d, comrade. Ha! ha! I'd trust that wench to make Satan keep to
heel like any well-broke puppy. 'Twas in this way. The next time th'
gallant comes riding up (that being th' seventh time in all, ye
mind)--well, the next time up comes riding he, and he saith to her,
saith he, "I have come to ask thy service yet again, damsel," saith he;
"but Merrylegs hath cast another shoe."

Then saith th' lass--ha! ha!--every word as I tell thee, comrade--saith
she, "Methinks, my lord, if my work hold no better than that--methinks,"
saith she, "'twere as well thou went for th' shoeing o' thy horse to
Timothy Makeshift, as lives in Marigold Lane," saith she. "For if it
come to th' ears o' others how that I will shoe a horse one day, and th'
next how that he will cast th' shoe--if it so be known," saith she, "no
more custom will I get to keep my father and mother in their old age."

Then doth he leap down from his horse, and he doffs his hat as though
my lass had been any fine lady; and quoth he,

"Well and justly hast thou spoken; and I do stand confessed of my fault.
But, maiden, thou wast not born unto th' life thou leadest; and here in
thy presence I do ask thy father to bestow upon me thy hand. I am Sir
Dagonet Balfour, of Balfour Hall; and if thou art willing I will make
thee my lady."

Now, I was struck dumb as though my tongue had jumped forth o' my mouth,
and never a blessed thing could I do saving stare, comrade. But that
lass o' mine--that lass o' mine, comrade--she stands and looks at him,
and never so much as a glint o' red in her face. And saith she, "My
lord," saith she, "if that thou meanest what thou hast said, thou hast
forgotten thine estate and not remembered mine. Since God hath not made
me a lady, methinks it is not in the power o' one o' His creatures so to
do. But I do thank thee for seeking to honor me, and wish thee joy when
thou shalt take in wedlock some highborn maiden."

Then saith he, "An I wed not thee, ne'er will I be wed. What! dost thou
think I can look on in patience and see a woman such as thou following
the trade of a farrier?"

Then saith she, "If Jesus Christ followed th' trade o' a carpenter,"
saith she, "sure," saith she, "Keren Lemon can follow th' trade o' a
farrier," saith she--every blessed word as I tell thee, comrade. And no
more would she have to do with him, but got her into th' forge and left
him standing there.

Well, thou might 'a' thought that was th' end o't. Not a bit--not a b