"My dear Jane, he turned back, he walked straight to me and boxed my ears, for ’a silly child that did not know the difference between a man and a coxcomb.’ I swear to you I was struck dumb, and he had taken himself out of the room in a passion ere I could find a word to throw after him. Then I got up and went to a mirror and looked at my ears, and they were scarlet, and my cheeks matched them, and for a moment I was in a towering rage. I sat down, I cried, I laughed, I was amazed, I was, after a little while, ashamed, and finally I came to a reasonable temper and acknowledged I had been served exactly right. For I had no business to put my wicked little tongue in my cheek, because a brave gentleman could not crook his leg like a dancing-master. Are you laughing, Jane? Well, I must laugh too. I shall laugh many a time when I think of Cymlin’s two big hands over my ears. Had he kissed me afterwards, I would have forgiven him—I think." "I cannot help laughing a little, Matilda, but I assure you Cymlin is suffering from that discipline far more than you are." "I am not suffering at all. This morning I admire him. There is not another man in the world who would have presumed to box the Lady Matilda de Wick’s ears; accordingly I am in love with his courage and self-respect. I deserved what I got, I deserved it richly, Jane;"—and she rose and went to the glass, and turned her head right and left, and looked at her ears, and then with a laugh said, "Poor little ears! You had to suffer for a saucy tongue. Jane, my ears burn, my cheeks burn, I do believe my heart burns. I shall laugh and cry as long as I live, and remember Cymlin Swaffham." "It was too bad of Cymlin—but very like him. He has boxed my ears more than once." "You are his sister. That is different. I will never speak to him again. He can go hang himself if he likes, or go back to Ireland—which seems about the same thing." "Cymlin will not hang himself for man or woman. Cymlin has the fear of God before him." "I am glad he has. Surely he has no fear of Matilda de Wick. There, let the matter drop. I wish now, you would either take Stephen, or send him off forever. I am in a hurry to be gone, and Sir Thomas also." "Sir Thomas seemed full of content among his lilies and crocuses." "I’ll wager he was bidding them, one by one, a good-bye. Go and send Stephen with a ’Yes’ or ’No’ to me. I am become indifferent which, since you are so much so."