"Yea, madam," said Richard, somewhat hotly, "and I made answer that
my Susan was to be trusted, and truly no harm has come thereof."

"Ho! and you reckon it no harm that thy father and mother were left
to a set of feckless, brainless, idle serving-men and maids in their
trouble? Why, none would so much as have seen to thy brother's poor
body being laid in a decent grave had not I been at hand to take
order for it as became a distant kinsman of my lord. I tell thee,
Richard, there must be no more of these vagabond seafaring ways.
Thou must serve my lord, as a true retainer and kinsman is bound--
Nay," in reply to a gesture, "I will not come in, I know too well in
what ill order the house is like to be. I did but take my ride this
way to ask how it fared with the mistress, and try if I could shake
the squire from his lethargy, if Mrs. Susan had not had the grace yet
to be here. How do they?" Then in answer, "Thou must waken him,
Diccon--rouse him, and tell him that I and my lord expect it of him
that he should bear his loss as a true and honest Christian man, and
not pule and moan, since he has a son left--ay, and a grandson. You
should breed your boy up to know his manners, Susan Talbot," as
Humfrey resisted an attempt to make him do his reverence to my lady;
"that stout knave of yours wants the rod. Methought I heard you'd
borne another, Susan! Ay! as I said it would be," as her eye fell on
the swaddled babe in a maid's arms. "No lack of fools to eat up the
poor old squire's substance. A maid, is it? Beshrew me, if your
voyages will find portions for all your wenches! Has the leech let
blood to thy good-mother, Susan? There! not one amongst you all
bears any brains. Knew you not how to send up to the castle for
Master Drewitt? Farewell! Thou wilt be at the lodge to-morrow to
let me know how it fares with thy mother, when her brain is cleared