"Gloves, without doubt, sir; and they of fair white Spanish leather, wrought with silk. Masks, but rarely; nor neither fans nor pomanders." "Not yet, I reckon. Dear heart! what will the idle young gallants be a-running after the next? We shall have them twisting rats' tails in their hair, or riding in coaches." "I ensure you, Sir, many gentlemen do even now ride in coaches. 'Tis said the Queen somewhat misliketh the same." "Dear heart!" said Sir Thomas again. "And now, Sir, you can well see all these must needs be had--" "Beshrew me, Jack, if I see aught of the sort!" "All I see," retorted Rachel, "is, if they be had, they must be paid for." "Nay, worry not the lad thus!" was softly breathed from Lady Enville's corner. "If other gentlemen wear such gear, Jack must needs have the same also. You would not have him mean and sorry?" [shabby.] "Thou wouldst have him a scarlet and yellow popinjay!" said Rachel. "I would not have him mean, Orige," replied Sir Thomas significantly. "Well, Sir,--all said, we come to this," resumed Jack in his airy manner. "If these bills must needs be paid--and so seem you to say--how shall it be? Must I essay for the monopoly?--or for a wardship?--or for an heir?--or shall I rather trust to my luck at the dice?" "Buy aught but a living woman!" said Rachel, with much disgust. "The woman is nought, Aunt. 'Tis her fortune." "Very good. I reckon she will say, `The man is naught.' And she'll speak truth." Rachel was playing, as many did in her day, on the similarity of sound between "nought," nothing, and "naught," good-for-nothing. "Like enough," said Jack placidly. "I will spare thee what money I can, Jack," said his father sighing. "But I do thee to wit that 'twill not pay thy debt--no, or the half thereof. For the rest, I must leave thee to find thine own means: but, Jack!--let them be such means that an honest man and true need not be 'shamed thereof." "Oh!--of course, sir," said Jack lightly. "Jack Feversham!" asked Sir Thomas, turning suddenly to his young visitor, "supposing this debt were thine, how shouldst thou pay it?" "God forbid it were!" answered Feversham gravely. "But an' it were, sir, I would pay the same." "At the dice?" grimly inquired Rachel. "I never game, my mistress." "A monopoly?" pursued she. "I am little like to win one," said Feversham laughingly. "Or by wedding of an heir?" "For the sake of her money? Nay, I would think I did her lesser ill of the twain to put my hand in her pocket and steal it." "Then, whereby?" asked Sir Thomas, anxious to draw John out. "By honest work, Sir, whatso I might win: yea, though it were the meanest that is, and should take my life to the work." "Making of bricks?" sneered Jack. "I would not choose that," replied Feversham quietly. "But if I could earn money in no daintier fashion, I would do it." "I despise mean-spirited loons!" muttered Jack, addressing himself to the fire.