astride upon the hearth, her back to the fire, and she greeted each one
as he came with some pretty impudence. Her hair was tied back and
powdered, her black eyes were like lodestars, drawing all men, and her
colour was that of a ripe pomegranate. She had a fine, haughty little
Roman nose, a mouth like a scarlet bow, a wonderful long throat, and
round cleft chin. A dazzling mien indeed she possessed, and ready enough
she was to shine before them. Sir Jeoffry was now elderly, having been a
man of forty when united to his conjugal companion. Most of his friends
were of his own age, so that it had not been with unripe youth Mistress
Clorinda had been in the habit of consorting. But upon this night a
newcomer was among the guests. He was a young relation of one of the
older men, and having come to his kinsman's house upon a visit, and
having proved himself, in spite of his youth, to be a young fellow of
humour, high courage in the hunting-field, and by no means averse either
to entering upon or discussing intrigue and gallant adventure, had made
himself something of a favourite. His youthful beauty for a man almost
equalled that of Mistress Clorinda herself. He had an elegant, fine
shape, of great strength and vigour, his countenance was delicately ruddy
and handsomely featured, his curling fair hair flowed loose upon his
shoulders, and, though masculine in mould, his ankle was as slender and
his buckled shoe as arched as her own.

He was, it is true, twenty-four years of age and a man, while she was but
fifteen and a woman, but being so tall and built with such unusual vigour
of symmetry, she was a beauteous match for him, and both being attired in
fashionable masculine habit, these two pretty young fellows standing
smiling saucily at each other were a charming, though singular,
spectacle.

This young man was already well known in the modish world of town for his