"One winter in the camps he hath been with me, in Bohemia," Claus answered, when he had taken time to understand her question. "When he is taller, ja, he will be a trooper, and a gallant one."
"I'll be no trooper," said the boy, scarcely raising his eyelids. "I'll be captain of a troop, as was my father."
"Fine prattle for a beggar brat!" Mawkin grumbled.
But Merrylips gazed with adoring eyes on the big, rough man, who no longer seemed to her like a padder, and the slender boy, who talked so lightly of fighting for the king and winning captaincies.
"'Tis happy chance," said she, "that you came unto Larkland, for we are here all Cavaliers, even as yourselves, and were I a lad, I'd go unto the wars with you."
Then she met Rupert's eyes, fixed full upon her, and for the first time, in all his pain, Rupert smiled, seeing her earnestness, and his smile was winning.
"I would you were a lad and my brother, mistress!" he said.
Mawkin gave a little snort.
"A landleaper such as thou a brother to Sir Thomas Venner's daughter!" she cried.
But Merrylips leaned nearer and laid her hand on the boy's limp fingers.