"Oh, yes, you can! ... and then I should sleep quietly—Ever so short an one!—" "I can't remember _one_" said he, turning away his Head. "Not one? Oh, _Tomkins_, indeed, indeed you must! For _my_ Sake—Just this short one ... 'GOD be merciful to me, a Sinner!'" "GOD be merciful to me, a Sinner," repeated he, bursting forth into Weeping; and I drew his Face down yet closer unto mine. "Thank you, _Tomkins_" quod I; "now I shall sleep soundly." And I slept. CHAPTER V _Edward convalesceth i' the Green Lattice_ When mine Eyes opened next Morning, my loved _Mother's_ dear, pale Face was hanging over me. "Child," quod she, "Misfortunes never come alone—When Master _Hewet's_ Post came to _Ashford_ with News of thy Sickness, I was far from Home, in _Westmoreland_, at the Death-bed of thine Uncle _Lancelyn_; and I wist not till Yesterday, what News was awaiting my Return." ... And she hung over me, and bathed my Face in her Tears. "But I am proud of thee, my _Ned_" quod she, "and so would thy Father have been. And thou hast taken off from thee the Reproach of being taught of a Woman as well as born of a Woman ... my dear, dear Son!" Oh! what a Heaven it was to get well! There was my loved _Mother_ beside me at her Sewing, telling me of _Ashford_ and the green Lanes of _Kent_, and of the wild Hills of _Westmoreland_, till I seemed to be there myself. There was Mistress _Fraunces_ cockering me up, first with Sweets and cooling Drinks, and then with savoury and strengthening Things; even to _Mortreuse_ and _Leche Lombard_! And when I was able to sit up at the green Lattice, Mistress _Anne_ and I would look down on the Barges and Boats, and play at divers Games and tell divers Stories. The Lodger that had beforetime occupied this Chamber, had left a Heap of old Books and written Papers, which, having Nothing private in them, my Master said I was free to look over. There was Part of a Chronicle of _English_ History, whether the Writer's own Composure or a Traduction, I wot not; but brave and pleasant Reading, about the Courts of _England_, _France_, _Spain_, and _Flanders_, in the Time of our _Edward_ the _Third_, and Queen _Philippa_. Another Work was a Romaunt of Love and Chivalry: also an Account of _London Bridge_, and _Chaucer's Canterbury Tales_, and a Treatyse on Fysshynge. Likewise, there was a great Roll of Drawings, done, I afterwards found, by another Lodger, in black and red Chalk, much fouled, smeared, and chafed, but diverting to look at, being Representations of Men, Women, Children, Skeletons, Death's Heads, Bones, Angels, Fiends, Hippogriffs,—and divers other Presentments; with _H. H._ writ at the End.