he held his fingers over her, and she rubbed her smooth head against
him.

'Can she leap? Baudrons leaps like a horse in the tilt-yard.'

'Cannot she! There, my lady pussy, show what thou canst do to please
the demoiselle,' and he held his arms forward with clasped hands, so
that the grey cat might spring over them, and Lady Anne cried out
with delight.

Again and again the performance was repeated, and pussy was induced
to dance after a string dangled before her, to roll over and play in
apparent ecstasy with a flake of wool, as if it were a mouse, and
Watch joined in the game in full amity. Mother Dolly, busy with her
distaff, looked on, not displeased, except when she had to guard her
spindle from the kitten's pranks, but she was less happy when the
children began to talk.

'You have seen a tilt-yard?'

'Yea, indeed,' he answered dreamily. 'The poor squire was hurt--I
did not like it! It is gruesome.'

'Oh, no! It is a noble sport! I loved our tilt-yard at Bletso. Two
knights could gallop at one another in the lists, as if they were out
hunting. Oh! to hear the lances ring against the shields made one's
heart leap up! Where was yours?'

Here Dolly interrupted hastily, 'Hal, lad, gang out to the shed and
bring in some more sods of turf. The fire is getting low.'