And Lizzie and Annie were doing their best--for now we had let the girls out--to wake more lightsome uproar; also young Faith Snowe was toward to keep the old men's cups aflow, and hansel them to their liking.
So at the close of our entertainment, when the girls were gone away to fetch and light their lanthorns (over which they made rare noise, blowing each the other's out for counting of the sparks to come), Master Huckaback stood up, without much aid from the crock-saw, and looked at mother and all of us.
'Let no one leave this place,' said he, 'until I have said what I want to say; for saving of ill-will among us; and growth of cheer and comfort.

May be I have carried things too far, even to the bounds of churlishness, and beyond the bounds of good manners.

I will not unsay one word I have said, having never yet done so in my life; but I would alter the manner of it, and set it forth in this light.

If you folks upon Exmoor here are loath and wary at fighting, yet you are brave at better stuff; the best and kindest I ever knew, in the matter of feeding.' Here he sat down with tears in his eyes, and called for a little mulled bastard.

All the maids, who were now come back, raced to get it for him, but Annie of course was foremost.