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There came a day when in the hunting-field there passed from mouth
to mouth a rumour, and Sir Jeoffry, hearing it, came pounding over
on his big black horse to his daughter and told it to her in great
spirits.
"He is a sly dog, John Oxon," he said, a broad grin on his rubicund
face. "This very week he comes to us, and he and I are cronies, yet
he has blabbed nothing of what is being buzzed about by all the
world."
"He has learned how to keep a closed mouth," said Mistress Clorinda,
without asking a question.
"But 'tis marriage he is so mum about, bless ye!" said Sir Jeoffry.
"And that is not a thing to be hid long. He is to be shortly
married, they say. My lady, his mother, has found him a great
fortune in a new beauty but just come to town. She hath great
estates in the West Indies, as well as a fine fortune in England--
and all the world is besieging her; but Jack hath come and bowed
sighing before her, and writ some verses, and borne her off from
them all."
"'Tis time," said Clorinda, "that he should marry some woman who can
pay his debts and keep him out of the spunging house, for to that he
will come if he does not play his cards with skill."
Sir Jeoffry looked at her askance and rubbed his red chin.
"I wish thou hadst liked him, Clo," he said, "and ye had both had
fortunes to match. I love the fellow, and ye would have made a
handsome pair."
Mistress Clorinda laughed, sitting straight in her saddle, her fine
eyes unblenching, though the sun struck them.
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