John as he kissed her forehead. ''ave you seen Peter?'
'Yes, luv, 'e is in the kitchen eating. 'e is soch a fine yung man,' stated John's mother with a smile. 'We 'ave 'ad a nice visit together. Will you be showing 'im around Stamford todee?'
'Aye,' said John as he turned and headed for the kitchen, followed by the hound.
'Oy,' greeted Peter as John entered the large kitchen. The cook had just placed a plate of sausage and eggs in front of Peter.
'Will you 'ave sume breakfast sir,' asked the cook.
'Aye,' nodded John, then to Peter 'I 'ear that you 'ave met me mum.'
Just then John's mother entered the kitchen also.
'Aye, we 'ad a gud visit while you were yet asleep.'
John's mother then started to share with John the latest news of Stamford. The priest at the All Saints' church was hoping to have a steeple added to the church next year. John's father was considering financing its construction. The priest was getting old and had forgotten a part of the liturgy a few weeks earlier. The sheriff had captured the suspect in a killing from last year and the price of wool was climbing again.
''ave you 'eard 'ow Richard Easton is?' asked John.
'O, aye,' said his mother with a smile. 'I 'ave 'eard that 'e is sweet on a girl from Burghley.'
'Burghley?' questioned John. 'Where is Burghley?'
'Burghley is a lit'le 'amlet on the road to Barnack.'
'ave I been there?' asked John
'Nay, I do nay believe that you 'ave,' said his mother. 'There is nay much there. O, and Bromley 'as married a girl named Margaret and moved 'er into the sod cot'age near the creek east of their village. Did you know a Margaret from Easton-on-the-'ill?'
'Nay, I do nay know Margaret. Well, per'aps I do,' replied John seeming to stare into the distance as he traced his memory. His childhood in this place was starting to seem a faint memory already. He wondered how it was possible that things that seemed so important and a time that seemed would last forever were starting to fade. He thought that the cause must be all of the new places and people that he was becoming acquainted with.
John's father entered the kitchen through the outside door and greeted John and Peter. He had been out before Peter was up and this was the first that he had met him. He asked Peter about his family and his studies and then started to tell John and Peter of his plans for them for the fortnight. Today he wanted to show them the farm, take them to the wool market and to All Saints' to visit with the priest about a steeple. Later in the week there would be time for a fox hunt.
After breakfast, they left to toured the farm and to go into Stamford. John was amazed at all of the things about the farm that he had not noticed before. The buildings for storing hay didn't seem as big as they had before. He had never noticed so many sheep grazing. The shearing of the sheep would begin soon and there were a few traveling shearing groups that were starting to gather in Stamford in preparation. When they reached the wool market there was considerable activity as prices were beginning to be negotiated. John found it all very exciting.
As the three left the Sheep Market on their way to the All Saints' church they passed the Glazier shoppe. John told his father and Peter that he would catch up with them at the church and he lagged behind at the shoppe. He approached the doorway and hesitated a moment for his eyes to acclimate to the lower amount of light. Inside he saw that there were several individuals working intently at tables. The tables were high enough that the workers stood beside them as they worked on the glass lying on the tables. The interior of the shoppe was quite warm from the fire that was used to heat the tools. John knew that the activity of the shoppe was very busy, making it imprudent for him to interrupt. John didn't see anyone that he thought looked like Richard anyway. John left the shoppe and joined his father and Peter at the church.
Richard came in from the back of the shoppe where he had been unloading a new shipment of glass. 'Richard,' said the Master Glazier, 'after you get that glass unloaded, 'elp the new apprentice with the cuts for the upper