h shall die and iron rust,
Pass and perish all things must.
Well I understand and say,
All shall die, both priest and lay;
And small time, for praise or blame,
When man dieth, lives his fame."

Note. This is translated from an old French poem, written before the
time of the story.

Father Thomas stopped beside the anvil, but the smith's back was turned,
so that he did not see him.

"A sad song, my friend--if that were all."

"Eh?" said Dan, looking behind him, and then immediately throwing down
the hammer, and giving a pull to his forelock. Great respect was paid
to priests at that day. "Axe your pardon, Father! Didn't see who it
were."

"I came to see thy wife, my son. Shall I go forward?"

"Not if you're o' my mind. Happen you aren't."

"Is she not at home?"

"Oh, ay, she's at home!"

The smith's tone might have meant that he could have wished she was
somewhere else. Father Thomas waited, till Dan flung down the hammer,
and looked up at him.

"Had ye e'er a mother?" asked he.

"Ay," replied the priest.

"Was she one 'at took th' andirons to you when you didn't suit her?"

"Truly, no. She was a full good and gentle woman."

"And had ye e'er a sister?"

"Ay; three."

"Was they given to rugging your hair when they wasn't pleased?"

"Not at all, my son."

"Ah! you'd best go home, I reckon."

"What meanest thou?" asked Father Thomas, feeling much amused at the
very unusual style of Dan's reception.

"Well!" said Dan, passing his fingers through his hair, "I mean, if
that's the way you was fetched up, you don't know the animal you've got
to deal with here. There's five dragons i' that house o' mine: and each
on 'em's got teeth and claws, and they knows how to use 'em, they does.
If one on 'em wern't a bit better nor t'others, and did not come and
stand by me now and then, I should ne'er ha' lived to talk to you this
even. Nay, I shouldn't! Best go home, Father, while you've getten a
coat on your back, and some hair on your head."

"Is it so bad as that?"

"Ah, it is!" was Dan's short but emphatic reply.

"But surely, my son, thy wife would never use a man ill that meant her
good?"

"Think she'll stop to ask your meanin'?" said Dan, with a contemptuous
grunt. "If she's not changed sin' I come fro' dinner, she'll be a-top
of you before you can say `mercy.' And she's none a comfortable thing
to have a-top of you, I give you fair warning."

"How was she at supper, then