ado, gave a sudden Spring back into the Balcony. She meanwhile, in the Buckram-chamber, had hidden her Face in her Hands, and was weeping bitterly. I was never so near losing Command of myself as that Time.
'Twould amuse thee—it amuses me,—to pass in Review all her Suitors of that Season. There was Master Bolsover, the Merchant-tailor—young Bowes, the Goldsmith, Son of Sir Martin—Guy Burrell, the Clothworker;—pretty near all the great Companies, except the Fishmongers', had their Representative, I think.—Then, for the Court, there were Ralph de Cobham, a Spendthrift, Lancelyn Ferrars, and a sixth Cousin of the Percies. These all came and went, like Players in a Droll.
Meantime, I came and went, too; ... to Leeds, to Halifax, to Norwich, to Stratford; and again to Cales, Abbeville, and Antwerp. Master Hewet supplied me with plenty of Money, and kept me abroad longer than before. I had Time to look at Pictures and Churches, and to learn to speak the Tongues of the Countries I abode in with some Fluency. I had Introductions to Merchants of the Staple, among whom were Men as friendly and enlightened as any I ever knew.
When I learned that Queen Mary had deceased, and that our gracious Lady Elizabeth was set on the Throne in her Stead, I thought it hard to be still kept from Home, where Terror and Tears had now given Place to Joy and Gladness. Howbeit, Master Hewet would still keep me Abroad, on some Affairs that seemed of less Moment to me than they did to him.
I set my Face towards England at last, with a greater Longing for Home than I had ever had before. That Home was now changed: Master Hewet had removed into a goodly Mansion in Philpot Lane, fit for a Merchant Prince, and plainly yet nobly furnished. His Household was also increased by the Addition of several new Servants; but the House on the Bridge was still his House of Business.