I stood at Pause, without a Word to proffer. Quod she, "I am glad thou art safe returned—hast thou seen my Father?" I said, "No, Mistress. Have you fared quite well since I left?" She saith, "Quite well." Then I said, "What rare Flowers! shall I bring you some Water for them?" "No," quod she carelessly, "they are scarce worth the keeping." "Scarce worth the keeping!" quod I, "nay, they are not such as are to be bought in a London Herb-market.... Divers of them, these Coronations for Example, must have come from far." "They all come from far," quod she, "but what of that? I like them none the better." And commenced pulling a Gilly-flower to Pieces. I said, "I am glad I am not that Gilly-flower." She saith, "Why?" But I made no Answer, for how witted I that I was any better prized? So I turned to go; and just as I gained the Door, I heard her softly say, "Edward!" Then I stayed. She saith, "You will find my Father in his Closet;" and so, passed me with the Flowers in her Hand; and I saw that her Eyes were full of Tears ready to shed. When she was gone, I went back and took up some of the Gilly-flower Leaves she had scattered, and kissed them. Just then enters Master Hewet from his Closet beyond, wherein he might ha' heard every Word had been said; but there was Nought to be shamed of, if he did.
He saith, "Ned! I am glad to see thee, Lad! How well thou look'st! And yet, now I observe thee more narrowly, thou look'st amiss. Hath Aught gone wrong? Nay then, that's well. Methinks, with thine Allowance, thou mightest go a little braver; which is what few young Men need the egging on to ... and yet thou gracest whatsoe'er thou hast on."
Then he told me what he called the grand News of the Day—my Lord Talbot's Suit to Mistress Anne. I said, "Oh! Master, don't kill me," and hid my Face in my Hands. He saith, "Why, Ned, whom am I saving her for, but you? Look up, Boy! He that did save, the same shall have! I have but one Child, and I mean to make her happy. But mark me, Ned, I wot not whether that is to be done by giving her unto mine adopted Son; nor, peradventure, art thou any more assured of it. Woo her then, Lad, with my free Consent, but tell her not just yet, that thou hast it. My Fancy—a strange one, maybe—is to see what she will in that Case do."
I knelt, and caught his Hand to my Lips.
"Thy Father's own Son," quod he smiling, "he had the darker Beard, thou hast the better Eye. Thou art a Gentleman's Son, and I am no more. Start fair with the young Lord; he dines with me to-day, and so shalt thou. And now, be off with thee."
I passed forth into the Stretes, not heeding in what Direction, for my Brain was a-fire, and I wanted to quiet it and to think over many Things—no Place for Solitariness like the Stretes! Then I returned to my old Quarters on the Bridge, and looked out a Suit I had bought and wore once at Antwerp, but had thought almost too fine for Home, albe but little garnished ... to wit, of murray-colour, overlaid with a good silk Lace; and a Mechlin Edge and Tassels to my Bands. Thought I, peradventure the 'Prentice in his blue Gown had most reason to be proud of his Favour ... she kissed me then, when she could scarce hold on by my Hair, 'twas so short; and now it might wind twice round her Finger.... Then I went across to Master Soper, and quod I, "Now, Master Tonsor, thou must trim me for a Feast; but, mark me, mine Hair was cut last in Flanders, where they trim the Hair little and the Beard close; so follow the Lead and keep the foreign Fashion, and I'll give thee Twopence."
"Marry come up," muttered he, "what Airs these Youngsters bring from over Seas!" And I felt I was in his power, and that one malicious snip might put me past Redress; howbeit, he stayed himself with less Work, more Pay, and acquitted himself handsomely. Then I took my Flemish Beaver, and my new Cloke across my Arm, and sallied forth; and chancing to look back, was avised of Tryphena and Tryphosa leaning forth of their upper Casement to look after me. Being caught at which, they disappeared.
As I entered the House, I heard Mistress Fraunces say to Damaris, "Be sure they spoil not the Mortreuse," which avised me we were to have state. Howbeit, there was a rich plainness in Everything; the parcel-gilt double Salt-cellar and chased Flagons alone calling Attention to their Cost. And though Everything set on Table was far-fetched and of the best, far exceeding the Tables of the best Merchants in Antwerp, we had not too much nor too many of any Thing. I could not note that Mistress Anne had made any Difference for him—a few Strings of Pearls were warped into her Hair, and she ware her mouse-coloured Velvet, which she never thought too fine, with or without Company; but no Posy. Two Men with Talbot Badges helped Master Hewet's Men to wait; my Lord sat next Mistress Anne, and I over-against them. As we took our Places, he seemed to remember my Face, and to be surprised at my sitting down with him; which Master Hewet noting, in a certain haughtiness in his Air, he saith, "Mine adopted Son, my Lord, and the Son of mine earliest Friend.... We are all plain People, but the Osbornes as good as any here sitting, saving your Lordship's Presence." Whereon, my Lord, recovering, pledged me.
Now, Mistress Fraunces was so abashed at entertaining an Earl's Son, as that she lost all her natural Easiness, and could bethink her of Nothing to say but to ask him ever and anon, whether he liked what he ate, which he professed to do once and again, though I believe he scarce marked the Difference of one Dish from another. For the first Time, I learned what the fair Speech of Lordlings to Ladies is made of ... it seemed to me rather a flimsy Stuff, Warp and Woof; over-stretched and loose-wove. Then Master Hewet, to leave him and Anne to themselves, kept up a By-talk with me about Flanders; drawing forth of me not so much about the Staple as about the Country, Towns, Rivers, Houses, Churches, and People. I had been to Nürnberg, and could tell him of the mighty Works of Genius produced by the Artists of the free Imperial City, and of the Wealth and Splendour of its Merchants. Mistress Fraunces was afterwards pleased to say I took the Colour out of the young Lord: what she intended thereby I never clearly made out—peradventure, being a Woman, she meant I was brown and red, and he pink and white; for indeed I was sore sunburned. For good Looks, there was no Fault to find in my Lord: he had that Easiness of Carriage and Manner which I think none but young Lords have. He took not much upon him, considering what he was and with whom; and, for the Rest, he was pleasant, but not bright. His Hands were womanish for Softness, and I heard from Damaris, who had it from his Men, that one Reason thereof was, he never washed them in cold Water, only dabbed them a little with a soft Napkin. Methought, rather than that, I would choose my Hands of a little coarser Grain. I think he parleyed for a Quarter of an Hour on the Christian Names of his Ancestry, how the Heads of his House had been alternately a Richard and a Gilbert, a Richard and a Gilbert, for I wot not how many Generations; and then how the Name of George got in, and then of Frauncis, and how he was a George again ... flimsy Talk and tedious. Mistress Anne sate wondrous quiet, and once gave me, across the Table, such a Look! Methought if she were secretly amusing herself, I had no Need to be so jealous unto Death as I felt.
When my Lord took Leave, he, to my Surprise, invited me to attend him a little Way. I looked at him, to be assured there was no Mistake; and, seeing he awaited me, I followed; Master Hewet saying as I departed, "Fail not to look in on us as thou returnest." In the open Air, my Lord and I walked awhile without speaking, by Reason of the People we met; but, proceeding to a side Aisle of Paul's, he spake to me of this and that, I following his Lead, and leaving him to start his Subject.