Anyway,IwasgladIwasnotdead,fornowthatallwasoverI
　　trembledandfeltafraid,whichIhadneverdoneduringthefighting,evenwhenmyhourseemedverynear。
　　Lastlytherewasthishigh—bornlady,BlancheAleys,withwhomfortunehadthrownmesostrangelythatday。Thoseblueeyesofhershadpiercedmyheartlikedarts,anddowhatIwouldImightnotridmymindofthethoughtofher,ormyearsofthesoundofhersoftvoice,whileherkissesseemedstilltoburnuponmylips。ItwrungmetothinkthatperhapsIshouldneverseeheragain,orthatifIdidI
　　mightnotspeakwithher,beingsofarbeneathherincondition,andhavingalreadyearnedthewrathofherfather,and,asIguessed,thejealousyofthatscentedcousinofherswhomtheysaidtheKinglovedlikeabrother。
　　Whathadmymothertoldme？ToleavethisplaceandgotoLondon,theretofindmyuncle,JohnGrimmer,goldsmithandmerchant,whowasmygodfather,andtoaskhimtotakemeintohisbusiness。I
　　rememberedthisuncleofmine,forsomesevenoreightyearsbefore,whenIwasagrowinglad,becausetherewasaplagueinLondonhehadcomedowntoHastingstovisitus。Heonlystayedaweek,however,becausehesaidthattheseaairtieduphisstomachandthathewouldratherrisktheplaguewithagoodstomachthanleaveitbehindhimwithabadone——thoughIthinkitwashisbusinesshethoughtof,nothisstomach。
　　Hewasastrangeoldman,notunlikemymother,butwithanosemorehooked,smalldarkeyes,andabaldheadonwhichhesetacapofvelvet。Evenintheheatofsummerhewasalwayscoldandworeafrayedfurrobe,complainingmuchifhecameintoadraughtofair。
　　IndeedhelookedlikeaJew,thoughagoodChristianenough,andlaughedaboutit,becausehesaidthatthisappearanceofhisservedhimwellinhistrade,sinceJewswerealwaysfeared,anditwasheldtobeimpossibletooverreachthem。
　　FortherestIonlyrecalledthatheexaminedmeastomybooklearningwhichdidnotsatisfyhim,andwentaboutvaluingallourgoodsandfishing—boats,showingmymotherhowwewerebeingcheatedandmightearnmorethanwedid。WhenhedepartedhegavemeagoldpieceandsaidthatLifewasnothingbutvanity,andthatImustprayforhissoulwhenhewasdeadashewassureitwouldneedsuchhelp,alsothatIoughttoputthegoldpieceouttointerest。ThisIdidbybuyingwithitacertainfiercemastiffdogIcovetedthathadbeenbroughtonashipfromNorway,whichdogbitsomegreatmaninourtown,whohauledmymotherbeforethebailiffaboutitandcausedthepoorbeasttobekilled,tomygreatwrath。
　　NowthatIcametothinkofit,IhadlikedmyUncleJohnwellenoughalthoughhewassodifferentfromothers。WhyshouldInotgotohim？
　　BecauseIdidnotwishtositinashopinLondon,Iwholovedtheseaandtheopenair;alsobecauseIfearedhemightaskmewhatIhaddonewiththatgoldpieceandmakeamockofmeaboutthedog。Yetmymotherhadbiddenmego,anditwasherlastcommandtome,herdyingwordswhichitwouldbeunluckytodisobey。Moreover,ourboatsandhousewereburntandImustworkhardandlongbeforethesecouldbereplaced。Lastly,inLondonIshouldseenomoreoftheladyBlancheAleys,andtherecouldlearntoforgetthelightsinherblueeyes。SoIdeterminedthatIwouldgo,andatlastfellasleep。
　　NextmorningImademyconfessiontotheoldpriestthat,amongstothermatters,hemightshrivemeofthebloodwhichIhadshed,thoughthishesaidneedednoforgivenessfromGodorman,being,asI
　　think,astoutEnglishmanatheart。AlsoItookcounselwithhimastowhatIshoulddo,andhetoldmeitwasmydutytoobeymymother'swishes,sincesuchlastwordswereofteninspiredfromonhighanddeclaredthewillofHeaven。FurtherhepointedoutthatIshoulddowelltoavoidtheladyBlancheAleyswhowasonefarabovemeindegree,thefollowingofwhommightbringmetotrouble,oreventodeath;moreover,thatImightmendmybrokenfortunesthroughthehelpofmyuncle,averyrichmanashehadheard,towhomhewouldwritealetteraboutme。
　　Thusthismatterwassettled。
　　StillsomedayswentbybeforeIleftHastings,sincefirstImustwaituntiltheashesofourhousewerecoolenoughtosearchinthemformymother'sbody。Thosewhofoundheratlengthsaidthatshewasnotsomuchburnedasmighthavebeenexpected,butastothisIamuncertain,sinceIcouldnotbringmyselftolookuponherwhodesiredtorememberherasshehadbeeninlife。Shewasburiedbythesideofmyfather,whowasdrowned,inthechurchyardofSt。Clement's,andwhenallhadgoneawayIweptalittleonhergrave。
　　TherestofthatdayIspentmakingreadyformyjourney。Asitchancedwhenthehousewasburnttheoutbuildingswhichlayonthefarthersideoftheyardbehindescapedthefire,andinthestableweretwogoodhorses,oneagreyriding—geldingandtheotheramarethatusedtodragthenetstothequayandbringbackthefish,whichhorses,althoughfrightenedandalarmed,wereunharmed。Alsotherewasaquantityofstores,nets,salt,driedfishinbarrels,andIknownotwhatbesides。ThehorsesIkept,butalltherestofthegear,togetherwiththepremises,thegroundonwhichthehousehadstood,andtheotherpropertyImadeovertoWilliam,myman,whopromisedmetopaymetheirvaluewhenhecouldearnitinbettertimes。
　　NextmorningIrodeawayforLondonuponthegreyhorse,loadingthearmouroftheknightIhadkilledandsuchotherpossessionsasremainedtomeuponthemarewhichIledwitharope。SaveWilliamtherewasnonetosaymegood—bye,forthemiseryinHastingswassogreatthatallwereconcernedwiththeirownaffairsorinmourningtheirdead。Iwasnotsorrythatitfelloutthus,sinceIwassofullofsadnessatleavingtheplacewhereIwasbornandhadlivedallmylife,thatIthinkIshouldhaveshedtearsifanywhohadbeenmyfriendshadspokenkindwordstome,whichwouldhavebeenunmanly。
　　NeverhadIfeltsolonelyaswhenfromthehighgroundIgazedbacktotheruinsofHastingsoverwhichstillhungathinpallofsmoke。
　　Mycourageseemedtofailmealtogether;Ilookedforwardtothefuturewithfear,believingthatIhadbeenbornunlucky,thatitheldnogoodformewhoprobablyshouldendmydaysasacommonsoldierorafisherman,ormayhapinprisonoronthegallows。FromchildhoodI
　　hadsufferedthesefitsofgloom,butasyetthiswastheblackestofthemthatIhadknown。
　　Atlength,thesunthathadbeenhiddenshoneoutandwithitscomingmytemperchanged。IrememberedthatIwhomightsoeasilyhavebeendead,wassound,young,andhealthy,thatIhadsword,bow,andarmourofthebest,alsotwentyormoreofgoldpieces,forIhadnotcountedthem,inthebagwhichmymothergavemewithWave—Flame。Further,I
　　hopedthatmyunclewouldbefriendme,andifhedidnot,therewereplentyofcaptainsengagedinthewarswhomightbegladofasquire,onewhocouldshootagainstanymanandhandleaswordaswellasmost。
　　SoputtingupaprayertoSt。Hubertaftermysimplefashion,Ipushedonblithelytothecrestofalongriseandtherecamefacetofacewithagaycompanywho,hawkonwristandhoundatheel,were,I
　　guessed,ontheirwaytohuntinthePevenseymarshes。WhiletheywerestillalittlewayoffIknewthesetobenootherthanSirRobertAleys,hisdaughterBlanche,andtheKing'sfavourite,youngLordDeleroy,withtheirservants,andwasmindedtoturnasidetoavoidthem。ThenIrememberedthatIhadasmuchrighttotheKing'sHighwayasthey,andmyprideaidingme,determinedtorideontakingnonoteofthem,unlessfirsttheytooknoteofme。Alsotheyknewme,formyearsbeingverysharp,IheardSirRobertsayinhisbigvoice:
　　"Herecomesthatyoungfishermanagain。Passhiminsilence,Daughter";heard,too,LordDeleroydrawlit,"Itseemsthathehasbeengatheringgearfromtheslain,andlikeagoodchapmanbearsitawayforsecretsale。"
　　OnlytheladyBlancheansweredneithertheonenortheother,butrodeforwardwithhereyesfixedbeforeher,pretendingtotalktothehawkuponherwrist,andnowthatshewasrestedandatease,lookingevenmorebeautifulthanshehaddoneonthedayoftheburning。
　　Sowemetandpassed,Iglancingatthemidlyandguidingmyhorsestothesideoftheroad。WhentherewereperhapstenyardsbetweenusI
　　heardLadyBlanchecry:
　　"Oh,myhawk！"Ilookedroundtoseethatthefalcononherwristhadinsomewaylooseditself,orbeenloosed,andbeinghooded,hadfallentothegroundwhereoneofthedogswastryingtocatchandkillit。Nowtherewasgreatconfusion,theeyesofallbeingfixeduponthehawkandthedog,inthemidstofwhichtheladyBlancheveryquietlyturnedherhead,andliftingherhandasthoughtoseehowthehawkhadfallenfromit,withaswiftmovementlaidherfingersagainstherlipsandthrewakisstome。
　　AsswiftlyIbowedbackandwentonmywaywithabeatingheart。ForafewmomentsIwasfilledwithjoy,sinceIcouldnotmistakethemeaningofthissignalledkiss。ThencamesorrowlikeanAprilcloud,sincemywoundwhichwasinthewayofhealingwasallre—opened。I
　　hadbeguntoforgettheladyBlanche,orratherbyaneffortofthewill,tothrustherfrommythought,asmyconfessorhadbiddenme。
　　Butnowonthewingsofthatblownkissthithershehadflownbackagain,nottobefrightedoutformanyaday。
　　ThatnightIsleptataninnatTonbridge,acomfortableplacewherethehoststaredatthegoldpiecefromthebagwhichItenderedinpayment,andatfirstwouldnottakewhatwasduetohimoutofit,becauseitboretheheadofsomeancientking。However,intheendamerchantofTonbridgewhocameinforhismorningaleshowedhimthatitwasgood,sothattroublepassed。
　　AbouttwointheafternoonIcametoSouthwark,atownthattomeseemedasbigasHastingsbeforeitwasburned,wherewasafineinncalledtheTabardatwhichIstoppedtobaitmyhorsesandtotakeabiteanddrinkofale。ThenIrodeonoverthegreatThameswherefloatedamultitudeofshipsandboats,crossingitbyLondonBridge,aworksowonderfulthatImarvelledthatitcouldbemadebythehandofman,andsobroadthatithadshopsoneithersideoftheroadway,inwhichweresoldallsortsofmerchandise。ThenceIinquiredmywaytoCheapside,andcamethereatlastthrustingapaththrougharoaringmultitudeofpeople,orsoitseemedtomewhoneverbeforehadseensomanymenandwomengatheredtogether,allgoingontheirwayand,itwouldappear,ignorantofeachother。
　　HereIfoundalongandcrowdedthoroughfarewithgabledhousesoneithersideinwhichallkindsoftradeswerecarriedon。DownthisI
　　wandered,beingcursedatmorethanoncebecausemypackmare,growingfrightened,draggedawayfrommeandcrossedthepathofcartswhichhadtostoptillIcouldpullherfree。AfterthethirdofthesetanglesIhaltedbythesideofthefootwaybehindawainwithbarrelsonit,andlookedaboutmebewildered。
　　Tomyleftwasahousesomewhatsetbackfromthegenerallinethathadalittlepatchofgardengroundinfrontofitinwhichgrewsomeuntendedandthriftless—lookingshrubs。Thishouseseemedtobeaplaceofbusinessbecausefromanironfastenedtothefrontofithungaboardonwhichwaspaintedanopenboat,highattheprowandstern,withatallbeakfashionedtothelikenessofadragon'sheadandroundshieldsalldowntherail。
　　WhileIwasstaringatthissignandwonderingemptilywhatkindofaboatitwasandofwhatnationwerethefolkwhohadsailedinher,amancamedownthegardenpathandleaneduponthegate,staringinturnatme。Hewasoldandstrange—looking,beingcladinarustygownwithahoodtoitthatwaspulledoverhishead,sothatIcouldonlyseeawhite,peakedbeardandapairofbrilliantblackeyeswhichseemedtopiercemeasashoemaker'sawlpiercesleather。
　　"Whatdoyou,youngman,"heaskedinahighthinvoice,"cumberingmygatewiththosenagsofyours？Wouldyousellthatmailyouhaveonthepack—horse？IfsoIdonotdealinsuchstuff,thoughitseemsgoodofitskind。Sogetonwithitelsewhere。"
　　"Nay,sir,"Ianswered,"Ihavenaughttosellwhointhishiveoftradersseekonebeeandcannotfindhim。"
　　"Hiveoftraders！TrulythegreatmerchantsoftheCheapwouldbehonoured。Havetheystungyou,then,already,youngbumpkinfromthecountryside,forsuchIwriteyoudown？Butwhatbeedoyouseek？
　　Stay,now,letmeguess。IsitacertainoldknavenamedJohnGrimmer,whotradesingoldandjewelsandotherpreciousthingsandwho,ifhehadhisdeserts,shouldbejail？"
　　"Aye,aye,that'stheman,"Isaid。
　　"Surelyhealsowillbehonoured,"exclaimedtheoldfellowwithacackle。"He'safriendofmineandIwilltellhimthejest。"
　　"Ifyouwouldtellmewheretofindhimitwouldbemoreseasonable。"
　　"Allingoodtime。Butfirst,youngsir,wheredidyougetthatfinearmour？Ifyoustoleit,itshouldbebetterhid。"
　　"Stoleit！"Ibeganinwrath。"AmIaLondonchapman————？"
　　"Ithinknot,thoughyoumaybebeforeallisdone,forwhoknowswhatviletricksFortunewillplayus？Well,ifyoudidnotstealit,mayhapyouslewthewearerandareamurderer,forIseeblackbloodonthesteel。"
　　"Murderer！"Igasped。
　　"Aye,justasyousayJohnGrimmerisaknave。Butifnot,thenperchanceyouslewtheFrenchknightwhoworeitonHastingsHill,ereyouloosedthethreearrowsatthemouthofthecavenearMinnesRock。"
　　NowIgapedathim。
　　"Shutyourmouth,youngman,lestthoseteethofyoursshouldfallout。YouwonderhowIknow？Well,myfriendJohnGrimmer,thegoldsmithknave,hasamagiccrystalwhichhepurchasedfromonewhobroughtitfromtheEast,andIsawitinthatcrystal。"
　　Ashespoke,asthoughbychancehepushedbackthehoodthatcoveredhishead,revealingawrinkledoldfacewithamockingmouthwhichdroopedatonecorner,amouththatIknewagain,althoughmanyyearshadpassedsinceIlookeduponitasaboy。
　　"YouareJohnGrimmer！"Imuttered。
　　"Yes,HubertofHastings,Iamthatknavehimself。Andnowtellme,whatdidyoudowiththegoldpieceIgaveyousometwelvesummersgone？"
　　ThenIwasmindedtolie,forIfearedthisoldman。Butthinkingbetterofit,IansweredthatIhadspentitonadog。Helaughedoutrightandsaid:
　　"Praythatitisnotanomenandthatyoumaynotfollowthegoldpiecetothedogs。Well,Ilikeyouforspeakingthetruthwhenyouaretemptedtodootherwise。WillyoubepleasedtoshelterforawhilebeneaththeroofofJohnGrimmer,themerchantknave？"
　　"Youmockme,sir,"Istammered。
　　"Perhaps,perhaps！Butthere'smanyatruewordspokeninjest;forifyoudonotknowitnowyouwilllearnitafterwardsthatweareallknaves,eachinhisownfashion,whoifwedonotdeceiveothers,atleastdeceiveourselves,andIperhapsmorethanmost。Vanityofvanities！Allisvanity。"
　　Then,waitingfornoreply,hedrewasilverwhistlefromunderhisdustyrobeandblewit,whereon——soswiftlythatImarvelledwhetherhewerewaiting——astout—builtservingmanappearedtowhomhesaid:
　　"Takethesehorsestothestableandtreatthemasthoughtheyweremyown。Unloadthepackbeast,andwhenithasbeencleaned,setthemailandtheothergearuponitintheroomthathasbeenmadereadyforthisyoungmaster,HubertofHastings,mynephew。"
　　Withoutawordthemanledoffthehorses。
　　"Benotafraid,"chuckledJohnGrimmer,"forthoughIamaknave,dogdoesnoteatdogandwhatisyoursissafewithmeandthosewhoserveme。Nowenter,"andheledthewayintothehouse,openingtheiron—
　　studdedoakdoorwithakeyfromhispouch。
　　WithinwasashopwhereIsawpreciousthingssuchasfursandgoldornamentslyingabout。
　　"Thecrumbstocatchthebirds,especiallytheladybirds,"hesaidwithasweepofhishand,thentookmethroughtheshopintoapassageandthencetoaroomontheright。ItwasnotalargeroombutmorewonderfullyfurnishedthananyIhadeverseen。Inthecentrewasatableofblackoakwithcunninglycarvedlegs,onwhichstoodcupsofsilverandanoblecentrepiecethatseemedtobeofgold。Fromtheceiling,too,hungsilverlampsthatalreadyhadbeenlit,fortheeveningwasclosingin,andgaveasweetsmell。Therewasahearthalsowithwhatwasrare,achimney,uponwhichburnedalittlefireoflogs,whilethewallswerehungwithtapestriesandbroideredsilks。
　　WhilstIstaredaboutme,myuncletookoffhiscloakbeneathwhichhewasclothedinsomerichbutratherthreadbarestuff,onlyretainingthevelvetskullcapthathewore。Thenhebademedothesame,andwhenIhadlaidmyoutergarmentaside,lookedmealloverinthelamplight。
　　"Aproperyoungman,"hemutteredtohimself,"andI'dgiveallIhavetobehisageandlikehim。Isupposethoselimbsandsinewsofhiscamefromhisfather,forIwaseverthinandspare,aswasmyfatherbeforeme。NephewHubert,IhaveheardallthetaleofyourdealingswiththeFrenchmen,onwhombeGod'scurse,atHastingsyonder;andI
　　saythatIamproudofyou,thoughwhetherIshallstaysoisanothermatter。Comehither。"
　　Iobeyed,andtakingmebymycurlinghairwithhisdelicatehand,hedrewdownmyheadandkissedmeonthebrow,muttering,"Neitherchicknorchildformeandonlythisoneleftoftheancientblood。Mayhedoithonour。"
　　Thenhemotionedtometobeseatedandrangalittlesilverbellthatstooduponthetable。Asinthecaseofthemanwithout,itwasansweredinstantlyfromwhichIjudgedthatMasterGrimmerwaswellserved。Beforetheechoesofthebelldiedawayadooropened,thetapestryswungaside,andthereappearedtwomostcomelyservingmaids,tallandwell—shapedbothofthem,bearingfood。
　　"Prettywomen,Nephew,nowonderthatyoulookatthem,"hesaidwhentheyhadgoneawaytofetchotherthings,"suchasIliketohaveaboutmealthoughIamold。Womenforwithinandmenforwithout,thatisNature'slaw,andillwillbethedaywhenitischanged。Yetbewareofprettywomen,Nephew,andIprayyoukissnotthoseasyoudidtheladyBlancheAleysatHastings,lestitshouldupsetmyhouseholdandturnservantsintomistresses。"
　　Imadenoanswer,beingconfoundedbytheknowledgethatmyuncleshowedofmeandmyaffairs,whichafterwardsIdiscoveredhehad,inpartatanyrate,fromtheoldpriest,myconfessor,whohadwrittentocommendmetohim,tellingmystoryandsendingtheletterbyaKing'smessenger,wholeftforLondononthemorrowoftheBurning。
　　Nordidhewaitforany,forhebademesitdownandeat,plyingmewithmoremeatsthanIcouldswallow,allmostdelicatelydressed,alsowithrarewinessuchasIhadnevertasted,whichhetookfromacupboardwheretheywerekeptincuriousflasksofglass。YetasI
　　noted,himselfheatebutlittle,onlypickingatthebreastofafowlanddrinkingbutthehalfofasmallsilvergobletfilledwithwine。
　　"Appetite,likeallothergoodthings,fortheyoung,"hesaidwithasighashewatchedmyheartyfeasting。"Yetremember,Nephew,thatifyoulivetoreachit,adaywillcomewhenyourswillbeasmineis。
　　Vanityofvanities,saiththepreacher,allisvanity！"
　　Atlength,whenIcouldeatnomore,againherangthesilverbellandthosefairwaitinggirlsdressedalikeingreenappearedandclearedawaythebrokenmeats。Aftertheyweregonehecrouchedoverthefirerubbinghisthinhandstowarmthem,andsaidsuddenly:
　　"Nowtellmeofmysister'sdeathandalltherestofyourtale。"
　　SoaswellasIwasableItoldhimeverythingfromthehourwhenI
　　hadfirstsightedtheFrenchfleetonboardmyfishing—boattotheend。
　　"Youarenofool,"hesaidwhenIhadfinished,"whocantalklikeanyclerkandbringthingsthathavehappenedclearlytothelistener'seye,whichIhavenotedfewareabletodo。Sothat'sthestory。Well,yourmotherhadagreatheart,andshemadeagreatend,suchanoneaswaslovedofournorthernrace,andthatevenI,theoldmerchantknave,desireandshallnotwin,whodoubtlessamdoomedtodieacow'sdeathinthestraw。PraytheAll—FatherOdin——nay,thatisheresyforwhichImightburnifyouorthewenchestoldittothepriests——prayGod,Imean,thatHemaygrantyouabetter,asHedidtooldThorgrimmer,ifthetalebetrue,Thorgrimmerwhoseswordyouwearandhavewieldedshrewdly,asthatFrenchknightknowsinhellto—day。"
　　"WhowasOdin？"Iasked。
　　"ThegreatgodoftheNorth。Didnotyourmothertellyouofhim？Nay,doubtlessshewastoogoodaChristian。Yetheliveson,Nephew。IsaythatOdinlivesinthebloodofeveryfightingman,asFreyalivesintheheartofeveryladandgirlwholoves。Thegodschangetheirnames,buthush！hush！talknotofOdinandofFreya,forIsaythatitisheresy,orpagan,whichisworse。Whatwouldyoudonow？WhycameyoutoLondon？"
　　"Becausemymotherbademeandtoseekmyfortune。"
　　"Fortune——whatisfortune？Youthandhealtharethebestfortune,though,iftheyknowhowtouseit,thosewhohavewealthaswellmaygofurtherthantherest。Alsobeauteousthingsarepleasanttothesightandthereisjoyingatheringthem。Yetatthelasttheymeannothing,fornakedwecameoutoftheblacknessandnakedwereturnthere。Vanityofvanities,allisvanity！"
　　CHAPTERIV
　　KARI
　　ThusbeganmylifeinLondoninthehouseofmyuncle,JohnGrimmer,whowascalledtheGoldsmith。Intruth,however,hewasmorethanthis,sincenotonlydidhefashionandtradeincostlythings;helentoutmoneystointerestuponsecuritytogreatpeoplewhoneededit,andeventothekingRichardandhisCourt。AlsoheownedshipsanddidmuchcommercewithHolland,France,yes,andwithSpainandItaly。Indeed,althoughheappearedsohumble,hiswealthwasverylargeandalwaysincreased,likeasnowballrollingdownahill;
　　moreover,heownedmuchland,especiallyintheneighbourhoodofLondonwhereitwaslikelytogrowinvalue。
　　"Moneymelts,"hewouldsay,"furscorruptwithmothandtime,andthievesbreakinandsteal。Butland——ifthetitlebegood——remains。
　　Thereforebuyland,whichnonecancarryaway,neartoamarketoragrowingtownifmaybe,andhireitouttofoolstofarm,orsellittootherfoolswhowishtobuildgreathousesandspendtheirgoodsinfeedingamultitudeofidleservants。Houseseat,Hubert,andthelargertheyare,themoretheyeat。"
　　Noworddidhesaytomeastomydwellingonwithhim,yetthereI
　　remained,bycommonconsent,asitwere。IndeedonthemorrowofmycomingatailorappearedtomeasuremeforsuchgarmentsashethoughtIshouldwear,byhiscommand,Isuppose,asIwasneveraskedforpayment,andhebademefurnishmychambertomyownliking,alsoanotherroomatthebackofthehousethatwasmuchlargerthanitseemed,whichhetoldmewastobeminetoworkin,thoughatwhatI
　　wastoworkhedidnotsay。
　　ForadayortwoIremainedidle,staringatthesightsofLondonandonlymeetingmyuncleatmealswhichsometimesweatealoneandsometimesinthecompanyofsea—captainsandlearnedclerksorofothermerchants,allofwhomtreatedhimwithgreatdeferenceandasI
　　soonguessed,wereintruthhisservants。Atnight,however,wewerealwaysaloneandthenhewouldpourouthiswisdomonmewhileI
　　listened,sayinglittle。Onthesixthday,growingwearyofthisidleness,ImadeboldtoaskhimiftherewasaughtthatIcoulddo。
　　"Aye,plentyifyouhaveamindtowork,"heanswered。"Sitdownnow,andtakepenandpaperandwritewhatIshalltellyou。"
　　ThenhedictatedashortlettertomeastoshippingwinefromSpain,andwhenitwassanded,readitcarefully。
　　"Youhaveitright,"hesaid,seemingpleased,"andyourscriptisclearifboyish。TheytaughtyounonesoillyonderatHastingswhereIthoughtyouhadonlylearnedtohandleropesandarrows。Work？Yes,thereisplentyofitofthemoreprivatesortwhichIdonotgivetothisscribeortothatwhomightbetraymysecrets。Forknow,"hewentoninasternvoice,"thereisonethingwhichIneverpardon,anditisbetrayal。Rememberthat,nephewHubert,eveninthearmsofyourloves,ifyoushouldbefoolenoughtoseekthem,orinyourcups。"
　　Sohetalkedon,andwhilehedidsowenttoanironchestthatheunlocked,andthencedrewoutaparchmentrollwhichhebademetaketomyworkroomandcopythere。Ididso,andfoundthatitwasaninventoryofhisgoodsandestates,andoh！beforeIhaddoneIwishedthattherewerefewerofthem。AllthelongdayIlaboured,onlystoppingforabiteatnoon,tillmyheadswamandmyfingersached。
　　YetasIdidsoIfeltproud,forIguessedthatmyunclehadsetmethistaskfortworeasons:first,toshowhistrustinme,and,secondly,toacquaintmewiththestateofhispossessions,butasitwereinthewayofbusiness。BynightfallIhadfinishedandcheckedthecopywhichwiththeoriginalIhidinmyrobewhenthegreen—robedwaitingmaidsummonedmetoeat。