for you, who are certain of a great man's
house."

"Would that I were certified that my brother would be as well off as
you, if you did but know it," said Ambrose. "Ha! here come the dishes!
'Tis supper-time come on us unawares, and Stephen not returned from Mile
End!"

Punctuality was not, however, exacted on these summer Sunday evenings,
when practice with the bow and other athletic sports were enjoined by
Government, and, moreover, the youths were with so trustworthy a member
of the household as Kit Smallbones.

Sundry City magnates had come to supper with Master Headley, and whether
it were the effect of Ambrose's counsel, or of the example of a handsome
lad who had come with his father, one of the worshipful guild of
Merchant Taylors, Giles did vouchsafe to bestir himself in waiting, and
in consideration of the effort it must have cost him, old Mrs Headley
and her son did not take notice of his blunders, but only Dennet fell
into a violent fit of laughter, when he presented the stately alderman
with a nutmeg under the impression that it was an overgrown peppercorn.
She suppressed her mirth as well as she could, poor little thing, for it
was a great offence in good manners, but she was detected, and, only
child as she was, the consequence was the being banished from the table
and sent to bed.

But when, after supper was over, Ambrose went out to see if there were
any signs of the return of Stephen and the rest, he found the little
maiden curled up in the gallery with her kitten in her arms.

"Nay!" she said, in a spoilt-child tone, "I'm not going to bed before my
time for laughing at that great oaf! Nurse Alice says he is to wed me,
but I won't have him! I like the pretty boy who had the good dog and
saved father, and I like you, Master Ambrose. Sit down by me and tell
me the story over again, and we shall see Kit Smallbones come home. I
know he'll have beaten the brewer's fellow."

Before Ambrose had decided whether thus far to abet rebellion, she
jumped up and cried: "Oh, I see Kit! He's got my ribbon! He has won
the match!"

And down she rushed, quite oblivious of her disgrace, and Ambrose
presently saw her uplifted in Kit Smallbones' brawny arms to utter her
congratulations.

Stephen was equally excited. His head was full of Kit Smallbones'
exploits, and of the marvels of the sports he had witnessed and joined
in with fair success. He had thought Londoners poor effeminate
creatures, but he f