orlds, that it took all his
gallantry and ready wit to keep on ground which would be intelligible to
her.

'No doubt you spend much of your time in reading, Mistress Ruth,' he
remarked. 'It puzzles me to think what else you can do so far from
town?'

'Town!' said she in surprise. 'What is Taunton but a town?'

'Heaven forbid that I should deny it,' replied Sir Gervas, 'more
especially in the presence of so many worthy burghers, who have the name
of being somewhat jealous of the honour of their native city. Yet the
fact remains, fair mistress, that the town of London so far transcends
all other towns that it is called, even as I called it just now, _the_
town.'

'Is it so very large, then?' she cried, with pretty wonder. 'But new
louses are building in Taunton, outside the old walls, and beyond
Shuttern, and some even at the other side of the river. Perhaps in time
it may be as large.'

'If all the folks in Taunton were to be added to London,' said Sir
Gervas, 'no one there would observe that there had been any increase.'

'Nay, there you are laughing at me. That is against all reason,' cried
the country maiden.

'Your grandfather will bear out my words,' said Sir Gervas. 'But to
return to your reading, I'll warrant that there is not a page of
Scudery and her "Grand Cyrus" which you have not read. You are familiar,
doubtless, with every sentiment in Cowley, or Waller, or Dryden?'

'Who are these?' she asked. 'At what church do they preach?'

'Faith!' cried the baronet, with a laugh, 'honest John preaches at the
church of Will Unwin, commonly known as Will's, where many a time it
is two in the morning before he comes to the end of his sermon. But why
this question? Do you think that no one may put pen to paper unless they
have also a right to wear a gown and climb up to a pulpit? I had thought
that all of your sex had read Dryden. Pray, what are your own favourite
books?'

'There is Alleine's "Alarm to the Unconverted,"' said she. 'It is a
stirring work, and one which hath wrought much good. Hast thou not found
it to fructify within thee?'

'I have not read the book you name,' Sir Gervas confessed.

'Not read it?' she cried, with raised eyebrows. 'Truly I had thought
that every one had read the "Alarm." What dost thou think, then, of
"Faithful Contendings"?'

'I have not read it.'

'Or of Baxter's Sermons?' she asked.

'I have not read them.'

'Of Bull's "Spirit Cordial," then?'

'I have not read i