"That may well be. I saw her come forth from a grim portal hard by
Allhallowes the Less. I knew not who it was, but I gave chase, and
ere she put her foot upon the bridge, I had plucked the hood from
off her pretty curls, and had kissed her soundly on both cheeks.
And at that she gave me such a cuff as I feel yet, and ran like a
fawn, and I after her, till she vanished within the door of our
neighbour's house; and then it came to me that it was Dorcas, grown
wondrous pretty since I last took note of her. If she comes always
home at this hour, I'll waylay my lady again and take toll of her."

"You had better be careful not to let Reuben get wind of it" said
Gertrude, with suppressed anger in her voice. "If he were to catch
you insulting his sister, it is more than a slap or a cuff you
would get."

Frederick burst into a boisterous laugh.

"What! do you think a dirty shopman would dare lay hands upon me?
I'd run him through the body as soon as look at him. He'd better
keep out of reach of my sword arm. You can tell him so, fair
sister, if you have a tendresse for the young counter jumper."

Gertrude's sensitive colour flew up, and her brother laughed loud
and long, pointing his finger at her, and adding one coarse jest to
another; but the mother interposed rather hastily, being uneasy at
the turn the talk was taking.

"Hist, children, no more of this!

"I would not that this tale came to your father's ears, Frederick;
it were better to have a care where our neighbours are concerned.
Let the wench alone. There are many prettier damsels than she, who
will not rebuff you in such fashion."

"Ay, verily, but that is the spice of it all. When the wench gives
you kiss for kiss, it is sweet, but flavourless. A box on the ear,
and a merry chase through the streets afterwards, is a game more to
my liking. I'll see the little witch again and be even with her, or
my name's not Frederick Mason the Scourer!"

"Your father will like it ill if it comes to his ears," remarked
Madam, with a touch of uneasiness; "and for my part, the less we
have to do with our neighbours the better. They are no fit
associates for us."

"Say that we are no fit associates for them," murmured Gertrude,
beneath her breath.

Her heart was swelling with sorrow and anger. In her eyes there was
no young man in all London town to be compared with Reuben Harmer.
From the day when in childhood they had playfully plighted their
troth, she had never ceas