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"Mistress, I spoke only of those present."

"Nay, thou didst speak of Simon, going to the Crusades, against the true religion . . . I never heard such rim-ram-ruffe."

"Mistress, I've no memory of it. I never speak of the absent."

He had decided to leave out Simon, not knowing how he was thought of by those at home.

"But thou didst speak of him."

He shook his head, looking bewildered.

"He spoke nonsense," said Elisabeth, who had been pleased to hear of Catherine's marriage, but had rather her bridegroom's hair had not been black.

"Arrant nonsense," said the Squire, "but he shall have a shilling and a glass of huffcap."

"Thank you, my lord, and I can tell you that in all my mortal days as a philosopher I've never seen so fair a fortune as I've seen to-night."

"Ho! philosopher, art thou, maple-face? I thought this was but a game."

The old man remembered his danger, and quickly shed the small air of dignity he had assumed in the heat of what he held to be a good success.

"Surelye, 'tis only a game, my lord—a game to delight the nobility and gentry."