human
Do you know, mistress, what I found at the gate this morning?
gpt
I could not guess, Pansy.
human
Why, a stirrup-iron. Horseshoes are lucky enough, but a stirrup-iron——
gpt
There’s a knight riding somewhere for me, Pansy.
human
Knights are as knights do, said the other, with the Puritan tartness ingrained in her.
gpt
For my part, I’ll hope he’s better than most men. It’s not asking much.
human
In the doldrums, girl? I shall have to train you. It’s easier to laugh, than cry—that’s the true Royalist faith.
gpt
It’s easy to laugh, with all the road in front of you, and a riding knight ahead. I’ve no man to think of, and that leaves a woman lonesome-like.
human
It is not for want of suitors, said Joan, humouring her maid as good mistresses do.
gpt
You had your choice of the dalesmen, Pansy.
human
Ay, but they’re rough. Her speech relapsed into the mother-tongue she had tried often to forget.
gpt
A lass that kens more doesn’t mate with the li’le bit less. She has her pride.