And he peered into my Face as he spake that Saying, to wit if I felt its Force.
"And now my Turn hath come to be trimmed," quod he, "so thou mayst thrum the Mandoline."
When I went back, there was a Man with a Burthen leaving the Shop; and my Master saith, "Follow this Porter to Master _Askew's_ in _Candlewickstrete_, and bring home my little Daughter, who hath been spending the Forenoon at her Godfather's." So I went with the Porter, and on reaching _Candlewickstrete_, which was not full of Tallow-chandlers' Shops, but of Drapers, he shewed me Master _Askew's_ House; and I entered and found him in Parley with a Man in a red Coat. Quod he, "Well, I suppose my Lord must have it, but I like not the Security;" and handed him over a heavy Bag that seemed full of Money. Said the Man in Red, stowing the Bag under his Coat, "You were best not offend my Lord, for I warrant the Loss of his Custom would make you the worse by a pretty Penny." "Tut!" cries the other, "we could better afford to lose the Court than the Court to lose the City." On which, they parted. "Who art thou, my Lad?" quod he. "I'm my Master's new 'Prentice," quod I, "come to fetch Mistress _Anne_." "Ah!" quod he, "then you're from Master _Hewet_, though you speak as if there were but one Master in the World.... _Anne!_ sweet _Anne_!"
And, at his Call, there runneth in a fair little Gentlewoman, about six Years of Age. Sure, never was seen so sweet a Child! Master _Askew_ caught her up in his Arms and gave her many Kisses, and told her she must return with me; whereon she came and placed her Hand in mine, in full Assurance of Faith. A Gentlewoman, not much turned of thirty, personable, and of the Complexion they call sanguine, followed her forth, with many Injunctions to tell her Father how good she had been, and giving her, at parting, a Piece of sweet Marchpane.
In the Strete, we were so beshoved about, that Mistress _Anne_ presently made Request of me to carry her. So I took her up and set her on my Shoulder, and bade her hold on by my Hair; which she was pleased to say was shorter than mine Ears, or even than mine Eyelashes. And, in seeking to admeasure them, she nearly toppled down; so then I said if she were going to be unruly, besides blinding me with the Crumbs of her Marchpane, I must set her in the Stokkes. To which she made Answer, "Then you must put both my Feet into one Hole; and even then I shall slip them out." Thus prettily she prattled all the Way, till I told her I thought my Hair was at least shorter than her Tongue. When we reached my Master's Door, I was passing it unawares, when she lugged at mine Hair and cried, "Stop, Boy, stop; you must set me down." I said, "Then you must give me a Kiss." She sayth, "Humph, I've no Objection;" which I thought very funny and very pretty in so young a little Gentlewoman.