Good Quince was an honest
fellow, but his wits were somewhat of the heavy sort, like unbaked
dough, so that the only thing that was in his mind was, "Three shillings
sixpence ha'penny for thy shoon, good Quince--three shillings sixpence
ha'penny for thy shoon," and this traveled round and round inside of his
head, without another thought getting into his noddle, as a pea rolls
round and round inside an empty quart pot.
"Halloa, good friend," quoth Robin, from beneath the hedge, when the
other had gotten nigh enough, "whither away so merrily this bright day?"
Hearing himself so called upon, the Cobbler stopped, and, seeing a well-
clad stranger in blue, he spoke to him in seemly wise. "Give ye good
den, fair sir, and I would say that I come from Kirk Langly, where I ha'
sold my shoon and got three shillings sixpence ha'penny for them in as
sweet money as ever thou sawest, and honestly earned too, I would ha'
thee know. But an I may be so bold, thou pretty fellow, what dost thou
there beneath the hedge?"
"Marry," quoth merry Robin, "I sit beneath the hedge here to drop salt
on the tails of golden birds; but in sooth thou art the first chick of
any worth I ha' seen this blessed day.
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