Hendon was puzzled, and said-- "What's amiss ?" "Good sir, I would wash me." "Oh, is that all?
Ask no permission of Miles Hendon for aught thou cravest.

Make thyself perfectly free here, and welcome, with all that are his belongings." Still the boy stood, and moved not; more, he tapped the floor once or twice with his small impatient foot.

Hendon was wholly perplexed.

Said he-- "Bless us, what is it ?" "Prithee pour the water, and make not so many words!" Hendon, suppressing a horse-laugh, and saying to himself, "By all the saints, but this is admirable!" stepped briskly forward and did the small insolent's bidding; then stood by, in a sort of stupefaction, until the command, "Come--the towel!" woke him sharply up.

He took up a towel, from under the boy's nose, and handed it to him without comment.