Thos. And found thy fair mistress as many faults with that?
Fath. Not one! She finds it a very pattern of a gown! A well-sitting flounce! The sleeves a fit—the tucker a fit—the trimmings her fancy to a T—ha! ha! ha! and she praised the sempstress—ha! ha! ha! and she smiles at me, and I smile—ha! ha! ha! and the sempstress smiles—ha! ha! ha! Now, why did the sempstress smile?
Thos. That she had succeeded so well in her art.
Fath. Thou hast hit it again! The jade must have been born a sempstress! If ever I marry, she shall work for my wife. The gown was the same gown, and there was my mistress’s twentieth mood!
Thos. What think you will Master Walter say when he comes back? I fear he’ll hardly know his country maid again. Has she yet fixed her wedding-day?
Fath. She has, Master Thomas. I coaxed it from her maid. She marries, Monday week.
Thos. Comes not Master Walter back to-day?
Fath. Your master expects him. [A ringing.] Perhaps that’s he. I prithee go and open the door; do, Master Thomas, do; for proves it my master, he’ll surely question me.
Thos. And what should I do?
Fath. Answer him, Master Thomas, and make him none the wiser. He’ll go mad, when he learns how my lady flaunts it! Go! open the door, I prithee. Fifty things, Master Thomas, know you, for one thing that I know! You can turn and twist a matter into any other kind of matter; and then twist and turn it back again, if needs be; so much you servants of the town beat us of the country, Master Thomas. Open the door, now; do, Master Thomas, do!