From house to house, from street to street,
The rapid rumour flies;
Incredulous ears it finds, and hands
Are lifted in surprise;
And tongues through all the astonished town
Are busier now than eyes.
Southey.
"So, Mistress Miniver, the old house is like to wear a new sign before many days. There'll be a change in the arms, methinks."
"Not while my name's Miniver, Master Colan," answered the plump hostess of the Trevethlan Arms.
"Maybe you'd not object to change that, dame," suggested the farmer.
Mrs. Miniver played with a well-sized bunch of keys that hung from her girdle.
"Ay, ay," said Colan—
"'The key of the locker the good-wife keeps,
The good-wife's busy, the good-man sleeps.'
"I fancy you sat in St. Michael's chair the day you were married, Mistress Miniver."