George did not answer, but, with a turn of his mighty wrist, drew the glowing iron from the fire. And once more the sparks fly, the air is full of the clink of hammers, and the deep-throated Song of the Anvil, in which even the Ancient joins, in a voice somewhat quavery, and generally a note or two behind, but with great gusto and goodwill notwithstanding: "Strike! ding! ding! Strike! ding! ding!" in the middle of which I was aware of one entering to us, and presently, turning round, espied Prudence with a great basket on her arm. Hereupon hammers were thrown aside, and we straightened our backs, for in that basket was our supper. Very fair and sweet Prudence looked, lithe and vigorous, and straight as a young poplar, with her shining black hair curling into little tight rings about her ears, and with great, shy eyes, and red, red mouth. Surely a man might seek very far ere he found such another maid as this brown-cheeked, black-eyed village beauty. "Good evening, Mr. Peter!" said she, dropping me a curtesy with a grace that could not have been surpassed by any duchess in the land; but, as for poor George, she did not even notice him, neither did he raise his curly head nor glance toward her. "You come just when you are most needed, Prudence," said I, relieving her of the heavy basket, "for here be two hungry men." "Three!" broke in the Ancient; "so 'ungry as a lion, _I_ be!" "Three hungry men, Prudence, who have been hearkening for your step this half-hour and more." Quoth Prudence shyly: "For the sake of my basket?" "Ay, for sure!" croaked the Ancient; "so ravenous as a tiger I be!" "No," said I, shaking my head, "basket or no basket, you are equally welcome, Prudence—how say you, George?" But George only mumbled in his beard. The Ancient and I now set to work putting up an extemporized table, but as for George, he stood staring down moodily into the yet glowing embers of the forge. Having put up the table, I crossed to where Prudence was busy unpacking her basket. "Prudence," said I, "are you still at odds with George?" Prudence nodded. "But," said I, "he is such a splendid fellow! His outburst the other day was quite natural, under the circumstances; surely you can forgive him, Prudence." "There be more nor that betwixt us, Mr. Peter," sighed Prue, "'Tis his drinkin'; six months ago he promised me never to touch another drop—an' he broke his word wi' me." "But surely good ale, in moderation, will harm no man—nay, on the contrary—" "But Jarge bean't like other men, Mr. Peter!" "No; he is much bigger, and stronger!" said I, "and I never saw a handsomer fellow." "Yes," nodded the girl, "so strong as a giant, an' so weak as a little child!" "Indeed, Prudence," said I, leaning nearer to her in my earnestness, "I think you are a little unjust to him. So far as I know him, George is anything but weak-minded, or liable to be led into anything—"