Ha! ha!" I told him he was a fool; but the idea was firm stuck in his head, and more I could not get out of him.

No doubt but the presence of two sweet women in his house had sorely exercised the minister, but that was not enough to make him shut the door just now in my face and vouchsafe me not a word after my journey.
I wandered on towards the river, wondering what I was to do, when I came upon a sight which explained everything in a twinkling.

Down on the bank sat, side by side, Peter Stoupe and the boy Prosper, fishing amicably in the stream.

It needed no conjurer to say now who had come betwixt me and my master's family.

Peter, no doubt, had brought down a pretty story of me from London; and if, as I feared, my riot with the Company had made matters only worse for my master in the White Lion, it would be easy for my mistress to believe any evil that was told of me.
And as for Master Udal, Peter Stoupe was just the lad to pay dutiful heed to his exhortations, and so find admittance where I, a fool and reprobate, was not allowed.
I came on them so suddenly that I had not time to retire before they saw me.