or, for all her greatness.

"Where's th' lass?" saith she, as she might 'a' said "Where's my glove?"

Then saith I, "Madam," saith I, "most like she's gone about her
business," saith I.

"My good man," saith she, after a fashion that did cause me to feel
aught but good--"my good man," saith she, "dost thou know to whom thou
speakest?"

"Verily," saith I, "thou art ahead o' me there, madam."

"Boor," saith she, "I am the Lady o' Balfour Hall."

"An' so could my lass 'a' been, had she willed it," saith I; but ere I
could further forget myself, in comes Keren by another door, and she
saith,

"Father, do thou go out, and leave me to speak with this lady." Then to
th' dame she saith, "Your ladyship," saith she, "I am Keren Lemon, that
be called th' Farrier Lass. What wouldst thou with me?"

Then I got me out o' th' room, but not out o' hearing distance; and this
is what followed:

"I have heard," saith th' dame, "these reports concerning my son Sir
Dagonet and thee, and, to my sorrow, I find upon inquiry," saith she,
"that they be true. Moreover, though it doth shame me to the dust to
confess it, I have had an interview with my son Sir Dagonet," so saith
she--every word o't as I tell thee--"and he is determined in his
purpose o' ruining his life and th' happiness o' his mother. Therefore I
have come to thee, to ask that thou persistest in the course which thou
hast begun," saith she. "And here," saith she, "is gold to hold thy
tongue concerning my visit unto thee." And therewith she did count down
ten broad gold pieces upon th' kitchen table. "I must also ask thee,"
then continued she, ere my lass could answer her, "to allow me to remain
under thy roof until my carriage be returned from th' other end o' the
village, where it hath been sent with my tire-woman to purchase some
ribbon to tie my parrot to 's perch."

Never a word saith my lass, but she goes to th' door and opens it, and
lifting up her voice, she halloos to a little ragged urchin who is at
some spot on th' other side o' th' street; and he being come as fast as
his little shanks would bring him, she bids him enter, and taking him up
in her arms, she lifts him up so that a can reach th' gold on th'
table, and saith she,

"Thou'rt not o'er-clean to touch, my good little mouse," saith she, "but
thou'rt cleaner than that stuff thou seest. There, lad, that's for thee,
if an thou'lt run to th' other end o' th' village and bid them return at
once with my la