human
Aubrey, hast thou of late seen thine acquaintance Mr Percy?
gpt
Not since his return out of the country, Madam.
human
Nor Mr Catesby?
gpt
Nay, save to meet him in the street, Madam.
human
My son, should it give thee great compunction [grief, annoyance] if I bade thee have no more ado with either of these gentlemen?
gpt
What mean you, Madam?
human
I mean not that if thou meet them in the street thou shalt not give them greeting; but no more to visit them in their lodgings. My boy, Mr Percy is a Popish recusant, and there is much fear of Mr Catesby likewise.
gpt
Not all recusants are bad men, I hope,
human
I hope likewise: but some are, as we know. And when innocent men be drawn in with bad men, 'tis often found that the bad slip forth unhurt, and leave the innocent to abide the hazard. Promise me, Aubrey, that thou wilt haunt [visit] these men's company no longer.
gpt
Truly, Madam, I know not what I should say to my friends. Bethink you also, I pray, that I am of age.
human
Of what age? demanded his Aunt Temperance in her usual style.
gpt
Not of the age of discretion, I being witness.
human
Of the age at which a man commonly takes care of himself,
gpt
I know that, Aunt Temperance,
human
And you may as well open your mouth and take your physic with a good grace. If not, there'll be another dose to follow.
gpt
What?
human
was the enigmatical answer.
gpt
Now then, answer Lady Lettice.
human
He has no mind to promise--that can I see,
gpt
He shall, afore he go,
human
Aunt Temperance, I am not a babe!
gpt
That you are, and in sore need of leading-strings.
human
Aubrey here? asked his mother, coming in.
gpt
Well now, I do think one of you might have told me. But you never think of me. Why, Aubrey, it must be six months since we saw you!
human
Four, Mother, under your pleasure.
gpt
I am sure 'tis six. Why come you no oftener?
human
I have my duties,
gpt
Closer than to thy mother, my boy?
human
Prithee harry not him, retorted Aunt Temperance.
gpt
Hast thou not heard, he hath his duties? To hold skeins of silk whilst my Lady winds them, maybe, and to ride the great horse, and play tennis and shuttlecock with his Lord, and to make up his mind to which of all his Lady's damsels he'll make love o' the lightest make.
human
Aubrey, I do hope you are ne'er thinking of marriage! said his mother's querulous voice.
gpt
Thou shouldst be put out of thine office, most like, and not a penny to keep her, and she saddled upon us that--
human
That'll kick and throw her, as like as not,
gpt
I ensure you, Mother, I have no expectations of the kind. 'Tis but Aunt Temperance that--that--
human
That sometimes hits the white, Sir, if she do now and then shoot aside o' the mark. Howbeit, hold thou there. And if thou want leave to carry on thine acquaintance with these gentlemen, bring them to see us. I'll lay mine head to an orange I see in ten minutes if they be true men or no.
gpt
What business have they?
human
Is there any woman amongst them?
gpt
I never saw one.
human
Not even at Mr Percy's house?
gpt
I went there but once, to ask for him. I have heard that he hath a wife, but she lives very privately, and teaches children. He dwelleth not with her, but hath his lodging at my Lord Northumberland's. I never saw her.
human
That's an ill hearing. 'Tis meet for men to come together by themselves for business: but to dwell in their own homes, and never a woman with them, wife, mother, sister, nor daughter,--that means mischief, lad. It means some business of an evil sort, that they don't want a woman to see through. If there had been one, I went about to say, take me with thee some even to visit her. I'd have known all about it under an hour, trust me.
gpt
You should have seen nought, Aunt.
human
Tell that to the cowcumbers. You see nought, very like.
gpt
Aubrey, promise me at least this: that for a month to come thou wilt not visit any of these gentlemen.
human
Very well, Madam; I am ready to promise that.
gpt
That's not much to promise,
human
It is enough,