Attempt > Volume 3

214 THE ATTEMPT.
sorte of a young fellowe he seemeth tome." I sayd this, that I miglite try her; and
as I did looke on her slylie, I sawe ye redde bloode mounte uppe into her white
cheekes; and she answered nie fulle soone.
Nay, but you doe, liim foule wrong-^he is a moste gallant young gentleman,
and loveth well ye king; hot and hastie he is, I will welle allowe, but oh, sir, we
doe all love him welle."
Soe I sayd presentlie, " And soe he hath left Chester, and parted in gi'eate anger
from his father, and gone none knoweth whither; and, I warrant, perchance lione
careth."
But I cannot, nor verilie, neede I, telle you of all our discourse ; I did speake
for some tyme of this Hugh, but coulde not make your sister to saye oughte of what
I wished. But at laste, drawing near unto ye " Forester's Fortune," I did gi'owe
impatient; soo I sayd gravelie and kindlie, " Mistress Lilian, I doe knowe and love
youre brother welle, and you for his sayke ; and nowe I would fayne acte as youre
brother, even as Eliot himselfe, an he were here, so lette me saye one thing. You
did leeve Chester, to come uppe to London, thynkynge to tind oute Hugh Shaw, and
to prevayle on him to goe back agayne \uito his home with yoii. Is it not so el
She looked iippe in haste into my face, and then downe on to ye grounde; but
she did perceive that I knewe welle all of it; and she answered slowlie and in a
verrie low voice, "It is even soe."
" Poore childe ! you will never fiude him here—but see, we are nigh to ye inn ;
3''ou must come with me to London, and my hostess. Mistress Wright, will finde you
a lodging; and then I muste tayke you home agayne, or Eliot himselfe muste come and
Carrie you backe."
She onlie sayd, " I thank you, sir," and we entered ye inn.
Goode Dickon did looke somewhat amazed when he perceived Mistress Lilian,
and raysed his browes as he looked at me, thynkynge, perchance, that I had fallen in
with strange companie ; but I merelie told him that ye ladie was sister to a friende,
and she woulde fayne gette to London that eve, and as I chanced to meete her, I
had promised to escoit her thither. All of ye which was verilie true, friende Eliot.
Soe after we had had somewhat to eat and to drinke, I did paye Dickon his
reckoning, and asked him to saddle a palfrey for ye damsel; an he woulde trust me, I
woulde sende it back ye next morn. So we started, jiist at sette of sunne, for
London.
And on ye wave, youre sister did give me some accounte of her journie ; to
wit:—