Gertrude subsided into silence, for she could not answer back as
she would have liked. It was not for her to argue with her mother;
and Madam, having vanquished her daughter, turned upon her son.

"You must have a care how you vex our neighbours, for your father
would take it ill an he heard of it. Nay, I would not myself that
you mixed yourself up too much with them. They are honest good
folks enow, but scarce such as are fitting company for us. What of
this girl Dorcas? Is not she the one who is waiting maid to that
mad old witch woman in Allhallowes, Lady Scrope?"

"That may well be. I saw her come forth from a grim portal hard by
Allhallowes the Less. I knew not who it was, but I gave chase, and
ere she put her foot upon the bridge, I had plucked the hood from
off her pretty curls, and had kissed her soundly on both cheeks.
And at that she gave me such a cuff as I feel yet, and ran like a
fawn, and I after her, till she vanished within the door of our
neighbour's house; and then it came to me that it was Dorcas, grown
wondrous pretty since I last took note of her. If she comes always
home at this hour, I'll waylay my lady again and take toll of her."

"You had better be careful not to let Reuben get wind of it" said
Gertrude, with suppressed anger in her voice. "If he were to catch
you insulting his sister, it is more than a slap or a cuff you
would get."

Frederick burst into a boisterous laugh.

"What! do you think a dirty shopman would dare lay hands upon me?