for her.'

'A woman, sir?'

'I didn't want to confess it; but 'tis a woman. Strange that I should be
drawn so entirely against my natural wish to rush at 'em!'

Cripplestraw, seeing which way the wind blew, found it advisable to blow
in harmony. 'Ah, now at last I see, sir! Spite that few men live that
be worthy to command ye; spite that you could rush on, marshal the troops
to victory, as I may say; but then--what of it? there's the unhappy fate
of being smit with the eyes of a woman, and you are unmanned! Maister
Derriman, who is himself, when he's got a woman round his neck like a
millstone?'

'It is something like that.'

'I feel the case. Be you valiant?--I know, of course, the words being a
matter of form--be you valiant, I ask? Yes, of course. Then don't you
waste it in the open field. Hoard it up, I say, sir, for a higher class
of war--the defence of yer adorable lady. Think what you owe her at this
terrible time! Now, Maister Derriman, once more I ask ye to cast off
that first haughty wish to rush to Budmouth, and to go where your mis'ess
is defenceless and alone.'

'I will, Cripplestraw, now you put it like that!'

'Thank ye, thank ye heartily, Maister Derriman. Go now and hide with
her.'

'But can I? Now, hang flattery!--can a man hide without a stain? Of
course I would not hide in any mean sense; no, not I!'

'If you be in love, 'tis plain you may, since it is not your own life,
but another's, that you are concerned for, and you only save your own
because it can't be helped.'

''Tis true, Cripplestraw, in a sense. But will it be understood that
way? Will they see it as a brave hiding?'

'Now, sir, if you had not been in love I own to ye that hiding would look
queer, but being to save the tears, groans, fits, swowndings, and perhaps
death of a comely young woman, yer principle is good; you honourably
retreat because you be too gallant to advance. This sounds strange, ye
may say, sir; but it is plain enough to less fiery minds.'

Festus did for a moment try to uncover his teeth in a natural smile, but
it died away. 'Cripplestraw, you flatter me; or do you mean it? Well,
there's truth in it. I am more gallant in going to her than in marching
to the shore. But we cannot be too careful about our good names, we
soldiers. I must not be seen. I'm off.'

Cripplestraw opened the hurdle which closed the arch under the portico
gateway, and Festus passed under, Uncle Benjamin singing