"I give you welcome, madam," says he, bowing with ceremony. "There is a chamber all prepared for you, and a warming supper. You must ha' gotten a rare appetite with the winds."
She returned him no word, but shrank away towards me; and says he to me,—
"I fear my lady has lost her tongue i' the cold. You have had a rough journey; but 'tis well done. I swear the lady was never in more careful custody," and a little smile illumined his even features.
As we had come upon him there was nought to do save to make the best of the case, and though I will admit that at first I was put about I soon recovered my wits, and entered the chamber with him, whence the light shone, with some merry jest on my tongue.
Here was a table spread very generously, and some wine heating by the fire.
"By the Lord," said I, "I am fain of good liquor."
"You have earned it, Captain," says he, pouring forth a glass, but keeping his eyes on the girl.
I drained the glass. "And now," says I, "to business, Sir Gilbert."
"Ay, to business, sir," says he, and, with a gentle motion of his hands, he would have invited Mrs Barbara to an inner room. "These coarse facts are not for a lady, Ryder," says he.