"After all, 'twill teach the silly lad better manners!" she said.
Scarcely had she reached the highway again when she heard a man's voice calling in hearty tones.
"Well met, Mistress Mary! I looked well to find you near—for I take it 'twas Sir Guy passed me a minute gone, spurring as 'twere a shame to see."
She looked up and saw a stout, middle-aged countryman on horseback, holding a folded paper in his hand.
"Oh, 'tis thou, Gregory!" she said, coolly. "Mend thy manners, man, and keep thy place."
The man grinned.
"For my place, Mistress Mary," he said, "I doubt you know not where your place be."
She looked up with a frown of angry surprise.
"Up here behind me on young Bess," he grinned. "See, here's your father's letter, mistress."
She took the paper with one hand while with the other she patted the soft nose of the mare, who was bending her head around to find her mistress.