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ned？
Love； cunning love； told him all at once。 This was the meaning of last night's canzonet！ This was why its words had seemed to fit his own heart so well！ His brother was his rival。 And he had been telling him all his love last night。 What a stupid brute he was！ How it must have made poor Frank wince！ And then Frank had listened so kindly； even bid him God speed in his suit。 What a gentleman old Frank was； to be sure！ No wonder the queen was so fond of him； and all the Court ladies！Why； if it came to that； what wonder if Rose Salterne should be fond of him too？ Hey…day！ 〃That would be a pretty fish to find in my net when I come to haul it！〃 quoth Amyas to himself； as he paced the garden； and clutching desperately hold of his locks with both hands； as if to hold his poor confused head on its shoulders； he strode and tramped up and down the shell…paved garden walks for a full half hour； till Frank's voice （as cheerful as ever； though he more than suspected all） called him。
〃Come in to breakfast； lad； and stop grinding and creaking upon those miserable limpets； before thou hast set every tooth in my head on edge！〃
Amyas； whether by dint of holding his head straight； or by higher means； had got the thoughts of the said head straight enough by this time； and in he came； and fell to upon the broiled fish and strong ale； with a sort of fury； as determined to do his duty to the utmost in all matters that day； and therefore； of course； in that most important matter of bodily sustenance； while his mother and Frank looked at him； not without anxiety and even terror； doubting what turn his fancy might have taken in so new a case； at last
〃My dear Amyas； you will really heat your blood with all that strong ale！ Remember； those who drink beer； think beer。〃
〃Then they think right good thoughts； mother。 And in the meanwhile； those who drink water； think water。 Eh； old Frank？ and here's your health。〃
〃And clouds are water；〃 said his mother； somewhat reassured by his genuine good humor； 〃and so are rainbows； and clouds are angels' thrones； and rainbows the sign of God's peace on earth。〃
Amyas understood the hint； and laughed。 〃Then I'll pledge Frank out of the next ditch； if it please you and him。 But firstI say he must hearken to a parable； a manner mystery； miracle play； I have got in my head； like what they have at Easter； to the town… hall。 Now then； hearken； madam； and I and Frank will act。〃 And up rose Amyas； and shoved back his chair； and put on a solemn face。
Mrs。 Leigh looked up； trembling； and Frank； he scarce knew why； rose。
〃No； you pitch again。 You are King David； and sit still upon your throne。 David was a great singer； you know； and a player on the viols； and ruddy； too； and of a fair countenance； so that will fit。 Now； then； mother； don't look so frightened。 I am not going to play Goliath； for all my cubits； I am to present Nathan the prophet。 Now； David； hearken； for I have a message unto thee； O King！
〃There were two men in one city； one rich； and the other poor： and the rich man had many flocks and herds； and all the fine ladies in Whitehall to court if he liked； and the poor man had nothing but〃
And in spite of his broad honest smile； Amyas's deep voice began to tremble and choke。
Frank sprang up； and burst into tears： 〃Oh！ Amyas； my brother； my brother！ stop！ I cannot endure this。 Oh； God！ was it not enough to have entangled myself in this fatal fancy； but over and above； I must meet the shame of my brother's discovering it？〃
〃What shame； then； I'd like to know？〃 said Amyas； recovering himself。 〃Look here； brother Frank！ I've thought it all over in the garden； and I was an ass and a braggart for talking to you as I did last night。 Of course you love her！ Everybody must； and I was a fool for not recollecting that； and if you love her； your taste and mine agree； and what can be better？ I think you are a sensible fellow for loving her； and you think me one。 And as for who has her； why； you're the eldest； and first come first served is the rule； and best to keep to it。 Besides； brother Frank； though I'm no scholar； yet I'm not so blind but that I tell the difference between you and me； and of course your chance against mine； for a hundred to one； and I am not going to be fool enough to row against wind and tide too。 I'm good enough for her； I hope； but if I am； you are better； and the good dog may run； but it's the best that takes the hare； and so I have nothing more to do with the matter at all； and if you marry her； why； it will set the old house on its legs again； and that's the first thing to be thought of； and you may just as well do it as I； and better too。 Not but that it's a plague； a horrible plague！〃 went on Amyas； with a ludicrously doleful visage； 〃but so are other things too； by the dozen； it's all in the day's work； as the huntsman said when the lion ate him。 One would never get through the furze…croft if one stopped to pull out the prickles。 The pig didn't scramble out of the ditch by squeaking； and the less said the sooner mended； nobody was sent into the world only to suck honey…pots。 What must be must； man is but dust； if you can't get crumb； you must fain eat crust。 So I'll go and join the army in Ireland； and get it out of my head； for cannon balls fright away love as well as poverty does； and that's all I've got to say。〃 Wherewith Amyas sat down； and returned to the beer； while Mrs。 Leigh wept tears of joy。
〃Amyas！ Amyas！〃 said Frank； 〃you must not throw away the hopes of years； and for me； too！ Oh； how just was your parable！ Ah！ mother mine！ to what use is all my scholarship and my philosophy； when this dear simple sailor…lad outdoes me at the first trial of courtesy！〃
〃My children； my children； which of you shall I love best？ Which of you is the more noble？ I thanked God this morning for having given me one such son； but to have found that I possess two！〃 And Mrs。 Leigh laid her head on the table； and buried her face in her hands； while the generous battle went on。
〃But； dearest Amyas！〃
〃But； Frank！ if you don't hold your tongue； I must go forth。 It was quite trouble enough to make up one's mind； without having you afterwards trying to unmake it again。〃
〃Amyas！ if you give her up to me； God do so to me； and more also； if I do not hereby give her up to you！〃
〃He had done it alreadythis morning！〃 said Mrs。 Leigh； looking up through her tears。 〃He renounced her forever on his knees before me！ only he is too noble to tell you so。〃
〃The more reason I should copy him；〃 said Amyas； setting his lips； and trying to look desperately determined； and then suddenly jumping up； he leaped upon Frank； and throwing his arms round his neck； sobbed out； 〃There； there； now！ For God's sake； let us forget all； and think about our mother； and the old house； and how we may win her honor before we die！ and that will be enough to keep our hands full； without fretting about this woman and that。What an ass I have been for years！ instead of learning my calling； dreaming about her； and don't know at this minute whether she cares more for me than she does for her father's 'prentices！〃
〃Oh； Amyas！ every word of yours puts me to fresh