though he would read her through. Anne strove valiantly to look
calmly back; but her eyes could not face his, and they fell. 'You
did laugh!' he repeated.

'It was only a tiny little one,' she murmured.

'Ah--I knew you did!' thundered he. 'Now what was it you laughed
at?'

'I only--thought that you were--merely in the yeomanry,' she
murmured slily.

'And what of that?'

'And the yeomanry only seem farmers that have lost their senses.'

'Yes, yes! I knew you meant some jeering o' that sort, Mistress
Anne. But I suppose 'tis the way of women, and I take no notice.
I'll confess that some of us are no great things: but I know how to
draw a sword, don't I?--say I don't just to provoke me.'

'I am sure you do,' said Anne sweetly. 'If a Frenchman came up to
you, Mr. Derriman, would you take him on the hip, or on the thigh?'

'Now you are flattering!' he said, his white teeth uncovering
themselves in a smile. 'Well, of course I should draw my sword--no,
I mean my sword would be already drawn; and I should put spurs to my
horse--charger, as we call it in the army; and I should ride up to
him and say--no, I shouldn't say anything, of course--men never
waste words in battle; I should take him with the third guard, low