"'But first there goes the blear old dame
Who nurs'd me; you have heard her name,
No doubt, at Compton, Sarah Salways;
There are twelve groats at once, beside
The frying-pan in which she fried
Her pancakes.
Madam, I am always, etc.,
Sir THOMAS LUCY, Knight.'
"I did believe that such a clear and conscientious exposure of my
affairs would have brought me a like return. My letter was sent
back to me with small courtesy. It may be there was no paper in the
house, or none equalling mine in whiteness. No notice was taken of
the rent-roll; but between the second and third stanza these four
lines were written, in a very fine hand:-
"'Most honour'd knight, Sir Thomas! two
For merry Nan will never do;
Now under favour let me say 't,
She will bring more herself than that.'
I have reason to believe that the worthy lady did neither write nor
countenance the same, perhaps did not ever know of them. She always
had at her elbow one who jogged it when he listed, and although he
could not overrule the daughter, he took especial care that none
other should remove her from his tutelage, even when she had fairly
grown up to woman's estate.
"Now, after all this condescension and confidence, promise me, good
lad, promise that thou wilt not edge and elbow me.
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