And now I began to muse within myself what a provoking Thing it was, that when all the Obstacles I had counted insurmountable between _Anne_ and me had suddenly given Way, I should be brought up short by herself! Certes, an' she cared not for me, there was no more to be said; and Master _Hewet_ would in no Ways be to blame if he gave her to Somebody else; neither had I ever sought nor had she ever bestowed any such Tokens of especial and considerable Regard as should encourage me to suppose I had only to ask and have. And yet, I had somehow always thought, "Only give me my fair Chance with the Rest, and I ask for nothing better." That was my Conceit and Presumption. Therefore with a very sad and sorry Aspect did I carry up the Letters to Mistress _Anne_, and used as few Words as need be in the delivering of them. She on her Part was equally dry, and gave me no Pretence to tarry, and yet I lingered. Seeing which, and that I was about to speak, (though I protest, on Somewhat quite as trivial as the Weather,) she suddenly coloured up very much and said, "_Edward_, if you are going to talk any more Nonsense, as you did last Night, I would rather go away." "There's no Need, Madam," said I coolly, "I had not such a Thought in my Head." On which she coloured still worse, and sitting down again began to read her Letters.
_Damaris_ now came in, and began to stitch away at a distant Window. "I have but to say Farewell, Mistress _Anne_," quod I, "before I start on my next Journey." "So soon again? where are you going?" quod she, without looking up from her Letters. "A rolling Stone gathers no Moss." (This was an unkind Cut, considering her own Father set me rolling.) "To _Yorkshire_," replied I, "and perhaps I had best say Farewell at once, for Lord _Talbot_ is coming in at the Gate."
"Oh then, _Edward_, stay!" cries she with all her old Frankness: starting up and dropping her Letters. As we both stooped to pick them up, I said, "I will, if you wish it; but are you assured you know your own Mind?" "Quite," said she very determinately, "so leave me not by any Means."
Then cometh in my Lord, very brave, in blue Silk and Silver. How laughable it was, if I could but have felt merry! _Damaris_, questionless, was laughing in her Sleeve. My Lord steps up to Mistress _Anne_, with easy Assuredness, and touches with his Lips a very pretty Fabrick of Silk rayed with Silver, for she gave him a gloved Hand. Then he hoped she had rested better than he had, as in Sooth he saw by her divine Looks she must needs have done; and he marvelled not that Roses were at no Price to be had just now at Court, since 'twas plain they found a more nourishing Soil in the City; and so forth, like a Valentine, calling her Looks Nature's sweetest Books, her Tresses golden Meshes, her Voice Musick, her Favour Heaven, with Apostrophes to _Venus_ and _Cupid_, and Asseverations that he was a Prey to a Mind delighting in Sorrow, Spirits wasted with Passion, a Heart torn in Pieces with Care. To which she made Answer, that she hoped he overstated his ill Condition. To which he responded that if he did, 'twas _error amoris_, not _amor erroris_. With othermuch i' the same Vein, that he cared no Whit for mine hearing, but rather enjoyed having another Listener while he ran off Phrases that it seemed to me he must needs have got by Heart. I thought, As she liketh not my Fashion, maybe she liketh this. Howbeit, there was Nothing in her Favour to discover whether she did or no. So after a set Time given to this Court-like Parry and Thrust, this Quip and Compliment, whereby I wist not how a Man could suppose his Suit moved one Way or the other, my Lord takes leave with easy Grace, as a Man who had, in one Affair, transacted the Business of the Day to his Satisfaction.