I stood at Pause, without a Word to proffer. Quod she, "I am glad thou art safe returned—hast thou seen my Father?" I said, "No, Mistress. Have you fared quite well since I left?" She saith, "Quite well." Then I said, "What rare Flowers! shall I bring you some Water for them?" "No," quod she carelessly, "they are scarce worth the keeping." "Scarce worth the keeping!" quod I, "nay, they are not such as are to be bought in a _London_ Herb-market.... Divers of them, these Coronations for Example, must have come from far." "They all come from far," quod she, "but what of that? I like them none the better." And commenced pulling a Gilly-flower to Pieces. I said, "I am glad I am not that Gilly-flower." She saith, "Why?" But I made no Answer, for how witted I that I was any better prized? So I turned to go; and just as I gained the Door, I heard her softly say, "_Edward!_" Then I stayed. She saith, "You will find my Father in his Closet;" and so, passed me with the Flowers in her Hand; and I saw that her Eyes were full of Tears ready to shed. When she was gone, I went back and took up some of the Gilly-flower Leaves she had scattered, and kissed them. Just then enters Master _Hewet_ from his Closet beyond, wherein he might ha' heard every Word had been said; but there was Nought to be shamed of, if he did. He saith, "_Ned!_ I am glad to see thee, Lad! How well thou look'st! And yet, now I observe thee more narrowly, thou look'st amiss. Hath Aught gone wrong? Nay then, that's well. Methinks, with thine Allowance, thou mightest go a little braver; which is what few young Men need the egging on to ... and yet thou gracest whatsoe'er thou hast on." Then he told me what he called the grand News of the Day—my Lord _Talbot's_ Suit to Mistress _Anne_. I said, "Oh! Master, don't kill me," and hid my Face in my Hands. He saith, "Why, _Ned_, whom am I saving her for, but _you_? Look up, Boy! He that did save, the same shall have! I have but one Child, and I mean to make her happy. But mark me, _Ned_, I wot not whether that is to be done by giving her unto mine adopted Son; nor, peradventure, art thou any more assured of it. Woo her then, Lad, with my free Consent, but tell her not just yet, that thou hast it. My Fancy—a strange one, maybe—is to see what she will in that Case do." I knelt, and caught his Hand to my Lips. "Thy Father's own Son," quod he smiling, "he had the darker Beard, thou hast the better Eye. Thou art a Gentleman's Son, and I am no more. Start fair with the young Lord; he dines with me to-day, and so shalt thou. And now, be off with thee."