for I too am far from my friends, and often, when first I came to Holland, I did used to take a hearty cry all to myself.But ten times liever would I be Reicht Heynes with nought but the leagues atw'een me and all my kith, than be as she is i' the midst of them that ought to warm to her, and yet to fare as lonesome as I.""Alack, Reicht, I did go but yestreen, and had gone before, but one plaguy thing or t'other did still come and hinder me.""Mistress, did aught hinder ye to eat your dinner any one of those days? I trow not.And had your heart been as good towards your own flesh and blood, as 'twas towards your flesher's meat, nought had prevailed to keep you from her that sat lonely, a watching the road for you and comfort, wi' your child's child a beating 'neath her bosom."Here this rude young woman was interrupted by an incident not uncommon in a domestic's bright existence.The Van Eyck had been nettled by the attack on her, but with due tact had gone into ambush.She now sprang out of it."Since you disrespect my guests, seek another place!""With all my heart," said Reicht stoutly.
"Nay, mistress," put in the good-natured Catherine."True folk will still speak out.Her tongue is a stinger." Here the water came into the speaker's eyes by way of confirmation."But better she said it than thought it.So now 't won't rankle in her.And part with her for me, that shall ye not.Beshrew the wench, she wots she is a good servant, and takes advantage.We poor wretches which keep house must still pay 'em tax for value.I had a good servant once, when I was a young woman.Eh dear, how she did grind me down into the dust.In the end, by Heaven's mercy, she married the baker, and I was my own woman again.'So,' said I, 'no more good servants shall come hither, a hectoring o' me.' I just get a fool and learn her; and whenever she knoweth her right hand from her left, she sauceth me: then out I bundle her neck and crop, and take another dunce in her place.Dear heart, 'tis wearisome, teaching a string of fools by ones; but there - I am mistress:"here she forgot that she was defending Reicht, and turning rather spitefully upon her, added, "and you be mistress here, I trow.""No more than that stool," said the Van Eyck loftily."She is neither mistress nor servant; but Gone.She is dismissed the house, and there's an end of her.What, did ye not hear me turn the saucy baggage off?""Ay, ay.We all heard ye," said Reicht, with vast indifference.
"Then hear me!" said Denys solemnly.
They all went round like things on wheels, and fastened their eyes on him.
"Ay, let us hear what the man says," urged the hostess."Men are fine fellows, with their great hoarse voices.""Mistress Reicht,"said Denys, with great dignity and ceremony, indeed so great as to verge on the absurd, "you are turned off.If on a slight acquaintance I might advise, I'd say, since you are a servant no more, be a mistress, a queen.
"Easier said than done," replied Reicht bluntly.
"Not a jot.You see here one who is a man, though but half an arbalestrier, owing to that devilish Englishman's arrow, in whose carcass I have, however, left a like token, which is a comfort.Ihave twenty gold pieces" (he showed them) "and a stout arm.In another week or so I shall have twain.Marriage is not a habit of mine; but I capitulate to so many virtues.You are beautiful, good-hearted, and outspoken, and above all, you take the part of my she-comrade.Be then an arbalestriesse!""And what the dickens is that?" inquired Reicht.
"I mean, be the wife, mistress, and queen of Denys of Burgundy here present."A dead silence fell on all.
It did not last long, though; and was followed by a burst of unreasonable indignation.
Catherine."."Well, did you ever?"
Margaret."Never in all my born days."
Catherine."Before our very faces."
Margaret."Of all the absurdity, and insolence of this ridiculous ***-Then Denys observed somewhat drily, that the female to whom he ad addressed himself was mute; and the others, on whose eloquence there was no immediate demand, were fluent: on this the voices stopped, and the eyes turned pivot-like upon Reicht.
She took a sly glance from under her lashes at her military assailant, and said, "I mean to take a good look at any man ere Ileap into his arms."