But for thy charm, good mistress Rees, what is it--tell me ?' She took a step inside the door, sent her small eyes peering first into every corner her sight could reach, and then said: 'Are we alone--we two, master Richard ?' 'There's a cat in the next stall, mistress: if she can hear, she can't speak.' 'Don't be too sure of that, master Richard.

Be there no one else ?' 'Not a body; soul there may be--who knows ?' 'I know there is none.

I will tell thee my charm, or what else I may that thou would wish to know; for he is a true gentleman who will help a woman because she is a woman, be she as old and ugly as Goody Rees herself.

Hearken, my pretty sir: it is the tooth of a corpse, drawn after he hath lain a se'en-night in the mould: wilt buy, my master?
Or did not I see thee now asking comfort from thy horse for the--' She paused a moment, peered narrowly at him from under lowered eyebrows, and went on: '-- heartache, eh, master Richard?
Old eyes can see through velvet doublets.' 'All the world knows yours can see farther than other people's,' returned Richard.

'Heaven knows whence they have their sharpness.