146 MASTER SKYLARK

'T is the flood-tide of thy fortune, boy! Thou art to sing
before the school to-morrow, so that Master Nathaniel
Gyles may take thy range and worth. Now, truly, thou
wilt do thy very best?”

The bandy-legged man had brought water in a ewer,
and poured some in a basin for Nick to wash his hands.
There was a green ribbon in his ear, and the towel hung
across his arm. Nick wiped his hands in silence.

“Come,” said Master Carew, with an ugly sharpness in
his voice, “thou ‘It sing thy very best?”

“There ’s nothing else to do,” replied Nick, doggedly.