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 circle； sit down on the west side of that
little thicket of bushes； and take heed you look neither to right
nor to left for ten minutes； or so long as you shall hear the
hammer clink； and whenever it ceases； say your prayers for the
space you could tell a hundredor count over a hundred； which
will do as welland then come into the circle； you will find
your money gone and your horse shod。〃
〃My money gone to a certainty！〃 said Tressilian； 〃but as for the
restHark ye； my lad； I am not your school…master； but if you
play off your waggery on me； I will take a part of his task off
his hands； and punish you to purpose。〃
〃Ay； when you catch me！〃 said the boy； and presently took to his
heels across the heath； with a velocity which baffled every
attempt of Tressilian to overtake him； loaded as he was with his
heavy boots。 Nor was it the least provoking part of the urchin's
conduct； that he did not exert his utmost speed； like one who
finds himself in danger； or who is frightened； but preserved just
such a rate as to encourage Tressilian to continue the chase； and
then darted away from him with the swiftness of the wind； when
his pursuer supposed he had nearly run him down； doubling at the
same time； and winding； so as always to keep near the place from
which he started。
This lasted until Tressilian； from very weariness； stood still；
and was about to abandon the pursuit with a hearty curse on the
ill…favoured urchin； who had engaged him in an exercise so
ridiculous。 But the boy； who had； as formerly； planted himself
on the top of a hillock close in front； began to clap his long；
thin hands； point with his skinny fingers； and twist his wild and
ugly features into such an extravagant expression of laughter and
derision； that Tressilian began half to doubt whether he had not
in view an actual hobgoblin。
Provoked extremely； yet at the same time feeling an irresistible
desire to laugh； so very odd were the boy's grimaces and
gesticulations； the Cornishman returned to his horse； and mounted
him with the purpose of pursuing Dickie at more advantage。
The boy no sooner saw him mount his horse； than he holloed out to
him that； rather than he should spoil his white…footed nag； he
would come to him； on condition he would keep his fingers to
himself。
〃I will make no conditions with thee； thou ugly varlet！〃 said
Tressilian； 〃I will have thee at my mercy in a moment。〃
〃Aha； Master Traveller；〃 said the boy； 〃there is a marsh hard by
would swallow all the horses of the Queen's guard。 I will into
it； and see where you will go then。 You shall hear the bittern
bump； and the wild…drake quack； ere you get hold of me without my
consent； I promise you。〃
Tressilian looked out； and； from the appearance of the ground
behind the hillock； believed it might be as the boy said； and
accordingly determined to strike up a peace with so light…footed
and ready…witted an enemy。 〃Come down；〃 he said； 〃thou
mischievous brat！ Leave thy mopping and mowing； and； come
hither。
I will do thee no harm； as I am a gentleman。〃
The boy answered his invitation with the utmost confidence； and
danced down from his stance with a galliard sort of step； keeping
his eye at the same time fixed on Tressilian's； who； once more
dismounted； stood with his horse's bridle in his hand；
breathless； and half exhausted with his fruitless exercise；
though not one drop of moisture appeared on the freckled forehead
of the urchin； which looked like a piece of dry and discoloured
parchment； drawn tight across the brow of a fleshless skull。
〃And tell me；〃 said Tressilian； 〃why you use me thus； thou
mischievous imp？ or what your meaning is by telling me so absurd
a legend as you wished but now to put on me？ Or rather show me；
in good earnest； this smith's forge； and I will give thee what
will buy thee apples through the whole winter。〃
〃Were you to give me an orchard of apples；〃 said Dickie Sludge；
〃I can guide thee no better than I have done。 Lay down the
silver token on the flat stonewhistle three timesthen come