built in a day. Thou hast fished salmon a thousand times, and
mightst have taken a lesson. When the fish has taken the fly, to
pull a hard strain on the line would snap the tackle to pieces,
were it made of wire. Ease your hand, man, and let him rise; take
leisure, and in half an hour thou layest him on the bank. There is
a beginning as fair as you could wish, unless you expect the poor
wench to come to thy bedside as she did to thy chair; and that is
not the fashion of modest maidens. But observe me; after we have
had our breakfast, I will take care thou hast an opportunity to
speak thy mind; only beware thou be neither too backward nor press
her too hard. Give her line enough, but do not slack too fast, and
my life for yours upon the issue."

"Do what I can, father," answered Henry, "you will always lay the
blame on me--either that I give too much head or that I strain
the tackle. I would give the best habergeon I ever wrought, that
the difficulty in truth rested with me, for there were then the
better chance of its being removed. I own, however, I am but an ass
in the trick of bringing about such discourse as is to the purpose
for the occasion."

"Come into the booth with me, my son, and I will furnish thee with
a fitting theme. Thou knowest the maiden who ventures to kiss a
sleeping man wins of him a pair of gloves. Come to my booth; thou
shalt have a pair of delicate kid skin that will exactly suit her
hand and arm. I was thinking of her poor mother when I shaped them,"
added honest Simon, with a sigh; "and except Catharine, I know not
the woman in Scotland whom they would fit, though I have measured
most of the high beauties of the court. Come with me, I say, and
thou shalt be provided with a theme to wag thy tongue upon, providing