The Colloquies of Edward Osborne, Citizen and Clothworker of LondonManning, Anne
History
The Colloquies of Edward Osborne, Citizen and Clothworker of London
Manning, Anne
Biographical fiction; London (England) -- History -- 16th century -- Fiction; Osborne, Edward, 1530?-1591 -- Fiction
So, without a second Thought, and armed with my Possession of the
Father's private Grace, I sate down over-against her. She said, "So soon
returned?" and began to question me of my Travel. Then my Tongue
unloosed, and I told her how many fair Things I had seen, how many
notable People and Places, yet how none of these had been able to damp
for one Moment my Desire to be at Home, within Sight and Sound of her.
As I went on, waxing more and more fluent, more and more passionate, so
did her Colour wax deeper and deeper, until, with a Look of extreme
Displeasure and Aversion, she said, "_Edward_, thou art beside thyself
... pray let me never more hear such foolish Talk as this—I had better
Thoughts of thee." And arose to go. I arose too, and stayed her, and
prayed her to forgive me if I had spoken Aught amiss,—if she did not, I
could have no Peace. She said, "I cannot just now, I am wounded so
much;" and went away, with flushed Cheeks and Eyes full of Tears. Master
_Hewet_ was roused by her Departure, and, rubbing his Eyes, smiled and
said, "I thought _Anne_ had been here." "She is but just gone," I made
Answer; and the rest of the Evening was sad enough.
Next Day, I had long Speech of Master _Hewet_, touching foreign Affairs.
He told me of this and that Estate in _Yorkshire_ he had been buying, in
the Parishes of _Wales_ and _Hartshill_, and of his minding to send me
down to see them, if I were ready to start off again so soon. I said, "I
am quite ready, Sir." "Shortly thou shalt go, then," quod he. "And now
take up these Letters to _Anne_, for they concern her more than me,
being Thanks from some of her poor Pensioners." Adding, just as I was
leaving, "Thou didst not make much way last Night, _Ned_ ..." and
smiled; which bewrayed to me that he had heard at least Part of what was
said; which I was mad with him for, and thought not fair.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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