"Fine!" saith _Ned_. "Go to, I have some whither an inventory of his Lordship's garments, the which I set down for the mirth of you maids. I gat the true names of _Wat_, look you." And he pulleth forth a great bundle of papers from his pocket, and after some search lighteth on the right. "Now then, hearken, all of you," saith _Ned_. "_Imprimis_, on his head--when it is on, but as every minute off it cometh to every creature he meeteth, 'tis not much--a _French_-fashioned beaver, guarded of a set of gold buttons enamelled with black--cost, eight pound." "For a hat!" cries _Milly_. "Tarry a bit," saith _Ned_; "I am not in port yet by a thousand knots. Then in this hat was a white curled ostrich feather, six shillings. Below, a gown of tawny velvet, wherein were six yards, _London_ measure, of four-and-twenty shillings the yard: and guarded with some make of fur (I forgat to ask him the name of that), two dozen skins, eight pence each: cost of this goodly gown, six pound, ten shillings, and four pence." "Eh!" cried _Milly_ and _Edith_ together. "Bide a bit!" saith _Ned_. "_Item_, a doublet, of black satin of sixteen shillings the yard, with points of three and sixpence the dozen. _Item_, a pair of hose of popinjay green (they be well called popinjay) of thirty shillings. _Item_, cross-garters of scarlet--how's that?" quoth _Ned_, scratching his forehead with a pencil: "I must have forgat the price o' them. Boots o' red _Spanish_ leather, nine shillings. Gloves of _Cordova_, well scented, ten pence. Gold rings of 's ears, three shilling the pair." "Rings! Of his ears!" cries Cousin _Bess_, that was sat in the window at her sewing, as she mostly is of an afternoon. "And prithee, what cost the one of his nose?" "He hasn't bought that yet," saith _Ned_ drily. "It'll come soon, I reckon," quoth she. "Then, o'er all, a mighty gold chain, as thick as a cart-rope. But that, as he told me, was given to him: so 'tis not fair to put it of the price. Eh, good lack! I well-nigh forgat the sleeves--green velvet, slashed of mallard-colour satin; and guarded o' silver lace--three pound, eight shillings, and four pence." "Hast made an end, _Ned_?" saith _Edith_. "Well, I reckon I may cast anchor," saith _Ned_, looking o'er to the other side of his paper. "Favour me with the total, _Ned_," quoth _Father_. "Twenty-three pound, two and six pence, Sir, I make it," saith _Ned_. "I am not so sure _Wat_ could. He saith figuring is only fit for shop-folk." "Is thrift only fit for shop-folk too?" asks _Father_. "I'll warrant you _Wat_ thinks so, Sir," answers _Ned_. "What have thy garments cost this last year, _Ned_?" pursueth _Father_. "Eh, five pound would buy mine any year," quoth he. "And so I reckon would ten mine," saith _Father_. "What be _Wat's_ wages now?--is he any thing bettered?" "Sixteen pound the year, Sir, as he told me."