not
forth!
And the smoke of the wood, fear is conceived of it, yet no blaze
appears from it;
And oft sorrow rises, and straightway sets again.
So be patient when fear assails, for Time is the Father of Wonders;
And hope from the peace of God blessings not to be reckoned!"

How should such a chant as this enter a young man's heart who felt
himself despicable in the sight of his mistress?

"Should you like a little more?" asked Amaryllis, in a very gentle tone,
now he had obeyed her.

"I would rather not," said Amadis, still hanging his head.

His days were mixed of honey and wormwood; sweet because of Amaryllis,
absinthe because of his weakness.

A voice came from the summer-house; Flamma was shouting an old song,
with heavy emphasis here and there, with big capital letters:--

The jolly old Sun, where goes he at night?
And what does he Do, when he's out of Sight?
All Insinuation Scorning;
I don't mean to Say that he Tipples apace,
I only Know he's a very Red Face
When he gets up in the Morning!

"Haw! Haw! Haw!" laughed Bill Nye, with his mouth full. "Th' zun do look
main red in the marning, surely."

They heard the front door open and shut; Iden had come in for his lunch,
and, by the sound of the footsteps, had brought one of his gossips with
him.

At this Mrs. Iden began to ruffle up her feathers for battle.

Iden came through into the dairy.

"Now, you ain't wanted here," she said. "Poking your nose into
everything. Wonder you don't help Luce make the beds and sweep the
floor!"

"Can I help'ee?" said Iden, soothingly. "Want any wood for the fire--or
anything?"

"As if Luce couldn't fetch the wood--and chop it, as well as you. Why
can't you mind your business? Here's Bill Nye been waiting these two
hours to see you"--following Iden towards the sitting-room. "Who have
you brought in with you now? Of course, everybody comes in of a
butter-making morning, just the busiest time! Oh! it's you! Sit still,
Mr. Duck; I don't mind _you_. What will you take?"

More ale and cheese here, too; Iden and Jack Duck sat in the bow-window
and went at their lunch. So soon as they were settled, out flounced Mrs.
Iden into the dairy: "The lazy lot of people in this house--I never saw
anything like it!"

It was true.

There was Alere Flamma singing in the summer-house; Amadis Iden resting
on the form; Ama