Young Hamor strode by, bravely dressed and whistling
cheerily, and doffed a hat with a most noble broken feather. "We're
going to bait a bear below the fort!" he called. "Sorry you'll miss
the sport! There will be all the world - and my Lord Carnal." He
whistled himself away, and presently there came along Master
Edward Sharpless. He stopped and stared at the rogue in the
pillory, - with no prescience, I suppose, of a day when he was to
stand there himself; then looked up at me with as much
malevolence as his small soul could write upon his mean features,
and passed on. He had a jaded look; moreover, his clothes were
swamp-stained and his cloak had been torn by briers. "What did
you go to the forest for?" I muttered.
The key grated in the door behind me, and it opened to admit the
gaoler and Diccon with my dinner, - which I was not sorry to see.
"Sir George sent the venison, sir," said the gaoler, grinning, "and
Master Piersey the wild fowl, and Madam West the pasty and the
marchpane, and Master Pory the sack. Be there anything you lack,
sir?"
"Nothing that you can supply," I answered curtly.
The fellow grinned again, straightened the things upon the table,
and started for the door. "You can stay until I come for the
platters," he said to Diccon, and went out, locking the door after
him with ostentation.
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