"These gloves," said Henry, advancing his seat insidiously towards
Catharine as he spoke, "were wrought by the hands that are dearest
to you; and see--they are shaped for your own."

He extended them as he spoke, and taking her arm in his robust
hand, spread the gloves beside it to show how well they fitted.

"Look at that taper arm," he said, "look at these small fingers;
think who sewed these seams of silk and gold, and think whether
the glove and the arm which alone the glove can fit ought to remain
separate, because the poor glove has had the misfortune to be for
a passing minute in the keeping of a hand so swart and rough as
mine."

"They are welcome as coming from my father," said Catharine; "and
surely not less so as coming from my friend (and there was an
emphasis on the word), as well as my Valentine and preserver."

"Let me aid to do them on," said the smith, bringing himself yet
closer to her side; "they may seem a little over tight at first,
and you may require some assistance."

"You are skilful in such service, good Henry Gow," said the maiden,
smiling, but at the same time drawing farther from her lover.

"In good faith, no," said Henry, shaking his head: "my experience
has been in donning steel gauntlets on mailed knights, more than
in fitting embroidered gloves upon maidens."