he might read as well as print, and while he had Sundays at St.
Paul's to look to, he asked no more--except indeed that his gentle
blood stirred at the notion of acting salesman in the book-stall,
and Master Hansen assured him with a smile that Will Wherry, the
other boy, would do that better than either of them, and that he
would be entirely employed here.

The methodical master insisted however on making terms with the
boy's relations; and with some misgivings on Ambrose's part, the
two--since business hours were almost over--walked together to the
Temple and to the little house, where Perronel was ironing under her
window.

Ambrose need not have doubted. The Dutch blood on either side was
stirred; and the good housewife commanded the little printer's
respect as he looked round on a kitchen as tidy as if it were in his
own country. And the bargain was struck that Ambrose Birkenholt
should serve Master Hansen for his meals and two pence a week, while
he was to sleep at the little house of Mistress Randall, who would
keep his clothes and linen in order.

And thus it was that both Ambrose and Stephen Birkenholt had found
their vocations for the present, and both were fervent in them.
Master Headley pshawed a little when he heard that Ambrose had
engaged himself to a printer and a foreigner; and when he was told
it was to a friend of Tibble's, only shook his head, saying that
Tib's only fault was dabbling in matters of divinity, as if a plain
man could not be saved without them! However, he respected the lad
for having known his own mind and not hung about in idleness, and he
had no opinion of clerks, whether monks or priests. Indeed, the low