Methinks I owe it you, howbeit, to tell you my name. I am Sir
_Edwin Tregarvon_, of _Cornwall_, and very much your servant."
So away went he, with a graceful mien: and we home o'er the lake. All
the way _Edith_ saith nought but--"_Milly_, where didst thou pick up thy
_cavaliero_?"
"Nay," said I, "he it was who picked me up. He was leaning of a tree,
of t'other side, over against _Borrowdale_: and I sat me down of a log,
and saw him not till he spake."
_Edith_ said no more at that time. But in the even, when we were
doffing us, and _Nell_ was not yet come up, quoth she--
"_Milly_, is Sir _Edwin_ something free to ask questions?"
"Oh, meterly," [tolerably] said I.
"I trust thou gavest him not o'er full answers."
"Oh, nought of import," said I. "Beside, _Edith_, he is an old friend
of _Mother_."
"Is he so?" quoth she. "Then we can ask _Mother_ touching him."
Now, I could not have told any wherefore, but I had no list to ask
_Mother_, nor had I told her so much as one word touching him. I
believe I was half afeared she might forbid me to encourage him in talk.
I trust _Edith_ shall forget the same, for she hath not an over good
memory.
SELWICK HALL, NOVEMBER YE IX.
I well-nigh do wish I had not writ down that same o' _Friday_ last.
Howbeit, there is no penalty against tearing out o' leaves: and that
must I do, if need be. Meanwhile, I will go right forward with my
chronicling.
I did verily think I saw Sir _Edwin_ part-way up the hill behind us o'
_Saturday_ even: but o' _Sunday_ he was not in church, for I looked for
him. I reckon he must have left this vicinage, or he should scarce run
the risk of a twenty pound fine [the penalty per month for
non-attendance at the parish church], without he be fairly a-rolling in
riches, as his gold chain looked not unlike.
Thank goodness, _Edith_ hath forgot to say aught to _Mother_, and 'tis
not like she shall think on now.
SELWICK HALL, NOVEMBER YE XII.
_Mother_ bid me, this morrow, carry a basket of eggs and a spice-cake
[the northern name for a plum-cake] to old _Jack_. They were ducks'
eggs, for I had told her what _Jack_ said the last time we visited him.
I bade _Edith_ go with me [Note 4], but she would not, the day being
somewhat foul. I did never see a maid so unwilling to mire her shoes as
our _Edith_. So I all alone up to _Jack Benn's_: which saw me fro
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