“Blessings on him, he hath a kindly heart! There’s many a proud baron would have paid no heed to a babe’s cries, but I warrant me he thinks of his lady.”
“Where’s the churl that pushed her off? A good ducking should he have.”
But, fearing this turn of the tide, the man had slunk away, and Joan, pleased as she was with the admiring epithets bestowed upon her, desired to be taken home, and made a discovery which moved her to tears, in the fact that the long toes of her new shoes, subjects of much pride, were hopelessly-ruined.
She reached the house weeping, and her mother, flying out, rated Hugh soundly before hearing anything of what had happened, whereupon Joan flung her arms round his neck, said that Hugh was good, the king had said so, and the people were naughty. Prothasy listening in amazement could scarce believe her ears, making Hugh tell his story over and over again, and pouring it out to Elyas when he came back from the banquet.
“The king called her a fair maiden, what thinkest thou of that, goodman?” she asked proudly.
“And Hugh a brave prentice, what thinkest thou of that, goodwife?” returned her husband, with a smile.