While Elizabeth Foulkes was passing through these experiences, the
Mounts, Rose Allen, and the children, had gone back to Much Bentley as
soon as morning broke. Rose took the little ones home to Thorpe, and
they met Johnson just at the door of his own cottage.
"Truly, friend, I am much beholden to you," said he to Rose, "for your
kindly care of my little ones. But, I pray you, is it true what I
heard, that Mistress Silverside is arrest for heresy?"
Rose looked up in horrified astonishment.
"Why, we left them right well," she said, "but five hours gone. I
brought the children o'er to you so soon as they had had their dinner.
Is it true, think you?"
"Nay, that would I fain know of you, that were in town twelve hours
later than I," answered Johnson.
"Then, in very deed, we heard nought," said Rose. "I do trust it shall
prove but an ill rumour."
"May it be so! yet I cannot but fear it be true. Robin Purcas came to
me last night, and I could not but think he should have told me somewhat
an' he might: but he found Father Tye in mine house, and might not
speak. They both tarried so long," added Johnson, with a laugh, "that I
was fain to marvel if each were essaying to outsit the other; but if so,
Father Tye won, for Love of the Heath came for Robin and took him away
ere the priest were wearied out. If any straitness do arise against the
Gospellers, Love had best look out."
"Ay, they know him too well to leave him slip through their fingers
again," replied Rose.
"That do they, verily. Well, dear hearts, and have ye been good
children?"
"We've tried," said Cissy.
"They've been as good as could be," answered Rose.
"Father, did anybody come and see to you? I asked the Lord to see to
it, because I knew you'd miss me sore," said Cissy anxiously, "and I
want to know if He did."
"Ay, my dear heart," replied Johnson, smiling as he looked down on her.
"Ursula Felstede came in and dressed dinner for me, and Margaret
Thurston looked in after, and she washed some matters and did a bit of
mending; and at after I had company--Father Tye, and Robin Purcas, and
Jack Love. So thou seest I was not right lonesome."
"He took good care of you. Father," said Cissy, looking happy. It was
evident that Cissy lived for and in her father. Whatever he was, for
good or evil, that she was likewise.
"Well, I've got to look in on Margaret Thurston," said Rose, "for I did
a bit of marketing for her this morrow in the town, and I have a fardel
to leave. She was not at home when we passed, coming. But now, I think
I'd better be on my way, so I'll wish you good den, Johnson. God bless
you, little ones!"
"Good den, Rose!" said Cissy. "And you'll learn me to weave lace with
those pretty bobbins?"
"That will I, with a very good will, sweet heart," said Rose, stooping
to kiss Cissy.
"Weave lace!" commented her father. "What, what is the child thinking,
that she would fain learn to weave lace?"
"Oh, Father, please, you won't say nay!" pleaded Cissy, embracing her
father's arm with both her own. "I want to bring you in some money."
Cissy spoke with a most important air. "You know, of an even, I alway
have a bit of time, after Will and Baby be abed, and at times too in the
day, when Will's out with George Felstede, and I'm minding Baby; I can
rock her with my feet while I make lace with my hands. And you know,
Father, Will and Baby 'll be growing big by and bye, and you won't have
enough for us all without we do something. And Rose says she'll learn
me how, and that if I have a lace pillow--and it won't cost very much,
Father!--I can alway take it up for a few minutes by nows and thens,
when I have a bit of time, and then, don't you see, Father? I can make
a little money for you. Please, _please_ don't say I mustn't!" cried
Cissy, growing quite talkative in her eagerness.
Johnson and Rose looked at each other, and Rose laughed; but though
Cissy's father smiled too, he soon grew grave, and laid his hand on his
little girl's head, as she stood looking up earnestly.
"Nay, my little maid, I'll never say nought of the sort. If Rose here
will be so good as to learn thee aught that is good, whether for body or
soul, I will be truly thankful to her, and bid thee do the like and be
diligent to learn. Good little maid! God bless thee!"
Then, as Cissy trotted into the cottage, well pleased, Johnson added,
"Bless the little maid's heart! she grows more like her mother in Heaven
every day. I'll never stay the little fingers from doing what they can.
It'll not bring much in, I reckon, but it'll be a pleasure to the
child, and good for her to be ever busy at something, that she mayn't
fall into idle ways. Think you not so, Rose?"
"Indeed, and it so will, Johnson," answered Rose; "not that I think
Cissy and idle ways 'll ever have much to do one with the other. She's
not one of that sort. But I shouldn't wonder if lace-weaving brings in
more than you think. I've made a pretty penny of it, and I wasn't so
young as Cissy when I learned the work, and it's like everything else--
them that begin young have the best chance to make good workers. She'll
be a rare comfort to you, Cissy, if she goes on as she's begun."
Johnson did not reply for a moment. When he did, it was to say, "Well,
God keep us all! I'm right thankful to you, Rose, for all your goodness
to my little maid. Good den!"
When she had returned the "good evening," Rose set off home, and walked
rather fast till she came to Margaret Thurston's cottage. After the
little business was transacted between her and Margaret, Rose inquired
if they had heard of Mistress Silverside's arrest. Both Margaret and
her husband seemed thunderstruck.
"Nay, we know nought thereof," answered Thurston, "Pray God it be not
true! There'll be more an' it so be."
"I fear so much," said Rose.
She did not tell her mother, for Alice had not been well lately, and
Rose wished to spare her an apprehension which might turn out to be
quite unfounded, or at least exaggerated. But she told her step-father,
and old Mount looked very grave.
"God grant it be not so!" said he. "But if it be, Rose, thou wist they
have our names in their black list of heretics."
"Ay, Father, I know they have."
"God keep us all!" said William Mount, looking earnestly into the fire.
And Rose knew that while he might intend to include being kept safe, yet
he meant, far more than that, being kept true.
When John Love called at Johnson's cottage to fetch Robert Purcas, the
two walked about a hundred yards on the way to Bentley without either
speaking a word. Then Robert suddenly stopped. "Look you, Love! what
would you with me? I cannot go far from Thorpe to-night. I was sent
with a message to Johnson, and I have not found a chance to deliver it
yet."
"Must it be to-night? and what chance look you for?"
"Ay, it must!" answered Robert earnestly. "What I look for is yon black
snake coming out of his hole, and then slip I in and deliver my
message."
Love nodded. He knew well enough who the black snake was. "Then maybe
you came with the like word I did. Was it to warn Johnson to 'scape ere
the Bailiff should be on him?"
"Ay, it was. And you?"
"I came to the same end, but not alone for Johnson. Robin, thou hadst
best see to thyself. Dost know thou art on the black list."
"I've looked for that, this many a day. But so art thou, Love; and thou
hast a wife to care for, and I've none."
"I'm in danger anyway, Rob, but there's a chance for thee. Think of thy
old father, and haste thee, lad."
Robert shook his head. "I promised to warn Johnson," he said; "and I
gave my word for it to one that I love right dearly. I'll not break my
word. No, Love; I tarry here till I've seen him. The Lord must have a
care of my old father if they take me."
Love found it impossible to move Robert from his resolution. He bade
him good-night and turned away.