'Hardly evidence, Tom. But go on.'
'And with him I saw mistress Dorothy--'
'Hold there, Tom!' cried lord Herbert. 'Wherefore didst not impart
this last night to my lady?'
'Because my lady loveth mistress Dorothy, and I dreaded she would
therefore refuse to believe me.'
'What a heap of cunning goes to the making of a downright fool!'
said lord Herbert to himself, but so as Tom could not fail to hear
him. 'And what saw'st thou pass between them?' he asked.
'Only a whispering with their heads together,' answered Tom.
'And what heard'st thou?'
'Nothing, my lord.'
'And what followed?'
'The roundhead left her, and went through the archway. She stood a
moment and then followed him. But I, fearful of her coming up the
stair and finding me, gat me quickly to my own place.'
'Oh, Tom, Tom! I am ashamed of thee. What! Afraid of a woman?
Verily, thy heart is of wax.'
'That can hardly be, my lord, for I find it still on the wane.'
'An' thy wit were no better than thy courage, thou hadst never had
enough to play the fool with.
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