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"Is Joanna at home?" enquired his visitor. "At home!" cried Geoffrey Sarsnet. Why, she maketh herself at home wherever she goes. By cock and pye, I do verily believe though, that she be as much abroad when she be at home, as at home when she be abroad; for at times I know not what to make of her. In truth, she be given to strange humours, though willing enough when in the mood."

"Think you I shall find her up stairs?" asked the youth.

"Either up or down," replied the jolly mercer. "That is, if she allow herself to be found: for, mayhap, she shall be with some of her gallants,— then shalt thou not find her, I warrant.”

At any previous time such an intimation would have startled Master Francis; yet now it moved him not, though it passed him not unnoticed.

"But how fareth that superlative old pippin face, thine uncle?" enquired Geoffrey Sarsnet merrily. "Ha! if thou hadst but seen him last night singing of a miserable love ditty to such a villainous hang-dog tune as the hundredth psalm, with a melancholy small voice, like that of a dying weasel hit on the head by a tinker's hammer, thou wouldst have laughed at it for the rest of thy life. But when he got up to dance the brawls, with his lack lustre eyes sinking into his pate, as if to see that his wonderful small stock of brains escaped him

not, that was a sight to look on. Haw! haw! haw!" and here the old fellow shook his lusty sides famously.

The youth marvelled greatly that his kinsman should so conduct himself, it being so opposite to the usual staidness of his manner.

"He aileth nothing," said he.

"By cock and pye, he aled so much last night, that I was forced to send Ralph Goshawk to see him home," observed the jolly mercer, laughing as loud as ever. "He had put so much of my good liquor into him, that he had scarce left for himself 'standing room.""

"I knew not that he was so given to drk," remarked the youth.

"'Ifaith I do believe this of him, that he be never given to drink unless the drink be given to him. Haw! haw! haw !" roared the old fellow, as if in exquisite delight with the conceit.

"I will just step to speak with Joanna," said Master Francis, moving off to the door.

"Prythee do," replied Geoffrey Sarnest," and see that thou hast a more pleasant look with thee at thy return; for, in truth, thy countenance seemeth about as cheerful as one that hath lost a shilling and found a groat." Thereupon the jolly mercer gave his customary laugh; then bawled out, in the same humour, as the youth was leaving the shop, "Take heed, and spoil no sport; for there be few

gallants who like their privacy to be broken in upon when engaged with a pretty wench.”

Master Francis went not up the stairs in any pleasanter mood for this, it may well be believed; but his thoughts were in a sort of confusion. He scarce knew what he would be about. The shock he received from what he gained knowledge of when he was under the gateway, had completely changed the current of his feelings towards Joanna, and what he had heard since was not like to do aught in her favour; yet was there still some lingering tenderness in his disposition on account of the many kindnesses she had done him, but when he came to think that these had been done but as bribes to keep him in compliance with her humours, as he thought more than once, his mind was made up; and he would have none of her. In this mood reached he the room that hath been previously described as the one he had been in before, the door of which standing open, he walked in: but there found he no one but Dame Margery, who seemed busy at dusting of the furniture.

"Ah, Master Francis, be that you !" exclaimed the old woman, seemingly with huge delight, as she observed who it was. "Well, to be sure! And how bravely you be dressed! In honest truth, dear heart! you be the sweetest young gentleman I've seen this many a day.”

"Is Joanna at home, dame?" enquired the youth.

"She hath

"No, dear heart!" replied she. stepped out some time since. And you wear a sword too! Indeed you have as handsome an appearance with you as heart could desire."

"Know you what time she will return?" asked Master Francis, in some disappointment at not meeting with her.

"Nay, forsooth, how should I," answered the old woman, with an indignant toss of her head, "seeing that she goeth out at all hours, and stayeth mayhap half the day, and no one knoweth a word of where she hath been. Well, they that live longest will see most. I be not so blind, Master Francis, as some folks think. I was not born yesterday: and the goings on that I have seen would be a marvel to hear."

"If you know aught of Joanna that be not maidenly, you do not well in keeping it from me," said the youth.

"Maidenly!" exclaimed Dame Margery, with a very significant look, as she went and carefully closed the door. "I'faith, 'twould be strange indeed, could it be called maidenly. But, in honest truth, I like not to see you so imposed on. I have noticed, scort of times, with what an earnestness you do affect her which hath the more shocked me to know how she misuses you. But if I tell you aught, how know I you will not tell of me again.”

"Be assured I will do no such thing," replied he.

"Indeed she would be the ruin of me, knew she I told you of such matters," added the old woman, " for she be of a very revengeful nature, and of an exceeding bad heart, as is manifest by her letting me work my old bones till I be ready to drop; and she standing by as fine as you please, and never lending me a hand. There's many a time she might have said, 'here be a dress of mine but little the worse for the wear, that be rather too tight in the sleeve-or, mayhap in the body-but, doubtless, 'twill fit you, dame, if you please to accept of it;' which she hath never done. In fact, the grace of God be not in her, that's a sure thing. And she be the wickedest deceitful creature that lives, for she hath ofttimes got me a rating of her father, when she might easy have prevented it. Forsooth, all the blame must come upon poor me, when I be as innocent as a babe."

"What hath come to your knowledge concerning of her unmaidenly doings?" said the youth, in a little impatence.

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Oh, scores of things, I warrant you,” answered the dame," and such things, that the speaking of them maketh me blush outright. Indeed, it be a most absolute truth that I be the virtuosest of women; and it be no other than a burning shame in her to do what she hath, instead of following my excellent example. I never gave encouragement to a parcel of fellows, I warrant you. I never shut