"Lord, she is better than tall—"
"Ha—is she short of stature, good Giles?"
"Messire, God hath shaped her lovely body no higher and no lower than my heart. Small is she and slender, yet in her sweet and slender shapeliness is all the beauty of all the women that all men have ever loved—"
"Small, say you, Giles—small? Then give me back yon lovely thing!"
Saying the which, Beltane caught the shoe from Giles's hold and strode away blithe and debonair, leaving the garrulous archer dumb for once and beyond all words amazed.
Now as Beltane went very deep in thought there met him Friar Martin, who bore upon his arm a great basket full of green vegetables and sweet herbs. Quoth Beltane:
"Good friar, what do ye abroad so early?"
"Sweet son, I praise the good God for His mercies and pant by reason of this my weighty basket."
"Indeed 'tis a something well-laden basket," said Beltane, relieving the friar of his burden with gentle force.
"Why, verily, my children are hungry children and clamour to be filled. And see you, my son, I have a secret of a certain broth whereof these lentils and these sweet herbs do so tickle their palates that to satisfy them is a hard matter—more especially Orson and Jenkyn—who being nigh cured of their hurts do eat like four men and vaunt my cooking full-mouthed, insomuch that I must needs grow heedful of vain pride."