"Whatever thou wilt, father," answered the armourer, carelessly,
and relapsed into the analysis of Catharine's speech to him. "She
spoke of my warm heart; but she also spoke of my reckless hand.
What earthly thing can I do to get rid of this fighting fancy?
Certainly I were best strike my right hand off, and nail it to the
door of a church, that it may never do me discredit more."

"You have chopped off hands enough for one night," said his friend,
setting a flagon of wine on the table. "Why dost thou vex thyself,
man? She would love thee twice as well did she not see how thou
doatest upon her. But it becomes serious now. I am not to have the
risk of my booth being broken and my house plundered by the hell
raking followers of the nobles, because she is called the Fair Maid
of Perth, an't please ye. No, she shall know I am her father, and
will have that obedience to which law and gospel give me right.
I will have her thy wife, Henry, my heart of gold--thy wife, my
man of mettle, and that before many weeks are over. Come--come,
here is to thy merry bridal, jolly smith."

The father quaffed a large cup, and filled it to his adopted son,
who raised it slowly to his head; then, ere it had reached his
lips, replaced it suddenly on the table and shook his head.

"Nay, if thou wilt not pledge me to such a health, I know no one
who will," said Simon. "What canst thou mean, thou foolish lad? Here
has a chance happened, which in a manner places her in thy power,
since from one end of the city to the other all would cry fie on
her if she should say thee nay. Here am I, her father, not only
consenting to the cutting out of the match, but willing to see you