Antique—a Hare in her Form, made of some glossy, brown Substance; and between the Hare's Ears is the Mouth of the Inkstand.—The Shop looks not like one I should care to enter, but 'tis over-against the Green-gate of _Miguel_ _Pistoy_. Mind not the Price, but see thou tell not even _Damaris_." Now, though Master _Hewet_ so liberally supplied her Privy-purse, there were certain Household Expenses he made her reckon to a Penny; and, if she were at Fault, she had to make it good. 'Twas pretty, and diverting, to hear these two sometimes arguing together over their Account-book: for Mistress _Anne_ was not a ready Reckoner, and he would by no Means be put off with a Quip. One Day, they were counting out their Money, when he said, "_Ned_, this young Gentlewoman can never attain to a competent Knowledge of Figures. I'll give thee a Couple of Angels to carry her on into Practice, for I shall save Money i' the End." So when he is gone, I say, "Come, Mistress, the Bribe is very high ... where shall we begin? I suppose 'twill shame you to be put too far back." "I hardly know what will be too far back," saith she, rogueing a little—"My Father sayeth I have done this wrong—" and she gives me a little Slip of Paper, inscribed with the neatest, prettiest little Figures. "Good now!" said I, "the only Mistake herein is,—you have essayed to subtract the greater Number from the less; which you know can never be." "Yes, it can be, sometimes," saith she, quickly. "Never!" say I. "How?" "Take V from IV and I remains!" quod she. So I laughed, and told her many a Spendthrift would like that Reckoning. "Well," said I, "I suppose you desire not to begin with Enumeration." "Since your Time is so valuable," sayth she, "you need not teach me at all." "Nay, Mistress," say I, "count a Million if you will! I can tarry." "How long will that take me?" quod she. "Why," say I, "if you count a Hundred a Minute, that is, six Thousand in an Hour, and count at that Rate for fourteen Hours in the twenty-four, you may in twelve Days count a Million." "Hold, hold!" cries she, "you will make me puzzle-headed for a week!" and so, runs off. Next Time I saw her alone, I say, "Well, Mistress, are you in the Humour for Practice?" "No," quoth she with Decision, "I know Figures already!" And commenced tinkling on her Virginals. So, there an End ... or might ha' been, were any Woman two Days o' the same Mind. But, shortly, she cometh to me with a Tear in her Eye. "_Ned_," saith she, "what's to be done? I gave all the Money in my Purse (there wasn't much), to the Girdler's Widow, hard by St. _Anne_ in the Willows; and now, I can't make up my Father's Accounts, and shall seem unto him a Defaulter." "Or be one ... which?" quod I. "What is to do?" "What _can_ I do?" returns she. "Marry," say I, "I can lend you the Money." "Nay," quoth she quickly, "it would not be right in me to take it." "You have Reason," say I. "It would not." "Then what remaineth?" she said.