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this man's forge。〃
The boy gave him a knowing side…look； which seemed to promise
acquiescence； while at the same time he exclaimed； 〃I be your
guide to Wayland Smith's！ Why； man； did I not say that the devil
might fly off with me； just as the kite there〃 （looking to the
window） 〃is flying off with one of grandam's chicks？〃
〃The kite！ the kite！〃 exclaimed the old woman in return； and
forgetting all other matters in her alarm； hastened to the rescue
of her chickens as fast as her old legs could carry her。
〃Now for it；〃 said the urchin to Tressilian； 〃snatch your beaver；
get out your horse； and have at the silver groat you spoke of。〃
〃Nay； but tarry； tarry；〃 said the preceptor〃SUFFLAMINA；
RICARDE！〃
〃Tarry yourself；〃 said Dickie； 〃and think what answer you are to
make to granny for sending me post to the devil。〃
The teacher； aware of the responsibility he was incurring；
bustled up in great haste to lay hold of the urchin and to
prevent his departure； but Dickie slipped through his fingers；
bolted from the cottage； and sped him to the top of a
neighbouring rising ground； while the preceptor； despairing； by
well…taught experience； of recovering his pupil by speed of foot；
had recourse to the most honied epithets the Latin vocabulary
affords to persuade his return。 But to MI ANIME； CORCULUM MEUM；
and all such classical endearments； the truant turned a deaf ear；
and kept frisking on the top of the rising ground like a goblin
by moonlight； making signs to his new acquaintance； Tressilian；
to follow him。
The traveller lost no time in getting out his horse and departing
to join his elvish guide； after half…forcing on the poor；
deserted teacher a recompense for the entertainment he had
received； which partly allayed that terror he had for facing the
return of the old lady of the mansion。 Apparently this took
place soon afterwards； for ere Tressilian and his guide had
proceeded far on their journey； they heard the screams of a
cracked female voice； intermingled with the classical
objurgations of Master Erasmus Holiday。 But Dickie Sludge；
equally deaf to the voice of maternal tenderness and of
magisterial authority； skipped on unconsciously before
Tressilian； only observing that 〃if they cried themselves hoarse；
they might go lick the honey…pot； for he had eaten up all the
honey…comb himself on yesterday even。〃
CHAPTER X。
There entering in； they found the goodman selfe
Full busylie unto his work ybent；
Who was to weet a wretched wearish elf；
With hollow eyes and rawbone cheeks forspent；
As if he had been long in prison pent。 THE FAERY QUEENE。
〃Are we far from the dwelling of this smith； my pretty lad？〃
said Tressilian to his young guide。
〃How is it you call me？〃 said the boy； looking askew at him with
his sharp； grey eyes。
〃I call you my pretty ladis there any offence in that； my boy？〃
〃No； but were you with my grandam and Dominie Holiday； you might
sing chorus to the old song of
'We three
Tom…fools be。'〃
〃And why so； my little man？〃 said Tressilian。
〃Because；〃 answered the ugly urchin； 〃you are the only three ever
called me pretty lad。 Now my grandam does it because she is
parcel blind by age； and whole blind by kindred； and my master；
the poor Dominie； does it to curry favour； and have the fullest
platter of furmity and the warmest seat by the fire。 But what
you call me pretty lad for； you know best yourself。〃
〃Thou art a sharp wag at least； if not a pretty one。 But what do
thy playfellows call thee？〃
〃Hobgoblin；〃 answered the boy readily； 〃but for all that； I would
rather have my own ugly viznomy than any of their jolter…heads；
that have no more brains in them than a brick…bat。〃
〃Then you fear not this smith whom you are going to see？〃
〃Me fear him！〃 answered the boy。 〃If he were the devil folk
think him； I would not fear him； but though there is something
queer about him； he's no more a devil than you are； and that's
what I would not tell to every one。〃
〃And why do you tell it to me； then； my boy？〃 said Tressilian。
〃Because you are another guess gentleman than those we see here
every day；〃 replied Dickie； 〃and though I am as ugly as sin； I
would not have you think me an ass； especially as I may have a
boon to ask of you one day。〃
〃And what is that； my lad； whom I must not call pretty？〃 replied
Tressilian。
〃Oh； if I were to ask it just now；〃 said the boy； 〃you would deny
it me； but I will wait till we meet at court。〃
〃At court； Richard！ are you bound for court？〃 said Tressilian。
〃Ay； ay； that's just like the rest of them；〃 replied the boy。 〃I
warrant me； you think； what should such an ill…favoured；
scrambling urchin do at court？ But let Richard Sludge alone； I
have not been cock of the roost here for nothing。 I will make
sharp wit mend foul feature。〃
〃But what will your grandam say； and your tutor； Dominie
Holiday？〃
〃E'en what they like；〃 replied Dickie； 〃the one has her chickens
to reckon； and the other has his boys to whip。 I would have
given them the candle to hold long since； and shown this trumpery
hamlet a fair pair of heels； but that Dominie promises I should
go with him to bear share in the next pageant he is to set forth；
and they say there are to be great revels shortly。〃
〃And whereabouts are they to be held； my little friend？〃 said
Tressilian。
〃Oh； at some castle far in the north；〃 answered his guide〃a
world's breadth from Berkshire。 But our old Dominie holds that
they cannot go forward without him； and it may be he is right；
for he has put in order many a fair pageant。 He is not half the
fool you would take him for； when he gets to work he understands；
and so he can spout verses like a play…actor； when； God wot； if
you set him to steal a goose's egg； he would be drubbed by the
gander。〃
〃And you are to play a part in his next show？〃 said Tressilian；
somewhat interested by the boy's boldness of conversation and
shrewd estimate of character。
〃In faith；〃 said Richard Sludge； in answer； 〃he hath so promised
me； and if he break his word； it will be the worse for him； for
let me take the bit between my teeth； and turn my head downhill；
and I will shake him off with a fall that may harm his bones。
And I should not like much to hurt him neither；〃 said he； 〃for
the tiresome old fool has painfully laboured to teach me all he
could。 But enough of thathere are we at Wayland Smith's forge…
door。〃
〃You jest； my little friend；〃 said Tressilian； 〃here is nothing
but a bare moor； and that ring of stones； with a great one in the
midst； like a Cornish barrow。〃
〃Ay； and that great flat stone in the midst； which lies across
the top of these uprights；〃 said the boy； 〃is Wayland Smith's
counter； that you must tell down your money upon。〃
〃What do you mean by such folly？〃 said the traveller； beginning
to be angry with the boy； and vexed with himself for having
trusted such a hare…brained guide。
〃Why；〃 said Dickie； with a grin； 〃you must tie your horse to that
upright stone that has the ring in't； and then you must whistle
three times； and lay me down your silver groat on that other flat
stone； walk out of the ci