So soon as he hath departed, Mistress _Anne_ falls a laughing, when in cometh Master _Hewet_, looking somewhat harassed; seeing which, _Damaris_ sweeps up her Work and departs, leaving us all with grave Faces.
"_Nan_," quoth Master _Hewet_, casting himself into his Arm-chair, "I must have a few Words with thee of this Suitor of thine."
"We are not alone, _Father_," interrupted Mistress _Anne_, casting a quick, apprehensive Look towards me.
"Tilly-valley," he responded, "none other is within Earshot of us but _Ned Osborne_, who is only an _alter ego_."
"He may be thine, _Father_, but he is not mine," quod Mistress _Anne_, somewhat captiously, "and I pray you to defer what you have to say to me till we are by ourselves."
"Maiden, thou art over-hasty," quod Master _Hewet_, looking fixedly at her, "and, in thy Fear of being over-civil unto one who has been unto thee as a Brother, and to whom, moreover, thou owest thy Life, art somewhat failing in good Manners."
Her Eye sank before his, and she submissively replied, "Well, then, _Father_, what is it thou wouldest say?"
"Just this," he returned, "whether Lord or Commoner, the Youth must have an Answer, so soon as thou knowest thine own Mind."
"I know it already," quod Mistress _Anne_, shortly.
"What is it?" saith her Father. She faltered for a Moment,—"Not to have him," she replied softly.
"_Ned_, thou hast thine Answer," quod Master _Hewet_.
"Hear'st thou not?" returned he imperturbably, "thou hast it from herself. I told thee I but sought to make my only Child happy,—you can't make her so, it seemeth,—she won't have you."
"_Father!_ what _are_ you saying?" cried Mistress _Anne_, trembling exceedingly.
"Were you not," said she, leaning over him breathlessly, her Dress vibrating with the quick beating of her Heart,—"were you not making Question of Lord _Talbot_?"
—"Lord _Talbot_? Lord _Marlingspike_!"—quod he, "my Thoughts were as far from him as from the City Giants! Said I not 'this Suitor of thine'? Whom should I think of but _Ned Osborne_?"
"You never told me before, that _I_ might," quod she, turning scarlet, and then bursting into Tears. I sprang towards her, but she brake away from me, and was gone in a Moment. Master _Hewet_ leaned back in his Chair and smiled. "Methinks, _Ned_," quod he, "the Day is thine, this Time." And, taking the Ring off his Finger, that he had shown Lord _Howard_ of _Effingham_ on the Bridge, "See," quod he, "how long I have destined her for thee!"