Will You Love Me in September

There came seven Gypsies on a day Oh, but they sang bonny O And they sang so sweet and they sang so clear Down came the Earl's lady O They gave to her the nutmeg They gave to her the ginger But she gave to them a far better thing The seven gold rings off her fingers. "You'll awaken the countryside," said Carl.

"They should be about at this hour," retorted Lance. "It's such a pathetic story.

Do you know the rest of it, Clarissa?”

"Yes, I replied. "The Earl's lady went off with the Gypsies." "So you do know the story." He went on singing: Last night I lay on a good featherbed And my own wedded lord beside me And tonight I'll lie in the ash corner With the Gypsies all around me.

"The castle lost for the love of the Gypsies. What do you think of the Earl's lady?

Was she a wise woman or a foolish one?”

"Foolish," I replied promptly. "She would soon get tired of the ash corner and the Gypsies all around her. She'll be wanting her high-heeled Spanish shoes before long, you can be sure.”

"What a practical girl you are! I thought you would have more romantic ideas. Most girls have.”

"I am not most girls. I am myself.”

"Ah, we have an individualist here.”

"I think the lady was not only foolish but unkind." I sang the last verse of the song.

The Earl of Casham is lying sick Not one hair I'm sorry I'd rather have a kiss from his fair lady's lips Than all his gold and money.

"And you find such sentiments foolish?" asked Lance.

"Extremely so.”

So we chattered rather frivolously until we stopped at an inn for refreshment and to rest the horses. But after a short stay there we were on our way again. We passed through villages and towns and I noticed that Carl was watchful, as though he were looking out for something. I knew, of course, that they were going to York for some secret purpose and I was glad, for to travel in their company-and particularly that of Lance-was exhilarating.

Through the golden afternoon we rode on, and at dusk came to an inn which they had previously decided should be the one where we spent the night.

Rooms were prepared for us, and we had a grand meal of fish with a delicious sauce, followed by roast mutton and a kind of syllabub which was a specialty of the innkeeper's wife. I was given cider and the men sat back sipping their port. While we were at the table a man came into the dining room. I don't know why I noticed him. He was dressed in a dark-brown frieze coat with black buttons, brown shoes and black stockings.

On his formally curled peruke was a three-cornered hat, which he took off when he came into the inn parlor.

He sat close by, and I had the impression that he was interested ln us. It might have been that Lance Clavering's elegance would arouse interest wherever he went.

Uncle Carl certainly looked less impressive without his uniform. As for myself, I was only a very young girl, and I had a feeling that it was the men who were arousing the stranger's interest. He sat quietly in a corner and after a while I forgot him.

I was tired out with the day's riding. The fresh air had made me sleepy, and as soon as I was shown to my room I went to bed and slept deeply. I was amazed that morning came so swiftly when I was aroused by the stirring of the inn folk. I got up and looked out of my window. I saw Lance down there. He looked up and saw me.

"Did you sleep well, beauteous maid?" he asked.

"The sleep of exhaustion," I told him.

"What tired you so? Not my company, I hope.”

"No, that was enlivening. I went to sleep thinking about the Earl's lady.”

"That foolish one! There's no need to hurry this morning. We shall be late leaving.

One of the horses has cast a shoe. They'll be taking her along to the smith.”

"Oh ... when did this happen?”

"I've just discovered it. We shall be leaving at eleven. That will give us a chance to go to the fair.”

"The fair? What fair?”

"With your entertainment in mind, I have been acquainting myself with the lie of the land. It seems that in the village of Langthorn ... or is it Longhorn? I am not sure ... in any case, the fair comes to the village twice a year, and it so happens that this day is one of its biannual visits. Fortuitous, you may say, and so it is.

The powers that be are determined that this shall be an interesting journey for all concerned.”

"What does my great-uncle say?”

"He is resigned. He has some business to do here in any case. So he said to me, 'Will you look after my little niece for an hour or so, Clavering?' I replied, 'Indeed I will, sir. Nothing would give me greater pleasure, sir. If you have no objection, your little niece and I will visit the fair.' He gave his willing consent to this excursion.”

"Are you always so exuberant and talkative?”

"Only when I have an appreciative audience.”

"You find me appreciative?”

"I find you everything I would wish you to be at the precise moment I would wish it. Now that, my dear Clarissa, is the definition of an attractive woman.”

"I suspect that you do not mean all the flattering things you say.”