He spoke earnestly and simply about court matters, and broke down, more than once, when speaking of the late King 'his father'; but whenever the conversation changed to baser topics, he lost interest and became silent.
The woman was mightily puzzled; but she did not give up.

As she proceeded with her cooking, she set herself to contriving devices to surprise the boy into betraying his real secret.

She talked about cattle--he showed no concern; then about sheep--the same result: so her guess that he had been a shepherd boy was an error; she talked about mills; and about weavers, tinkers, smiths, trades and tradesmen of all sorts; and about Bedlam, and jails, and charitable retreats: but no matter, she was baffled at all points.

Not altogether, either; for she argued that she had narrowed the thing down to domestic service.

Yes, she was sure she was on the right track, now; he must have been a house servant.