"A wager, lad!" she cried. "Two shillings to a groat thou art cutting a love-token!"
The fellow looked up and tried to hide his knife. Then, grinning, he replied:
"I'll no take your challenge, mistress. Yet, i' good faith, 'tis but to crown another's work."
Then, pointing with his blade:
"See where he hath carved letters four," he continued. "Wi' love-links, too. A watched un yestre'en, whiles the play was forward. A do but carve a heart wi' an arrow in't."
She blushed suddenly, wondering if it were Guy who had done this. Stepping to the side of the stable-boy, she examined the post.
The letters were in pairs. They were M. B. and G. F.
Her feeling bubbled over in a little half-stifled laugh.
"Silly!" she exclaimed. Then to the boy: "Know you him who cut the letters?" she asked, with affected indifference.
"Nay, mistress," he replied, falling again to his work, "but he be a rare un wi' the bottle."