ad rather trust dainty work such as this to him than to myself."

"Stephen! Tibble, hath he set thee on to this?"

"No, sir. We both know too well what becometh us; but when you were
casting about for a mate for my young mistress, I could not but think
how men seek far, and overlook the jewel at their feet."

"He hath nought! That brother of his will give him nought."

"He hath what will be better for the old Dragon and for your worship's
self, than many a bag of gold, sir."

"Thou sayst truly there, Tib. I know him so far that he would not be
the ingrate Jack to turn his back on the old master or the old man. He
is a good lad. But--but--I've ever set my face against the prentice
wedding the master's daughter, save when he is of her own house, like
Giles. Tell me, Tibble, deemst thou that the varlet hath dared to lift
his eyes to the lass?"

"I wot nothing of love!" said Tibble, somewhat grimly. "I have seen
nought. I only told your worship where a good son and a good master
might be had. Is it your pleasure, sir, that we take in a freight of
sea-coal from Simon Collier for the new furnace? His is purest, if a
mark more the chaldron."

He spoke as if he put the recommendation of the son and master on the
same line as that of the coal. Mr Headley answered the business
matters absently, and ended by saying he would think on the council.

In Tibble's workroom, with the clatter of a forge close to them, they
had not heard a commotion in the court outside. Dennet had been
standing on the steps cleaning her tame starling's cage, when Mistress
Headley had suddenly come out on the gallery behind her, hotly scolding
her laundress, and waving her cap to show how ill-starched it was.

The bird had taken fright and flown to the tree in the court; Dennet
hastened in pursuit, but all the boys and children in the court rushing
out after her, her blandishments had no chance, and "Goldspot" had
fluttered on to the gateway. Stephen had by this time come out, and
hastened to the gate, hoping to turn the truant back from escaping into
Cheapside; but all in vain, it flew out while the market was in full
career, and he could only call back to her that he would not lose sight
of it.

Out he hurried, Dennet waiting in a sort of despair by the tree for a
time that seemed to her endless, until Stephen reappeared under the
gate, with a signal that all was well. She darted to meet him. "Yea,
mistress, here he is, the lit