“And is your aunt with you today?” asked Tom.

“She brought me hither after we had attended service at St. Paul’s, which I love to do.  But now she has gone to visit some gossip of her own.  Father and I will have the afternoon together and alone, and this we love best of all.  He always gives holiday to apprentice and shopman, so that we can have the house to ourselves, and enjoy ourselves after our own fashion.”

“I trust I shall not mar your happiness if I ask to share your noontide meal,” said Tom humbly.

“Oh no, sir, we shall be proud of your company,” answered the girl; “if you are not too fine a gentleman to sit at board with humble citizens.

“Ah, there is my father’s step!  Doubtless he comes to say that dinner is ready.  He will not let me soil my fingers with cooking when I come; but I can cook right well for all that—­” and there she stopped short, for Cale was already entering, and he gave quite a start as his glance fell upon the resplendent figure standing beside his daughter, though his face cleared and put on a slightly quizzical look as he recognized who the young spark was.

“Ho! ho! my young friend, so I see you back at last!  It is plain that you have been with mighty fine company since you left my humble roof.  I almost marvel that Curley Cale’s lodging is accounted fine enough to hold your worshipful self longer!”

Tom suddenly felt a qualm of shame and disgust at his finery.  It was all very well for men like Lord Claud, but he felt that it made him ridiculous to be tricked out like a peacock, in lieu of wearing the more sober and becoming raiment chosen for him with such care by Master Cale himself.  His cheek glowed as he made reply: 

“It is but a suit that was given me to appear at the house of some fine lady last evening.  I would gladly be rid of it now, and, with your leave, will don more sober raiment.  I love not to be pranked out like this; but what would you, when all the world does the like?”

Cale smiled his shrewd little smile, the maiden’s eyes expressed open admiration for the costly frippery, but Tom hastened away and chose for himself one of the seemly but well-cut and fashionable suits that had been left for him since he quitted the house a few days before; and when he descended to join the party of two at the board, as he had been invited, he felt much more like himself, and looked much more suited to his surroundings, than he had done when he first appeared there.

Father and daughter received him kindly, and Rosamund’s eyes were full of eagerness as she turned them upon him.  He had learned by this time that her name was Rosamund, though her father generally called her Rosy.

“I pray you, fair sir,” she said, with a pretty imperiousness of manner, “tell us some of the things that you have seen and heard these last days.  My father says you have been keeping fine company, and I would learn what that is like; for I am but a humble citizen’s daughter, and I live my life away in the country, so all I know of the gay doings in the town I must needs hear from my father, who tells me as little as ever he can!”