ombe, that my Lord would not be denied his spending the
holiday times there; and, besides, last summer we had a mighty coil.
The Horners of Mells made me a rare good offer for Lucy for their eldest
son, chiefly because they wanted a wife for him of my Lady Walwyn's and
Mistress Cecily's breeding; and my wife was all for accepting it,
having by that time given up all hope of poor Berry. But I would have no
commands laid on my girl, seeing that I had pledged my word not to cross
her in the matter, and she hung about my neck and prayed me so meekly to
leave her unwedded, that I must have been made of stone not to yield to
her. So I told Mr. Horner that his son Jack must wait for little Nancy
if he wanted a daughter of mine--and the stripling is young enough. I
believe he will. But women's tongues are not easy to stop, and Lucy
was worn so thin, and had tears in her eyes--that she thought I never
marked--whenever she was fretted or flouted, and at last I took her back
to stay at Combe for Aunt Cecily to cheer up a bit; and--well, well, to
get rid of the matter and silence Dame Nan, I consented to a betrothal
between her and Merrycourt--since she vowed she would rather wait
single for him than wed any one else. He is a good youth, and is working
himself to a shadow between studying and teaching; but as to sending
him alone to bring Berry's wife back, he was over-young for that. No one
could do that fitly save myself, and I only wish I had gone three years
ago, to keep you two foolish lads out of harm's way. But they set up
an unheard-of hubbub, and made sure I should lose myself. What are you
laughing at, you Jacksauce?'

'To think of you starting, father, with not a word of French, and never
from home further than once to London.'

'Ah! you thought to come the traveled gentleman over me, but I've been
even with you. I made Dame Nan teach me a few words, but I never could
remember anything but that "mercy" is "thank ye". However, Merrycourt
offered to come with me, and my Lord wished it. Moreover, I thought he
might aid in tracing you out. So I saw my Lord alone, and he passed his
word to me that, come what would, no one should persuade him to alter
his will to do wrong to Berenger's daughter; and so soon as Master Hobbs
could get the THROSTLE unladen, and fitted out again, we sailed for
Bordeau, and there he is waiting for us, while Clause and I bought
horses and hired a guide, and made our way here on Saturday, where we
w