He did not answer for a moment, but began again to play with the dog. Then raising his eyes to mine he said:
"You were well enough; she played divinely, Mr Dale."
"She played for life, Sir."
"Ay, poor Nelly loves me," said he softly. "I had been cruel to her. But I won't weary you with my affairs. What would you?"
"Mistress Gwyn, Sir, has been very kind to me."
"So I believe," remarked the King.
"But my heart, Sir, is now and has been for long irrevocably set on another."
"On my faith, Mr Dale, and speaking as one man to another, I'm glad to hear it. Was it so at Canterbury?"
"More than ever before, Sir. For she was there and——"
"I know she was there."