“Peace, child! peace!” said Gerard. “Make not too free with the great.”
“Why, she heard me not. Oh, Ser Gerard, what a lovely creature!”
Two of the females had been for some time past putting their heads together and casting glances at Marcia.
One of them now addressed her.
“Signorina, do you love almonds?”
The speaker had a lapful of them.
“Yes, I love them; when I can get them,” said Marcia pettishly, and eyeing the fruit with ill-concealed desire; “but yours is not the hand to give me any, I trow.”
“You are much mistook,” said the other. “Here, catch!” And suddenly threw a double handful into Marcia's lap.
Marcia brought her knees together by an irresistible instinct.
“Aha! you are caught, my lad,” cried she of the nuts. “'Tis a man; or a boy. A woman still parteth her knees to catch the nuts the surer in her apron; but a man closeth his for fear they should all between his hose. Confess, now, didst never wear fardingale ere to-day?”