hobby than in Town, where you must do like other folk or else be
counted singular and ridiculous. No brave and gallant man would run the
risk of being thought singular."

"Why, _Father's_ notion is right the contrary," said I. "I have heard
him to say divers times that 'tis the cowards which dare not be laughed
at, and that it takes a right brave man to dare to be thought singular."

"Exactly!" saith he. "That is right the _Puritan_ talk, as I had the
honour to tell you aforetime. You should never hear no gentleman of the
Court to say no such a thing."

"But," said I, "speak they alway the most truth in the Court?"

This seemed to divert him rarely. He laughed for a minute as though he
should ne'er give o'er.

"My fairest _Amiability_," saith he, "had I but thee in the Court, as is
the only place meet for thee, then shouldst thou see how admired of
every creature were thy wondrous wit and most incomparable beauties.
Why, I dare be sworn on all the books in _Cumberland_, thou shouldest be
of the Queen's Majesty's maids in one week's time. And of the delights
and jollities of that life, dwelling here in a corner of _England_, thou
canst not so much as cast an idea." Methought that should be right
rare.

SELWICK HALL, NOVEMBER YE XXVII.
With Aunt _Joyce_ this morrow to visit old _Nanny Crewdson_, that is
brother's widow to _Isaac_, and dwelleth in a cot up _Thirlmere_ way. I
would fain have avoided the same an' I might, for I never took no list
in visiting poor folk, and sithence I have wist my right noble
_Protection_ do I take lesser than ever. In very deed, all relish is
gone for me out of every thing but him and the jolly Court doings
whereof he tells me. And I am ever so much happier than I was of old,
with nought but humdrum matter; only that now and then, for a short
while, I am a deal more miserabler. I cannot conceive what it is that
cometh o'er me at those times. 'Tis like as if I were dancing on
flowers, and some unseen hand did now and then push aside the flowers,
and I saw a great and horrible black gulf underneath, and that one false
step should cast me down therein. Nor will any thing comfort me, at
those times, but to talk with my _Protection_, that can alway dispel the
gloom. But the things around, that I have been bred up in, do grow more
and more distasteful unto me than ever.

Howbeit, I am feared to show folk the same, so when Aunt _Joyce_ ca