But one day as I sate i' th' kitchen, a-cosseting o' my lame arm as though 't had been a babe, I hear a sound o' wheels and a clatter o' horses' hoofs; and, lo! there be a chariot pulled up afore the door, with four gray horses a-making play with their trappings, and a coachman, all wig and gilding, a-sitting on th' box. And ere a could move, out steps a fine dame, with her hair all in hillocks, as 'twere, and a paling o' lace round about her head, like as 't had been a flower-garden, and a farthingale to 'a' covered th' big malt-pot with as little to-do as a hen covers an egg. And up comes she to th' door, and her tire-woman a-holding of her robes, and two footmen going before, and in she comes--like as though Riches and Death had a' th' same right to enter a poor man's house without knocking. And saith she to me, saith she, a-filling up o' the room with her finery, like a cuckoo ruffling out its feathers in another bird's nest, saith she, "Be this th' cottage o' Humfrey Lemon th' farrier?" saith she. "It be so; and I be he," saith I. "And be thou th' father o' th' wench they call th' Farrier Lass o' Piping Pebworth?" saith she. "I be, an' proud o't," say I, a-beginning to think that she might 'a' knocked at th' door, for all her greatness. "Where's th' lass?" saith she, as she might 'a' said "Where's my glove?" Then saith I, "Madam," saith I, "most like she's gone about her business," saith I. "My good man," saith she, after a fashion that did cause me to feel aught but good--"my good man," saith she, "dost thou know to whom thou speakest?" "Verily," saith I, "thou art ahead o' me there, madam." "Boor," saith she, "I am the Lady o' Balfour Hall." "An' so could my lass 'a' been, had she willed it," saith I; but ere I could further forget myself, in comes Keren by another door, and she saith, "Father, do thou go out, and leave me to speak with this lady." Then to th' dame she saith, "Your ladyship," saith she, "I am Keren Lemon, that be called th' Farrier Lass. What wouldst thou with me?" Then I got me out o' th' room, but not out o' hearing distance; and this is what followed: