, and scowled at
him in spite of all he did. The brandy by this time had mounted to his
head and put him in the mood for frolic, liquor oftenest making him
gamesome. He felt as if he were playing with a young dog or marking the
spirit of a little fighting cock. He ordered the servants back to their
kitchen, who stole away, the women amazed, and the men concealing grins
which burst forth into guffaws of laughter when they came into their hall
below.

"'Tis as we said," they chuckled. "He had but to see her beauty and find
her a bigger devil than he, and 'twas done. The mettle of her--damning
and flogging him! Never was there a finer sight! She feared him no more
than if he had been a spaniel--and he roaring and laughing till he was
like to burst."

"Dost know who I am?" Sir Jeoffry was asking the child, grinning himself
as he stood before her where she sat on the oaken settle on which he had
lifted her.

"No," quoth little Mistress, her black brows drawn down, her handsome
owl's eyes verily seeming to look him through and through in search of
somewhat; for, in sooth, her rage abating before his jovial humour, the
big burly laugher attracted her attention, though she was not disposed to
show him that she leaned towards any favour or yielding.

"I am thy Dad," he said. "'Twas thy Dad thou gavest such a trouncing.
And thou hast an arm, too. Let's cast an eye on it."

He took her wrist and pushed up her sleeve, but she dragged back.

"Will not be mauled," she cried. "Get away from me!"

He shouted with laughter again. He had seen that the little arm was as
white and hard as marble, and had such muscles as a great boy might have
been a braggart about.

"By Gad!" he said, elated. "What a wench of six years old. Wilt have my
crop and trounce thy Dad again!"

He picked up the crop from the place where she had thrown it, and
forthwith gave it in her hand. She took it, but was no more in the
humour to beat him, and as she looked still frowning from him to the
whip, the latter brought back to her mind the horse she had set out in
search of.

"Where is my horse?" she said, and 'twas in the tone of an imperial
demand. "Where is he?"

"Thy horse!" he echoed. "Which is thy horse then?"

"Rake is my horse," she answered--"the big black one. The man took him
again;" and she ripped out a few more oaths and unchaste expressions,
threatening what she would do for the man in question; the which
delighted him