"Well, _Milly_," saith he, "the shutters are up at _Mere Lea_."
"Ay, we know it, Doctor," said I, sadly.
"Poor maid!" saith he. "A life flung away! And it might have been so
different!"
I said nought, for the tears burned under mine eyelids, and there was a
lump in my throat that let me from speech.
"I would thou wouldst say, _Milly_," goeth on Dr _Bell_, "to my Lady
and Mistress _Joyce_, that daft _Madge_ (as methinks) shall not pass the
day, and she hath a rare fantasy to see Mistress _Joyce_ once more. See
if it may be compassed. Good morrow."
I went in forthwith and sought Aunt _Joyce_, which spake no word, but
went that instant moment and tied on her hood and cloak: and so did I
mine.
'Twas nigh ten o' the clock when we reached old _Madge's_ hut.
We found daft _Madge_ in her bed, and seemingly asleep. But old _Madge_
said 'twas rather a kind of heaviness, whence she would rouse if any
spake to her.
Aunt _Joyce_ leaned over her and kissed her brow.
"Eh, 'tis Mistress _Joyce_!" saith _Madge_, feebly, as she oped her
eyes. "That's good. He's let me have _all_ I wanted."
"Art comfortable, _Madge_?"
"Close to th' gate. I'm lookin' to see 't open and _Mother_ come out.
Willn't she be pleased?"
Aunt _Joyce_ wiped her eyes, but said nought.
"Say yon again, Mistress _Joyce_," saith _Madge_.
"What, my dear heart?"
"Why, _you_," saith _Madge_. "Over seeing th' King. Dinna ye ken?"
"Eh, Mistress _Joyce_, but ye ha' set her up some wi' that," saith old
_Madge_. "She's talked o' nought else sin', scarce."
Aunt _Joyce_ said it once more. "`Thine eyes shall see the King in His
beauty: they shall behold the Land that is very far off.'"
"'Tis none so fur off now," quoth _Madge_. "I've getten a many miles
nearer sin' you were hither."
"I think thou hast, _Madge_," saith Aunt _Joyce_.
"Ay. An' 'tis a good place," saith she. "'Tis a good place here, where
ye can just lie and watch th' gate. They'll come out, they bonnie folk,
and fetch me in anon: and _Mother's_ safe sure to be one."
"Ah, _Madge_! Thou wist whither thou goest," saith Aunt _Joyce_.
"Why, for sure!" saith she. "He's none like to send me nowhere else but
where He is. Dun ye think I'd die for somebody I didn't want?"
She saith not much else, but seemed as though she sank back into that
heavy way she had afore. But at last, when we were about to depart, she
roused up again a moment.
"God be wi' ye both," said she. "I'm going th' longer journey, but
there's t' better home at t' end. May-be I shall come to th' gate to
meet you. Mind you dunnot miss, Mistress _Milly_. Mistress _Joyce_,
she's safe."
"I will try not to miss, _Madge_," I answered through my tears, "God
helping me."
"He'll help ye if ye want helpin'," saith Madge.
"Only He'll none carry you if ye willn't come. Dunna throw away good
gold for dead leaves Mistress _Milly_. God be wi' ye!"