"I don't think I can," I said; so huskily, that he made me repeat it twice. "You meant to try, I suppose," quod he, "when you spake of going away." "Yes, Master." "Well, try here:—for a little While, that I may think where to place you. _Ned!_—I have had some Trial of thee; I have tested thee, and I have trusted thee. Don't betray my Trust in this Matter." I said, "I will not." "And do thou," quod he, with all his old Kindness, "trust in me. I shall do what, on Deliberation, I think best for you. And stay thyself with this Reflection: that if thou wert the first Noble in the Land, sueing for my Daughter, I would not, in these her so early Days, give her to thee. Keep a brave, honest Heart, and take Things quietly. You have not been such a Knave as to speak to her?" "No, Master." "Your Word is enough," quod he, and left me. I put my Head down on mine Arms and shed hot Tears that had no Relief in them. Just then, I felt a kind Hand laid with strong emphatic Pressure on my Shoulder. I kissed it, in Sign of Reverence and Good-faith: he understood it for such, and left me without a Word. And I went on mine Affairs with a lightened Heart. CHAPTER XIII _Master Hewet ordereth Things discretely_ Two Days after this, Master _Hewet_ sent me to _Antwerp_. I abode there six Months, transacting his Affairs. There was much to learn, much to see. When I returned Home, it was with a strong Heart. Directly I saw Mistress _Anne_, I felt that I loved her as much as ever; but I also felt that I could rule myself. She cried, "Oh, _Osborne_, thou art returned at last! How glad I am!" with her dear, innocent Eyes fixed brightly on mine; and forthwith began to tell me that one of her Dormice had died, and to ask me to get her another. I told her I had brought her a Guinea-pig; she thanked me, but said she did not think she should like it as much as the Dormouse. I found that some Change in Household Arrangements had been made in mine Absence, whereby my old Quarters were pre-occupied; and that Master _Hewet_ had taken a Lodging for me at the Barbitonsor's over the Way; where, in Sooth, both Master _Soper_ and the young Women failed not in Aught that should be for my Comfort, and at very reasonable Charges. Howbeit, an Alarm of Housebreakers soon recalled me to mine old Post again, save that I had the Attick in Place of the Loft; every Woman in the House thinking it safe with me and unsafe without me. And Master _Hewet_ said I made the old Place look more like itself.