Truly he hath the head of the buck, while thou contentest
thyself with The offals and all the less worthy parts! Go to, Dudley; thou
wast in a heavy dream when I caused thee to awake."
"A pretty time have we fallen upon, when petticoats are used instead of
beards and strong-armed men, to go the rounds of the sentinels, and to say
who sleepeth and who is watchful! What hath brought thee so far from the
exercises and so nigh the gates, Mistress Faith, now that there is no
oversea gallant to soothe thy ears with lying speech and light
declarations."
"If speech not to be credited is that I seek," returned the girl, "truly
the errand hath not been without its reward. What brought me hither,
sooth! why, the Madam hath need of articles from the outer
buttery--and--ay--and my ears led me to the postern. Thou knowest, musical
Dudley, that I have had occasion to hearken to thy watchful notes before
this night. But my time is too useful to be wasted in idleness; thou art
now awake, and may thank her who hath done thee a good turn with no wish
to boast of it, that one of a black beard is not the laughing-stock of all
the youths in the family.
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