‘I am not from Bedfordshire,’ said the lad, looking much amused at her perplexity.
‘Who art thou then?’ she cried peremptorily.
‘I? I am Hal the shepherd boy, as I told thee before.’
‘No shepherd boy are you! Come, tell me true.’
Dolly thought it time to interfere. She heard an imaginary bleat, and ordered Hal out to see what was the matter, hindering the girl by force from running after him, for the snow was coming down in larger flakes than ever. Nevertheless, when her husband was heard outside she threw a cloak over her head and hurried out to speak with him. ‘That maid will make our lad betray himself ere another hour is over their heads!’
‘Doth she do it wittingly?’ asked the shepherd gravely.
‘Nay, ‘tis no guile, but each child sees that the other is of gentle blood, and women’s wits be sharp and prying, and the maid will never rest till she has wormed out who he is.’
‘He promised me never to say, nor doth he know.’
‘Thee! Much do the hests of an old hogherd weigh against the wiles of a young maid!’
‘Lord Hal is a lad of his word. Peace with thy lords and ladies, woman, thou’lt have the archers after him at once.’