glance about him, "I have saved, and her side, before he had got half way; scraped, and hoarded up a goodly store "but when shall be the happy day? of wealth, the result of infinite painsta-name it, name it, excellent Joanna, for I king, and exceeding self-denial; and you do long for the time when we two shall shall enjoy it; you, my life, my queen! be one.' Oh, how I long to hug you in my most fond embrace." "Softly, softly, Gregory Vellum," exclaimed she, quietly disengaging his arms from her neck; for, unable any longer to resist his impatient wishes, he had endeavored, as our great dramatist hath it, to suit the action to the word. "Modest maids are not to be won in such boisterous fashion, and it little becometh the respectability of your deportment to exhibit such unseemly violence. As for your love, you must prove it by something besides words. You have professed for some time to be hugely taken with me; but all professions are naught when unaccompanied by that which proveth their value. You are right liberal in promises, but your performance, as yet, hath been but scanty. If you have such store of gold as you talk of "— "Hush! hush! not so loud, I pry thee, sweetheart," whispered the old man, going cautiously to the door, on tiptoe, opening, and looking out, and closing it carefully after him. "We will talk of that anon ;-but, the chain," replied she. 66 we "I fly, sweetest," cried the old man, shuffling off toward the door; but, just as he was about to open it, he came back hastily, with his eyes glistening, and his leaden countenance all of a glow, will spend all the yellow gold; we will live a right merry life. I'faith you shall have all that heart can desire, you shall, you shall, you shall, my queen of beauty!" "The chain, worthy Gregory Vellum," repeated his fair companion, as she eluded his eager advances. "I am gone," said he, again hastening off; but, before he opened the door, he turned round, clasped his skinny hands together, and turning up the whites of his eyes, exclaimed, "Indeed, I love thee infinitely." "That for thy love," cried she spitting on the floor, with every mark of indignation and disgust, as soon as she heard him rapidly ascending the stairs-" that for thy love, thou most abhorred and infamous old dotard: but I will use thee. For the sake of one whose little finger is dearer to me than thy old moth-eaten carcase, I will make thee bring out thy "Of a surety you would act more generously toward me than you have yet done," continued Joanna, without attending to the interruption; 'your true lov-long hoarded gold, and squander it right ers are always bountiful. Now there is a certain Venetian chain" 'Ay, 'tis of gold, and of most admirable workmanship," exclaimed Gregory Vellum, "it cost me fifty crowns, or I'm a villanous Jew. I did promise it you, I remember well; but if it please you, sweetest," continued the old man, sidling up to her, and leering in her face, "it shall be yours for a kiss. Accept you the conditions ?" liberally." Then hearing a noise at the door which opened into the street, she looked to see who it was. The same modest youth entered to whom the reader hath been introduced, at Master Shakspeare his lodging, on the Bank Side. "What, Joanna!" he exclaimed, hastening toward her, with a most smiling countenance-"nay, this is a pleasure I dreamt not of." 66 "'T is I, Francis," she replied, allowing him to take her hand, which he passionately pressed to his lips; "but thy cheek is flushed, and thine eye unsteady. "What ails thee ?" "For your sake, I will say yes, good Gregory Vellum," replied she, without hesitation. It shall be yours-it shall be yours," cried the old man, chafing his hands, and every limb of him shaking with excitement. "Now give me the kiss, my heart! my soul! my life! give me the kiss, I prythee." "The chain first, Gregory Vellum," said the other quietly, as she retreated from his proffered caresses. 66 Ay, but wait awhile-wait awhile, sweetheart, and I will fetch it," said he, hastening to the door, in an agony of inpatience, and immediately returning to see thee soon, for I have much to say to thee." "I will do thy bidding lovingly; yet it is a most regretful thing to be obliged to leave thee," he said, as with reluctant steps, and slow, he made toward the door. Then, keeping his eyes upon her till the last moment, eloquent with a most impassioned tenderness, he left the room. "Poor boy!" murmured she, as with a countenance full of melancholy interest, she watched his departure-"poor boy! he little knoweth how many distasteful things I do for his dear sake." At this moment Gregory Vellum was heard upon the stairs. There was a marked difference betwixt his going and his returning; for, whereas, in the first instance, he had galloped like an ostrich, now he was heard descending, step by step, so slow that it would not be a great stretch of fancy to say, he might have fallen asleep between whiles. Presently he opened the door, and instead of hastening toward Joanna, with enamored looks and impatient gestures, as might have been expected from his previous behavior, he advanced, at a laggard's pace, with his eyes fixed upon a glittering chain of gold, that he kept turning about in his hand, and with a face in which the demon of avarice, had evidently got the better of the demon of sensuality. "How now!" exclaimed his companion, as she noticed his approach, "you went out as quick of motion as a young colt-you creep in with the preposterous tediousness of a snail." "It cost me fifty crowns!" remarked he, still keeping his eyes on the precious metal, as if there was a fascination in it he could not withstand. "Well, and what then?" inquired Joanna ; that is nothing to the store of gold of which you mean to make such generous use, you know." 'Ay, said I so!" said he quickly, and with a monstrous serious look, "no, 'twas a mistake. Gold! I have no gold; where should I get gold? I am poor, miserably poor, as you see. "Tis a most admirable chain, and of right delicate workmanship," he continued feasting his eyes upon it, as it glittered in his hand. "I'faith your love is of a most miserly disposition," responded she, smiling most bewitchingly all the time, "it preferreth a sorry chain to the object of its pretended adoration. By my troth, if I marry you after this, I'll vex myself into fiddlestrings." | "Ah! talked you of marrying, sweetest ?" asked the old man eagerly, as he raised his eyes to her face; and, immediately they rested upon her well-favored countenance, they again began to twinkle with delight. Truly have you the softest and most insinuating looks, and your smile is most absolute and irresistible. Your eyes, sweetheart, are as bright as this Venetian gold-but it cost me fifty crowns; and the pouting ripeness of your lips hath as much temptation as the polish upon the links; and, in good truth, 'tis a most rare and costly trinket." And thereupon he continued, now fixing his eyes upon the chain, and gloating upon its brilliance; and anon raising them to the face of his fair companion, as if doating upon its beauty. It was evident that there was a struggle in his soul, about parting with his property. He longed for a caress from the seductive Joanna; but the Venetian trinket had wound itself round his heart so strongly, that he could not bring himself to part with it. Several times it appeared that her soft glances had subdued his selfish nature; but just as he was on the point of giving up the object of his miserly regard, a look at its glittering links would again awake his avarice, and he would hesitate about its disposal. "Good morning to you, Gregory Vellum," said Joanna, as she turned upon her heel, with the intention of departing by the door that led into the street. 66 Nay, nay sweetest!" exclaimed the old man, as he hastened after her, and held her by the arm, "you go not yet; I part not with you in this way. Shall I have the kiss you promised me?" By my troth you shall,” replied she; "but why ask you? You love your paltry gold better than me, or you would seem less loath to part with it; so I'll e'en have none of you." 66 There is the chain, sweetheart," said he, eagerly throwing it round her neck, "and now for the kiss-the kiss-the kiss-my angel upon earth!--the kiss, sweet mistress Joanna; throw your soft arms around me, and press me your delicate lips." "There's my hand,” quietly replied she, as all impatience and eagerness, spite of her retreating, he advanced toward her, intent upon having her in his embrace. "Your hand!" he exclaimed, with some surprise, as he still strove to approach her more closely, "'tis your rosy mouth that I would have, sweetheart." Nay, nay; a bargain is a bargain," | contain himself, and did begin to shufsaid she gravely; "you gave me a chain, fle up and down the room with his stick, and I promised you should have a kiss flinging himself about, ejaculating all for it. There was nothing said about my sorts of condemnations upon his folly and Lips; and I intend only, as a great favor, insanity, and looking with a physiognothat you should kiss my hand; so, fulfil my as woful and enraged as ever miser your contract:-here's my hand." exhibited at the loss of a part of his gain. At this, nothing could exceed the change that took place in the old man's countenance. His delight and impatience forsook him of a sudden. From being exceeding restless in all his limbs, he stood as still as a stone, and he looked perfectly confounded, and unable to say a word. 66 Well, if you will not, mayhap another time will suit you better," observed Mistress Joanna very courteously, as she proceeded toward the door. "I thank you for the chain very heartily; 'tis a gift worthy of the gravity of your affections; and I know not, if you go on making a show of such liberal behavior, to what extent you may be rewarded. You ought, however, to be aware, that a prudent woman granteth but small favors at first; she will not give largely, or she may be undone straight. I wish you an increasing generosity; and with this desire, worthy Gregory Vellum, I do most delightedly take my leave of you." And thereupon she made a courtesy to the ground, and with one of the sweetest of smiles, departed from the office. Fool! dolt! idiot! madman!" cried he vehemently, as he beat his head with his clenched fist, "to be tricked, cozened, and imposed upon, in this barefaced manner, by a woman. Oh! Gregory Vellum, Gregory Vellum, what a very ass thou art! My chain of Venice gold is lost irretrievably, that I took for a debt of fifty crowns, and for which Master Ingot, the goldsmith, would have given me forty at any time. Oh! fool, that can only cozen boys and folks afar off, thou art cheated past all redemption!" Then he went and sat upon the stool, and leaned his head upon his hand, apparently in a monstrous melancholy humor. Fifty crowns gone for nothing. Oh!" exclaimed he frantically, beating his heels against the stool, and then wringing his hands; "what a poor, wretched, miserable lunatic am I, to think of courting at my time of day. Such a brilliant chain! Oh! most preposterous idiot! fifty crowns! Oh! thou incomprehensible blockhead! I could beat out my brains with a whisp of straw, out of very vexation." And thereupon he jumped off the stool, being perfectly restless, and unable to Presently he stood still of a sudden; for a voice-a rich, clear, mellifluous voice--was heard singing the following words: "I gave my Love a posie gay, Of all the sweetest flowers of May, I'faith,' quoth she, Are these for me? Like thy sweet words, how sweet they be. But if thy maid Thy love should aid, Oh! bring her gifts that never fade." "A murrain on him! that's my pestilent nephew," exclaimed the old man, in high dudgeon; "but I marvel infinitely how he got in; or hath he been in the house all the time?" He stopped, for the singer proceeded. "I gave my Love a riband rare To prize above each meaner thing, 'Dear heart, I vow, Lasts evermore, And binds fond hearts unbound before."" Oh! the unwhipped rogue! he sings of love at his age," exclaimed the old miser, in seeming consternation. "Well, who can doubt the wickedness of the world after this! But I'll trounce him, I'll warrant me. Francis!" he bawled, as loud as he could, first opening the door, that he might be heard, and then muttering to himself, and crying out by turns, proceeded thus: "A young profligate, to think of singing love ditties at his time of life;-was ever such iniquity in this world? Francis!" again screamed he, with all the strength of his lungs. I do not make him hear, I'll make him feel. Francis! Francis! Francis! I say." "An' "Did you call, uncle ?" said the youth | Vellum, striking his stick violently quietly, as he presented himself at the against the floor; "but it availeth thee door. nothing; thou art a thief." 66 Call, sirrah!" replied the old man, shaking with rage-" Call, varlet! have I not been bawling, and squalling, and tearing my lungs piecemeal after thee for these two hours past ?" "I did not hear you till this moment, or I should have come down," observed the youth. "Hear me !" exclaimed Master Vellum vehemently-"how couldst thou expect to hear me, thou reprobate! when thou wert making the place ring with thy amorous ballads! Be that proper matter to sing at an honest scrivener's! Why, the passengers will take the house for a bagnio. Fie upon thee! when I was of thy age I sung psalms and godly hymns-but I was noted as a youth of a most modest discretion. What art thou noted for, I wonder?-for impudency, disobediency, and all manner of dishonesty." Dishonesty, uncle!" said Master Francis, with unaffected surprise. "Ay, dishonesty, sirrah! Look here!" and he took from his vest the dirty rag that hath previously been described, and begun carefully to unfold it-" here be a foul robbery thou hast committed. How didst get these fine pieces of candle I found in thy room? Hast no shame? What! pilfer from thy poor, yet too liberal uncle, when candles stand me in fifty crowns to the pound!" Fifty crowns, uncle!" exclaimed his nephew, with increasing astonishment"why, I bought them myself of Tobias Mottle, the chandler over the way, and then they had only rose to threepence for the pound, in consequence of the exceeding scarcity of kitchen stuff." "Well, no matter, sirrah, no matter!" cried the old man, in no way abating his passion, "thou hast robbed me-that is manifest. Thou hast taken advantage of the natural generosity of my disposition, and art in the habit of consuming my substance without my privity. I tell thee it be infamous-I tell thee it be a felony-I tell thee it be hanging, whipping, and the pillory. What a monster of ingratitude thou art, to defraud me of such exquisite gold of Venice of which they are made. "Gold of Venice, uncle !" exclaimed the youth, almost inclined to laugh at the idea; "nay, if they be not made of the most notorious tallow, I am a heathen." "Tush! I forgot," replied Gregory “I am no thief, sir," said the youth, reddening in the face; "I do confess that I took what you have in your hand, that I might have light to assist me in my studies; but if the loss grieve you, they can not be worth more than a halfpenny, and you may either keep them, or I will pay you for them." 'Pay, pay! why, how now? who talks of paying? where dost get the money from, fellow?" rapidly inquired the old man, fixing on his nephew a searching and inquisitive look; "and how camest thou by those heathenish books of which thou hast such goodly store?" "I had them from a friend," replied Master Francis; "and I am obliged to be indebted to the same quarter for such assistance as my necessities require-which are caused by those who should have taken care that I lack nothing." "Lack-what dost lack? thou ungrateful vagabond!" demanded his uncle angrily, yet not ill pleased that such things were not done at his cost; "do I not find thee a most comfortable home? do I not keep thee in excellent wearing apparel?-and as for eating, didst thou not eat right heartily yesterday at dinner of a most princely dish of cabbage and bacon ?" "As for the home, uncle," said the youth, "your penuriousness and ill-temper make it anything but comfortable. For the clothing-when you have worn your doublet threadbare, you think it good enough for me. And as for my dinner yesterday, it consisted of a piece of rusty bacon, scarcely big enough for the baiting of a rat-trap, with about as much cabbage as might serve for a caterpillar's breakfast." "This "Oh, thou unnatural prodigal!" exclaimed Master Vellum, lifting np his hands and eyes in amazement. comes of writing verses!—this comes of singing love-songs! O' my life, I have a monstrous inclination to beat thee." "You had better not, uncle," said the other calmly. "Nay, but I will, caitiff!” replied he, lifting up his stick and approaching his nephew threateningly. If you do," said Master Francis, his face now as pale as it a moment since was rubicund- -“if you do, I'll give you such a shaking you never had since you were born." "Hub-bub-boo!" exclaimed the old man, starting back, stammering, several paces, as if the threat had taken his breath away: and there he stood, with stick uplifted and mouth open, looking the very picture of horror and surprise. In fact, the conduct of his nephew had come upon him with a most perfect astonishment; for the natural modesty of the youth's disposition had hitherto made him bear his uncle's ill humors with meekness; but possibly the wine he had drunk with Master Shakspeare had put a bolder spirit into his nature. There, however, did he stand, pale and melancholy, yet resolute, with arms folded, and eyes with an unmoved fixedness resting upon his terrified kinsman. Oh, the monstrousness of the age!" at last ejaculated Gregory Vellum, "Oh, the horrid villany! But thou shalt troop for it. I will get rid of thee straight. Thou shalt find other uncles to give thee house-room, and feed and clothe thee, thou pestilent varlet! for I'll have none of thee. Was it not enough that thou shouldst rob me of fifty crowns-tush! what was I a saying?-of so much excellent candle-but that thou shouldst threaten to give me a shaking of right exquisite Venetian workmanship-Alas! these villanies have undone me! I know not what I say." Then wildly knocking the palm of his hand against his forehead, the old man rushed out of the room, shouting "Oh, my fifty crowns! my fifty crowns!" leaving Master Francis in as great a wonder as Master Francis had a moment since put his miserly kinsman. a countenance of exquisite softness, impressed with a touch of reflection, that at times made her seem somewhat of a reserved and melancholy disposition: but in truth she was a most handsome woman, and of an excellent fair complexion. The other appeared both shorter and younger; her face was dark, yet did the roses bloom in it most becomingly; an arched mouth she had, dimpled on one cheek, and as for her eyes, they were the most laughing, roguish, brilliant pair of twinklers that ever pretty wench was blessed withal. Of these fair damsels, the first was Elizabeth Throckmorton, and the latter, her cousin Alice. "What dost sigh for, Bess?" suddenly inquired the youngest. "O' my troth, thou hast appeared very woful of late." "Did I sigh, Alice ?" asked the other dejectedly. "Sigh, coz!" repeated Alice. "No old bellows with fifty holes in it ever breathed with so undone a sadness. This comes of being in love, Bess. Art sighing for Sir Walter Raleigh? I see by thy blushing I have hit it. Well, Heaven help thy five wits, that can find matter for sadness in things that give me such infinite matter for mirth. And what be this same animal, called man? A thing to laugh at-a joke that goes upon two legs-a walking piece of provocation for women to break a jest upon. Is he not a most absurd creature? I'faith, us poor maids would have all died of melancholy long since, if the men had not kept us alive by affording us such exquisite subjects for sport. And then the airs they give themselves. Didst ever see a peacock in the sun? he spreads himself out just like your man animal; and struts about, and looks as preposterously fine and proud. Poor fool! a goose would look as well had it the same feathers. And, like the clown in the play, he taketh a world of pains to get well laughed at by his audience. Well, I think I lack not gratitude. I owe a bountiful load of thanks to these our estimable benefactors, and all that my poor wit can do to render them as ridiculous as they seek to be, they shall have. They call themselves lords of the creation too, when they have about as much omnipotence as a cockle shell. Whatever lords they may be of, they shall never be lords of my bed-chamber, I promise you; for, before I marry a man, I'll give my virginity to an owl." Alice, Alice! how thou dost run on," exclaimed Mistress Throckmorton. "Ay, forsooth, had I no legs I could |