Then Calote laughed likewise, and seeing her mother down the street at their door, she began to run.
Kitte kissed her, and crushed her close, and at the last said:—
“How will thy father be rejoiced to know thee safe!” Then, “Who 's this?” quoth she; and there stood the peddler, waiting.
“'T is an honest man hath holpen me in many a sore strait, mother; cannot speak plain.”
“So!” said Kitte, and continued to look at him over her daughter's head thoughtfully.
“G-give you good-even, m-mistress!” said the peddler.
“Good-even, friend!” said Kitte, and added in a voice assured and quiet: “I know thy face.”
“H-haply,” he answered, and albeit he knew that he was found out he did not turn away his eyes from hers.
“Come in, and sup,” said she; “Will 's late;” and she laid her arm about the peddler's shoulder, and kissed his cheek.
They sat late that night. Wat and Jack Straw came in with Langland, and there was clipping and kissing and rattle of tongues.