"What's what?" exclaimed Mariot, her head coming up in astonishment. "Lo' you now, if Slow-o'-Words hasn't found his tongue!"
"What's a villein, Mariot?"
"What we all are—saving thee, little plague o' my life."
"Why amn't I like you?" said Lawrence, opening his eyes wide.
"The deer knows!" replied Simon grumpily.
"Well, but I know beside the deer," said Mariot. "Well, what for but by reason thou wert born on the same day as the young Lord up yonder,—thou and Blumond's Beattie—and ye were both made free therefor."
"What's free, Mariot?"
"It means, do what you will."
"Does it so? May I have one of those fishes, then?"
"Oh, well—it means not, do ill and thieve. Wait a bit, Lolly, till thou art grown bigger, and thou wilt know what free means—better than ever we are like to know it."