"But they have no wit!" saith she. "Why, here yestereven was _Caitlin_, telling me the sun had put the fire out--she'd let it go out, the lazy tyke as she is!--Then said I, `But how so, _Caitlin_, when there hath been no sun?' (You wist how hard it rained all day.) `Ha!' saith she-- and gazed into the black grate, as though it should have helped her to an other excuse. Which to all appearance it did, for in a minute quoth my wiseacre,--`Then an' it like you, Mistress, it was the light.'" "A lack of power to perceive the relation betwixt cause and effect," saith _Father_, drily, "A lack of common sense!" saith Aunt _Joyce_. "The uncommonest thing that is," quoth _Father_. "But wherefore should the sun put the fire out?" saith Sir _Robert_. "Nay, I'll let alone the whys and the wherefores," quoth she. "It doth, and that is enough for me." _Father_ seemed something diverted in himself, but he said nought more. All the morrow were we busy in the kitchen, and the afternoon a-work: but in the even come all the young folks to keep _Nell's_ birthday--to wit, the _Lewthwaites_, the _Armstrongs_, the _Murthwaites_, the _Parks_, and so forth. Of course _Robin_ had no eyes nor ears for aught but _Milisent_. And for all Master _Ned_ may say of his being so rare heart-free, I did think he might have talked lesser with _Faith Murthwaite_ had it liked him so to do. I said so unto him at after, but all I gat of my noble admiral was "Avast there!" the which I took to mean that he did desire me to hold my peace. _Wat_ was rare courtly amongst all us, and had much praise of all the maidens. Me-wondered if _Gillian Armstrong_ meant not to set her cap at him. But I do misdoubt mine own self if any such rustical maids as be here shall be like to serve _Walter's_ turn. I would fain hear more of this daughter of my Lord of _Sheffield_, that was his _Excellency_, but I am not well assured if I did well to ask at him or no. SELWICK HALL, MARCH YE XX. 'Tis agreed that Aunt _Joyce_, in the stead of making an end of her visit when the six months shall close, shall tarry with us until Sir _Robert_ and his gentlewomen shall travel southward, the which shall be in an other three weeks' time thereafter. They look therefore to set forth in company as about the twentieth of _April_. I am rare glad (and so methinks be we all) to keep Aunt _Joyce_ a trifle longer. She is like a fresh breeze blowing through the house, and when she is away, as _Ned_ saith, we are becalmed. Indeed, I would by my good will have her here alway. "Now, _Aunt_," said I, "you shall have time to write your thoughts in the Chronicle, the which shall end with this month, as 'twas agreed." "Time!" quoth she. "And how many pages, my sweet scrivener?" "Trust me, but I'll leave you plenty," said I. "Your part shall be a deal better worth the reading." "Go to, Mistress _Edith_!" saith she. "`All the proof of a pudding is in the eating.'"