“Go on the water!” said Mrs. Sanker, who was sitting under the shade of the trees, repeating one of her favourite ballads to King in a see-saw tone. “I! Julia Podd must have misunderstood me. To go on the water might be nice for those who would like it, I said. I don’t.”
“Will you go?” asked Mr. Angerstyne, turning to Anne.
Anne shook her head, confessing herself too much of a coward. She had never been on any water in her life until when crossing over from France, and never wished to be. And Mr. Angerstyne ungallantly let the boat alone, though Julia and Fanny told him they adored the water.
We sat down in the shade by Mrs. Sanker; some on the bench by her side, some on the grass at her feet, and she recited for us the time-worn ballad she had begun for King: just as the following year she would recite things to us, as already told of, sitting on the floor beam of the turret-room. It was called “Lord Thomas.” Should you like to hear it?
Lord Thomas he was a bold forester,
And a keeper of the king’s deer;
Fair Ellenor, she was a fair young lady,
Lord Thomas he loved her dear.
“Come, read me a riddle, dear mother,” said he,
“And riddle us both as one:
Whether fair Ellen shall be mine—
Or to bring the brown girl home?”
“The brown girl she hath both houses and lands;
Fair Ellenor, she has none:
Therefore I’d advise thee, on my blessing,
To bring the brown girl home.”
Then he decked himself and he dressed himself,
And his merry men, all in green:
And as he rode through the town with them
Folks took him to be some king.
When he came to fair Ellenor’s bower
So boldly he did ring;
There was none so ready as fair Ellen herself
To loose Lord Thomas in.
“What news, what news, Lord Thomas,
What news have you brought unto me?”
“I’m come to invite you to my wedding;
And that is bad news for thee.”