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diff --git a/37788.txt b/37788.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..775f5cc --- /dev/null +++ b/37788.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15695 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Judith Shakespeare, by William Black + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Judith Shakespeare + Her love affairs and other adventures + +Author: William Black + +Release Date: October 18, 2011 [EBook #37788] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JUDITH SHAKESPEARE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Eleni Christofaki and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + +Minor punctuation errors have been silently corrected. Variant spellings +and hyphenations changed when there is a clear majority. Other variable +and archaic spellings were retained. A list of the changes made can be +found at the end of the book. Italics indicated by _underscores_. + + + + + JUDITH SHAKESPEARE + + HER LOVE AFFAIRS AND OTHER ADVENTURES + + By WILLIAM BLACK + + Author of "A Daughter of Heth," "Madcap Violet," "A Princess of Thule," + "White Wings," "Yolande," etc., etc. + + + A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + + NEW YORK + + + + +JUDITH SHAKESPEARE. + + +CHAPTER I. + +AN ASSIGNATION. + + +It was a fair, clear, and shining morning, in the sweet May-time of the +year, when a young English damsel went forth from the town of +Stratford-upon-Avon to walk in the fields. As she passed along by the +Guild Chapel and the Grammar School, this one and the other that met her +gave her a kindly greeting; for nearly every one knew her, and she was a +favorite; and she returned those salutations with a frankness which +betokened rather the self-possession of a young woman than the timidity +of a girl. Indeed, she was no longer in the first sensitive dawn of +maidenhood--having, in fact, but recently passed her five-and-twentieth +birthday--but nevertheless there was the radiance of youth in the +rose-leaf tint of her cheeks, and in the bright cheerfulness of her +eyes. Those eyes were large, clear, and gray, with dark pupils and dark +lashes; and these are a dangerous kind; for they can look demure, and +artless, and innocent, when there is nothing in the mind of the owner of +them but a secret mirth; and also--and alas!--they can effect another +kind of concealment, and when the heart within is inclined to soft pity +and yielding, they can refuse to confess to any such surrender, and can +maintain, at the bidding of a wilful coquetry, an outward and obstinate +coldness and indifference. For the rest, her hair, which was somewhat +short and curly, was of a light and glossy brown, with a touch of +sunshine in it; she had a good figure, for she came of a quite notably +handsome family; she walked with a light step and a gracious carriage; +and there were certain touches of style and color about her costume +which showed that she did not in the least undervalue her appearance. +And so it was "Good-morrow to you, sweet Mistress Judith," from this one +and the other; and "Good-morrow, friend So-and-so," she would answer; +and always she had the brightest of smiles for them as they passed. + +Well, she went along by the church, and over the foot-bridge spanning +the Avon, and so on into the meadows lying adjacent to the stream. To +all appearance she was bent on nothing but deliberate idleness, for she +strayed this way and that, stooping to pick up a few wild flowers, and +humming to herself as she went. On this fresh and clear morning the air +seemed to be filled with sweet perfumes after the close atmosphere of +the town; and if it was merely to gather daisies, and cuckoo-flowers, +and buttercups, that she had come, she was obviously in no hurry about +it. The sun was warm on the rich green grass; the swallows were dipping +and flashing over the river; great humble-bees went booming by; and far +away somewhere in the silver-clear sky a lark was singing. And she also +was singing, as she strayed along by the side of the stream, picking +here and there a speedwell, and here and there a bit of self-heal or +white dead-nettle; if, indeed that could be called singing that was but +a careless and unconscious recalling of snatches of old songs and +madrigals. At one moment it was: + + Why, say you so? Oh no, no, no; + Young maids must never a-wooing go. + +And again it was: + + Come, blow thy horn, hunter! + Come, blow thy horn, hunter! + Come, blow thy horn, jolly hunter! + +And again it was: + + For a morn in spring is the sweetest thing + Cometh in all the year! + +And in truth she could not have lit upon a sweeter morning than this +was; just as a chance passer-by might have said to himself that he had +never seen a pleasanter sight than this young English maiden presented +as she went idly along the river-side, gathering wild flowers the while. + +But in course of time, when she came to a part of the Avon from which +the bank ascended sharp and steep, and when she began to make her way +along a narrow and winding foot-path that ascended through the +wilderness of trees and bushes hanging on this steep bank, she became +more circumspect. There was no more humming of songs; the gathering of +flowers was abandoned, though here she might have added a wild hyacinth +or two to her nosegay; she advanced cautiously, and yet with an +affectation of carelessness; and she was examining, while pretending not +to examine, the various avenues and open spaces in the dense mass of +foliage before her. Apparently, however, this world of sunlight and +green leaves and cool shadow was quite untenanted; there was no sound +but that of the blackbird and the thrush; she wandered on without +meeting any one. And then, as she had now arrived at a little dell or +chasm in the wood, she left the foot-path, climbed up the bank, gained +the summit, and finally, passing from among the bushes, she found +herself in the open, at the corner of a field of young corn. + +Now if any one had noticed the quick and searching look that she flashed +all around on the moment of her emerging from the brush-wood--the +swiftness of lightning was in that rapid scrutiny--he might have had +some suspicion as to the errand that had brought her hither; but in an +instant her eyes had recovered their ordinary look of calm and +indifferent observation. She turned to regard the wide landscape spread +out below her; and the stranger, if he had missed that quick and eager +glance, would have naturally supposed that she had climbed up through +the wood to this open space merely to have a better view. And indeed +this stretch of English-looking country was well worth the trouble, +especially at this particular time of the year, when it was clothed in +the fresh and tender colors of the spring-time; and it was with much +seeming content that this young English maiden stood there and looked +abroad over the prospect--at the placid river winding through the lush +meadows; at the wooden spire of the church rising above the young +foliage of the elms; at here and there in the town a red-tiled house +visible among the thatched roofs and gray walls and orchards--these +being all pale and ethereal and dream-like in the still sunshine of this +quiet morning. It was a peaceful English-looking picture that ought to +have interested her, however familiar it may have been; and perhaps it +was only to look at it once more that she had made her way up hither; +and also to breathe the cool sweet air of the open, and to listen to +the singing of the birds, that seemed to fill the white wide spaces of +the sky as far as ever she could hear. + +Suddenly she became aware that some one was behind her and near her, and +instantly turning, she found before her an elderly man with a voluminous +gray beard, who appeared to affect some kind of concealment by the way +he wore his hat and his long cloak. + +"God save you, sweet lady!" he had said, almost before she turned. + +But if this stranger imagined that by his unlooked-for approach and +sudden address he was likely to startle the young damsel out of her +self-possession, he knew very little with whom he had to deal. + +"Good-morrow to you, good Master Wizard," said she, with perfect +calmness, and she regarded him from head to foot with nothing beyond a +mild curiosity. Indeed, it was rather he who was embarrassed. He looked +at her with a kind of wonder--and admiration also; and if she had been +sufficiently heedful and watchful she might have observed that his eyes, +which were singularly dark, had a good deal of animation in them for one +of his years. It was only after a second or so of this bewildered and +admiring contemplation of her that he managed to say, in a grave and +formal voice, something in praise of her courage in thus keeping the +appointment he had sought. + +"Nay, good sir," said she, with much complacency, "trouble not yourself +about me. There is no harm in going out to gather a few flowers in the +field, surely. If there be any danger, it is rather you that have to +fear it, for there is the pillory for them that go about the country +divining for gold and silver." + +"It is for no such vain and idle purposes that I use my art," said he; +and he regarded her with such an intensity of interest that sometimes he +stumbled forgetfully in his speech, as if he were repeating a lesson but +ill prepared, "It is for the revelation of the future to them that are +born under fortunate planets. And you are one of these, sweet lady, or I +would not have summoned you to a meeting that might have seemed perilous +to one of less courage and good heart. If it please you to listen, I can +forecast that that will befall you----" + +"Nay, good sir," said she, with a smile, "I have heard it frequently, +though perhaps never from one so skilled. 'Tis but a question between +dark and fair, with plenty of money and lands thrown in. For that +matter, I might set up in the trade myself. But if you could tell me, +now----" + +"If I were to tell you--if by my art I could show you," said he, with a +solemnity that was at least meant to be impressive (though this young +maid, with her lips inclining to a smile, and her inscrutable eyes, did +not seem much awe-stricken)--"if I could convince you, sweet lady, that +you shall marry neither dark nor fair among any of those that would now +fain win you--and rumor says there be several of those--what then?" + +"Rumor?" she repeated, with the color swiftly mantling in her face. But +she was startled, and she said, quickly, "What do you say, good wizard? +Not any one that I know? What surety have you of that? Is it true? Can +you show it to me? Can you assure me of it? Is your skill so great that +you can prove to me that your prophecy is aught but idle guessing? No +one that I have seen as yet, say you? Why," she added half to herself, +"but that were good news for my gossip Prue." + +"My daughter," said this elderly person, in slow and measured tones, "it +is not to all that the stars have been so propitious at their birth." + +"Good sir," said she, with some eagerness, "I beseech you to forgive me +if I attend you not; but--but this is the truth, now, as to how I came +in answer to your message to me. I will speak plain. Perchance rumor +hath not quite belied herself. There may be one or two who think too +well of me, and would have me choose him or him to be my lover; +and--and--do you see now?--if there were one of those that I would fain +have turn aside from idle thoughts of me and show more favor to my dear +cousin and gossip Prudence Shawe--nay, but to tell the truth, good +wizard, I came here to seek of your skill whether it could afford some +charm and magic that would direct his heart to her. I have heard of such +things----" + +And here she stopped abruptly, in some confusion, for she had in her +eagerness admitted a half-belief in the possible power of his witchcraft +which she had been careful to conceal before. She had professed +incredulity by her very manner; she had almost laughed at his +pretensions; she had intimated that she had come hither only out of +curiosity; but now she had blundered into the confession that she had +cherished some vague hope of obtaining a love-philtre, or some such +thing, to transfer away from herself to her friend the affections of one +of those suitors whose existence seemed to be so well known to the +wizard. However, he soon relieved her from her embarrassment by assuring +her that this that she demanded was far away beyond the scope of his +art, which was strictly limited to the discovery and revelation of such +secrets as still lay within the future. + +"And if so, good sir," said she, after a moment's reflection, "that were +enough, or nearly enough, so that you can convince us of it." + +"To yourself alone, gracious lady," said he, "can I reveal that which +will happen to you. Nay, more, so fortunate is the conjunction of the +planets that reigned at your birth--the _ultimum supplicium auri_ might +almost have been declared to you--that I can summon from the ends of the +earth, be he where he may, the man that you shall hereafter marry, or +soon or late I know not; if you will, you can behold him at such and +such a time, at such and such a place, as the stars shall appoint." + +She looked puzzled, half incredulous and perplexed, inclined to smile, +blushing somewhat, and all uncertain. + +"It is a temptation--I were no woman else," said she, with a laugh. +"Nay, but if I can see him, why may not others? And if I can show them +him who is to be my worshipful lord and master, why, then, my gossip +Prue may have the better chance of reaching the goal where I doubt not +her heart is fixed. Come, then, to prove your skill, good sir. Where +shall I see him, and when? Must I use charms? Will he speak, think you, +or pass as a ghost? But if he be not a proper man, good wizard, by my +life I will have none of him, nor of your magic either." + +She was laughing now, and rather counterfeiting a kind of scorn; but she +was curious; and she watched him with a lively interest as he took forth +from a small leather bag a little folded piece of paper, which he +carefully opened. + +"I cannot answer all your questions, my daughter," said he; "I can but +proceed according to my art. Whether the person you will see may be +visible to others I know not, nor can I tell you aught of his name or +condition. Pray Heaven he be worthy of such beauty and gentleness; for I +have heard of you, gracious lady, but rumor had but poor words to +describe such a rarity and a prize." + +"Nay," said she, in tones of reproof (but the color had mounted to a +face that certainly showed no sign of displeasure), "you speak like one +of the courtiers now." + +"This charm," said he, dropping his eyes, and returning to his grave +and formal tones, "is worth naught without a sprig of rosemary; that +must you get, and you must place it within the paper in a threefold +manner--thus; and then, when Sol and Luna are both in the +descendant--but I forget me, the terms of my art are unknown to you; I +must speak in the vulgar tongue; and meanwhile you shall see the charm, +that there is nothing wicked or dangerous in it, but only the +wherewithal to bring about a true lovers' meeting." + +He handed her the open piece of paper; but she, having glanced at the +writing, gave it him back again. + +"I pray you read it to me," she said. + +He regarded her for a second with some slight surprise; but he took the +paper, and read aloud, slowly, the lines written thereon: + + "Dare you haunt our hallowed green? + None but fairies here are seen. + Down and sleep, + Wake and weep, + Pinch him black, and pinch him blue, + That seeks to steal a lover true, + When you come to hear us sing, + Or to tread our fairy ring, + Pinch him black, and pinch him blue-- + Oh, thus our nails shall handle you!" + +"Why, 'tis like what my father wrote about Herne the Hunter," said she, +with a touch of indifference; perhaps she had expected to hear something +more weird and unholy. + +"Please you, forget not the rosemary; nothing will come of it else," he +continued. "Then this you must take in your hand secretly, and when no +one has knowledge of your outgoing; and when Luna--nay, but I mean when +the moon has risen to-night so that, standing in the church-yard, you +shall see it over the roof of the church, then must you go to the +yew-tree that is in the middle of the church-yard, and there you shall +scrape away a little of the earth from near the foot of the tree, and +bury this paper, and put the earth firmly down on it again, saying +thrice, _Hieronymo! Hieronymo! Hieronymo!_ You follow me, sweet lady?" + +"'Tis simple enough," said she, "but that on these fine evenings the +people are everywhere about; and if one were to be seen conjuring in the +church-yard----" + +"You must watch your opportunity, my daughter," said he, speaking with +an increased assumption of authority. "One minute will serve you; and +this is all that needs be done." + +"Truly? Is this all?" said she, and she laughed lightly. "Then will my +gallant, my pride o' the world, my lord and master, forthwith spring out +of the solid ground? God mend me, but that were a fearful meeting--in a +church-yard! Gentle wizard, I pray you----" + +"Not so," he answered, interrupting her. "The charm will work there; you +must let it rest; the night dews shall nourish it; the slow hours shall +pass over it; and the spirits that haunt these precincts must know of +it, that they may prepare the meeting. To-night, then, sweet lady, you +shall place this charm in the church-yard at the foot of the yew-tree, +and to-morrow at twelve of the clock----" + +"By your leave, not to-morrow," said she, peremptorily. "Not to-morrow, +good wizard; for my father comes home to-morrow; and, by my life, I +would not miss the going forth to meet him for all the lovers between +here and London town!" + +"Your father comes home to-morrow, Mistress Judith?" said he, in +somewhat startled accents. + +"In truth he does; and Master Tyler also, and Julius Shawe--there will +be a goodly company, I warrant you, come riding to-morrow through +Shipston and Tredington and Alderminster; and by your leave, reverend +sir, the magic must wait." + +"That were easily done," he answered, after a moment's thought, "by the +alteration of a sign, if the day following might find you at liberty. +Will it so, gracious lady?" + +"The day after! At what time of the day?" she asked. + +"The alteration of the sign will make it but an hour earlier, if I +mistake not; that is to say, at eleven of the forenoon you must be at +the appointed place----" + +"Where, good wizard!" said she--"where am I to see the wraith, the +ghost, the phantom husband that is to own me?" + +"That know I not myself as yet; but my aids and familiars will try to +discover it for me," he answered, taking a small sun-dial out of his +pocket and adjusting it as he spoke. + +"And with haste, so please you, good sir," said she, "for I would not +that any chance comer had a tale of this meeting to carry back to the +gossips." + +He stooped down and placed the sun-dial carefully on the ground, at a +spot where the young corn was but scant enough on the dry red soil, and +then with his forefinger he traced two or three lines and a semicircle +on the crumbling earth. + +"South by west," said he, and he muttered some words to himself. Then he +looked up. "Know you the road to Bidford, sweet lady?" + +"As well as I know my own ten fingers," she answered. + +"For myself, I know it not, but if my art is not misleading there should +be, about a mile or more along that road, another road at right angles +with it, bearing to the right, and there at the junction should stand a +cross of stone. Is it so?" + +"'Tis the lane that leads to Shottery; well I know it," she said. + +"So it has been appointed, then," said he, "if the stars continue their +protection over you. The day after to-morrow, at eleven of the forenoon, +if you be within stone's-throw of the cross at the junction of the +roads, there shall you see, or my art is strangely mistaken, the man or +gentleman--nay, I know not whether he be parson or layman, soldier or +merchant, knight of the shire or plain goodman Dick--I say there shall +you see him that is to win you and wear you; but at what time you shall +become his wife, and where, and in what circumstances, I cannot reveal +to you. I have done my last endeavor." + +"Nay do not hold me ungrateful," she said, though there was a smile on +her lips, "but surely, good sir, what your skill has done, that it can +also undo. If it have power to raise a ghost, surely it has power to lay +him. And truly, if he be a ghost, I will not have him. And if he be a +man, and have a red beard, I will not have him. And if he be a +slape-face, I will have none of him. And if he have thin legs, he may +walk his ways for me. Good wizard, if I like him not, you must undo the +charm." + +"My daughter, you have a light heart," said he, gravely. "May the +favoring planets grant it lead you not into mischief; there be unseen +powers that are revengeful. And now I must take my leave, gracious lady. +I have given you the result of much study and labor, of much solitary +communion with the heavenly bodies; take it, and use it with heed, and +so fare you well." + +He was going, but she detained him. + +"Good sir, I am your debtor," said she, with the red blood mantling in +her forehead, for all through this interview she had clearly recognized +that she was not dealing with any ordinary mendicant fortune-teller. +"So much labor and skill I cannot accept from you without becoming a +beggar. I pray you----" + +He put up his hand. + +"Not so," said he, with a certain grave dignity. "To have set eyes on +the fairest maid in Warwickshire--as I have heard you named--were surely +sufficient recompense for any trouble; and to have had speech of you, +sweet lady, is what many a one would venture much for. But I would +humbly kiss your hand; and so again fare you well." + +"God shield you, most courteous wizard, and good-day," said she, as he +left; and for a second she stood looking after him in a kind of wonder, +for this extraordinary courtesy and dignity of manner were certainly not +what she had expected to find in a vagabond purveyor of magic. But now +he was gone, and she held the charm in her hand, and so without further +ado she set out for home again, getting down through the brushwood to +the winding path. + +She walked quickly, for she had heard that Master Bushell's daughter, +who was to be married that day, meant to beg a general holiday for the +school-boys; and she knew that if this were granted these sharp-eyed +young imps would soon be here, there, and everywhere, and certain to spy +out the wizard if he were in the neighborhood. But when she had got +clear of this hanging copse, that is known as the Wier Brake, and had +reached the open meadows, so that from any part around she could be seen +to be alone, she had nothing further to fear, and she returned to her +leisurely straying in quest of flowers. The sun was hotter on the grass +now; but the swallows were busy as ever over the stream; and the great +bees hummed aloud as they went past; and here and there a white +butterfly fluttered from petal to petal; and, far away, she could hear +the sound of children's voices in the stillness. She was in a gay mood. +The interview she had just had with one in league with the occult powers +of magic and witchery did not seem in the least to have overawed her. +Perhaps, indeed, she had not yet made up her mind to try the potent +charm that she had obtained; at all events the question did not weigh +heavily on her. For now it was, + + Oh, mistress mine, where are you roaming? + +and again it was, + + For a morn in spring is the sweetest thing + Cometh in all the year! + +and always another touch of color added to the daintily arranged +nosegay in her hand. And then, of a sudden, as she chanced to look +ahead, she observed a number of the school-boys come swarming down to +the foot-bridge; and she knew right well that one of them--to wit, young +Willie Hart--would think a holiday quite thrown away and wasted if he +did not manage to seek out and secure the company of his pretty cousin +Judith. + +"Ah! there, now," she was saying to herself, as she watched the +school-boys come over the bridge one by one and two by two, "there, now, +is my sweetheart of sweethearts; there is my prince of lovers! If ever I +have lover as faithful and kind as he, it will go well. 'Nay, Susan,' +says he, 'I love you not; you kiss me hard, and speak to me as if I were +still a child; I love Judith better.' And how cruel of my father to put +him in the play, and to slay him so soon; but perchance he will call him +to life again--nay, it is a favorite way with him to do that; and pray +Heaven he bring home with him to-morrow the rest of the story, that Prue +may read it to me. And so are you there, among the unruly imps, you +young Prince Mamillius? Have you caught sight of me yet, sweetheart +blue-eyes? Why, come, then; you will outstrip them all, I know, when you +get sight of Cousin Judith; for as far off as yon are, you will reach me +first, that I am sure of; and then, by my life, sweetheart Willie, you +shall have a kiss as soft as a dove's breast!" + +And so she went on to meet them, arranging the colors of her straggling +blossoms the while, with now and again a snatch of careless song: + + Come, blow thy horn, hunter! + Come, blow thy horn, hunter! + Come, blow thy horn--jolly hunter! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SIGNIOR CRAB-APPLE. + + +There was much ado in the house all that day, in view of the home-coming +on the morrow, and it was not till pretty late in the evening that +Judith was free to steal out for a gossip with her friend and chief +companion, Prudence Shawe. She had not far to go--but a couple of doors +off, in fact; and her coming was observed by Prudence herself, who +happened to be sitting at the casemented window for the better +prosecution of her needle-work, there being still a clear glow of +twilight in the sky. A minute or so thereafter the two friends were in +Prudence's own chamber, which was on the first floor, and looking out to +the back over barns and orchards; and they had gone to the window, to +the bench there, to have their secrets together. This Prudence Shawe was +some two years Judith's junior--though she really played the part of +elder sister to her; she was of a pale complexion, with light +straw-colored hair; not very pretty, perhaps, but she had a restful kind +of face that invited friendliness and sympathy, of which she had a large +abundance to give in return. Her custom was of a Puritanical plainness +and primness, both in the fashion of it and in its severe avoidance of +color; and that was not the only point on which she formed a marked +contrast to this dear cousin and wilful gossip of hers, who had a way of +pleasing herself (more especially if she thought she might thereby catch +her father's eye) in apparel as in most other things. And on this +occasion--at the outset at all events--Judith would not have a word said +about the assignation of the morning. The wizard was dismissed from her +mind altogether. It was about the home-coming of the next day that she +was all eagerness and excitement; and her chief prayer and entreaty was +that her friend Prudence should go with her to welcome the travellers +home. + +"Nay, but you must and shall, dear Prue; sweet mouse, I beg it of you!" +she was urging. "Every one at New Place is so busy that they have fixed +upon Signior Crab-apple to ride with me; and you know I cannot suffer +him; and I shall not have a word of my father all the way back, not a +word; there will be nothing but a discourse about fools, and idle jests, +and wiseman Matthew the hero of the day--" + +"Dear Judith, I cannot understand how you dislike the old man so," her +companion said, in that smooth voice of hers. "I see no garden that is +better tended than yours." + +"I would I could let slip the mastiff at his unmannerly throat!" was the +quick reply--and indeed for a second she looked as if she would fain +have seen that wish fulfilled. "The vanity of him!--the puffed-up pride +of him.--he thinks there be none in Warwickshire but himself wise +enough to talk to my father; and the way he dogs his steps if he be +walking in the garden--no one else may have a word with him!--sure my +father is sufficiently driven forth by the preachers and the +psalm-singing within-doors that out-of-doors, in his own garden, he +might have some freedom of speech with his own daughter--" + +"Judith, Judith," her friend said, and she put her hand on her arm, "you +have such wilful thoughts, and wild words too. I am sure your father is +free of speech with every one--gentle and simple, old and young, it +matters not who it is that approaches him." + +"This Signior Crab-apple truly!" the other exclaimed, in the impetuosity +of her scorn. "If his heart be as big as a crab-apple, I greatly doubt; +but that it is of like quality I'll be sworn. And the bitterness of his +railing tongue! All women are fools--vools he calls them, rather--first +and foremost; and most men are fools; but of all fools there be none +like the fools of Warwickshire--that is because my worshipful goodman +gardener comes all the way from Bewdley. 'Tis meat and drink to him, he +says, to discover a fool, though how he should have any difficulty in +the discovering, seeing that we are all of us fools, passes my +understanding. Nay, but I know what set him after that quarry; 'twas one +day in the garden, and my father was just come home from London, and he +was talking to my uncle Gilbert, and was laughing at what his friend +Benjamin Jonson had said, or had written, I know not which. 'Of all +beasts in the world,' says he, 'I love most the serious ass.' Then up +steps goodman Matthew. 'There be plenty of 'em about 'ere, zur,' says +he, with a grin on his face like that on a cat when a dog has her by the +tail. And my father, who will talk to any one, as you say truly, and +about anything, and always with the same attention, must needs begin to +challenge goodman Crab-apple to declare the greatest fools that ever he +had met with; and from that day to this the ancient sour-face hath been +on the watch--and it suits well with his opinion of other people and his +opinion of himself as the only wise man in the world--I say ever since +he hath been on the watch for fools; and the greater the fool the +greater his wisdom, I reckon, that can find him out. A purveyor of +fools!--a goodly trade! I doubt not but that it likes him better than +the tending of apricots when he has the free range of the ale-houses to +work on. He will bring a couple of them into the garden when my father +is in the summer-house. ''Ere, zur, please you come out and look 'ere, +zur; 'ere be a brace of rare vools.' And the poor clowns are proud of +it; they stand and look at each other and laugh. 'We be, zur--we be.' +And then my father will say no, and will talk with them, and cheer them +with assurance of their wisdom; then must they have spiced bread and ale +ere they depart; and this is a triumph for Master Matthew--the withered, +shrivelled, dried-up, cankered nutshell that he is!" + +"Dear Judith, pray have patience--indeed you are merely jealous." + +"Jealous!" she exclaimed, as if her scorn of this ill-conditioned old +man put that well out of the question. + +"You think he has too much of your father's company, and you like it +not; but consider of it, Judith, he being in the garden, and your father +in the summer-house, and when your father is tired for the moment of his +occupation, whatever that may be, then can he step out and speak to this +goodman Matthew, that amuses him with his biting tongue, and with the +self-sufficiency of his wisdom--nay, I suspect your father holds him to +be a greater fool than any that he makes sport of, and that he loves to +lead him on." + +"And why should my father have to be in the summer-house but that +in-doors the wool-spinning is hardly more constant than the lecturing +and the singing of psalms and hymns?" + +"Judith! Judith!" said her gentle friend, with real trouble on her face, +"you grieve me when you talk like that--indeed you do, sweetheart! There +is not a morning nor a night passes that I do not pray the Lord that +your heart may be softened and led to our ways--nay, far from that, but +to the Lord's own ways--and the answer will come; I have faith; I know +it; and God send it speedily, for you are like an own sister to me, and +my heart yearns over you!" + +The other sat silent for a second. She could not fail to be touched by +the obvious sincerity, the longing kindness of her friend, but she would +not confess as much in words. + +"As yet, sweet Prue," said she, lightly, "I suppose I am of the +unregenerate, and if it is wicked to cherish evil thoughts of your +neighbor, then am I not of the elect, for I heartily wish that Tom +Quiney and some of the youths would give Matthew gardener a sound +ducking in a horse-pond, to tame his arrogance withal. But no matter. +What say you, dear Prue? Will you go with me to-morrow, so that we may +have the lad Tookey in charge of us, and Signior Crab-apple be left to +his weeding and grafting and railing at human kind? Do, sweet mouse--" + +"The maids are busy now, Judith," said she, doubtfully. + +"But a single day, dear mouse!" she urged. "And if we go early we may +get as far as Shipston, and await them there. Have you no desire to meet +your brother, Prudence--to be the first of all to welcome him home? Nay, +that is because you can have him in your company as often as you wish; +there is no goodman-wiseman-fool to come between you." + +"Dear heart," said Prudence Shawe, with a smile, "I know not what is the +witchery of you, but there is none I wot of that can say you nay." + +"You will, then?" said the other, joyfully. "Ah, look, now, the long +ride home we shall have with my father, and all the news I shall have to +tell him! And all good news, Prue; scarcely a whit or bit that is not +good news: the roan that he bought at Evesham is well of her +lameness--good; and the King's mulberry is thriving bravely (I wonder +that wiseman Matthew has not done it a mischief in the night-time, for +the King, being above him in station, must needs have nothing from him +but sour and envious words); and then the twenty acres that my father so +set his heart upon he is to have--I hear that the Combes have said as +much--and my father will be right well pleased; and the vicar is talking +no longer of building the new piggery over against the garden--at least +for the present there is nothing to be done: all good news; but there is +better still, as you know; for what will he say when he discovers that I +have taught Bess Hall to ride the mastiff?" + +"Pray you have a care, dear Judith," said her friend, with some +apprehension on her face. "'Tis a dangerous-looking beast." + +"A lamb, a very lamb!" was the confident answer. "Well, now, and as we +are riding home he will tell me of all the things he has brought from +London; and you know he has always something pretty for you, sweet +Puritan, though you regard such adornment as snares and pitfalls. And +this time I hope it will be a silver brooch for you, dear mouse, that so +you must needs wear it and show it, or he will mark its absence; and for +the others let us guess; let us see. There may be some more of that +strange-fashioned Murano glass for Susan, for as difficult as it is to +carry; and some silk hangings or the like for my mother, or store of +napery, perchance, which she prizeth more; and be sure there is the +newest book of sermons from Paul's Churchyard for the Doctor; a +greyhound, should he hear of a famous one on the way, for Thomas Combe; +toys for the little Harts, that is certain; for my aunt Joan--what?--a +silver-topped jug, or some perfumes of musk and civet?--and what +else--and for whom else--well--" + +"But what for yourself, dear Judith?" her friend said, with a smile. +"Will he forget you? Has Matthew gardener driven you out even from his +recollection? Will he not have for you a pretty pair of rose +shoe-strings, or one of the new tasselled French hoods they are speaking +of, or something of the kind, that will turn the heads of all the lads +in Stratford twice further round? You are a temptress surely, +sweetheart; I half forget that such vanities should displease me when I +see the way you wear them; and that I think you must take from your +father, Judith; for no matter how plain his apparel is--and it is plain +indeed for one that owns the New Place--he wears it with such an ease, +and with such a grace and simplicity, that you would say a prince should +wear it even so." + +"You put me off, Prue," her friend said with a sort of good-natured +impatience. "Why, I was showing you what nicelings and delicates my +father was bringing, and what I had thought to say was this: that he may +have this for one, and that for the other, and many a one proud to be +remembered (as I shall be if he thinks of me), but this that I know he +is bringing for little Bess Hall is something worth all of these, for it +is nothing less than the whole love of his heart. Nay, but I swear it; +there is not a human creature in the world to compare with her in his +eyes; she is the pearl that he wears in his heart of hearts. If it were +London town she wanted, and he could give it to her, that is what he +would bring for her." + +"What! are you jealous of her too?" said Prudence, with her placid +smile. + +"By yea and nay, sweet Puritan, if that will content you, I declare it +is not so," was the quick answer. "Why, Bess is my ally! We are in +league, I tell you; we will have a tussle with the enemy ere long; and, +by my life, I think I know that that will put goodman-wiseman's nose +awry!" + +At this moment the secret confabulation of these two friends was +suddenly and unexpectedly broken in upon by a message from without. +Something white came fluttering through the open casement, and fell, not +quite into Judith's lap, which was probably its intended destination, +but down toward her feet. She stooped and picked it up; it was a letter, +addressed to her, and tied round with a bit of rose-red silk ribbon that +was neatly formed into a true-lover's knot. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PLANTING OF THE CHARM. + + +The embarrassment that ensued--on her part only, for the pale and gentle +face of her friend betrayed not even so much as surprise--was due to +several causes. Judith could neither read nor write. In her earlier +years she had been a somewhat delicate child, and had consequently been +excused from the ordinary tuition, slight as that usually was in the +case of girls; but when, later on, she grew into quite firm and robust +health, in her wilfulness and pride and petulance she refused to +retransform herself into a child and submit to be taught children's +lessons. Moreover, she had an acute and alert brain; and she had a +hundred reasons ready to show that what was in reality a mere +waywardness on her part was the most wise and natural thing in the +world; while her father, who had a habitual and great tolerance for +everything and everybody that came within his reach, laughed with her +rather than at her, and said she should do very well without +book-learning so long as those pink roses shone in her cheeks. But she +had one reason that was not merely an excuse. Most of the printed matter +that reached the house was brought thither by this or that curate, or by +this or that famous preacher, who, in going through the country, was +sure of an eager and respectful welcome at New Place; and perhaps it was +not kindly nor civilly done of them--though it may have been regarded as +a matter of conscience--that they should carry thither and read aloud, +among other things, the fierce denunciations of stage-plays and +stage-players which were common in the polemical and puritanical +literature of the day. Right or wrong, Judith resented this with a +vehement indignation; and she put a ban upon all books, judging by what +she had heard read out of some; nay, one day she had come into the house +and found her elder sister, who was not then married, greatly +distressed, and even in the bitterness of tears; and when she discovered +that the cause of this was a pamphlet that had been given to Susanna, in +which not only were the heinous wickednesses of plays and players +denounced, but also her own father named by his proper name, Judith, +with hot cheeks and flashing eyes, snatched the pamphlet from her +sister's hand and forthwith sent it flying through the open window into +the mud without, notwithstanding that books and pamphlets were scarce +and valuable things, and that this one had been lent. And when she +discovered that this piece of writing had been brought to the house by +the pious and learned Walter Blaise--a youthful divine he was who had a +small living some few miles from Stratford, but who dwelt in the town, +and was one of the most eager and disputatious of the Puritanical +preachers there--it in no way mitigated her wrath that this worthy +Master Blaise was regarded by many, and even openly spoken of, as a +suitor for her own hand. + +"God mend me," said she, in her anger (and greatly to the distress of +the mild-spoken Prudence), "but 'tis a strange way of paying court to a +young woman to bring into the house abuse of her own father! Sir Parson +may go hang, for me!" And for many a day she would have nothing to say +to him; and steeled and hardened her heart not only against him, but +against the doctrines and ways of conduct that he so zealously +advocated; and she would not come in to evening prayers when he happened +to be present; and wild horses would not have dragged her to the parish +church on the Sunday afternoon that it was his turn to deliver the +fortnightly lecture there. However, these things abated in time. Master +Walter Blaise was a civil-spoken and an earnest and sincere young man, +and Prudence Shawe was the gentle intermediary. Judith suffered his +presence, and that was about all as yet; but she would not look the way +of printed books. And when Prudence tried to entice her into a study of +the mere rudiments of reading and writing, she would refuse +peremptorily, and say, with a laugh, that, could she read, the first +thing she should read would be plays, which, as sweet cousin Prue was +aware, were full of tribulation and anguish, and fit only for the +foolish Galatians of the world, the children of darkness and the devil. +But this obstinacy did not prevent her overcoming her dear cousin Prue's +scruples, and getting her to read aloud to her in the privacy of their +secret haunts this or the other fragments of a play, when that she had +adroitly purloined a manuscript from the summer-house in New Place; and +in this surreptitious manner she had acquired a knowledge of what was +going on at the Globe and the Blackfriars theatres in London, which, had +they but guessed of it, would have considerably astounded her mother, +her sister, and good Parson Blaise as well. + +In more delicate matters still, Prudence was her confidante, her +intermediary, and amanuensis: and ordinarily this caused her no +embarrassment, for she wished for no secrets with any of human kind. But +in one direction she had formed certain suspicions; and so it was that +on this occasion, when she stooped down and picked up the letter that +had been so deftly thrown in at the casement, her face flushed somewhat. + +"I know from whom it comes," said she, and she seemed inclined to put it +into the little wallet of blue satin that hung at her side. + +Then she glanced at Prudence's eyes. There was nothing there in the +least approaching displeasure or pique, only a quiet amusement. + +"It was cleverly done," said Prudence, and she raised her head +cautiously and peeped through one of the small panes of pale green +glass. But the twilight had sunk into dusk, and any one outside could +easily have made his escape unperceived through the labyrinth of barns +and outhouses. + +Judith glanced at the handwriting again, and said, with an affectation +of carelessness: + +"There be those who have plenty of time, surely, for showing the wonders +of their skill. Look at the twisting and turning and lattice-work of +it--truly he is a most notable clerk; I would he spent the daylight to +better purpose. Read it for me, sweet Prue." + +She would have handed the letter--with much studied indifference of look +and manner--to her friend, but that Prudence gently refused it. + +"'Tis you must undo the string; you know not what may be inside." + +So Judith herself opened the letter, which contained merely a sprig of +rosemary, along with some lines written in a most ornate calligraphy. + +"What does he say?" she asked, but without any apparent interest, as she +gave the open letter to her companion. + +Prudence took the letter and read aloud; + + "Rosemary is for remembrance + Between us day and night; + Wishing that I might always have + You present in my sight. + + This from your true well-wisher, and one that would be your loving + servant unto death. + + T. Q." + +"The idle boy!" she said, and again she directed a quick and penetrating +look of inquiry to her friend's face. But Prudence was merely regarding +the elaborate handwriting. There was no trace of wounded pride or +anything of the kind in her eyes. Nay, she looked up and said, with a +smile, + +"For one that can wrestle so well, and play at foot-ball, and throw the +sledge as they say he can, he is master of a most delicate handwriting." + +"But the rosemary, Prue!" Judith exclaimed, suddenly, and she groped +about at her feet until she had found it. "Why, now, look there, was +ever anything so fortunate? Truly I had forgotten all about rosemary, +and my reverend wizard, and the charm that is to be buried to-night; and +you know not a word of the story. Shall I tell you, sweet mouse? Is +there time before the moon appears over the roof of the church?--for +there I am summoned to fearful deeds. Why, Prue, you look as frightened +as if a ghost had come into the room--you yourself are like a ghost now +in the dusk--or is it the coming moonlight that is making you so pale?" + +"I had thought that better counsels would have prevailed with you, +Judith," she said, anxiously. "I knew not you had gone to see the man, +and I reproach myself that I have been an agent in the matter." + +"A mouth-piece only, sweet Prue!--a mere harmless, innocent whistle that +had nothing to do with the tune. And the business was not so dreadful +either; there was no caldron, nor playing with snakes and newts, no, nor +whining for money, which I expected most; but a most civil and courteous +wizard, a most town-bred wizard as ever the sun set eye on, that called +me 'gracious lady' every other moment, and would not take a penny for +his pains. Marry, if all the powers of evil be as well-behaved, I shall +have less fear of them; for a more civil-spoken gentleman I have never +encountered; and 'sweet lady' it was, and 'gracious lady,' and a voice +like the voice of my lord bishop; and the assurance that the planets and +the stars were holding me in their kindest protection; and a promise of +a ghost husband that is to appear that I may judge whether I like him or +like him not; and all this and more--and he would kiss my hand, and so +farewell, and the reverend magician makes his obeisance and vanishes, +and I am not a penny the poorer, but only the richer because of my +charm! There, I will show it to you, dear mouse." + +After a little search she found the tiny document; and Prudence Shawe +glanced over it. + +"Judith! Judith!" said she, almost in despair, "I know not whither your +wilfulness will carry you. But tell me what happened. How came you by +this paper? And what ghost husband do you speak of?" + +Then Judith related, with much circumstantiality, what had occurred that +morning: not toning it down in the least, but rather exaggerating here +and there; for she was merry-hearted, and she liked to see the sweet +Puritan face grow more and more concerned. Moreover, the dull gray light +outside, instead of deepening into dark, appeared to be becoming a +trifle clearer, so that doubtless the moon was declaring itself +somewhere; and she was looking forward, when the time came, to securing +Prudence's company as far as the church-yard, if her powers of +persuasion were equal to that. + +"But you will not go--surely you will not go, darling Judith," said +Prudence, in accents of quite pathetic entreaty. "You know the sin of +dealing with such ungodly practices--nay, and the danger too, for you +would of your own free will go and seek a meeting with unholy things, +whereas I have been told that not so long ago they used in places to +carry a pan of frankincense round the house each night to keep away +witchcraft from them as they slept. I beseech you, dearest Judith, give +me the paper, and I will burn it!" + +"Nay, nay, it is but an idle tale, a jest; I trust it not," said her +friend to reassure her. "Be not afraid, sweet Prue. Those people who go +about compelling the planets and summoning spirits and the like have +lesser power than the village folk imagine, else would their own +affairs thrive better than they seem to do." + +"Then give me the paper; let me burn it, Judith!" + +"Nay, nay, mouse," said she, withholding it; and then she added, with a +sort of grave merriment or mischief in her face: + +"Whether the thing be aught or naught, sure I cannot treat so ill my +courteous wizard. He was no goose-herd, I tell you, but a most proper +and learned man; and he must have the chance of working the wonders he +foretold. Come, now, think of it with reason, dear Prue. If there be no +power in the charm, if I go to Shottery for my morning walk and find no +one in the lane, who is harmed? Why, no one; and Grandmother Hathaway is +pleased, and will show me how her garden is growing. Then, on the other +hand, should the charm work, should there be some one there, what evil +if I regard him as I pass from the other side of the way? Is it such a +wonder that one should meet a stranger on the Bidford road? And what +more? Man or ghost, he cannot make me marry him if I will not. He cannot +make me speak to him if I will not. And if he would put a hand on me, I +reckon Roderigo would speedily have him by the throat, as I hope he may +some day have goodman Matthew." + +"But, Judith, such things are unlawful and forbidden----" + +"To you, sweet saint--to you," said the other, with much good-humor. +"But I have not learned to put aside childish things as yet; and this is +only a jest, good Prue; and you, that are so faithful to your word, even +in the smallest trifle, would not have me break my promise to my gentle +wizard? 'Gracious lady,' he says, and 'sweet lady,' as if I were a dame +of the court; it were unmannerly of me not to grant him this small +demand----" + +"I wish I had misread the letter," said Prudence, so occupied with her +own fears that she scarcely knew what to do. + +"What!" exclaimed her friend, in tones of raillery, "you would have +deceived me? Is this your honesty, your singleness of heart, sweet +Puritan? You would have sent me on some fool's errand, would you?" + +"And if it were to be known you had gone out to meet this conjurer, +Judith, what would your mother and sister say?--and your father?" + +"My mother and sister--hum!" was the demure reply. "If he had but come +in the garb of a preacher, with a Bible under one arm and a prayer-book +under the other, I doubt not that he would have been welcome enough at +New Place--ay, and everything in the house set before him, and a +Flanders jug full of Quiney's best claret withal to cheer the good man. +But when you speak of my father, dear Prue, there you are wide of the +mark--wide, wide of the mark; for the wizard is just such an one as he +would be anxious to know and see for himself. Indeed, if my mother and +Susan would have the house filled with preachers, my father would rather +seek his company from any strange kind of vagrant cattle you could find +on the road--ballad-singers, strolling players, peddlers, and the like; +and you should see him when some ancient harper in his coat of green +comes near the town--nay, the constable shall not interfere with him, +license or no license--my father must needs entertain him in the garden; +and he will sit and talk to the old man; and the best in the house must +be brought out for him; and whether he try his palsied fingers on the +strings, or perchance attempt a verse of 'Pastime with good company' +with his quavering old voice, that is according to his own good-will and +pleasure; nothing is demanded of him but that he have good cheer, and +plenty of it, and go on his way the merrier, with a groat or two in his +pouch. Nay, I mind me, when Susan was remonstrating with my father about +such things, and bidding him have some regard for the family +name--'What?' says he, laughing; 'set you up, Madam Pride! Know you not, +then, whence comes our name? And yet 'tis plain enough. _Shacks_, these +are but vagrant, idle, useless fellows; and then we come to _pere_, that +is, an equal and companion. There you have it complete--_Shackspere_, +the companion of strollers and vagabonds, of worthless and idle fellows. +What say you, Madam Pride?' And, indeed, poor Susan was sorely +displeased, insomuch that I said, 'But the spear in the coat of arms, +father--how came we by that?' 'Why, there, now,' says he, 'you see how +regardless the heralds are of the King's English. I warrant me they +would give a ship to Shipston and a hen to Enstone.' Indeed, he will +jest you out of anything. When your brother would have left the Town +Council, Prue----" + +But here she seemed suddenly to recollect herself. She rose quickly, +thrust open the casement still wider, and put out her head to discover +whereabouts the moon was; and when she withdrew her head again there +was mischief and a spice of excitement in her face. + +"No more talking and gossip now, Prue; the time has arrived for fearful +deeds." + +Prudence put her small white hand on her friend's arm. + +"Stay, Judith. Be guided--for the love of me be guided, sweetheart! You +know not what you do. The profaning of sacred places will bring a +punishment." + +"Profaning, say you, sweet mouse? Is it anything worse than the children +playing tick round the grave-stones; or even, when no one is looking, +having a game of King-by-your-leave?" + +"It is late, Judith. It must be nine o'clock. It is not seemly that a +young maiden should be out-of-doors alone at such an hour of the night." + +"Marry, that say I," was the light answer. "And the better reason that +you should come with me, Prue." + +"I?" said Prudence, in affright. + +"Wherefore not, then? Nay, but you shall suffer no harm through the +witchery, sweet mouse; I ask your company no further than the little +swing-gate. One minute there, and I shall be back with you. Come, now, +for your friend's sake; get your hood and your muffler, dear Prue, and +no one shall know either of us from the witch of Endor, so quickly shall +we be there and back." + +Still she hesitated. + +"If your mother were to know, Judith----" + +"To know what, sweetheart? That you walked with me as far as the church +and back again? Why, on such a fine and summer-like night I dare be +sworn, now, that half the good folk of Stratford are abroad; and it is +no such journey into a far country that we should take one of the maids +with us. Nay, come, sweet Prue! We shall have a merry ride to-morrow; +to-night for your friendship's sake you must do me this small service." + +Prudence did not answer, but somewhat thoughtfully, and even +reluctantly, she went to a small cupboard of boxes that stood in the +corner of the apartment, and brought forth some articles of attire which +(although she might not have confessed it) were for the better +disguising of herself, seeing that the night was fine and warm. And then +Judith, having also drawn a muffler loosely round her neck and the lower +half of her face, was ready to go, and was gone, in fact, as far as the +door, when she suddenly said: + +"Why, now, I had nearly forgot the rosemary, and without that the charm +is naught. Did I leave it on the window-shelf?" + +She went back and found it, and this time she took the precaution of +folding it within the piece of paper that she was to bury in the +church-yard. + +"Is it fair, dear Judith?" Prudence said, reproachfully, before she +opened the door. "Is it right that you should take the bit of rosemary +sent you by one lover, and use it as a charm to bring another?" + +"Nay, why should you concern yourself, sweet mouse?" said Judith, with a +quick glance, but indeed at this end of the room it was too dark for her +to see anything. "My lover, say you? Let that be as the future may show. +In the meantime I am pledged to no one, nor anxious that I should be so. +And a scrap of rosemary, now, what is it? But listen to this, dear Prue: +if it help to show me the man I shall marry--if there be aught in this +magic--will it not be better for him that sent the rosemary that we +should be aware of what is in store for us?" + +"I know not--I scarcely ever know--whether you are in jest or in +earnest, Judith," her friend said. + +"Why, then, I am partly in starched cambric, good mouse, if you must +know, and partly in damask, and partly in taffeta of popinjay blue. But +come, now, let us be going. The awful hour approaches, Prue. Do you not +tremble, like Faustus in the cell? What was't he said? + + It strikes; it strikes. Now, body, turn to air! + +Come along, sweet Prue." + +But she was silent as they left. Indeed, they went down the dark little +staircase and out at the front door with as little noise as might be. +Judith had not been mistaken: the fine, clear, warm evening had brought +out many people; and they were either quietly walking home or standing +in dusky little groups at the street corners talking to each other; +whilst here and there came a laugh from a ruddy-windowed ale-house; and +here and there a hushed sound of singing, where a casement had been left +a bit open, told that the family within were at their devotional +exercises for the night. The half-moon was now clear and silvery in the +heavens. As they passed under the massive structure of the Guild Chapel +the upper portions of the tall windows had a pale greenish glow shining +through them that made the surrounding shadows look all the more +solemn. Whether it was that their mufflers effectually prevented their +being recognized, or whether it was that none of their friends happened +to be abroad, they passed along without attracting notice from any one, +nor was a word spoken between themselves for some time. + +But when they drew near to the church, the vast bulk of which, towering +above the trees around, seemed almost black against the palely clear +sky, the faithful Prudence made bold to put in a final word of +remonstrance and dissuasion. + +"It is wickedness and folly, Judith. Naught can come of such work," she +said. + +"Then let naught come of it, and what harm is done?" her companion said, +gayly. "Dear mouse, are you so timorous? Nay, but you shall not come +within the little gate; you shall remain without. And if the spirits +come and snatch me, as they snatched off Doctor Faustus, you shall see +all the pageant, and not a penny to pay. What was it in the paper? + + 'Pinch him black, and pinch him blue, + That seeks to steal a lover true!' + +Did it not run so? But they cannot pinch you, dear heart; so stand here +now, and hush!--pray do not scream if you see them whip me off in a +cloud of fire--and I shall be with you again in a minute." + +She passed through the little swinging gate and entered the church-yard, +casting therewith a quick glance around. Apparently no one was within +sight of her, either among the gray stones or under the black-stemmed +elms by the river; but there were people not far off, for she could hear +their voices--doubtless they were going home through the meadows on the +other side of the stream. She looked but once in that direction. The +open country was lying pale and clear in the white light; and under the +wide branches of the elms one or two bats were silently darting to and +fro; but she could not see the people, and she took it for granted that +no one could now observe what she was about. So she left the path, made +her way through the noiseless grass, and reached the small yew-tree +standing there among the grave-stones. The light was clear enough to +allow her to open the package and make sure that the sprig of rosemary +was within; then she rapidly, with her bare hand, stooped down and +scooped a little of the earth away; she imbedded the packet there, +repeating meanwhile the magic words; she replaced the earth, and brushed +the long grass over it, so that, indeed, as well as she could make out, +the spot looked as if it had not been disturbed in any manner. And then, +with a quick look toward the roof of the church to satisfy herself that +all the conditions had been fulfilled, she got swiftly back to the path +again, and so to the little gate, passing through the church-yard like a +ghost. + +"The deed is done, good Prue," said she, gayly, but in a tragic whisper, +as she linked her arm within the arm of her friend and set out homeward. +"Now are the dark powers of the earth at league to raise me up--what +think you, sweetheart?--such a gallant as the world ne'er saw! Ah! now +when you see him come riding in from Shottery, will not the town stare? +None of your logget-playing, tavern-jesting, come-kiss-me-Moll lovers, +but a true-sworn knight on his white war steed, in shining mail, with a +golden casque on his head and ostrich feathers, and on his silver shield +'St. George and England!'" + +"You are light-hearted, Judith," said the timid and gentle-voiced +Puritan by her side; "and in truth there is nothing that you fear. Well, +I know not, but it will be in my prayers that no harm come of this +night." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A PAGEANT. + + +On the morning after the arrival of Judith's father he was out and +abroad with his bailiff at an early hour, so that she had no chance of +speaking to him; and when he returned to New Place he went into the +summer-house in the orchard, where it was the general habit and custom +to leave him undisturbed. And yet she only wished to ask permission to +take the mastiff with her as far as Shottery; and so, when she had +performed her share of the domestic duties, and got herself ready, she +went out through the back court and into the garden, thinking that he +would not mind so brief an interruption. + +It was a fresh and pleasant morning, for there had been some rain in the +night, and now there was a slight breeze blowing from the south, and +the air was sweet with the scent of the lilac bushes. The sun lay warm +on the pink and white blossoms of the apple-trees and on the creamy +masses of the cherry; martins were skimming and shooting this way and +that, with now and again a rapid flight to the eaves of the barn; the +bees hummed from flower to flower, and everywhere there was a chirping, +and twittering, and clear singing of birds. The world seemed full of +light and color, of youth, and sweet things, and gladness: on such a +morning she had no fear of a refusal, nor was she much afraid to go near +the summer-house that the family were accustomed to hold sacred from +intrusion. + +But when she passed into the orchard, and came in sight of it, there was +a sudden flash of anger in her eyes. She might have guessed--she might +have known. There, blocking up the doorway of the latticed and +green-painted tenement, was the figure of goodman Matthew; and the +little bandy-legged pippin-faced gardener was coolly resting on his +spade while he addressed his master within. Was there ever (she asked +herself) such hardihood, such audacity and impertinence? And then she +rapidly bethought her that now was a rare opportunity for putting in +practice a scheme of revenge that she had carefully planned. It is true +that she might have gone forward and laid her finger on Matthew's arm +(he was rather deaf), and so have motioned him away. But she was too +proud to do that. She would dispossess and rout him in another fashion. +So she turned and went quickly again into the house. + +Now at this time Dr. Hall was making a round of professional visits at +some distance away in the country; and on such occasions Susanna Hall +and her little daughter generally came to lodge at New Place, where +Judith was found to be an eager and assiduous, if somewhat impatient and +unreasoning, nurse, playmate, and music-mistress. In fact, the young +mother had to remonstrate with her sister, and to point out that, +although baby Elizabeth was a wonder of intelligence and +cleverness--indeed, such a wonder as had never hitherto been beheld in +the world--still, a child of two years and three months or so could not +be expected to learn everything all at once; and that it was just as +reasonable to ask her to play on the lute as to imagine that she could +sit on the back of Don the mastiff without being held. However, Judith +was fond of the child, and that incomparable and astute small person had +a great liking for her aunt (in consequence of benefits received), and a +trust in her which the wisdom of maturer years might have modified; and +so, whenever she chose, Judith found no difficulty in obtaining +possession of this precious charge, even the young mother showing no +anxiety when she saw the two go away together. + +So it was on this particular morning that Judith went and got hold of +little Bess Hall, and quickly smartened up her costume, and carried her +out into the garden. Then she went into the barn, outside of which was +the dog's kennel; she unclasped the chain and set free the huge, +slow-stepping, dun-colored beast, that seemed to know as well as any one +what was going forward; she affixed to his collar two pieces of silk +ribbon that did very well for reins; and then she sat little Bess Hall +on Don Roderigo's back, and gave her the reins to hold, and so they set +out for the summer-house. + +On that May morning the wide and gracious realm of England--which to +some minds, and especially at that particular season of the year, seems +the most beautiful country of any in the world--this rich and variegated +England lay basking in the sunlight, with all its lush meadows and woods +and hedges in the full and fresh luxuriance of the spring; and the small +quiet hamlets were busy in a drowsy and easy-going kind of fashion; and +far away around the white coasts the blue sea was idly murmuring in; but +it may be doubted whether in all the length and breadth of that fair +land there was any fairer sight than this that the wit of a young woman +had devised. She herself was pleasant enough to look on (and she was +always particularly attentive about her attire when her father was at +home), and now she was half laughing as she thought of her forthcoming +revenge; she had dressed her little niece in her prettiest costume of +pink and white, and pink was the color of the silken reins; while the +great slow-footed Don bore his part in the pageant with a noble majesty, +sometimes looking up at Judith as if to ask whether he were going in the +right direction. And so the procession passed on between the white-laden +cherry-trees and the redder masses of the apple-blossom; and the +miniature Ariadne, sitting sideways on the back of the great beast, +betrayed no fear whatsoever; while her aunt Judith held her, walking by +her, and scolding her for that she would not sing. + +"Tant sing, Aunt Judith," said she. + +"You can sing well enough, you little goose, if you try," said her +aunt, with the unreasoning impatience of an unmarried young woman. +"What's the use of your going hunting without a hunting song? Come +along, now: + + 'The hunt is up, the hunt is up, + And it is well-nigh day;--' + +try it, Bess!" + +"Hunt is up, hunt is up," said the small rider; but she was occupied +with the reins, and clearly did not want to be bothered. + +"No, no, that is not singing, little goose. Why, sing it like this, now: + + 'The hunt is up, the hunt is up, + And it is well-nigh day;-- + And Harry our king is gone hunting + To bring his deer to bay!'" + +However, the music lesson came to an abrupt end. They had by this time +almost reached the summer-house. Saturnine Matthew, gardener, who still +stood there, blocking up the doorway, had not heard them approach, but +his master within had. The next instant goodman Matthew suddenly found +himself discarded, dismissed, and treated, indeed, as if he were simply +non-existent in the world; for Judith's father, having paused for a +moment to regard from the doorway the pretty pageant that had been +arranged for him (and his face lit up, as it were, with pleasure at the +sight), was the next minute down beside his little granddaughter, with +one knee on the ground, so that he was just on a level with her +outstretched hands. + +"What, Bess?" he said, as he caught her by both hands and feet. "You +imp, you inch, you elfin queen, you!--would you go a-hunting, then?" + +"Send away Don--me want to ride the high horse," said the small Bess, +who had her own ideas as to what was most comfortable, and also secure. + +"And so you shall, you sprite, you Ariel, you moonlight wonder!" he +exclaimed, as he perched her on his shoulder and rose to his feet again. +"The high horse, truly; indeed, you shall ride the high horse! Come, +now, we will go see how the King's mulberry thrives; that is the only +tree we have that is younger than yourself, you ancient, you beldame, +you witch of Endor, you!" + +"Father," said Judith, seeing that he was going away perfectly +regardless of anybody or anything except his granddaughter, "may I take +the Don with me for an hour or so?" + +"Whither away, wench--whither?" he asked, turning for a moment. + +"To Shottery, father." + +"Well, well," said he, and he turned again and went off. + +"Come, Bess, you world's jewel, you, you shall ride with me to London +some day, and tell the King how his mulberry thrives; that shall you, +you fairy, you princess, you velvet-footed maidiekin! To London, +Bess--to London!" + +Judith did not stay to regard them further; but she could not help +casting a look before she left at goodman Matthew, who stood there +discomfited, dispossessed, unheeded, annihilated, as it were. And then, +calling the dog after her, she went in by the back court and through the +house again (for Chapel Lane was in a sad condition after the rain of +the night, and was not a pleasant pathway even in the best of times). +And she was laughing to herself at Matthew's discomfiture, and she was +singing to herself as she went out by the front door, + + There's never a maid in all the town, + But well she knows that malt's come down. + +And in the street it was "Good-morrow to you, Master Jelleyman; the rain +will do good, will it not?" and, again, "Good-morrow, Neighbor Pike; do +you know that my father is come home?" and again, "Get you within the +doorway, little Parsons, else the wagon-wheels will be over thee." And +then, when she was in the freedom of the fields, she would talk blithely +to Don Roderigo, or snatch a buttercup here or there from among the +long, lush, warm grass, or return to her careless singing: + + For malt's come down, and malt's come down-- + Oh, well she knows that malt's come down! + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +IN A WOODED LANE. + + +Now it would be extremely difficult to say with what measure of faith or +scepticism, of expectation or mere curiosity, she was now proceeding +through these meadows to the spot indicated to her by the wizard. +Probably she could not have told herself, for what was really uppermost +in her mind was a kind of malicious desire to frighten her timid Puritan +friend with the wildness of such an adventure. And then she was pretty +safe. Ostensibly she was going to Shottery to pay a visit to her +grandmother; to look at the pansies, the wall-flowers, the +forget-me-nots in the little garden, and see how the currants and +raspberries were getting on. She could hardly expect a ghost to rise +from the ground in broad daylight. And if any mere strangers happened to +be coming along the lane leading in from the Bidford road, Don Roderigo +was a sufficient guardian. On the other hand, if there was anything real +and of verity in this witchcraft--which had sought her, and not she +it--was it not possible that the wizard might on one point have been +mistaken? If her future husband were indeed to appear, would it not be +much more likely to be Parson Blaise or Tom Quiney, or young Jelleyman, +or one or other of them that she knew in everyday life? But yet she said +to herself--and there was no doubt about her absolute conviction and +certainty on this point--that, even if she were to meet one of those +coming in from Evesham, not all the magic and mystery and wizardry in +the world would drive her to marry him but of her own free good-will and +choice. + +When she had passed through the meadows and got near to the scattered +cottages and barns and orchards of the little hamlet, instead of going +forward to these, she bore away to the left, and eventually found +herself in a wide and wooded lane. She was less light of heart now; she +wished the place were not so still and lonely. It was a pretty lane, +this; the ruddy-gray road that wound between luxuriant hedges and tall +elms was barred across by alternate sunlight and shadow, and every now +and again she had glimpses of the rich and fertile country lying around, +with distant hills showing an outline serrated by trees along the pale, +summer-like sky. But there was not a human being visible anywhere, nor a +sound to be heard but the soft repeated note of the cuckoo. She wished +that there were some farm people near at hand, or a shepherd lad, or +anybody. She spoke to Roderigo, and her voice sounded strange--it +sounded as if she were afraid some one was listening. Nay, she began, +quite unreasonably, to be angry with the wizard. What business had he to +interfere with her affairs, and to drive her on to such foolish +enterprises? What right had he to challenge her to show that she was not +afraid? She was not afraid, she assured herself. She had as good a title +to walk along this lane as any one in Warwickshire. Only the thought +that as soon as she had got as far as the cross at the meeting of the +roads (this was all that had been demanded of her) she would go back to +Stratford by the public highway rather than return by this solitary +lane, for on the public highway there would be farm servants and laden +wains and carriers, and such-like comfortable and companionable objects. + +The next minute--she had almost reached the cross--her heart bounded +with an unreasoning tremor of fear: she had suddenly become aware that a +stranger was entering the lane from the wide highway beyond. She had +only one glimpse of him, for instantly and resolutely she bent her eyes +on Don Roderigo, and was determined to keep them there until this person +should have passed; and yet that one lightning-like glimpse had told her +somewhat. The stranger was young, and of a distinguished bearing and +presence; and it certainly was a singular and unusual thing that a +gentleman (as he seemed to be, although his travelling cloak concealed +most of his attire) should be going afoot and unattended. But her only +concern was to let him pass. Ghost or man as he might be, she kept her +eyes on Don Roderigo. And then, to her increased alarm, she found that +the stranger was approaching her. + +"I beseech your pardon, lady," said he, in a most respectful voice, "but +know you one in this town of the name of Master Shakespeare?" + +She certainly was startled, and even inwardly aghast; but she had a +brave will. She was determined that nothing would drive her either to +scream or to run away. And indeed when she looked up and said, rather +breathlessly, "There be several of the name, sir," she was quickly +assured that this was no ghost at all, but a substantial and living and +breathing young man, tall and dark, of a pleasant expression of face, +though in truth there was nothing in those singularly black eyes of his +but the most ordinary and matter-of-fact inquiry. + +"One Master William Shakespeare," said he, in answer to her, "that is +widely known." + +"It is my father, sir, you speak of," said she, hastily and, in fact, +somewhat ashamed of her fright. + +At this news he removed his hat and made her a gracious obeisance, yet +simply, and with not too elaborate a courtesy. + +"Since I am so fortunate," said he, "may I beg you to direct me how I +shall find the house when I get to the town? I have a letter for him, as +you may see." + +He took out a letter, and held it so that, if she liked, she might read +the superscription--"_To my loving good friend Master William +Shakespeare: Deliver these._" But Judith merely glanced at the writing. + +"'Tis from Master Ben Jonson--that you know of, doubtless, +madam--commending me to your father. But perhaps," he added, directing +toward her a curious timid look of inquiry, "it were as well that I did +not deliver it?" + +"How so, sir?" she asked. + +"I am one that is in misfortune," said he, simply; "nay, in peril." + +"Truly I am sorry for that, sir," said she, regarding him with frank +eyes of sympathy, for indeed there was a kind of sadness in his air, +that otherwise was distinguished enough, and even noble. And then she +added: "But surely that is the greater reason you should seek my +father." + +"If I dared--if I knew," he said, apparently to himself. And then he +addressed her: "If I make so bold, sweet lady, as to ask you if your +father be of the ancient faith--or well disposed toward that, even if he +do not openly profess it--I pray you set it down to my need and hard +circumstances." + +She did not seem to understand. + +"I would ask if he be not at heart with the Catholic gentlemen that are +looking for better times--for indeed I have heard it stated of him." + +"Oh no, sir--surely not," said Judith, in some alarm, for she knew quite +enough about the penal laws against priests and recusants, and would not +have her father associated in any way with these, especially as she was +talking with a stranger. + +"Nay, then, it were better I did not deliver the letter," said the young +man, with just a touch of hopelessness in his tone. "Under the +protection of your father I might have had somewhat more of liberty, +perchance; but I am content to remain as I am until I can get proofs +that will convince them in authority of my innocence; or mayhap I may +get away from the country altogether, and to my friends in Flanders. If +they would but set my good friend Walter Raleigh free from the Tower, +that also were well, for he and I might make a home for ourselves in +another land. I crave your pardon for detaining you, madam, and so bid +you farewell." + +He raised his hat and made her a most respectful obeisance, and was +about to withdraw. + +"Stay, sir," said she, scarcely knowing what she said, but with trouble +and anxiety in her gentle eyes. + +Indeed, she was somewhat bewildered. So sudden had been the shock of +surprise that she had forgotten, or very nearly forgotten, all about +ghosts and wizards, about possible lovers or husbands, and only knew +that here, in actual fact, was a stranger--and a modest young stranger, +too--that was in trouble, and yet was afraid to seek shelter and aid +from her father. That he had no reason to be thus afraid she was certain +enough; and yet she dare not assume--she had no reason for +believing--that her father was secretly inclined to favor those that +were still hoping for the re-establishment of the Catholic faith. The +fact was that her father scarcely ever spoke of such matters. He would +listen, if he happened to be in the house, to any theological discussion +that might be going on, and he would regard this or that minister or +preacher calmly, as if trying to understand the man and his opinions; +but he would take no part in the talk; and when the discussion became +disputatious, as sometimes happened, and the combatants grew warm and +took to making hot assertions, he would rise and go out idly into the +garden, and look at the young apple-trees or talk to Don Roderigo. +Indeed, at this precise moment, Judith was quite incapable of deciding +for herself which party her father would most likely be in sympathy +with--the Puritans, who were sore at heart because of the failure of the +Hampton Court Conference, or the Catholics, who were no less bitter on +account of the severity of the penal laws--and a kind of vague wish +arose in her heart that she could ask Prudence Shawe (who paid more +attention to such matters, and was, in fact, wrapped up in them) before +sending this young man away with his letter of commendation unopened. + +"Your brother-in-law, madam, Dr. Hall," said he, seeing that she did not +wish him to leave on the instant, "is well esteemed by the Catholic +gentry, as I hear." + +Judith did not answer that; she had been rapidly considering what she +could do for one in distress. + +"By your leave, sir, I would not have you go away without making +further inquiry," said she. "I will myself get to know how my father is +inclined, for indeed he never speaks of such matters to us; and sure I +am that, whatever be his opinion, no harm could come to you through +seeking his friendship. That I am sure of. If you are in distress, that +is enough; he will not ask you whence you come; nor has he censure for +any one; and that is a marvel in one that is so good a man himself, that +he hath never a word of blame for any one, neither for the highwayman +that was taken red-handed, as it were, last Sunday near to +Oxford--'Why,' says my father, 'if he take not life, and be a civil +gentleman, I grudge him not a purse or two'--nor for a lesser criminal, +my cousin Willie Hart, that but yesterday let the Portuguese +singing-bird escape from its cage. 'Well, well,' says my father, 'so +much the better, if only it can find food for itself.' Indeed, you need +fear naught but kindness and gentleness; and sure I am that he would be +but ill pleased to know that one coming from his friend Benjamin Jonson +had been in the neighborhood and gone away without having speech of +him." + +"But this is no matter of courtesy, sweet lady," said he. "It is of a +more dangerous cast; and I must be wary. If, now, you were inclined to +do as you say--to make some discreet inquiry as to your good father's +sentiments----" + +"Not from himself," said she, quickly, and with some color mounting to +her cheeks--"for he would but laugh at my speaking of such things--but +from my gossip and neighbor I think I could gain sufficient assurance +that would set your fears at rest." + +"And how should I come to know?" he said, with some hesitation--for this +looked much like asking for another meeting. + +But Judith was frank enough. If she meant to confer a kindness, she did +not stay to be too scrupulous about the manner of doing it. + +"If it were convenient that you could be here this evening," said she, +after a moment's thought, "Willie Hart and myself often walk over to +Shottery after supper. Then could I let you know." + +"But how am I to thank you for such a favor?" said he. + +"Nay, it is but little," she answered, "to do for one that comes from my +father's friend." + +"Rare Ben, as they call him," said he, more brightly. "And now I bethink +me, kind lady, that it ill becomes me to have spoken of nothing but my +own poor affairs on my first having the honor of meeting with you. +Perchance you would like to hear something of Master Jonson, and how he +does? May I accompany you on your homeward way for a space, if you are +returning to the town? The road here is quiet enough for one that is in +hiding, as well as for pleasant walking; and you are well escorted, +too," he added, looking at the grave and indifferent Don. "With such a +master as your father, and such a sweet mistress, I should not wonder if +he became as famous as Sir John Harrington's Bungey that the Prince +asked about. You have not heard of him?--the marvellous dog that Sir +John would intrust with messages all the way to the court at Greenwich; +and he would bring back the answer without more ado. I wonder not that +Prince Henry should have asked for an account of all his feats and +doings." + +Now insensibly she had turned and begun to walk toward Shottery (for she +would not ask this unhappy young man to court the light of the open +highway), and as he respectfully accompanied her his talk became more +and more cheerful, so that one would scarcely have remembered that he +was in hiding, and in peril of his life mayhap. And he quickly found +that she was most interested in Jonson as being her father's friend and +intimate. + +"Indeed, I should not much marvel to hear of his being soon in this very +town of Stratford," said he, "for he has been talking of late--nay, he +has been talking this many a day of it, but who knows when the adventure +will take place?--of travelling all the way to Scotland on foot, and +writing an account of his discoveries on the road. And then he has a +mind to get to the lake of Lomond, to make it the scene of a fisher and +pastoral play, he says; and his friend Drummond will go with him; and +they speak of getting still farther to the north, and being the guests +of the new Scotch lord, Mackenzie of Kintail, that was made a peer last +winter. Nay, friend Ben, though at times he gibes at the Scots, at other +times he will boast of his Scotch blood--for his grandfather, as I have +heard, came from Annandale--and you will often hear him say that whereas +the late Queen was a niggard and close-fisted, this Scotch King is +lavish and a generous patron. If he go to Scotland, as is his purpose, +surely he will come by way of Stratford." + +"It were ill done of him else," said Judith. But truly this young +gentleman was so bent on entertaining her with tales of his acquaintance +in London, and with descriptions of the court shows and pageants, that +she had not to trouble herself much to join in the conversation. + +"A lavish patron the King has been to him truly," he continued, stooping +to pat the Don's head, as if he would make friends with him too, "what +with the masks, and revels, and so forth. Their last tiltings at Prince +Henry's barriers exceeded everything that had gone before, as I +think--and I marvel not that Ben was found at his best, seeing how the +King had been instructing him. Nay, but it was a happy conceit to have +our young Lord of the Isles addressed by the Lady of the Lake, and have +King Arthur hand him his armor out of the clouds----" + +"But where was it, good sir?" said she (to show that she was +interested). And now he seemed so cheerful and friendly that she +ventured to steal a look at him. In truth, there was nothing very +doleful or tragic in his appearance. He was a handsomely made young man, +of about eight-and-twenty or so, with fine features, a somewhat pale and +sallow complexion (that distinguished him markedly from the rustic red +and white and sun-brown she was familiar with), and eyes of a singular +blackness and fire that were exceedingly respectful; but that could, as +any one might see, easily break into mirth. He was well habited too, for +now he had partly thrown his travelling cloak aside, and his slashed +doublet and hose and shoes were smart and clearly of a town fashion. He +wore no sword; in his belt there was only a small dagger, of Venetian +silver-work on the handle, and with a sheath of stamped crimson velvet. + +"Dear lady, you must have heard of them," he continued, lightly--"I mean +of the great doings in the banqueting-house at Whitehall, when Prince +Henry challenged so many noble lords. 'Twas a brave sight, I assure you; +the King and Queen were there, and the ambassadors from Spain and +Venice, and a great and splendid assemblage. And then, when Ben's +speeches came to be spoken, there was Cyril Davy, that is said to have +the best woman's voice in London, as the Lady of the Lake, and he came +forward and said, + + 'Lest any yet should doubt, or might mistake + What Nymph I am, behold the ample Lake + Of which I'm styled; and near it Merlin's tomb;' + +and then King Arthur appeared, and our young Lord of the Isles had a +magic shield handed to him. Oh, 'twas a noble sight, I warrant you! And +I heard that the Duke of Lennox and the Earls of Arundel and Southampton +and all of them were but of one mind, that friend Ben had never done +better." + +Indeed, the young man, as they loitered along the pretty wooded lane in +the hush of the warm still noon (there was scarce enough wind to make a +rustle in the great branching elms), and as he talked of all manner of +things for the entertainment of this charming companion whom a happy +chance had thrown in his way, seemed to be well acquainted with the +court and its doings, and all the busy life of London. If she gathered +rightly, he had himself been present when the King and the nobles went +in the December of the previous year to Deptford to witness the +launching of the great ship of the East India Company--the _Trade's +Encrease_, it was called--for he described the magnificent banquet in +the chief cabin, and how the King gave to Sir Thomas Smith, the +Governor, a fine chain of gold, with his portrait set in a jewel, and +how angry his Majesty became when they found that the ship could not be +launched on account of the state of the tide. But when he again brought +in the name of Jonson, and said how highly the King thought of his +writings, and what his Majesty had said of this or the other device or +masque that had been commanded of him, Judith grew at length to be not +so pleased; and she said, with some asperity, "But the King holds my +father in honor also, for he wrote him a letter with his own hand." + +"I heard not of that," said he, but of course without appearing to doubt +her word. + +"Nay, but I saw it," said she--"I saw the letter; and I did not think it +well that my father should give it to Julius Shawe, for there are some +others that would have valued it as much as he--yes, and been more proud +of it, too." + +"His own daughter, perchance?" he said gently. + +Judith did not speak. It was a sore subject with her; indeed, she had +cried in secret, and bitterly, when she learned that the letter had been +casually given away, for her father seemed to put no great store by it. +However, that had nothing to do with this unhappy young gentleman that +was in hiding. And soon she had dismissed it from her mind, and was +engaged in fixing the exact time at which, as she hoped, she would be +able to bring him that assurance, or that caution, in the evening. + +"I think it must be the province of women to be kind to the +unfortunate," said he, as they came in sight of the cottages; and he +seemed to linger and hesitate in his walk, as if he were afraid of going +further. + +"It is but a small kindness," said she; "and I hope it will bring you +and my father together. He has but just returned from London, and you +will not have much news to give him from his friend; but you will be +none the less welcome, for all are welcome to him, but especially those +whom he can aid." + +"If I were to judge of the father by the daughter, I should indeed +expect a friendly treatment," said he, with much courtesy. + +"Nay, but it is so simple a matter," said she. + +"Then fare you well, Mistress Judith," said he, "if I may make so bold +as to guess at a name that I have heard named in London." + +"Oh, no, sir?" said she, glancing up with some inquiry. + +"But indeed, indeed," said he, gallantly. "And who can wonder? 'Twas +friend Ben that I heard speak of you; I marvel not that he carried your +praises so far. But now, sweet lady, that I see you would go--and I wish +not to venture nearer the village there--may I beseech of you at parting +a further grace and favor? It is that you would not reveal to any one, +no matter what trust you may put in them, that you have seen me or +spoken with me. You know not my name, it is true, though I would +willingly confide it to you--indeed, it is Leofric Hope, madam; but if +it were merely known that you had met with a stranger, curious eyes +might be on the alert." + +"Fear not, sir," said she, looking at him in her frank way--and there +was a kind of friendliness, too, and sympathy in her regard. "Your +secret is surely safe in my keeping. I can promise you that none shall +know through me that you are in the neighborhood. Farewell, good sir. I +hope your fortunes will mend speedily." + +"God keep you, sweet Mistress Judith," said he, raising his hat and +bowing low, and not even asking to be allowed to take her hand. "If my +ill fortune should carry it so that I see you not again, at least I will +treasure in my memory a vision of kindness and beauty that I trust will +remain forever there. Farewell, gentle lady; I am your debtor." + +And so they parted; and he stood looking after her and the great dog as +they passed through the meadows; and she was making all the haste she +might, for although, when Judith's father was at home, the dinner hour +was at twelve instead of at eleven, still it would take her all the time +to be punctual, and she was scrupulous not to offend. He stood looking +after her as long as she was in sight, and then he turned away, saying +to himself: + +"Why, our Ben did not tell us a tithe of the truth!--for why?--because +it was with his tongue, and not with his pen, that he described her. By +heaven, she is a marvel!--and I dare be sworn, now, that half the clowns +in Stratford imagine themselves in love with her." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WITHIN-DOORS. + + +When in the afternoon Judith sought out her gentle gossip, and with much +cautious tact and discretion began to unfold her perplexities to her, +Prudence was not only glad enough to hear nothing further of the +wizard--who seemed to have been driven out of Judith's mind altogether +by the actual occurrences of the morning--but also she became possessed +with a secret wonder and joy; for she thought that at last her dearest +and closest friend was awaking to a sense of the importance of spiritual +things, and that henceforth there would be a bond of confidence between +them far more true and abiding than any that had been before. But soon +she discovered that politics had a good deal to do with these hesitating +inquiries; and at length the bewildered Prudence found the conversation +narrowing and narrowing itself to this definite question: Whether, +supposing there were a young man charged with complicity in a Catholic +plot, or perhaps having been compromised in some former affair of the +kind, and supposing him to appeal to her father, would he, Judith's +father, probably be inclined to shelter him and conceal him, and give +him what aid was possible until he might get away from the country? + +"But what do you mean, Judith?" said Prudence, in dismay. "Have you seen +any one? What is't you mean? Have you seen one of the desperate men that +were concerned with Catesby?" + +Indeed, it was not likely that either of these two Warwickshire maidens +had already forgotten the terrible tidings that rang through the land +but a few years before, when the Gunpowder Treason was discovered; nor +how the conspirators fled into this very county; nor yet how in the +following January, on a bitterly cold and snowy day, there was brought +into the town the news of the executions in St. Paul's Churchyard and at +Westminster. And, in truth, when Prudence Shawe mentioned Catesby's +name, Judith's cheek turned pale. It was but for an instant. She +banished the ungenerous thought the moment that it occurred to her. No, +she was sure the unhappy young man who had appealed to her compassion +could not have been concerned in any such bloody enterprise. His speech +was too gentle for that. Had he not declared that he only wanted time to +prove his innocence? It is true he had said something about his friends +in Flanders, and often enough had she heard the Puritan divines +denouncing Flanders as the very hot-bed of the machinations of the +Jesuits; but that this young man might have friends among the Jesuits +did not appear to her as being in itself a criminal thing, any more than +the possibility of his being a Catholic was sufficient of itself to +deprive him of her frank and generous sympathy. + +"I may not answer you yea nor nay, sweet mouse," said she; "but assure +yourself that I am not in league with any desperate villain. I but put a +case. We live in quiet times now, do we not, good Prue? and I take it +that those who like not the country are free to leave it. But tell me, +if my father were to speak openly, which of the parties would he most +affect? And how stands he with the King? Nay, the King himself, of what +religion is he at heart, think you?" + +"These be questions!" said Prudence, staring aghast at such ignorance. + +"I but use my ears," said Judith, indifferently, "and the winds are not +more variable than the opinions that one listens to. Well you know it, +Prue. Here is one that says the King is in conscience a papist, as his +mother was; and that he gave a guarantee to the Catholic gentry ere he +came to the throne; and that soon or late we shall have mass again; and +then comes another with the story that the Pope is hot and angry because +the King misuseth him in his speech, calling him Antichrist and the like +and that he has complained to the French King on the matter, and that +there is even talk of excommunication. What can one believe? How is one +to know? Indeed, good mouse, you would have me more anxious about such +things; but why should one add to one's difficulties? I am content to be +like my father, and stand aside from the quarrel." + +"Your wit is too great for me, dear Judith," her friend said, rather +sadly; "and I will not argue with you. But well I know there may be a +calmness that is of ignorance and indifference, and that is slothful and +sinful; and there may be a calmness that is of assured wisdom and +knowledge of the truth, and that I trust your father has attained to. +That he should keep aside from disputes, I can well understand." + +"But touching the King, dear cousin," said Judith, who had her own ends +in view. "How stands my father with the King and his religion? Nay, but +I know, and every one knows, that in all other matters they are friends; +for your brother has the King's letter----" + +"That I wish you had yourself, Judith, since your heart is set upon it," +said her companion, gently. + +Judith did not answer that. + +"But as regards religion, sweet Prue, what think you my father would +most favor, were there a movement any way?--a change to the ancient +faith perchance?" + +She threw out the question with a kind of studied carelessness, as if it +were a mere matter of speculation; but there was a touch of warmth in +Prudence's answer: + +"What, then, Judith? You think he would disturb the peace of the land, +and give us over again to the priests and their idol-worship? I trow +not." Then something seemed to occur to her suddenly. "But if you have +any doubt, Judith, I can set your mind at rest--of a surety I can." + +"How, then, dear mouse?" + +"I will tell you the manner of it. No longer ago than yesterday evening +I was seated at the window reading--it was the volume that Dr. Hall +brought me from Worcester, and that I value more and more the longer I +read it--and your father came into the house asking for Julius. So I put +the book on the table, with the face downward, and away I went to seek +for my brother. Well, then, sweet cousin, when I came back to the room, +there was your father standing at the window reading the book that I had +left, and I would not disturb him; and when he had finished the page, +he turned, saying, 'Good bishop! good bishop!' and putting down the book +on the table just as he had found it. Dear Judith, I hope you will think +it no harm and no idle curiosity that made me take up the book as soon +as my brother was come in, and examine the passage, and mark it----" + +"Harm!--bless thee, sweetheart!" Judith exclaimed. And she added, +eagerly: "But have you the book? Will you read it to me? Is it about the +King? Do, dear cousin, read to me what it was that my father approved. +Beshrew me! but I shall have to take to school lessons, after all, lest +I outlive even your gentle patience." + +Straightway Prudence had gone to a small cupboard of boxes in which she +kept all her most valued possessions, and from thence she brought a +stout little volume, which, as Judith perceived, had a tiny book-mark of +satin projecting from the red-edged leaves. + +"Much comfort indeed have I found in these Comfortable Notes," said she. +"I wish, Judith, you, that can think of everything, would tell me how I +am to show to Dr. Hall that I am more and more grateful to him for his +goodness. What can I do?--words are such poor things!" + +"But the passage, good Prue--what was't he read? I pray you let me +hear," said Judith, eagerly; for here, indeed, might be a key to many +mysteries. + +"Listen, then," said her companion, opening the book. "The Bishop, you +understand, Judith, is speaking of the sacrifices the Jews made to the +Lord, and he goes on to say: + +"'Thus had this people their peace-offerings; that is, duties of +thankfulness to their God for the peace and prosperity vouchsafed unto +them. And most fit it was that He should often be thanked for such +favors. The like mercies and goodness remain to us at this day: are we +either freed from the duty or left without means to perform it? No, no; +but as they had oxen and kine, and sheep and goats, then appointed and +allowed, so have we the calves of our lips and the sacrifice of +thanksgiving still remaining for us, and as strictly required of us as +these (in those days) were of them. Offer them up, then, with a free +heart and with a feeling soul. Our peace is great; our prosperity +comfortable; our God most sweet and kind; and shall we not offer? The +public is sweet, the private is sweet, and forget you to offer? We lay +us down and take our rest, and this our God maketh us dwell in safety. +Oh, where is your offering? We rise again and go to our labor, and a dog +is not heard to move his tongue among us: owe we no offering? O Lord, O +Lord, make us thankful to Thee for these mercies: the whole state we +live in, for the common and our several souls, for several mercies now +many years enjoyed! O touch us; O turn us from our fearful dulness, and +abusing of this so sweet, so long, and so happy peace! Continue thy +sacred servant'--surely you know, Judith, whom he means--'the chiefest +means under Thee of this our comfort, and ever still furnish him with +wise helps, truly fearing Thee, and truly loving him. Let our heads go +to the grave in this peace, if it may be Thy blessed pleasure, and our +eyes never see the change of so happy an estate. Make us thankful and +full of peace-offerings; be Thou still ours, and ever merciful. Amen! +Amen!'" + +"And what said he, sweet Prue--what said my father?" Judith asked, +though her eyes were distant and thoughtful. + +"'Good bishop! good bishop!' said he, as if he were right well pleased, +and he put down the book on the table. Nay, you may be certain, Judith, +that your father would have naught to do with the desperate men that +would fain upset the country, and bring wars among us, and hand us over +to the Pope again. I have heard of such; I have heard that many of the +great families have but a lip loyalty, and have malice at their heart, +and would willingly plunge the land in blood if they could put the +priests in power over us again. Be sure your father is not of that +mind." + +"But if one were in distress, Prudence," said the other, absently, +"perchance with a false charge hanging over him that could be +disproved--say that one were in hiding, and only anxious to prove his +innocence, or to get away from the country, is my father likely to look +coldly on such a one in misfortune? No, no, surely, sweet mouse!" + +"But of whom do you speak, Judith?" exclaimed her friend, regarding her +with renewed alarm. "It cannot be that you know of such a one? Judith, I +beseech you speak plainly! You have met with some stranger that is +unknown to your own people? You said you had but put a case, but now you +speak as if you knew the man. I beseech you, for the love between us, +speak plainly to me, Judith!" + +"I may not," said the other rising. And then she added, more lightly, +"Nay, have no fear, sweet Prue; if there be any danger, it is not I that +run it, and soon there will be no occasion for my withholding the +secret from you, if secret there be." + +"I cannot understand you, Judith," said her friend, with the pale, +gentle face full of a tender wistfulness and anxiety. + +"Such timid eyes!" said Judith, laughing good-naturedly. "Indeed, +Prudence, I have seen no ghost, and goodman Wizard has failed me +utterly; nor sprite nor phantom has been near me. In sooth I have buried +poor Tom's bit of rosemary to little purpose. And now I must get me +home, for Master Parson comes this afternoon, and I will but wait the +preaching to hear Susan sing: 'tis worth the penance. Farewell, sweet +mouse; get you rid of your alarm. The sky will clear all in good time." + +So they kissed each other, and she left; still in much perplexity, it is +true, but nevertheless resolved to tell the young man honestly and +plainly the result of her inquiries. + +As it turned out, she was to hear something more about the King and +politics and religion that afternoon; for when she got home to New +Place, Master Blaise was already there, and he was eagerly discussing +with Judith's mother and her sister the last news that had been brought +from London; or rather he was expounding it, with emphatic assertions +and denunciations that the women-folk received for the most part with a +mute but quite apparent sympathy. He was a young man of about +six-and-twenty, rather inclined to be stout, but with strongly lined +features, fair complexion and hair, an intellectual forehead, and sharp +and keen gray eyes. The one point that recommended him to Judith's +favor--which he openly and frankly, but with perfect independence, +sought--was the uncompromising manner in which he professed his +opinions. These frequently angered her, and even at times roused her to +passionate indignation; and yet, oddly enough, she had a kind of lurking +admiration for the very honesty that scorned to curry favor with her by +means of any suppression or evasion. It may be that there was a trace of +the wisdom of the serpent in this attitude of the young parson, who was +shrewd-headed as well as clear-eyed, and was as quick as any to read the +fearless quality of Judith's character. At all events, he would not +yield to any of her prejudices; he would not stoop to flatter her; he +would not abate one jot of his protests against the vanity and pride, +the heathenish show and extravagance, of women; the heinousness and +peril of indifferentism in matters of doctrine; and the sinfulness of +the life of them that countenanced stage plays and such like devilish +iniquities. It was this last that was the real stumbling-block and +contention between them. Sometimes Judith's eyes burned. Once she rose +and got out of the room. "If I were a man, Master Parson," she was +saying to herself, with shut teeth, "by the life of me I would whip you +from Stratford town to Warwick!" And indeed there was ordinarily a kind +of armed truce between these two, so that no stranger or acquaintance +could very easily decide what their precise relations were, although +every one knew that Judith's mother and sister held the young divine in +great favor, and would fain have had him of the family. + +At this moment of Judith's entrance he was much exercised, as has been +said, on account of the news that was but just come from London--how +that the King was driving at still further impositions because of the +Commons begrudging him supplies; and naturally Master Blaise warmly +approved of the Commons, that had been for granting the liberties to the +Puritans which the King had refused. And not only was this the +expression of a general opinion on the subject, but he maintained as an +individual--and as a very emphatic individual too--that the prerogatives +of the crown, the wardships and purveyances and what not, were monstrous +and abominable, and a way of escape from the just restraint of +Parliament, and he declared with a sudden vehemence that he would rather +perish at the stake than contribute a single benevolence to the royal +purse. Judith's mother, a tall, slight, silver-haired woman, with eyes +that had once been of extraordinary beauty, but now were grown somewhat +sad and worn, and her daughter Susanna Hall, who was darker than her +sister Judith as regarded hair and eyebrows, but who had blue-gray eyes +of a singular clearness and quickness and intelligence, listened and +acquiesced; but perhaps they were better pleased when they found the +young parson come out of that vehement mood; though still he was sharp +of tongue and sarcastic, saying as an excuse for the King that now he +was revenging himself on the English Puritans for the treatment he had +received at the hands of the Scotch Presbyterians, who had harried him +not a little. He had not a word for Judith; he addressed his discourse +entirely to the other two. And she was content to sit aside, for indeed +this discontent with the crown on the part of the Puritans was nothing +strange or novel to her, and did not in the least help to solve her +present perplexity. + +And now the maids (for Judith's father would have no serving-men, nor +stable-men, nor husbandmen of any grade whatever, come within-doors; the +work of the house was done entirely by women-folk) entered to prepare +the long oaken table for supper, seeing which Master Blaise suggested +that before that meal it might be as well to devote a space to divine +worship. So the maids were bidden to stay their preparations, and to +remain, seating themselves dutifully on a bench brought crosswise, and +the others sat at the table in their usual chairs, while the preacher +opened the large Bible that had been fetched for him, and proceeded to +read the second chapter of the Book of Jeremiah, expounding as he went +along. This running commentary was, in fact, a sermon applied to all the +evils of the day, as the various verses happened to offer texts; and the +ungodliness and the vanity and the turning away from the Lord that +Jeremiah lamented were attributed in no unsparing fashion to the town of +Stratford and the inhabitants thereof: "Hear ye the word of the Lord, O +house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: thus saith +the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are +gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?" +Nor did he spare himself and his own calling: "The priests said not, +Where is the Lord? and they that should minister the law knew me not: +the pastors also offended against me, and the prophets prophesied in +Baal, and went after things that did not profit." And there were bold +paraphrases and inductions, too: "What hast thou now to do in the way of +Egypt, to drink the waters of Nilus? or what makest thou in the way of +Asshur, to drink the waters of the river?" Was not that the seeking of +strange objects--of baubles, and jewels, and silks, and other +instruments of vanity--from abroad, from the papist land of France, to +lure the eye and deceive the senses, and turn away the mind from the +dwelling on holy things? "Can a maid forget her ornament, or the bride +her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number." This +was, indeed, a fruitful text, and there is no doubt that Judith was +indirectly admonished to regard the extreme simplicity of her mother's +and sister's attire; so that there can be no excuse whatever for her +having in her mind at this very moment some vague fancy that as soon as +supper was over she would go to her own chamber and take out a certain +beaver hat. She did not often wear it, for it was a present that her +father had once brought her from London, and it was ranked among her +most precious treasures; but surely on this evening (she was saying to +herself) it was fitting that she should wear it, not from any personal +vanity, but to the end that this young gentleman, who seemed to know +several of her father's acquaintances in London, should understand that +the daughter of the owner of New Place was no mere country wench, +ignorant of what was in the fashion. It is grievous that she should have +been concerned with such frivolous thoughts. However, the chapter came +to an end in due time. + +Then good Master Blaise said that they would sing the +One-hundred-and-thirty-seventh Psalm; and this was truly what Judith had +been waiting for. She herself was but an indifferent singer. She could +do little more than hum such snatches of old songs as occurred to her +during her careless rambles, and that only for her private ear; but her +sister Susanna had a most noble, pure, and clear contralto voice, that +could at any time bring tears to Judith's eyes, and that, when she +joined in the choral parts of the service in church, made many a young +man's heart tremble strangely. In former days she used to sing to the +accompaniment of her lute; but that was given over now. Once or twice +Judith had brought the discarded instrument to her, and said, + +"Susan, sweet Susan, for once, for once only, sing to me '_The rose is +from my garden gone_.'" + +"Why, then--to make you cry, silly one?" the elder sister would answer. +"What profit those idle tears, child, that are but a luxury and a sinful +indulgence?" + +"Susan, but once!" Judith would plead (with the tears almost already in +her eyes)--"once only, '_The rose is from my garden gone_.' There is +none can sing it like you." + +But the elder sister was obdurate, as she considered was right; and +Judith, as she walked through the meadows in the evening, would +sometimes try the song for herself, thinking, or endeavoring to think, +that she could hear in it the pathetic vibrations of her sister's voice. +Indeed, at this moment the small congregation assembled around the table +would doubtless have been deeply shocked had they known with what a +purely secular delight Judith was now listening to the words of the +psalm. There was but one Bible in the house, so that Master Blaise read +out the first two lines (lest any of the maids might have a lax memory): + + "When as we sat in Babylon, + The rivers round about;" + +and that they sang; then they proceeded in like manner: + + "And in remembrance of Sion, + The tears for grief burst out; + We hanged our harps and instruments + The willow-trees upon; + For in that place men for their use + Had planted many a one." + +It is probable, indeed, that Judith was so wrapped up in her sister's +singing that it did not occur to her to ask herself whether this psalm, +too, had not been chosen with some regard to the good preacher's +discontent with those in power. At all events, he read out, and they +sang, no further than these two verses: + + "Then they to whom we prisoners were, + Said to us tauntingly: + Now let us hear your Hebrew songs + And pleasant melody. + Alas! (said we) who can once frame + His sorrowful heart to sing + The praises of our loving God + Thus under a strange king? + + "But yet if I Jerusalem + Out of my heart let slide, + Then let my fingers quite forget + The warbling harp to guide; + And let my tongue within my mouth + Be tied forever fast, + If that I joy before I see + Thy full deliverance past." + +Then there was a short and earnest prayer; and, that over, the maids set +to work to get forward the supper; and young Willie Hart was called in +from the garden--Judith's father being away at Wilmcote on some +important business there. In due course of time, supper being finished, +and a devout thanksgiving said, Judith was free; and instantly she fled +away to her own chamber to don her bravery. It was not vanity (she again +said to herself), it was that her father's daughter should show that she +knew what was due to him and his standing in the town; and indeed, as +she now regarded herself in the little mirror--she wore a half-circle +farthingale, and had on one of her smartest ruffs--and when she set on +her head of short brown curls this exceedingly pretty hat (it was a +gray beaver above, and underneath it was lined with black satin, and all +around the rim was a row of hollow brass beads that tinkled like small +bells), she was quite well satisfied with her appearance, and that she +was fairly entitled to be. Then she went down and summoned her +sweetheart Willie, to act as her companion and protector and ally; and +together these two passed forth from the house--into the golden clear +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A FAREWELL. + + +Always, when she got out into the open air, her spirits rose into a pure +content; and now, as they were walking westward through the peaceful +meadows, the light of the sunset was on her face; and there was a kind +of radiance there, and careless happiness, that little Willie Hart +scarce dared look upon, so abject and wistful was the worship that the +small lad laid at his pretty cousin's feet. He was a sensitive and +imaginative boy; and the joy and crown of his life was to be allowed to +walk out with his cousin Judith, her hand holding his; and it did not +matter to him whether she spoke to him, or whether she was busy with her +private thinking, and left him to his own pleasure and fancies. He had +many of these; for he had heard of all kinds of great and noble +persons--princesses, and empresses, and queens; but to him his cousin +Judith was the Queen of queens; he could not believe that any one ever +was more beautiful--or more gentle and lovable, in a magical and +mystical way--than she was; and in church, on the quiet Sunday mornings, +when the choir was singing, and all else silence, and dreams were busy +in certain small brains, if there were any far-away pictures of angels +in white and shining robes, coming toward one through rose-red celestial +gardens, be sure they had Judith's eyes and the light and witchery of +these; and that, when they spoke (if such wonderful creatures vouchsafed +to speak), it was with the softness of Judith's voice. So it is not to +be conceived that Judith, who knew something of this mute and secret +adoration, had any malice in her heart when, on this particular +evening, she began to question the boy as to the kind of sweetheart he +would choose when he was grown up: the fact being that she spoke from +idleness, and a wish to be friendly and companionable, her thoughts +being really occupied elsewhere. + +"Come now, Willie, tell me," said she, "what sort of one you will +choose, some fifteen or twenty years hence, when you are grown up to be +a man, and will be going abroad from place to place. In Coventry, +perchance, you may find her, or over at Evesham, or in Warwick, or +Worcester, or as far away as Oxford; in all of them are plenty of pretty +maidens to be had for the asking, so you be civil-spoken enough, and +bear yourself well. Now tell me your fancy, sweetheart; what shall her +height be?" + +"Why, you know, Judith," said he, rather shamefacedly. "Just your +height." + +"My height?" she said, carelessly. "Why, that is neither the one way nor +the other. My father says I am just as high as his heart; and with that +I am content. Well, now, her hair--what color of hair shall she have?" + +"Like yours, Judith; and it must come round about her ears like yours," +said he, glancing up for a moment. + +"Eyes: must they be black, or gray, or brown, or blue? nay, you shall +have your choice, sweetheart Willie; there be all sorts, if you go far +enough afield and look around you. What eyes do you like, now?" + +"You know well, Judith, there is no one has such pretty eyes as you; +these are the ones I like, and no others." + +"Bless the boy!--would you have her to be like me?" + +"Just like you, Judith--altogether," said he, promptly; and he added, +more shyly, "for you know there is none as pretty, and they all of them +say that." + +"Marry, now!" said she, with a laugh. "Here be news. What? When you go +choosing your sweetheart, would you pick out one that had as large hands +as these?" + +She held forth her hands, and regarded them; and yet with some +complacency, for she had put on a pair of scented gloves which her +father had brought her from London, and these were beautifully +embroidered with silver, for he knew her tastes, and that she was not +afraid to wear finery, whatever the preachers might say. + +"Why, you know, Judith," said he, "that there is none has such pretty +hands as you, nor so white, nor so soft." + +"Heaven save us! am I perfection, then?" she cried (but she was +pleased). "Must she be altogether like me?" + +"Just so, Cousin Judith; altogether like you; and she must wear pretty +things like you, and walk as you walk, and speak like you, else I shall +not love her nor go near her, though she were the Queen herself." + +"Well said, sweetheart Willie!--you shall to the court some day, if you +can speak so fair. And shall I tell you, now, how you must woo and win +such a one?" she continued, lightly. "It may be you shall find her here +or there--in a farm-house, perchance; or she may be a great lady with +her coach; or a wench in an ale-house; but if she be as you figure her, +this is how you shall do: you must not grow up to be too nice and fine +and delicate-handed; you must not bend too low for her favor; but be her +lord and governor; and you must be ready to fight for her, if need there +be--yes, you shall not suffer a word to be said in dispraise of her; and +for slanderers you must have a cudgel and a stout arm withal; and yet +you must be gentle with her, because she is a woman; and yet not too +gentle, for you are a man; and you must be no slape-face, with whining +through the nose that we are all devilish and wicked and the children of +sin; and you must be no tavern-seeker, with oaths and drunken jests and +the like; and when you find her you must be the master of her--and yet a +gentle master: marry, I cannot tell you more; but, as I hope for heaven, +sweet Willie, you will do well and fairly if she loves thee half as much +as I do." + +And she patted the boy's head. What sudden pang was it that went through +his heart? + +"They say you are going to marry Parson Blaise, Judith," said he, +looking up at her. + +"Do they, now?" said she, with a touch of color in her face. "They are +too kind that would take from me the business of choosing for myself." + +"Is it true, Judith?" + +"It is but idle talk; heed it not, sweetheart," said she, rather +sharply. "I would they were as busy with their fingers as with their +tongues; there would be more wool spun in Warwickshire!" + +But here she remembered that she had no quarrel with the lad, who had +but innocently repeated the gossip he had heard; and so she spoke to him +in a more gentle fashion; and, as they were now come to a parting of the +ways, she said that she had a message to deliver, and bade him go on by +himself to the cottage, and have some flowers gathered for her from out +of the garden by the time she should arrive. He was a biddable boy, and +went on without further question. Then she turned off to the left, and +in a few minutes was in the wide and wooded lane where she was to meet +the young gentleman that had appealed to her friendliness. + +And there, sure enough, he was; and as he came forward, hat in hand, to +greet her, those eloquent black eyes of his expressed so much pleasure +(and admiration of a respectful kind) that Judith became for a moment a +trifle self-conscious, and remembered that she was in unusually brave +attire. There may have been something else: some quick remembrance of +the surprise and alarm of the morning; and also--in spite of her +determination to banish such unworthy fancies--some frightened doubt as +to whether, after all, there might not be a subtle connection between +her meeting with this young gentleman and the forecasts of the wizard. +This was but for a moment, but it confused her in what she had intended +to say (for, in crossing the meadows, she had been planning out certain +speeches as well as talking idly to Willie Hart), and she was about to +make some stumbling confession to the effect that she had obtained no +clear intelligence from her gossip Prudence Shawe, when the young +gentleman himself absolved her from all further difficulty. + +"I beseech your pardon, sweet lady," said he, "that I have caused you so +much trouble, and that to no end; for I am of a mind now not to carry +the letter to your father, whatever hopes there might be of his sympathy +and friendship." + +She stared in surprise. + +"Nay, but, good sir," said she, "since you have the letter, and are so +near to Stratford, that is so great a distance from London, surely it +were a world of pities you did not see my father. Not that I can +honestly gather that he would have any favor for a desperate enterprise +upsetting the peace of the land----" + +"I am in none such, Mistress Judith, believe me," said he, quickly. "But +it behooves me to be cautious; and I have heard that within the last few +hours which summons me away. If I were inclined to run the risk, there +is no time at this present: and what I can do now is to try to thank you +for the kindness you have shown to one that has no habit of forgetting." + +"You are going away forthwith?" said she. + +There was no particular reason why she should be sorry at his departure +from the neighborhood, except that he was an extraordinarily +gentle-spoken young man, and of a courteous breeding, whom her father, +as she thought, would have been pleased to welcome as being commended +from his friend Ben Jonson. Few visitors came to New Place; the faces to +be met with there were grown familiar year after year. It seemed a pity +that this stranger--and so fair-spoken a stranger, moreover--should be +close at hand, without making her father's acquaintance. + +"Yes, sweet lady," said he, in the same respectful way, "it is true that +I must quit my present lodging for a time; but I doubt whether I could +find anywhere a quieter or securer place--nay, I have no reason to fear +you; I will tell you freely that it is Bassfield Farm, that is on the +left before you go down the hill to Bidford; and it is like enough I may +come back thither, when that I see how matters stand with me in London." + +And then he glanced at her with a certain diffidence. + +"Perchance I am too daring," said he; "and yet your courtesy makes me +bold. Were I to communicate with you when I return----" + +He paused, and his hesitation well became him; it was more eloquent in +its modesty than many words. + +"That were easily done," said Judith at once, and with her usual +frankness; "but I must tell you, good sir, that any written message you +might send me I should have to show to my friend and gossip Prudence +Shawe, that reads and writes for me, being so skilled in that; and when +you said that to no one was the knowledge to be given that you were in +this neighborhood----" + +"Sweet lady," said he, instantly, with much gratitude visible in those +handsome dark eyes, "if I may so far trespass on your goodness, I would +leave that also within your discretion. One that you have chosen to be +your friend must needs be trustworthy--nay, I am sure of that." + +"But my father too, good sir----" + +"Nay, not so," said he, with some touch of entreaty in his voice. "Take +it not ill of me, but one that is in peril must use precautions for his +safety, even though they savor of ill manners and suspicion." + +"As you will, sir--as you will; I know little of such matters," Judith +said. "But yet I know that you do wrong to mistrust my father." + +"Nay, dearest lady," he said, quickly, "it is you that do me wrong to +use such words. I mistrust him not; but, indeed, I dare not disclose to +him the charge that is brought against me until I have clearer proofs of +my innocence, and these I hope to have in time, when I may present +myself to your father without fear. Meanwhile, sweet Mistress Judith, I +can but ill express my thanks to you that you have vouchsafed to lighten +the tedium of my hiding through these few words that have passed between +us. Did you know the dulness of the days at the farm--for sad thoughts +are but sorry companions--you would understand my gratitude toward +you----" + +"Nay, nothing, good sir, nothing," said she; and then she paused, in +some difficulty. She did not like to bid him farewell without any +reference whatsoever to the future; for in truth she wished to hear more +of him, and how his fortunes prospered. And yet she hesitated about +betraying so much interest--of however distant and ordinary a kind--in +the affairs of a stranger. Her usual frank sympathy conquered: besides, +was not this unhappy young man the friend of her father's friend? + +"Is it to the farm that you return when you have been to London?" she +asked. + +"I trust so: better security I could not easily find elsewhere; and my +well-wishers have means of communication with me, so that I can get the +news there. Pray Heaven I may soon be quit of this skulking in corners! +I like it not: it is not the life of a free man." + +"I hope your fortunes will mend, sir, and speedily," said she, and there +was an obvious sincerity in her voice. + +"Why," said he, with a laugh--for, indeed, this young man, to be one in +peril of his life, bore himself with a singularly free and undaunted +demeanor; and he was not looking around him in a furtive manner, as if +he feared to be observed, but was allowing his eyes to rest on Judith's +eyes, and on the details of her costume (which he seemed to approve), in +a quite easy and unconcerned manner--"the birds and beasts we hunt are +allowed to rest at times, but a man in hiding has no peace nor freedom +from week's end to week's end--no, nor at any moment of the day or +night. And if the good people that shelter him are not entirely of his +own station, and if he cares to have but little speech with them, and if +the only book in the house be the family Bible, then the days are like +to pass slowly with him. Can you wonder, sweet Mistress Judith," he +continued, turning his eyes to the ground in a modest manner, "that I +shall carry away the memory of this meeting with you as a treasure, and +dwell on it, and recall the kindness of each word you have spoken?" + +"In truth, no, good sir," she said, with a touch of color in her cheeks, +that caught the warm golden light shining over from the west. "I would +not have you think them of any importance, except the hope that matters +may go well with you." + +"And if they should," said he, "or if they should go ill, and if I were +to presume to think that you cared to know them, when I return to +Bassfield I might make so bold as to send you some brief tidings, +through your friend Mistress Prudence Shawe, that I am sure must be +discreet, since she has won your confidence. But why should I do so?" he +added, after a second. "Why should I trouble you with news of one whose +good or evil fortune cannot concern you?" + +"Nay, sir, I wish you well," said she, simply, "and would fain hear +better tidings of your condition. If you may not come at present to New +Place, where you would have better counsel than I can give you, at least +you may remember that there is one in the household there that will be +glad when she hears of your welfare, and better pleased still when she +learns that you are free to make her father's friendship." + +This was clearly a dismissal; and after a few more words of gratitude on +his part (he seemed almost unable to take away his eyes from her face, +or to say all that he would fain say of thanks for her gracious +intervention and sympathy) they parted; and forthwith Judith--now with a +much lighter heart, for this interview had cost her not a little +embarrassment and anxiety--hastened away back through the lane in the +direction of the barns and gardens of Shottery. All these occurrences of +the day had happened so rapidly that she had had but little time to +reflect over them; but now she was clearly glad that she should be able +to talk over the whole affair with Prudence Shawe. There would be +comfort in that, and also safety; for, if the truth must be told, that +wild and bewildering fancy that perchance the wizard had prophesied +truly would force itself on her mind in a disquieting manner. But she +strove to reason herself and laugh herself out of such imaginings. She +had plenty of courage and a strong will. From the first she had made +light of the wizard's pretensions; she was not going to alarm herself +about the possible future consequences of this accidental meeting. And, +indeed, when she recalled the particulars of that meeting, she came to +think that the circumstances of the young man could not be so very +desperate. He did not speak nor look like one in imminent peril; his gay +description of the masques and entertainments of the court was not the +talk of a man seriously and really in danger of his life. Perhaps he had +been in some thoughtless escapade, and was waiting for the bruit of it +to blow over: perhaps he was unused to confinement, and may have +exaggerated (for this also occurred to her) somewhat in order to win her +sympathy. But, anyhow, he was in some kind of misfortune or trouble, and +she was sorry for him; and she thought that if Prudence Shawe could see +him, and observe how well-bred and civil-spoken and courteous a young +gentleman he seemed to be, she, too, would pity the dulness of the life +he must be leading at the farm, and be glad to do anything to relieve +such a tedium. In truth, by the time Judith was drawing near her +grandmother's cottage, she had convinced herself that there was no dark +mystery connected with this young man; that she had not been holding +converse with any dangerous villain or conspirator; and that soon +everything would be cleared up, and perhaps he himself present himself +at New Place, with Ben Jonson's letter in his hand. So she was in a +cheerful enough frame of mind when she arrived at the cottage. + +This was a picturesque little building of brick and timber, with a +substantial roof of thatch, and irregularly placed small windows; and it +was prettily set in front of a wild and variegated garden, and of course +all the golden glow of the west was now flooding the place with its +beautiful light, and causing the little rectangular panes in the open +casements to gleam like jewels. And here, at the wooden gate of the +garden, was Willie Hart, who seemed to have been using the time +profitably, for he had a most diverse and sweet-scented gathering of +flowers and herbs of a humble and familiar kind--forget-me-nots, and +pansies, and wall-flower, and mint, and sweet-brier, and the like--to +present to his pretty cousin. + +"Well done, sweetheart? and are all these for me?" said she, as she +passed within the little gate, and stood for a moment arranging and +regarding them. "What, then, what is this?--what mean you by it, Cousin +Willie?" + +"By what, Cousin Judith?" said the small boy, looking up with his +wondering and wistful eyes. + +"Why," said she, gayly, "this pansy that you have put fair in the front. +Know you not the name of it?" + +"Indeed I know it not, Cousin Judith." + +"Ah, you cunning one! well you know it, I'll be sworn! Why, 'tis one of +the chiefest favorites everywhere. Did you never hear it called 'kiss me +at the gate?' Marry, 'tis an excellent name; and if I take you at your +word, little sweetheart?" + +And so they went into the cottage together; and she had her arm lying +lightly round his neck. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A QUARREL. + + +But instantly her manner changed. Just within the doorway of the passage +that cut the rambling cottage into two halves, and attached to a string +that was tied to the handle of the door, lay a small spaniel-gentle, +peacefully snoozing; and well Judith knew that the owner of the dog +(which she had heard, indeed, was meant to be presented to herself) was +inside. However, there was no retreat possible, if retreat she would +have preferred; for here was the aged grandmother--a little old woman, +with fresh pink cheeks, silver-white hair, and keen eyes--come out to +see if it were Judith's footsteps she had heard; and she was kindly in +her welcome of the girl, though usually she grumbled a good deal about +her, and would maintain that it was pure pride and wilfulness that kept +her from getting married. + +"Here be finery!" said she, stepping back as if to gain a fairer view. +"God's mercy, wench, have you come to your senses at last?--be you +seeking a husband?--would you win one of them? They have waited a goodly +time for the bating of your pride; but you must after them at last--ay, +ay, I thought 'twould come to that." + +"Good grandmother, you give me no friendly welcome," said Judith. "And +Willie here; have you no word for him, that he is come to see how you +do?" + +"Nay, come in, then, sweetings both; come in and sit ye down: little +Willie has been in the garden long enough, though you know I grudge you +not the flowers, wench. Ay, ay, there is one within, Judith, that would +fain be a nearer neighbor, as I hear, if you would but say yea; and +bethink ye, wench, an apple may hang too long on the bough--your bravery +may be put on to catch the eye when it is overlate----" + +"I pray you, good grandmother, forbear," said Judith, with some +asperity. "I have my own mind about such things." + +"All's well, wench, all's well," said the old dame, as she led the way +into the main room of the cottage. It was a wide and spacious apartment, +with heavy black beams overhead, a mighty fire-place, here or there a +window in the walls just as it seemed to have been wanted, and in the +middle of the floor a plain old table, on which were placed a jug and +two or three horn tumblers. + +Of course Judith knew whom she had to expect: the presence of the little +spaniel-gentle at the door had told her that. This young fellow that now +quickly rose from his chair and came forward to meet her--"Good-even to +you, Judith," said he, in a humble way, and his eyes seemed to beseech +her favor--was as yet but in his two-and-twentieth year, but his tall +and lithe and muscular figure had already the firm set of manhood on it. +He was spare of form and square-shouldered; his head smallish, his brown +hair short; his features were regular, and the forehead, if not high, +was square and firm; the general look of him was suggestive of a +sculptured Greek or Roman wrestler, but that this deprecating glance of +the eyes was not quite consistent. And, to tell the truth, wrestling and +his firm-sinewed figure had something to do with his extreme humility on +this occasion. He was afraid that Judith had heard something. To have +broken the head of a tapster was not a noble performance, no matter how +the quarrel was forced on him; and this was but the most recent of +several squabbles; for the championship in the athletic sports of a +country neighborhood is productive of rivals, who may take many ways of +provoking anger. "Good-even to you, Judith," said he, as if he really +would have said, "Pray you believe not all the ill you hear of me!" +Judith, however, did not betray anything by her manner, which was +friendly enough in a kind of formal way, and distinctly reserved. She +sat down, and asked her grandmother what news she had of the various +members of the family, that now were widely scattered throughout +Warwickshire. She declined the cup of merry-go-down that the young man +civilly offered to her. She had a store of things to tell about her +father; and about the presents he had brought; and about the two pieces +of song-music that Master Robert Johnson had sent, that her father would +have Susan try over on the lute; and the other twenty acres that were to +be added; and the talk there had been of turning the house opposite New +Place, at the corner of Chapel Street and Scholars Lane, into a tavern, +and how that had happily been abandoned--for her father wanted no +tavern-revelry within hearing; and so forth; but all this was addressed +to the grandmother. The young man got scarce a word, though now and +again he would interpose gently, and, as it were, begging her to look +his way. She was far kinder to Willie Hart, who was standing by her +side; for sometimes she would put her hand on his shoulder, or stroke +his long yellow-brown hair. + +"Willie says he will have just such another as I, grandmother," said +she, when these topics were exhausted, "to be his sweetheart when he +grows up; so you see there be some that value me." + +"Look to it that you be not yourself unmarried then, Judith," said the +old dame, who was never done grumbling on this account. "I should not +marvel; they that refuse when they are sought come in time to wonder +that there are none to seek--nay, 'tis so, I warrant you. You are +hanging late on the bough, wench; see you be not forgotten." + +"But, good grandmother," said Judith, with some color in her cheeks (for +this was an awkward topic in the presence of this youth), "would you +have me break from the rule of the family? My mother was six-and-twenty +when she married, and Susan four-and-twenty; and indeed there might come +one of us who did not perceive the necessity of marrying at all." + +"In God's name, if that be your mind, wench, hold to it. Hold to it, I +say!" And then the old dame glanced with her sharp eyes at the pretty +costume of her visitor. "But I had other thoughts when I saw such a fine +young madam at the door; in truth, they befit you well, these braveries; +indeed they do; though 'tis a pity to have them bedecking out one that +is above the marrying trade. But take heed, wench, take heed lest you +change your mind when it is too late; the young men may hold you to your +word, and you find yourself forsaken when you least expect it." + +"Give ye thanks for your good comfort, grandmother," said Judith, +indifferently. And then she rose. "Come, Willie, 'tis about time we were +going through the fields to the town. What message have you, +grandmother, for my father? He is busy from morning till night since his +coming home; but I know he will be over to visit you soon. The flowers, +Willie--did you leave them on the bench outside?" + +But she was not allowed to depart in this fashion. The old dame's +discontents with her pretty granddaughter--that was now grown into so +fair and blithe a young woman--were never of a lasting nature; and now +she would have both Judith and little Willie taste of some gingerbread +of her own baking, and then Judith had again to refuse a sup of the ale +that stood on the table, preferring a little water instead. Moreover, +when they had got out into the garden, behold! this young man would come +also, to convoy them home on their way across the fields. It was a +gracious evening, sweet and cool; there was a clear twilight shining +over the land; the elms were dark against the palely luminous sky. And +then, as the three of them went across the meadows toward Stratford +town, little Willie Hart was intrusted with the care of the +spaniel-gentle--that was young and wayward, and possessed with a mad +purpose of hunting sparrows--and as the dog kept him running this way +and that, he was mostly at some distance from these other two, and +Judith's companion, young Quiney, had every opportunity of speaking with +her. + +"I sent you a message, Judith," said he, rather timidly, but anxiously +watching the expression of her face all the time, "a token of +remembrance: I trust it did not displease you?" + +"You should have considered through whose hands it would come," said +she, without regarding him. + +"How so?" he asked, in some surprise. + +"Why, you know that Prudence would have to read it." + +"And why not, Judith? Why should she not? She is your friend; and I care +not who is made aware that--that--well, you know what I mean, dear +Judith, but, I fear to anger you by saying it. You were not always so +hard to please." + +There was a touch of reproach in this that she did not like. Besides, +was it fair? Of course she had been kinder to him when he was a mere +stripling--when they were boy and girl together; but now he had put +forth other pretensions; and they stood on a quite different footing; +and in his pertinacity he would not understand why she was always +speaking to him of Prudence Shawe, and extolling her gentleness and +sweet calm wisdom and goodness. "The idle boy!" she would say to +herself; "Why did God give him such a foolish head that he must needs +come fancying me?" And sometimes she was angry because of his dulness +and that he would not see; though, indeed, she could not speak quite +plainly. + +"You should think," said she, on this occasion, with some sharpness, +"that these idle verses that you send me are read by Prudence. Well, +doubtless, she may not heed that----" + +"Why should she heed, Judith?" said he. "'Tis but an innocent part she +takes in the matter--a kindness, merely." + +She dared not say more, and she was vexed with him for putting this +restraint upon her. She turned upon him with a glance of sudden and +rather unfriendly scrutiny. + +"What is this now that I hear of you?" said she. "Another brawl! A +tavern brawl! I marvel you have escaped so long with a whole skin." + +"I know not who carries tales of me to you, Judith," said he, somewhat +warmly, "but if you yourself were more friendly you would take care to +choose a more friendly messenger. It is always the worst that you hear. +If there was a brawl, it was none of my seeking. And if my skin is +whole, I thank God I can look after that for myself; I am not one that +will be smitten on one cheek and turn the other--like your parson +friend." + +This did not mend matters much. + +"My parson friend?" said she, with some swift color in her cheeks. "My +parson friend is one that has respect for his office, and has a care for +his reputation, and lives a peaceable, holy life. Would you have him +frequent ale-houses, and fight with drawers and tapsters? Marry and +amen! but I find no fault with the parson's life." + +"Nay, that is true, indeed," said he, bitterly: "you can find no fault +in the parson--as every one says. But there are others that see with +other eyes, and would tell you in what he might amend----" + +"I care not to know," said she. + +"It were not amiss," said he, for he was determined to speak--"it were +not amiss if Sir Parson showed a little more honesty in his daily +walk--that were not amiss, for one thing." + +"In what is he dishonest, then?" said she, instantly, and she turned and +faced him with indignant eyes. + +Well, he did not quail. His blood was up. This championship of the +parson, that he had scarce expected of her, only fired anew certain +secret suspicions of his; and he had no mind to spare his rival, whether +he were absent or no. + +"Why, then, does he miscall the King, and eat the King's bread?" said +he, somewhat hotly. "Is it honest to conform in public, and revile in +private? I say, let him go forth, as others have been driven forth, if +the state of affairs content him not. I say that they who speak against +the King--marry, it were well done to chop the rogues' ears off!--I say +they should be ashamed to eat the King's bread." + +"He eats no King's bread?" said Judith.--and alas! her eyes had a look +in them that pierced him to the heart: it was not the glance he would +fain have met with there. "He eats the bread of the Church, that has +been despoiled of its possessions again and again by the Crown and the +lords; and why should he go forth? He is a minister; is there harm that +he should wish to see the services reformed? He is at his post; would +you have him desert it, or else keep silent? No, he is no such coward, I +warrant you. He will speak his mind; it were ill done of him else?" + +"Nay, he can do no harm at all--in your judgment," said he, somewhat +sullenly, "if it all be true that they say." + +"And who is it, then, that should speak of idle tales and the believing +of them?" said she, with indignant reproach. "You say I welcome evil +stories about you? And you? Are you so quick to put away the idle gossip +they bring you about me? Would you not rather believe it? I trow you +would as lief believe it as not. That it is to have friends! That it is +to have those who should defend you in your absence; but would rather +listen to slander against you! But when they speak about women's idle +tongues, they know little; it is men who are the readiest to listen, and +to carry evil reports and lying!" + +"I meant not to anger you, Judith," said he, more humbly. + +"Yes, but you have angered me," said she (with her lips becoming +tremulous, but only for a second). "What concern have I with Parson +Blaise? I would they that spake against him were as good men and honest +as he----" + +"Indeed, they speak no ill of him, Judith," said he (for he was grieved +that they were fallen out so, and there was nothing he would not have +retracted that so he might win back to her favor again, in however small +a degree), "except that he is disputatious, and would lead matters no +one knows whither. 'Tis but a few minutes ago that your grandmother +there was saying that we should never have peace and quiet in Church +affairs till the old faith was restored----" + +Here, indeed, she pricked up her ears; but she would say no more. She +had not forgiven him yet; and she was proud and silent. + +"And though I do not hold with that--for there would be a bloody +struggle before the Pope could be master in England again--nevertheless, +I would have the ministers men of peace, as they profess to be, and +loyal to the King, who is at the head of the Church as well as of the +realm. However, let it pass. I wish to have no quarrel with you, +Judith." + +"How does your business?" said she, abruptly changing the subject. + +"Well--excellently well; it is not in that direction that I have any +anxiety about the future." + +"Do you give it your time? You were best take heed, for else it is like +to slip away from you," she said; and he thought she spoke rather +coldly, and as if her warning were meant to convey something more than +appeared. + +And then she added: + +"You were at Wilmecote on Tuesday?" + +"You must have heard why, Judith," he said. "Old Pike was married again +that day, and they would have me over to his wedding." + +"And on the Wednesday, what was there at Bidford, then, that you must +needs be gone when my mother sent to you?" + +"At Bidford?" said he (and he was sorely puzzled as to whether he should +rejoice at these questions as betraying a friendly interest in his +affairs, or rather regarded them as conveying covert reproof, and +expressing her dissatisfaction with him, and distrust of him). "At +Bidford, Judith--well, there was business as well as pleasure there. For +you must know that Daniel Hutt is come home for a space from the new +settlements in Virginia, and is for taking back with him a number of +laborers that are all in due time to make their fortunes there. Marry, +'tis a good chance for some of them, for broken men are as welcome as +any, and there are no questions asked as to their having been intimate +with the constable and the justice. So there was a kind of merry-meeting +of Daniel's old friends, that was held at the Falcon at Bidford--and the +host is a good customer of mine, so it was prudent of me to go +thither--and right pleasant was it to hear Daniel Hutt tell of his +adventures by sea and shore. And he gave us some of the tobacco that he +had brought with him. And to any that will go back with him to Jamestown +he promises allotments of land, though at first there will be tough +labor, as he says, honestly. Oh, a worthy man is this Daniel Hutt, +though, as yet his own fortune seems not so secure." + +"With such junketings," said she, with ever so slight a touch of +coldness, "'tis no wonder you could not spare the time to come and see +my father on the evening of his getting home." + +"There, now, Judith!" he exclaimed. "Would you have me break in upon him +at such a busy season, when even you yourself are careful to refrain? It +had been ill-mannered of me to do such a thing; but 'twas no +heedlessness that led to my keeping away, as you may well imagine." + +"It is difficult to know the reasons when friends hold aloof," said she. +"You have not been near the house for two or three weeks, as I reckon." + +And here again he would have given much to know whether her +speech--which was curiously reserved in tone--meant that she had marked +these things out of regard for him, or that she wished to reprove him. + +"I can give you the reason for that, Judith," said this tall and +straight young fellow, who from time to time regarded his companion's +face with some solicitude, as if he fain would have found some greater +measure of friendliness there. "I have not been often to New Place of +late because of one I thought I might meet there who would be no better +pleased to see me than I him; and--and perhaps because of another--that +I did not know whether she might be the better pleased to have me there +or find me stay away----" + +"Your reasons are too fine," said she. "I scarce understand them." + +"That is because you won't understand; I think I have spoken plain +enough ere now, Judith, I make bold to say." + +She flushed somewhat at this; but it was no longer in anger. She seemed +willing to be on good terms with him, but always in that measured and +distant way. + +"Willie!" she called. "Come hither, sweetheart!" + +With some difficulty her small cousin made his way back to her, dragging +the reluctant spaniel so that its head seemed to be in jeopardy. + +"He _will_ go after the birds, Cousin Judith; you will never teach him +to follow you." + +"I?" she said. + +"Willie knows I want you to have the dog, Judith," her companion said, +quickly. "I got him for you when I was at Gloucester. 'Tis a good +breed--true Maltese, I can warrant him; and the fashionable ladies will +scarce stir abroad without one to follow them, or to carry with them in +their coaches when they ride. Will you take him Judith?" + +She was a little embarrassed. + +"'Tis a pretty present," said she, "but you have not chosen the right +one to give it to." + +"What mean you?" said he. + +"Nay, now, have not I the Don?" she said, with greater courage. "He is a +sufficient companion if I wish to walk abroad. Why should you not give +this little spaniel to one that has no such companion--I mean to +Prudence Shaw?" + +"To Prudence!" said he, regarding her; for this second introduction of +Judith's friend seemed strange, as well as the notion that he should +transfer this prized gift to her. + +"There, now, is one so gentle and kind to every one and everything that +she would tend the little creature with care," she continued. "It would +be more fitting for her than for me." + +"You could be kind enough, Judith--if you chose," said he, under his +breath, for Willie Hart was standing by. + +"Nay, I have the Don," said she, "that is large, and worldly, and +serious, and clumsy withal. Give this little playfellow to Prudence, who +is small and neat and gentle like itself; surely that were fitter." + +"I had hoped you would have accepted the little spaniel from me, +Judith," said he, with very obvious disappointment. + +"Moreover," said she, lightly, "two of a trade would never agree: we +should have this one and the Don continually quarrelling, and sooner or +later the small one would lose its head in the Don's great jaws." + +"Why, the mastiff is always chained, and at the barn gate, Judith," said +he. "This one would be within-doors, as your playfellow. But I care not +to press a gift." + +"Nay, now, be not displeased," said she, gently enough. "I am not +unthankful; I think well of your kindness, but it were still better done +if you were to change your intention and give the spaniel to one that +would have a gentler charge over it, and think none the less of it, as I +can vouch for. Pray you give it to Prudence." + +"A discarded gift is not worth the passing on," said he; and as they +were now come quite near to the town, where there was a dividing of +ways, he stopped as though he would shake hands and depart. + +"Will you not go on to the house? You have not seen my father since his +coming home," she said. + +"No, not to-night, Judith," he said. "Doubtless he is still busy, and I +have affairs elsewhere." + +She glanced at him with one of those swift keen glances of hers. + +"Where go you to spend the evening, if I may make so bold?" she said. + +"Not to the ale-house, as you seem to suspect," he answered, with just a +trifle of bitterness; and then he took the string to lead away the +spaniel, and he bade her farewell--in a kind of half-hearted and +disappointed and downcast way--and left. + +She looked after him a second or so, as she fastened a glove-button that +had got loose. And then she sighed as she turned away. + +"Sweetheart Willie," said she, putting her hand softly on the boy's +shoulder, as he walked beside her, "I think you said you loved me?" + +"Why, you know I do, Cousin Judith," said he. + +"What a pity it is, then," said she, absently, "that you cannot remain +always as you are, and keep your ten years forever and a day, so that we +should always be friends as we are now!" + +He did not quite know what she meant, but he was sufficiently well +pleased and contented when he was thus close by her side; and when her +hand was on his shoulder or on his neck it was to him no burden, but a +delight. And so walking together, and with some gay and careless prattle +between them, they went on and into the town. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THROUGH THE MEADOWS. + + +Some two or three days after that, and toward the evening, Prudence +Shawe was in the church-yard, and she was alone, save that now and again +some one might pass along the gravelled pathway, and these did not stay +to interrupt her. She had with her a basket, partly filled with flowers, +also a small rake and a pair of gardener's shears, and she was engaged +in going from grave to grave, here putting a few fresh blossoms to +replace the withered ones, and there removing weeds, or cutting the +grass smooth, and generally tending those last resting-places with a +patient and loving care. It was a favorite employment with her when she +had a spare afternoon; nor did she limit her attention to the graves of +those whom she had known in life; her charge was a general one, and when +they who had friends or relatives buried there came to the church on a +Sunday morning, and perhaps from some distance, and when they saw that +some gentle hand had been employed there in the interval, they knew +right well that that hand was the hand of Prudence Shawe. It was a +strange fancy on the part of one who was so averse from all ornament or +decoration in ordinary life that nothing was too beautiful for a grave. +She herself would not wear a flower, but her best, and the best she +could beg or borrow anywhere, she freely gave to those that were gone +away; she seemed to have some vague imagination that our poor human +nature was not worthy of this beautifying care until it had become +sanctified by the sad mystery of death. + +It was a calm, golden-white evening, peaceful and silent; the rooks were +cawing in the dark elms above her; the swallows dipping and darting +under the boughs; the smooth-flowing yellow river was like glass, save +that now and again the perfect surface was broken by the rising of a +fish. Over there in the wide meadows beyond the stream a number of boys +were playing at rounders or prisoner's-base, or some such noisy game; +but the sound of their shouting was softened by the distance; so quiet +was it here, as she continued at her pious task, that she might almost +have heard herself breathing. And once or twice she looked up, and +glanced toward the little gate as if expecting some one. + +It was Judith, of course, that she was expecting; and at this moment +Judith was coming along to the church-yard to seek her out. What a +contrast there was between these two--this one pale and gentle and +sad-eyed, stooping over the mute graves in the shadow of the elms; that +other coming along through the warm evening light with all her usual +audacity of gait, the peach-bloom of health on her cheek, carelessness +and content in her clear-shining eyes, and the tune of "Green Sleeves" +ringing through a perfectly idle brain. Indeed, what part of her brain +may not have been perfectly idle was bent solely on mischief. Prudence +had been away for two or three days, staying with an ailing sister. All +that story of the adventure with the unfortunate young gentleman had +still to be related to her. And again and again Judith had pictured to +herself Prudence's alarm and the look of her timid eyes when she should +hear of such doings, and had resolved that the tale would lose nothing +in the telling. Here, indeed, was something for two country maidens to +talk about. The even current of their lives was broken but by few +surprises, but here was something more than surprise--something with +suggestions of mystery and even danger behind it. This was no mere going +out to meet a wizard. Any farm wench might have an experience of that +kind; any ploughboy, deluded by the hope of digging up silver in one of +his master's fields. But a gentleman in hiding--one that had been at +court--one that had seen the King sitting in his chair of state, while +Ben Jonson's masque was opened out before the great and noble +assemblage--this was one to speak about, truly, one whose fortunes and +circumstances were like to prove a matter of endless speculation and +curiosity. + +But when Judith drew near to the little gate of the church-yard, and saw +how Prudence was occupied, her heart smote her. + + Green sleeves was all my joy, + Green sleeves was my delight, + +went clear out of her head. There was a kind of shame on her face; and +when she went along to her friend she could not help exclaiming, "How +good you are, Prue!" + +"I!" said the other, with some touch of wonder in the upturned face. "I +fear that cannot be said of any of us, Judith." + +"I would I were like you, sweetheart," was the answer, with a bit of a +sigh. + +"Like me, Judith?" said Prudence, returning to her task (which was +nearly ended now, for she had but few more flowers left). "Nay, what +makes you think that? I wish I were far other than I am." + +"Look, now," Judith said, "how you are occupied at this moment. Is there +another in Stratford that has such a general kindness? How many would +think of employing their time so? How many would come away from their +own affairs----" + +"It may be I have more idle time than many," said Prudence, with a +slight flush. "But I commend not myself for this work; in truth, no; +'tis but a pastime; 'tis for my own pleasure." + +"Indeed, then, good Prue, you are mistaken, and that I know well," said +the other, peremptorily. "Your own pleasure? Is it no pleasure, then, +think you, for them that come from time to time, and are right glad to +see that some one has been tending the graves of their friends or +kinsmen? And do you think, now, it is no pleasure to the poor people +themselves--I mean them that are gone--to look at you as you are engaged +so, and to think that they are not quite forgotten? Surely it must be a +pleasure to them. Surely they cannot have lost all their interest in +what happens here--in Stratford--where they lived; and surely they must +be grateful to you for thinking of them, and doing them this kindness? I +say it were ill done of them else. I say they ought to be thankful to +you. And no doubt they are, could we but learn." + +"Judith! Judith! you have such a bold way of regarding what is all a +mystery to us," said her gentle-eyed friend. "Sometimes you frighten +me." + +"I would I knew, now," said the other, looking absently across the river +to the boys that were playing there, "whether my little brother +Hamnet--had you known him you would have loved him as I did, Prudence--I +say I wish I knew whether he is quite happy and content where he is, or +whether he would not rather be over there now with the other boys. If he +looks down and sees them, may it not make him sad sometimes--to be so +far away from us? I always think of him as being alone there, and he was +never alone here. I suppose he thinks of us sometimes. Whenever I hear +the boys shouting like that at their play I think of him; but indeed he +was never noisy and unruly. My father used to call him the girl-boy, but +he was fonder of him than of all us others; he once came all the way +from London when he heard that Hamnet was lying sick of a fever." + +She turned to see how Prudence was getting on with her work; but she was +in no hurry; and Prudence was patient and scrupulously careful; and the +dead, had they been able to speak, would not have bade her cease and go +away, for a gentler hand never touched a grave. + +"I suppose it is Grandmother Hathaway who will go next," Judith +continued, in the same absent kind of way; "but indeed she says she is +right well content either to go or to stay; for now, as she says, she +has about as many kinsfolk there as here, and she will not be going +among strangers. And well I know she will make for Hamnet as soon as she +is there, for like my father's love for Bess Hall was her love for the +boy while he was with us. Tell me, Prudence, has he grown up to be of my +age? You know we were twins. Is he a man now, so that we should see him +as some one different? Or is he still our little Hamnet, just as we used +to know him?" + +"How can I tell you, Judith?" the other said, almost in pain. "You ask +such bold questions; and all these things are hidden from us and behind +a veil." + +"But these are what one would like to know," said Judith, with a sigh. +"Nay, if you could but tell me of such things, then you might persuade +me to have a greater regard for the preachers; but when you come and ask +about such real things, they say it is all a mystery; they cannot tell; +and would have you be anxious about schemes of doctrine, which are but +strings of words. My father, too: when I go to him--nay, but it is many +a day since I tried--he would look at me and say, 'What is in your brain +now? To your needle, wench, to your needle!'" + +"But naturally, Judith! Such things are mercifully hidden from us now, +but they will be revealed when it is fitting for us to know them. How +could our ordinary life be possible if we knew what was going on in the +other world? We should have no interest in the things around us, the +greater interest would be so great." + +"Well, well, well," said Judith, coming with more practical eyes to the +present moment, "are you finished, sweet mouse, and will you come away? +What, not satisfied yet? I wonder if they know the care you take. I +wonder if one will say to the other: 'Come and see. She is there again. +We are not quite forgotten.' And will you do that for me, too, sweet +Prue? Will you put some pansies on my grave, too?--and I know you will +say out of your charity, 'Well, she was not good and pious, as I would +have had her to be; she had plenty of faults; but at least she often +wished to be better than she was.' Nay, I forgot," she added, glancing +carelessly over to the church; "they say we shall lie among the great +people, since my father bought the tithes--that we have the right to be +buried in the chancel; but indeed I know I would a hundred times liefer +have my grave in the open here, among the grass and the trees." + +"You are too young to have such thoughts as these, Judith," said her +companion, as she rose and shut down the lid of the now empty basket. +"Come; shall we go?" + +"Let us cross the foot-bridge, sweet Prue," Judith said, "and go through +the meadows and round by Clopton's bridge, and so home; for I have that +to tell you will take some time; pray Heaven it startle you not out of +your senses withal!" + +It was not, however, until they had got away from the church-yard, and +were out in the clear golden light of the open, that she began to tell +her story. She had linked her arm within that of her friend. Her manner +was grave; and if there was any mischief in her eyes, it was of a demure +kind, not easily detected. She confessed that it was out of mere wanton +folly that she had gone to the spot indicated by the wizard, and without +any very definite hope or belief. But as chance would have it, she did +encounter a stranger--one, indeed, that was coming to her father's +house. Then followed a complete and minute narrative of what the young +man had said--the glimpses he had given her of his present condition, +both on the occasion of that meeting and on the subsequent one, and how +she had obtained his permission to state these things to this gentle +gossip of hers. Prudence listened in silence, her eyes cast down; Judith +could not see the gathering concern on her face. Nay, the latter spoke +rather in a tone of raillery; for, having had time to look back over the +young gentleman's confessions, and his manner, and so forth, she had +arrived at a kind of assurance that he was in no such desperate case. +There were many reasons why a young man might wish to lie perdu for a +time; but this one had not talked as if any very imminent danger +threatened him; at least, if he had intimated as much, the impression +produced upon her was not permanent. And if Judith now told the story +with a sort of careless bravado--as if going forth in secret to meet +this stranger was a thing of risk and hazard--it was with no private +conviction that there was any particular peril in the matter, but rather +with the vague fancy that the adventure looked daring and romantic, and +would appear as something terrible in the eyes of her timid friend. + +But what now happened startled her. They were going up the steps of the +foot-bridge, Prudence first, and Judith, following her, had just got to +the end of her story. Prudence suddenly turned round, and her face, now +opposed to the westering light, was, as Judith instantly saw, quite +aghast. + +"But, Judith, you do not seem to understand!" she exclaimed. "Was not +that the very stranger the wizard said you would meet?--the very hour, +the very place? In good truth, it must have been so! Judith, what manner +of man have you been in company with?" + +For an instant a flush of color overspread Judith's face, and she said, +with a sort of embarrassed laugh: + +"Well, and if it were so, sweet mouse? If that were the appointed one, +what then?" + +She was on the bridge now. Prudence caught her by both hands, and there +was an anxious and piteous appeal in the loving eyes. + +"Dear Judith, I beseech you, be warned! Have nothing to do with the man! +Did I not say that mischief would come of planting the charm in the +church-yard, and shaming a sacred place with such heathenish magic? And +now look already--here is one that you dare not speak of to your own +people; he is in secret correspondence with you. Heaven alone knows what +dark deeds he may be bent upon, or what ruin he may bring upon you and +yours. Judith, you are light-hearted and daring, and you love to be +venturesome; but I know you better than you know yourself, sweetheart. +You would not willingly do wrong, or bring harm on those that love you; +and for the sake of all of us, Judith, have nothing to do with this +man." + +Judith was embarrassed, and perhaps a trifle remorseful; she had not +expected her friend to take this adventure so very seriously. + +"Dear Prue, you alarm yourself without reason," she said (but there was +still some tell-tale color in her face). "Indeed, there is no magic or +witchery about the young man. Had I seen a ghost, I should have been +frightened, no doubt, for all that Don Roderigo was with me; and had I +met one of the Stratford youths at the appointed place, I should have +said that perhaps the good wizard had guessed well; but this was merely +a stranger coming to see my father; and the chance that brought us +together--well, what magic was in that?--it would have happened to you +had you been walking in the lane: do you see that, dear mouse?--it would +have happened to yourself had you been walking in the lane, and he would +have asked of you the question that he asked of me. Nay, banish that +fancy, sweet Prue, else I should be ashamed to do anything further for +the young man that is unfortunate, and very grateful withal for a few +words of friendliness. And so fairly spoken a young man, too; and so +courtly in his bearing; and of such a handsome presence----" + +"But, dear Judith, listen to me!--do not be led into such peril! Know +you not that evil spirits can assume goodly shapes--the Prince of +Darkness himself----" + +She could not finish what she had to say, her imagination was so filled +with terror. + +"Sweet Puritan," said Judith, with a smile, "I know well that he goeth +about like a raging lion, seeking whom he may devour; I know it well; +but believe me it would not be worth his travail to haunt such a lonely +and useless place as the lane that goes from Shottery to the Bidford +road. Nay, but I will convince you, good mouse, by the best of all +evidence, that there is nothing ghostly or evil about the young man; you +shall see him, Prue--indeed you must and shall. When that he comes back +to his hiding, I will contrive that you shall see him and have speech +with him, and sure you will pity him as much as I do. Poor young +gentleman, that he should be suspected of being Satan! Nay, how could he +be Satan, Prue, and be admitted to the King's court? Hath not our good +King a powerful insight into the doings of witches and wizards and the +like? and think you he would allow Satan in person to come into the very +Banqueting-hall to see a masque?" + +"Judith! Judith!" said the other, piteously, "when you strive against me +with your wit, I cannot answer you; but my heart tells me that you are +in exceeding danger. I would warn you, dear cousin; I were no true +friend to you else." + +"But you are the best and truest of friends, you dearest Prue," said +Judith, lightly, as she released her hands from her companion's earnest +grasp. "Come, let us on, or we shall go supperless for the evening." + +She passed along and over the narrow bridge, and down the steps on the +other side. She did not seem much impressed by Prudence's entreaties; +indeed, she was singing aloud: + + Hey, good fellow, I drink to thee, + Pardonnez moi, je vous en prie; + To all good fellows, where'er they be, + With never a penny of money! + +Prudence overtook her. + +"Judith," said she, "even if he be not of that fearful kind--even if he +be a real man, and such as he represents himself, bethink you what you +are doing! There may be another such gathering as that at Dunchurch; and +would you be in correspondence with a plotter and murderer? Nay, what +was't you asked of me the other day?" she added, suddenly; and she stood +still to confront her friend, with a new alarm in her eyes. "Did you not +ask whether your father was well affected toward the Papists? Is there +another plot?--another treason against the King?--and you would harbor +one connected with such a wicked, godless, and bloodthirsty plan?" + +"Nay, nay, sweet mouse! Have I not told you? He declares he has naught +to do with any such enterprise; and if you would but see him, Prudence, +you would believe him. Sure I am that you would believe him instantly. +Why, now, there be many reasons why a young gentleman might wish to +remain concealed----" + +"None, Judith, none!" the other said, with decision. "Why should an +honest man fear the daylight?" + +"Oh, as for that," was the careless answer, "there be many an honest man +that has got into the clutches of the twelve-in-the-hundred rogues; and +when the writs are out against such a one, I hold it no shame that he +would rather be out of the way than be thrown among the wretches in +Bocardo. I know well what I speak of; many a time have I heard my father +and your brother talk of it; how the rogues of usurers will keep a man +in prison for twelve years for a matter of sixteen shillings--what is it +they call it?--making dice of his bones? And if the young gentleman +fear such treatment and the horrible company of the prisons, I marvel +not that he should prefer the fresh air of Bidford, howsoever dull the +life at the farm may be." + +"And if that were all, why should he fear to bring the letter to your +father?" the other said, with a quick glance of suspicion: she did not +like the way in which Judith's ready brain could furnish forth such +plausible conjectures and excuses. "Answer me that, Judith. Is your +father one likely to call aloud and have the man taken, if that be all +that is against him? Why should he be afraid to bring the letter from +your father's friend? Nay, why should he be on the way to the house with +it, and thereafter stop short and change his mind? There is many a mile +betwixt London and Stratford; 'tis a marvellous thing he should travel +all that way, and change his mind within a few minutes of being in the +town. I love not such dark ways, Judith; no good thing can come of them, +but evil; and it were ill done of you--even if you be careless of danger +to yourself, as I trow you mostly are--I say it is ill done of you to +risk the peace of your family by holding such dangerous converse with a +stranger, and one that may bring harm to us all." + +Judith was not well pleased; her mouth became rather proud. + +"Marry, if this be your Christian charity, I would not give a penny +ballad for it!" said she, with some bitterness of tone. "I had thought +the story had another teaching--I mean the story of him who fell among +thieves and was beaten and robbed and left for dead--and that we were to +give a helping hand to such, like the Samaritan. But now I mind me 'twas +the Priest that passed by on the other side--yes, the Priest and the +Levite--the godly ones who would preserve a whole skin for themselves, +and let the other die of his wounds, for aught they cared! And here is a +young man in distress--alone and friendless--and when he would have a +few words of cheerfulness, or a message, or a scrap of news as to what +is going on in the world--no, no, say the Priest and the Levite--go not +near him--because he is in misfortune he is dangerous--because he is +alone he is a thief and a murderer--perchance a pirate, like Captain +Ward and Dansekar, or even Catesby himself come alive again. I say, God +keep us all from such Christian charity!" + +"You use me ill, Judith," said the other, and then was silent. + +They walked on through the meadows, and Judith was watching the play of +the boys. As she did so, a leather ball, struck a surprising distance, +came rolling almost to her feet, and forthwith one of the lads came +running after it. She picked it up and threw it to him--threw it +awkwardly and clumsily, as a girl throws, but nevertheless she saved him +some distance and time, and she was rewarded with many a loud "Thank +you! thank you!" from the side who were out. But when they got past the +players and their noise, Prudence could no longer keep silent; she had a +forgiving disposition, and nothing distressed her so much as being on +unfriendly terms with Judith. + +"You know I meant not that, dear Judith," said she. "I only meant to +shield you from harm." + +As for Judith, all such trivial and temporary clouds of misunderstanding +were instantly swallowed up in the warm and radiant sunniness of her +nature. She broke into a laugh. + +"And so you shall, dear mouse," said she, gayly; "you shall shield me +from the reproach of not having a common and ordinary share of humanity; +that shall you, dear Prue, should the unfortunate young gentleman come +into the neighborhood again; for you will read to me the message that he +sends me, and together we will devise somewhat on his behalf. No? Are +you afraid to go forth and meet the pirate Dansekar? Do you expect to +find the ghost of Gamaliel Ratsey walking on the Evesham road? Such +silly fears, dear Prue, do not become you: you are no longer a child." + +"You are laying too heavy a burden on me, Judith," the other said, +rather sadly. "I know not what to do; and you say I may not ask counsel +of any one. And if I do nothing, I am still taking a part." + +"What part, then, but to read a few words and hold your peace?" said her +companion, lightly. "What is that? But I know you will not stay there, +sweet mouse. No, no; your heart is too tender. I know you would not +willingly do any one an injury, or harbor suspicion and slander. You +shall come and see the young gentleman, good Prue, as I say; and then +you will repent in sackcloth and ashes for all that you have urged +against him. And perchance it may be in New Place that you shall see +him----" + +"Ah, Judith, that were well!" exclaimed the other, with a brighter light +on her face. + +"What? Would you desire to see him, if he were to pay us a visit?" +Judith said, regarding her with a smile. + +"Surely, surely, after what you have told me: why not, Judith?" was the +placid answer. + +"There would be nothing ghostly about him then?" + +"There would be no secret, Judith," said Prudence, gravely, "that you +have to keep back from your own people." + +"Well, well, we will see what the future holds for us," said Judith, in +the same careless fashion. "And if the young gentleman come not back to +Stratford, why, then, good fortune attend him, wherever he may be! for +one that speaks so fair and is so modest sure deserves it. And if he +come not back, then shall your heart be all the lighter, dear Prue; and +as for mine, mine will not be troubled--only, that I wish him well, as I +say, and would fain hear of his better estate. So all is so far happily +settled, sweet mouse; and you may go in to supper with me with +untroubled eyes and a free conscience: marry, there is need for that, as +I bethink me; for Master Parson comes this evening, and you know you +must have a pure and joyful heart with you, good Prudence, when you +enter into the congregation of the saints." + +"Judith, for my sake!" + +"Nay, I meant not to offend, truly; it was my wicked, idle tongue, that +I must clap a bridle on now--for, listen!----" + +They were come to New Place. There was singing going forward within; and +one or two of the casements were open; but perhaps it was the glad and +confident nature of the psalm that led to the words being so clearly +heard without: + + The man is blest that hath not bent + To wicked rede his ear; + Nor led his life as sinners do, + Nor sat in scorner's chair. + But in the law of God the Lord + Doth set his whole delight, + And in that law doth exercise + Himself both day and night. + + He shall be like the tree that groweth + Fast by the river's side; + Which bringeth forth most pleasant fruit + In her due time and tide; + Whose leaf shall never fade nor fall, + But flourish still and stand: + Even so all things shall prosper well + That this man takes in hand. + +And so, having waited until the singing ceased, they entered into the +house, and found two or three neighbors assembled there, and Master +Walter was just about to begin his discourse on the godly life, and the +substantial comfort and sweet peace of mind pertaining thereto. + + * * * * * + +Some few days after this, and toward the hour of noon, the mail-bearer +came riding post-haste into the town; and in due course the contents of +his saddle-bags were distributed among the folk entitled to them. But +before the news-letters had been carefully spelled out to the end, a +strange rumor got abroad. The French king was slain, and by the hand of +an assassin. Some, as the tidings passed quickly from mouth to mouth, +said the murderer was named Ravelok, others Havelok; but as to the main +fact of the fearful crime having been committed, there was no manner of +doubt. Naturally the bruit of this affair presently reached Julius +Shawe's house; and when the timid Prudence heard of it--and when she +thought of the man who had been in hiding, and who had talked with +Judith, and had been so suddenly and secretly summoned away--her face +grew even paler than its wont, and there was a sickly dread at her +heart. She would go to see Judith at once; and yet she scarcely dared to +breathe even to herself the terrible forebodings that were crowding in +on her mind. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A PLAY-HOUSE. + + +But Judith laughed aside these foolish fears; as it happened, far more +important matters were just at this moment occupying her mind. + +She was in the garden. She had brought out some after-dinner fragments +for the Don; and while the great dun-colored beast devoured these, she +had turned from him to regard Matthew gardener; and there was a sullen +resentment on her face; for it seemed to her imagination that he kept +doggedly and persistently near the summer-house, on which she had +certain dark designs. However, the instant she caught sight of Prudence, +her eyes brightened up; and, indeed, became full of an eager animation. + +"Hither, hither, good Prue!" she exclaimed, hurriedly. "Quick! quick! I +have news for you." + +"Yes, indeed, Judith," said the other; and at the same moment Judith +came to see there was something wrong--the startled pale face and +frightened eyes had a story to tell. + +"Why, what is to do?" said she. + +"Know you not, Judith? Have you not heard? The French king is +slain--murdered by an assassin!" + +To her astonishment the news seemed to produce no effect whatever. + +"Well, I am sorry for the poor man," Judith said, with perfect +self-possession. "They that climb high must sometimes have a sudden +fall. But why should that alarm you, good Prue? Or have you other news +that comes more nearly home?" + +And then, when Prudence almost breathlessly revealed the apprehensions +that had so suddenly filled her mind, Judith would not even stay to +discuss such a monstrous possibility. She laughed it aside altogether. +That the courteous young gentleman who had come with a letter from Ben +Jonson should be concerned in the assassination of the King of France +was entirely absurd and out of the question. + +"Nay, nay, good Prue," said she, lightly, "you shall make him amends for +these unjust suspicions; that you shall, dear mouse, all in good time. +But listen now: I have weightier matters; I have eggs on the spit, +beshrew me else! Can you read me this riddle, sweet Prue? Know you by +these tokens what has happened? My father comes in to dinner to-day in +the gayest of humors; there is no absent staring at the window, and +forgetting of all of us; it is all merriment this time; and he must +needs have Bess Hall to sit beside him; and he would charge her with +being a witch; and reproach her for our simple meal, when that she might +have given us a banquet like that of a London Company, with French +dishes and silver flagons of Theologicum, and a memorial to tell each of +us what was coming. And then he would miscall your brother--which you +know, dear Prudence, he never would do were he in earnest--and said he +was chamberlain now, and was conspiring to be made alderman, only that +he might sell building materials to the Corporation and so make money +out of his office. And I know not what else of jests and laughing; but +at length he sent to have the Evesham roan saddled; and he said that +when once he had gone along to the sheep-wash to see that the hurdles +were rightly up for the shearing, he would give all the rest of the day +to idleness--to idleness wholly; and perchance he might ride over to +Broadway to see the shooting-match going forward there. Now, you wise +one, can you guess what has happened? Know you what is in store for us? +Can you read me the riddle?" + +"I see no riddle, Judith," said the other, with puzzled eyes. "I met +your father as I came through the house; and he asked if Julius were at +home: doubtless he would have him ride to Broadway with him." + +"Dear mouse, is that your skill at guessing? But listen now"--and here +she dropped her voice as she regarded goodman Matthew, though that +personage seemed busily enough occupied with his watering-can. "This is +what has happened: I know the signs of the weather. Be sure he has +finished the play--the play that the young prince Mamillius was in: you +remember, good Prue?--and the large fair copy is made out and locked +away in the little cupboard, against my father's next going to London; +and the loose sheets are thrown into the oak chest, along with the +others. And now, good Prue, sweet Prue, do you know what you must +manage? Indeed, I dare not go near the summer-house while that ancient +wiseman is loitering about; and you must coax him, Prue; you must get +him away; sometimes I see his villain eyes watching me, as if he had +suspicion in his mind----" + +"'Tis your own guilty conscience, Judith," said Prudence, but with a +smile; for she had herself connived at this offence ere now. + +"By fair means or foul, sweet mouse, you must get him away to the other +end of the garden," said she, eagerly; "for now the Don has nearly +finished his dinner, and goodman-wiseman-fool will wonder if we stay +longer here. Nay, I have it, sweet Prue: you must get him along to the +corner where my mother grows her simples; and you must keep him there +for a space, that I may get out the right papers; and this is what you +must do: you will ask him for something that sounds like Latin--no +matter what nonsense it may be; and he will answer you that he knows it +right well, but has none of it at the present time; and you will say +that you have surely seen it among my mother's simples, and thus you +will lead him away to find it and the longer you seek the better. Do you +understand, good Prue?--and quick! quick!" + +Prudence's pale face flushed. + +"You ask too much, Judith. I cannot deceive the poor man so." + +"Nay, nay, you are too scrupulous, dear mouse. A trifle--a mere trifle." + +And then Prudence happened to look up, and she met Judith's eyes; and +there was such frank self-confidence and audacity in them, and also such +a singular and clear-shining beauty, that the simple Puritan was in a +manner bedazzled. She said, with a quiet smile, as she turned away her +head again: + +"Well, I marvel not, Judith, that you can bewitch the young men, and +bewilder their understanding. 'Tis easy to see--if they have eyes and +regard you, they are lost; but how you have your own way with all of us, +and how you override our judgment, and do with us what you please, that +passes me. Even Dr. Hall: for whom else would he have brought from +Coventry the green silk stockings and green velvet shoes?--you know such +vanities find little favor in his own home----" + +"Quick, quick, sweetheart, muzzle me that gaping ancient!" said Judith, +interrupting her. "The Don has finished; and I will dart into the +summer-house as I carry back the dish. Detain him, sweet Prue; speak a +word or two of Latin to him; he will swear he understands you right +well, though you yourself understand not a word of it----" + +"I may not do all you ask, Judith," said the other, after a moment's +reflection (and still with an uneasy feeling that she was yielding to +the wiles of a temptress), "but I will ask the goodman to show me your +mother's simples, and how they thrive." + +A minute or two thereafter Judith had swiftly stolen into the +summer-house--which was spacious and substantial of its kind, and +contained a small black cupboard fixed up in a corner of the walls, a +table and chair, and a long oak chest on the floor. It was this last +that held the treasure she was in search of; and now, the lid having +been raised, she was down on one knee, carefully selecting from a mass +of strewn papers (indeed, there were a riding-whip, a sword and +sword-belt, and several other articles mixed up in this common +receptacle) such sheets as were without a minute mark which she had +invented for her own private purposes. These secured and hastily hidden +in her sleeve, she closed the lid, and went out into the open again, +calling upon Prudence to come to her, for that she was going into the +house. + +They did not, however, remain within-doors at New Place, for that might +have been dangerous; they knew of a far safer resort. Just behind Julius +Shawe's house, and between that and the garden, there was a recess +formed by the gable of a large barn not quite reaching the adjacent +wall. It was a three-sided retreat; overlooked by no window whatsoever; +there was a frail wooden bench on two sides of it, and the entrance to +it was partly blocked up by an empty cask that had been put there to be +out of the way. For outlook there was nothing but a glimpse of the path +going into the garden, a bit of greensward, and two apple-trees between +them and the sky. It was not a noble theatre, this little den behind the +barn; but it had produced for these two many a wonderful pageant; for +the empty barrel and the bare barn wall and the two trees would at one +time be transformed into the forest of Arden, and Rosalind would be +walking there in her pretty page costume, and laughing at the love-sick +Orlando; and again they would form the secret haunts of Queen Titania +and her court, with the jealous Oberon chiding her for her refusal; and +again they would become the hall of a great northern castle, with +trumpets and cannon sounding without as the King drank to Hamlet. +Indeed, the elder of these two young women had an extraordinarily vivid +imagination; she saw the things and people as if they were actually +there before her; she realized their existence so intensely that even +Prudence was brought to sympathize with them, and to follow their +actions now with hot indignation, and now with triumphant delight over +good fortune come at last. There was no stage-carpenter there to +distract them with his dismal expedients; no actor to thrust his +physical peculiarities between them and the poet's ethereal visions; the +dream-world was before them, clear and filled with light; and Prudence's +voice was gentle and of a musical kind. Nay, sometimes Judith would leap +to her feet. "You shall not!--you shall not!" she would exclaim, as if +addressing some strange visitant that was showing the villainy of his +mind; and tears came quickly to her eyes if there was a tale of pity; +and the joy and laughter over lovers reconciled brought warm color to +her face. They forgot that these walls that enclosed them were of gray +mud; they forgot that the prevailing odor in the air was that of the +malt in the barn for now they were regarding Romeo in the moonlight, +with the dusk of the garden around, and Juliet uttering her secrets to +the honeyed night; and again they were listening to the awful voices of +the witches on the heath, and guessing at the sombre thoughts passing +through the mind of Macbeth; and then again they were crying bitterly +when they saw before them an old man, gray-haired, discrowned, and +witless, that looked from one to the other of those standing by, and +would ask who the sweet lady was that sought with tears for his +benediction. They could hear the frail and shaken voice: + + "Methinks I should know you, and know this man; + Yet I am doubtful: for I am mainly ignorant + What place this is: and all the skill I have + Remembers not these garments; nor I know not + Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me; + For, as I am a man, I think this lady + To be my child Cordelia." + +And now, as they had retired into this sheltered nook, and Prudence was +carefully placing in order the scattered sheets that had been given her, +Judith was looking on with some compunction. + +"Indeed I grieve to give you so much trouble, sweetheart," said she. "I +would I could get at the copy that my father has locked away----" + +"Judith!" her friend said, reproachfully. "You would not take that? Why, +your father will scarce show it even to Julius, and sure I am that none +in the house would put a hand upon it----" + +"If it were a book of psalms and paraphrases, they might be of another +mind," Judith said; but Prudence would not hear. + +"Nay," said she, as she continued to search for the connecting pages. "I +have heard your father say to Julius that there is but little +difference; and that 'tis only when he has leisure here in Stratford +that he makes this copy writ out fair and large; in London he takes no +such pains. Truly I would not that either Julius or any of his +acquaintance knew of my fingering in such a matter: what would they say, +Judith? And sometimes, indeed, my mind is ill at ease with regard to +it--that I should be reading to you things that so many godly people +denounce as wicked and dangerous----" + +"You are too full of fears, good mouse," said Judith, coolly, "and too +apt to take the good people at their word. Nay, I have heard; they will +make you out everything to be wicked and sinful that is not to their own +minds; and they are zealous among the saints; but I have heard, I have +heard." + +"What, then?" said the other, with some faint color in her face. + +"No matter," said Judith, carelessly. "Well, I have heard that when they +make a journey to London they are as fond of claret wine and oysters as +any; but no matter: in truth the winds carry many a thing not worth the +listening to. But as regards this special wickedness, sweet mouse, +indeed you are innocent of it; 'tis all laid to my charge; I am the +sinner and temptress; be sure you shall not suffer one jot through my +iniquity. And now have you got them all together? Are you ready to +begin?" + +"But you must tell me where the story ceased, dear Judith, when last we +had it; for indeed you have a marvellous memory, even to the word and +the letter. The poor babe that was abandoned on the sea-shore had just +been found by the old shepherd--went it not so?--and he was wondering at +the rich bearing-cloth it was wrapped in. Why, here is the +name--Perdita," she continued, as she rapidly scanned one or two of the +papers--"who is now grown up, it appears, and in much grace; and this is +a kind of introduction, I take it, to tell you all that has happened +since your father last went to London--I mean since the story was broken +off. And Florizel--I remember not the name--but here he is so named as +the son of the King of Bohemia----" + +A quick laugh of intelligence rose to Judith's eyes; she had an alert +brain. + +"Prince Florizel?" she exclaimed. "And Princess Perdita! That were a +fair match, in good sooth, and a way to heal old differences. But to the +beginning, sweetheart, I beseech you; let us hear how the story is to +be; and pray Heaven he gives me back my little Mamillius, that was so +petted and teased by the court ladies." + +However, as speedily appeared, she had anticipated too easy a +continuation and conclusion. The young Prince Florizel proved to be +enamored, not of one of his own station, but of a simple shepherdess; +and although she instantly guessed that this shepherdess might turn out +to be the forsaken Perdita, the conversation between King Polixenes and +the good Camillo still left her in doubt. As for the next scene--the +encounter between Autolycus and the country clown--Judith wholly and +somewhat sulkily disapproved of that. She laughed, it is true; but it +was sorely against her will. For she suspected that goodman Matthew's +influence was too apparent here; and that, were he ever to hear of the +story, he would in his vanity claim this part as his own; moreover, +there was a kind of familiarity and every-day feeling in the +atmosphere--why, she herself had been rapidly questioned by her father +about the necessary purchases for a sheep-shearing feast, and Susan, +laughing, had struck in with the information as to the saffron for +coloring the warden-pies. But when the sweet-voiced Prudence came to the +scene between Prince Florizel and the pretty shepherdess, then Judith +was right well content. + +"Oh, do you see, now, how her gentle birth shines through her lowly +condition!" she said, quickly. "And when the old shepherd finds that he +has been ordering a king's daughter to be the mistress of the feast--ay, +and soundly rating her, too, for her bashful ways--what a fright will +seize the good old man! And what says she in answer?--again, good +Prue--let me hear it again--marry, now, I'll be sworn she had just such +another voice as yours!" + +"To the King Polixenes," Prudence continued, regarding the manuscript, +"who is in disguise, you know, Judith, she says: + + 'Welcome, sir! + It is my father's will I should take on me + The hostess-ship o' the day:--you're welcome, sir.' + +And then to both the gentlemen: + + 'Give me those flowers there, Dorcas.--Reverend sirs, + For you there's rosemary and rue; these keep + Seeming and savor all the winter long: + Grace and remembrance be to you both, + And welcome to our shearing!'" + +"Ah, there, now, will they not be won by her gentleness?" she cried, +eagerly. "Will they not suspect and discover the truth? It were a new +thing for a prince to wed a shepherdess, but this is no shepherdess, as +an owl might see! What say they then, Prue? Have they no suspicion?" + +So Prudence continued her patient reading--in the intense silence that +was broken only by the twittering of the birds in the orchard, or the +crowing of a cock in some neighboring yard; and Judith listened keenly, +drinking in every varying phrase. But when Florizel had addressed his +speech to the pretty hostess of the day, Judith could no longer forbear: +she clapped her hands in delight. + +"There, now, that is a true lover; that is spoken like a true lover," +she cried, with her face radiant and proud. "Again, good Prue--let us +hear what he says--ay, and before them all, too, I warrant me he is not +ashamed of her." + +So Prudence had to read once more Florizel's praise of his gentle +mistress: + + "'What you do + Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet, + I'd have you do it ever: when you sing, + I'd have you buy and sell so; so give alms; + Pray so; and, for the ordering your affairs, + To sing them too. When you do dance, I wish you + A wave o' the sea, that you might ever do + Nothing but that; move still, still so, and own + No other function. Each your doing, + So singular in each particular, + Crowns what you are doing in the present deeds, + That all your acts are queens!'" + +"In good sooth, it is spoken like a true lover," Judith said, with a +light on her face as if the speech had been addressed to herself. "Like +one that is well content with his sweetheart, and is proud of her, and +approves! Marry, there be few of such in these days; for this one is +jealous and unreasonable, and would have the mastery too soon; and that +one would frighten you to his will by declaring you are on the highway +to perdition; and another would have you more civil to his tribe of +kinsfolk. But there is a true lover, now; there is one that is courteous +and gentle; one that is not afraid to approve: there may be such in +Stratford, but God wot, they would seem to be a scarce commodity! Nay, I +pray your pardon, good Prue: to the story, if it please you--and is +there aught of the little Mamillius forthcoming?" + +And so the reading proceeded; and Judith was in much delight that the +old King seemed to perceive something unusual in the grace and carriage +of the pretty Perdita. + +"What is't he says? What are the very words?" + + "'This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever + Ran on the greensward: nothing she does or seems + But smacks of something greater than herself; + Too noble for this place.'" + +"Yes! yes! yes!" she exclaimed, quickly. "And sees he not some likeness +to the Queen Hermione? Surely he must remember the poor injured Queen, +and see that this is her daughter? Happy daughter, that has a lover that +thinks so well of her! And now, Prue?" + +But when in the course of the hushed reading all these fair hopes came +to be cruelly shattered; when the pastoral romance was brought to a +sudden end; when the King, disclosing himself, declared a divorce +between the unhappy lovers, and was for hanging the ancient shepherd, +and would have Perdita's beauty scratched with briers; and when Prudence +had to repeat the farewell words addressed to the prince by his hapless +sweetheart-- + + "'Wilt please you, sir, be gone? + I told you what would come of this. Beseech you, + Of your own state take care: this dream of mine-- + Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch further, + But milk my ewes, and weep--'" + +there was something very like tears in the gentle reader's eyes; but +that was not Judith's mood; she was in a tempest of indignation. + +"God's my life!" she cried, "was there ever such a fool as this old +King? He a king! He to sit on a throne! Better if he sate in a barn and +helped madge-howlet to catch mice! And what says the prince? Nay, I'll +be sworn he proves himself a true man, and no summer playfellow; he will +stand by her; he will hold to her, let the ancient dotard wag his beard +as he please!" + +And so, in the end, the story was told, and all happily settled; and +Prudence rose from the rude wooden bench with a kind of wistful look on +her face, as if she had been far away, and seen strange things. Then +Judith--pausing for a minute or so as if she would fix the whole thing +in her memory, to be thought over afterward--proceeded to tie the pages +together for the better concealment of them on her way home. + +"And the wickedness of it?" said she, lightly. "Wherein lies the +wickedness of such a reading, sweet mouse?" + +Prudence was somewhat shamefaced on such occasions; she could not +honestly say that she regretted as she ought to have done, giving way to +Judith's importunities. + +"Some would answer you, Judith," she said, "that we had but ill used +time that was given us for more serious purposes." + +"And for what more serious purposes, good gossip? For the repeating of +idle tales about our neighbors? Or the spending of the afternoon in +sleep, as is the custom with many? Are we all so busy, then, that we may +not pass a few minutes in amusement? But, indeed, sweet Prue," said she, +as she gave a little touch to her pretty cap and snow-white ruff, to put +them right before she went out into the street, "I mean to make amends +this afternoon. I shall be busy enough to make up for whatever loss of +time there has been over this dangerous and godless idleness. For, do +you know, I have everything ready now for the new Portugal receipts that +you read to me; and two of them I am to try as soon as I get home; and +my father is to know nothing of the matter--till the dishes be on the +table. So fare you well, sweet mouse; and give ye good thanks, too: this +has been but an evil preparation for the church-going of the morrow, but +remember, the sin was mine--you are quit of that." + +And then her glance fell on the roll of papers that she held in her +hand. + +"The pretty Perdita!" said she. "Her beauty was not scratched with +briers, after all. And I doubt not she was in brave attire at the court; +though methinks I better like to remember her as the mistress of the +feast, giving the flowers to this one and that. And happy Perdita, also, +to have the young prince come to the sheep-shearing, and say so many +sweet things to her! Is't possible, think you, Prue, there might come +such another handsome stranger to our sheep-shearing that is now at +hand?" + +"I know not what you mean, Judith." + +"Why, now, should such things happen only in Bohemia?" she said, gayly, +to the gentle and puzzled Prudence, "Soon our shearing will begin, for +the weather has been warm, and I hear the hurdles are already fixed. And +there will be somewhat of a merry-making, no doubt; and--and the road +from Evesham hither is a fair and goodly road, that a handsome young +stranger might well come riding along. What then, good mouse? If one +were to meet him in the lane that crosses to Shottery--and to bid him to +the feast--what then?" + +"Oh, Judith, surely you are not still thinking of that dangerous man!" +the other exclaimed. + +But Judith merely regarded her for a second, with the clear-shining eyes +now become quite demure and inscrutable. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A REMONSTRANCE. + + +Next morning was Sunday; and Judith, having got through her few domestic +duties at an early hour, and being dressed in an especially pretty +costume in honor of the holy day, thought she need no longer remain +within-doors, but would walk along to the church-yard, where she +expected to find Prudence. The latter very often went thither on a +Sunday morning, partly for quiet reverie and recalling of this one and +the other of her departed but not forgotten friends whose names were +carven on the tombstones, and partly--if this may be forgiven her--to +see how the generous mother earth had responded to her week-day labors +in the planting and tending of the graves. But when Judith, idly and +carelessly as was her wont, reached the church-yard, she found the wide, +silent space quite empty; so she concluded that Prudence had probably +been detained by a visit to some one fallen sick; and she thought she +might as well wait for her; and with that view--or perhaps out of mere +thoughtlessness--she went along to the river-side, and sat down on the +low wall there, having before her the slowly moving yellow stream and +the fair, far-stretching landscape beyond. + +There had been some rain during the night; the roads she had come along +were miry; and here the grass in the church-yard was dripping with the +wet; but there was a kind of suffused rich light abroad that bespoke the +gradual breaking through of the sun; and there was a warmth in the moist +atmosphere that seemed to call forth all kinds of sweet odors from the +surrounding plants and flowers. Not that she needed these, for she had +fixed in her bosom a little nosegay of yellow-leaved mint, that was +quite sufficient to sweeten the scarcely moving air. And as she sat +there in the silence it seemed to her as if all the world were +awake--and had been awake for hours--but that all the human beings were +gone out of it. The rooks were cawing in the elms above her; the bees +hummed as they flew by into the open light over the stream; and far away +she could hear the lowing of the cattle on the farms; but there was no +sound of any human voice, nor any glimpse of any human creature in the +wide landscape. And she grew to wonder what it would be like if she were +left alone in the world, all the people gone from it, her own relatives +and friends no longer here and around her, but away in the strange +region where Hamnet was, and perhaps, on such a morning as this, +regarding her not without pity, and even, it might be, with some touch +of half-recalled affection. Which of them all should she regret the +most? Which of them all would this solitary creature--left alone in +Stratford, in an empty town--most crave for, and feel the want of? Well, +she went over these friends and neighbors and companions and would-be +lovers; and she tried to imagine what, in such circumstances, she might +think of this one and that; and which of them she would most desire to +have back on the earth and living with her. But right well she knew in +her heart that all this balancing and choosing was but a pretence. There +was but the one; the one whose briefest approval was a kind of heaven to +her, and the object of her secret and constant desire; the one who +turned aside her affection with a jest; who brought her silks and scents +from London as if her mind were set on no other things than these. And +she was beginning to wonder whether, in those imagined circumstances, he +might come to think differently of her and to understand her somewhat; +and indeed she was already picturing to herself the life they might +lead--these two, father and daughter, together in the empty and silent +but sun-lit and sufficiently cheerful town--when her idle reverie was +interrupted. There was a sound of talking behind her; doubtless the +first of the people were now coming to church; for the doors were +already open. + +She looked round, and saw that this was Master Walter Blaise who had +just come through the little swinging gate, and that he was accompanied +by two little girls, one at each side of him, and holding his hand. +Instantly she turned her head away, pretending not to have seen him. + +"Bless the man!" she said to herself, "what does he here of a Sunday +morning? Why is so diligent a pastor not in charge of his own flock?" + +But she felt secure enough. Not only was he accompanied by the two +children, but there was this other safeguard that he would not dare to +profane the holy day by attempting anything in the way of wooing. And it +must be said that the young parson had had but few opportunities for +that, the other members of the household eagerly seeking his society +when he came to New Place, and Judith sharp to watch her chances of +escape. + +The next moment she was startled by hearing a quick footstep behind her. +She did not move. + +"Give you good-morrow, Judith," said he, presenting himself, and +regarding her with his keen and confident gray eyes. "I would crave a +word with you; and I trust it may be a word in season, and acceptable to +you." + +He spoke with an air of cool authority, which she resented. There was +nothing of the clownish bashfulness of young Jelleyman about him; nor +yet of the half-timid, half-sulky jealousy of Tom Quiney; but a kind of +mastery, as if his office gave him the right to speak, and commanded +that she should hear. And she did not think this fair, and she +distinctly wished to be alone; so that her face had but little welcome +in it, and none of the shining radiance of kindness that Willy Hart so +worshipped. + +"I know you like not hearing of serious things, Judith," said he (while +she wondered whither he had sent the two little girls: perhaps into the +church?), "but I were no true friend to you, as I desire to be, if I +feared to displease you when there is need." + +"What have I done, then? In what have I offended? I know we are all +miserable sinners, if that be what you mean," said she, coldly. + +"I would not have you take it that way, Judith," said he; and there +really was much friendliness in his voice. "I meant to speak kindly to +you. Nay, I have tried to understand you; and perchance I do in a +measure. You are in the enjoyment of such health and spirits as fall to +the lot of few; you are well content with your life and the passing +moment; you do not like to be disturbed, or to think of the future. But +the future will come, nevertheless, and it may be with altered +circumstances; your light-heartedness may cease, sorrow and sickness may +fall upon you, and then you may wish you had learned earlier to seek for +help and consolation where these alone are to be found. It were well +that you should think of such things now, surely; you cannot live always +as you live now--I had almost said a godless life, but I do not wish to +offend; in truth, I would rather lead you in all kindliness to what I +know is the true pathway to the happiness and peace of the soul. I +would speak to you, Judith, if in no other way, as a brother in Christ; +I were no true friend to you else; nay, I have the command of the Master +whom I serve to speak and fear not." + +She did not answer, but she was better content now. So long as he only +preached at her, he was within his province, and within his right. + +"And bethink you, Judith," said he, with a touch of reproach in his +voice, "how and why it is you enjoy such health and cheerfulness of +spirits; surely through the Lord in His loving-kindness answering the +prayers of your pious mother. Your life, one might say, was vouchsafed +in answer to her supplications; and do you owe nothing of duty and +gratitude to God, and to God's Church, and to God's people? Why should +you hold aloof from them? Why should you favor worldly things, and walk +apart from the congregation, and live as if to-morrow were always to be +as to-day, and as if there were to be no end to life, no calling to +account as to how we have spent our time here upon earth? Dear Judith, I +speak not unkindly; I wish not to offend; but often my heart is grieved +for you; and I would have you think how trifling our present life is in +view of the great eternity whither we are all journeying; and I would +ask you, for your soul's sake, and for your peace of mind here and +hereafter, to join with us, and come closer with us, and partake of our +exercises. Indeed you will find a truer happiness. Do you not owe it to +us? Have you no gratitude for the answering of your mother's prayers?" + +"Doubtless, doubtless," said she (though she would rather have been +listening in silence to the singing of the birds, that were all +rejoicing now, for the sun had at length cleared away the morning +vapors, and the woods and the meadows and the far uplands were all +shining in the brilliant new light). "I go to church as the others do, +and there we give thanks for all the mercies that have been granted." + +"And is it enough, think you?" said he--and as he stood, while she sat, +she did not care to meet those clear, keen, authoritative eyes that were +bent on her. "Does your conscience tell you that you give sufficient +thanks for what God in His great mercy has vouchsafed to you? +Lip-service every seventh day!--a form of words gone through before you +take your afternoon walk! Why, if a neighbor were kind to you, you +would show him as much gratitude as that; and this is all you offer to +the Lord of heaven and earth for having in His compassion listened to +your mother's prayers, and bestowed on you life and health and a +cheerful mind?" + +"What would you have me do? I cannot profess to be a saint while at +heart I am none," said she, somewhat sullenly. + +It was an unlucky question. Moreover, at this moment the bells in the +tower sent forth their first throbbing peals into the startled air; and +these doubtless recalled him to the passing of time, and the fact that +presently the people would be coming into the church-yard. + +"I will speak plainly to you, Judith; I take no shame to mention such a +matter on the Lord's day; perchance the very holiness of the hour and of +the spot where I have chanced to meet you will the better incline your +heart. You know what I have wished; what your family wish; and indeed +you cannot be so blind as not to have seen. It is true, I am but a +humble laborer in the Lord's vineyard; but I magnify my office; it is an +honorable work; the saving of souls, the calling to repentance, the +carrying of the Gospel to the poor and stricken ones of the earth--I say +that is an honorable calling, and one that blesses them that partake in +it, and gives a peace of mind far beyond what the worldlings dream of. +And if I have wished that you might be able and willing--through God's +merciful inclining of your heart--to aid me in this work, to become my +helpmeet, was it only of my own domestic state I was thinking? Surely +not. I have seen you from day to day--careless and content with the +trifles and idle things of this vain and profitless world; but I have +looked forward to what might befall in the future, and I have desired +with all my heart--yea, and with prayers to God for the same--that you +should be taught to seek the true haven in time of need. Do you +understand me, Judith?" + +He spoke with little tenderness, and certainly with no show of +lover-like anxiety; but he was in earnest; and she had a terrible +conviction pressing upon her that her wit might not be able to save her. +The others she could easily elude when she was in the mind; this one +spoke close and clear; she was afraid to look up and face his keen, +acquisitive eyes. + +"And if I do understand you, good Master Blaise," said she desperately; +"if I do understand you--as I confess I have gathered something of this +before--but--but surely--one such as I--such as you say I am--might she +not become pious--and seek to have her soul saved--without also having +to marry a parson?--if such be your meaning, good Master Blaise." + +It was she who was in distress and in embarrassment; not he. + +"You are not situated as many others are," said he. "You owe your life, +as one may say, to the prayers of God's people; I but put before you one +way in which you could repay the debt--by laboring in the Lord's +vineyard, and giving the health and cheerfulness that have been bestowed +on you to the comfort of those less fortunate----" + +"I? Such a one as I? Nay, nay, you have shown me how all unfit I were +for that," she exclaimed, glad of this one loophole. + +"I will not commend you, Judith, to your face," said he, calmly, "nor +praise such worldly gifts as others, it may be, overvalue; but in truth +I may say you have a way of winning people toward you; your presence is +welcome to the sick; your cheerfulness gladdens the troubled in heart; +and you have youth and strength and an intelligence beyond that of many. +Are all these to be thrown away?--to wither and perish as the years go +by? Nay, I seek not to urge my suit to you by idle words of wooing, as +they call it, or by allurements of flattery; these are the foolish +devices of the ballad-mongers and the players, and are well fitted, I +doubt not, for the purposes of the master of these, the father of lies +himself; rather would I speak to you words of sober truth and reason; I +would show you how you can make yourself useful in the garden of the +Lord, and so offer some thanksgiving for the bounties bestowed on you. +Pray consider it, Judith; I ask not for yea or nay at this moment; I +would have your heart meditate over it in your own privacy, when you can +bethink you of what has happened to you and what may happen to you in +the future. Life has been glad for you so far; but trouble might come; +your relatives are older than you; you might be left so that you would +be thankful to have one beside you whose arm you could lean on in time +of distress. Think over it, Judith, and may God incline your heart to +what is right and best for you." + +But at this moment the first of the early comers began to make their +appearance--strolling along toward the church-yard, and chatting to each +other as they came--and all at once it occurred to her that if he and +she separated thus, he might consider that she had given some silent +acquiescence to his reasons and arguments; and this possibility alarmed +her. + +"Good Master Blaise," said she, hurriedly, "pray mistake me not. Surely, +if you are choosing a helpmeet for such high and holy reasons, it were +well that you looked further afield. I am all unworthy for such a +place--indeed I know it; there is not a maid in Stratford that would not +better become it; nay, for my own part, I know several that I could +point out to you, though your own judgment were best in such a matter. I +pray you think no more of me in regard to such a position; God help me, +I should make a parson's wife such as all the neighbors would stare at; +indeed I know there be many you could choose from--if their heart were +set in that direction--that are far better than I." + +And with this protest she would fain have got away; and she was all +anxiety to catch a glimpse of Prudence, whose appearance would afford +her a fair excuse. How delightful would be the silence of the great +building and the security of the oaken pew! with what a peace of mind +would she regard the soft-colored beams of light streaming into the +chancel, and listen to the solemn organ music, and wait for the +silver-clear tones of Susan's voice! But good Master Walter would have +another word with her ere allowing her to depart. + +"In truth you misjudge yourself, Judith," said he, with a firm +assurance, as if he could read her heart far better than she herself. "I +know more of the duties pertaining to such a station than you; I can +foresee that you would fulfil them worthily, and in a manner pleasing to +the Lord. Your parents, too: will you not consider their wishes before +saying a final nay?" + +"My parents?" she said, and she looked up with a quick surprise. "My +mother, it may be----" + +"And if your father were to approve also?" + +For an instant her heart felt like lead; but before this sudden fright +had had time to tell its tale in her eyes she had reassured herself. +This was not possible. + +"Has my father expressed any such wish?" said she; but well she knew +what the reply would be. + +"No, he has not, Judith," he said, distinctly; "for I have not spoken to +him. But if I were to obtain his approval, would that influence you?" + +She did not answer. + +"I should not despair of gaining that," said he, with a calm confidence +that caused her to lift her eyes and regard him for a second, with a +kind of wonder, as it were, for she knew not what this assurance meant. +"Your father," he continued, "must naturally desire to see your future +made secure, Judith. Think what would happen to you all if an accident +befell him on his journeyings to London. There would be no man to +protect you and your mother. Dr. Hall has his own household and its +charges, and two women left by themselves would surely feel the want of +guidance and help. If I put these worldly considerations before you, it +is with no wish that you should forget the higher duty you owe to God +and his Church, and the care you should have of your own soul. Do I +speak for myself alone? I think not. I trust it is not merely selfish +hopes that have bidden me appeal to you. And you will reflect, Judith; +you will commune with yourself before saying the final yea or nay; and +if your father should approve----" + +"Good Master Blaise," said she, interrupting him--and she rose and +glanced toward the straggling groups now approaching the church--"I +cannot forbid you to speak to my father, if it is your wish to do that; +but I would have him understand that it is through no desire of mine; +and--and, in truth, he must know that I am all unfit to take the charge +you would put upon me. I pray you hold it in kindness that I say +so:--and there, now," she quickly added, "is little Willie Hart, that I +have a message for, lest he escape me when we come out again." + +He could not further detain her; but he accompanied her as she walked +along the path toward the little swinging gate, for she could see that +her small cousin, though he had caught sight of her, was shyly uncertain +as to whether he should come to her, and she wished to have his hand as +far as the church door. And then--alas! that such things should +befall--at the very same moment a number of the young men and maidens +also entered the church-yard; and foremost among them was Tom Quiney. +One rapid glance that he directed toward her and the parson was all that +passed; but instantly in her heart of hearts she knew the suspicion that +he had formed. An assignation?--and on a Sunday morning, too! Nay, her +guess was quickly confirmed. He did not stay to pay her even the +ordinary courtesy of a greeting. He went on with the others; he was +walking with two of the girls; his laughter and talk were louder than +any. Indeed, this unseemly mirth was continued to within a yard or two +of the church door--perhaps it was meant for her to hear? + +Little Willie Hart, as he and his cousin Judith went hand in hand +through the porch, happened to look up at her. + +"Judith," said he, "why are you crying?" + +"I am not!" she said, angrily. And with her hand she dashed aside those +quick tears of vexation. + +The boy did not pay close heed to what now went on within the hushed +building. He was wondering over what had occurred--for these mysteries +were beyond his years. But at least he knew that his cousin Judith was +no longer angry with him; for she had taken him into the pew with her, +and her arm, that was interlinked with his, was soft and warm and gentle +to the touch; and once or twice, when the service bade them to stand up, +she had put her hand kindly on his hair. And not only that, but she had +at the outset taken from her bosom the little nosegay of mint and given +it to him; and the perfume of it (for it was Judith's gift, and she had +worn it near her heart, and she had given it him with a velvet touch of +her fingers) seemed to him a strange and sweet and mystical +thing--something almost as strange and sweet and inexplicable as the +beauty and shining tenderness of her eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +DIVIDED WAYS. + + +Some few weeks passed quite uneventfully, bringing them to the end of +June; and then it was that Mistress Hathaway chanced to send a message +into the town that she would have her granddaughter Judith come over to +see her roses, of which there was a great show in the garden. Judith was +nothing loath; she felt she had somewhat neglected the old dame of late; +and so, one morning--or rather one midday it was, for the family had but +finished dinner--found her in her own room, before her mirror, busy with +an out-of-door toilet, with Prudence sitting patiently by. Judith seemed +well content with herself and with affairs in general on this warm +summer day; now she spoke to Prudence, again she idly sang a scrap of +some familiar song, while the work of adornment went on apace. + +"But why such bravery, Judith?" her friend said, with a quiet smile. +"Why should you take such heed about a walk through the fields to +Shottery?" + +"Truly I know not," said Judith, carelessly; "but well I wot my +grandmother will grumble. If I am soberly dressed, she says I am a +sloven, and will never win me a husband; and if I am pranked out, she +says I am vain, and will frighten away the young men with my pride. In +Heaven's name, let them go, say I; I can do excellent well without them. +What think you of the cap, good Prue? 'Twas but last night I finished +it, and the beads I had from Warwick." + +She took it up and regarded it, humming the while: + + O say, my Joan, say, my Joan, will not that do? + I cannot come every day to woo. + +"Is't not a pretty cap, good gossip?" + +Prudence knew that she ought to despise such frivolities, which truly +were a snare to her, for she liked to look at Judith when she was +dressed as she was now, and she forgot to condemn these pretty colors. +On this occasion Judith was clad in a gown of light gray, or rather +buff, with a petticoat of pale blue taffeta, elaborately quilted with +her own handiwork; the small ruff she wore, which was open in front, and +partly showed her neck, was snow-white and stiffly starched; and she was +now engaged in putting on her soft brown hair this cap of gray velvet, +adorned with two rows of brass beads, and with a bit of curling feather +at the side of it. Prudence's eyes were pleased, if her conscience bade +her disapprove; nay, sometimes she had to confess that at heart she was +proud to see her dear gossip wear such pretty things, for that she +became them so well. + +"Judith," said she, "shall I tell you what I heard your father say of +you last night? He was talking to Julius, and they were speaking of this +one and that, and how they did; and when you were mentioned, 'Oh yes,' +says your father, 'the wench looks bravely well; 'tis a pity she cannot +sell the painting of her cheeks: there may be many a dame at the court +would buy it of her for a goodly sum.'" + +Judith gave a quick, short laugh: this was music in her ears--coming +from whence it did. + +"But, Judith," said her friend, with a grave inquiry in her face, "what +is't that you have done to Tom Quiney that he comes no longer near the +house?--nay, he will avoid you when he happens to see you abroad, for +that I have observed myself, and more than once. What is the matter? How +have you offended him?" + +"What have I done?" she said; and there was a swift and angry color in +her face. "Let him ask what his own evil imaginings have done. Not that +I care, in good sooth!" + +"But what is it, Judith? There must be a reason." + +"Why," said Judith, turning indignantly to her, "you remember, +sweetheart, the Sunday morning that Mrs. Pike's little boy was taken +ill, and you were sent for, and did not come to church? Well, I had gone +along to the church-yard to seek you, and was waiting for you, when who +must needs make his appearance but the worthy Master Blaise--nay, but I +told you, good Prue, the honor he would put upon me; and, thank Heaven, +he hath not returned to it, nor spoken to my father yet, as far as I can +learn. Then, when the good parson's sermon was over--body o' me, he let +me know right sharply I was no saint, though a saint I might become, no +doubt, were I to take him for my master--as I say, the lecture he gave +me was over, and we were walking to the church door, when who should +come by but Master Quiney and some of the others. Oh, well I know my +gentleman! The instant he clapped eyes on me he suspected there had been +a planned meeting--I could see it well--and off he goes in high dudgeon, +and not a word nor a look--before the others, mind you, before the +others, good Prue; that was the slight he put upon me. Marry, I care +not! Whither he has gone, there he may stay!" + +She spoke rapidly and with warmth: despite the scorn that was in her +voice, it was clear that that public slight had touched her deeply. + +"Nay, Judith," said her gentle companion, "'twere surely a world of pity +you should let an old friend go away like that--through a mischance +merely----" + +"An old friend?" said she. "I want none of such friends, that have ill +thoughts of you ere you can speak. Let him choose his friends elsewhere, +say I; let him keep to his tapsters, and his ale-house wenches; there he +will have enough of pleasure, I doubt not, till his head be broke in a +brawl some night!" + +Then something seemed to occur to her. All at once she threw aside the +bit of ribbon she had in her fingers, and dropped on her knee before her +friend, and seized hold of Prudence's hands. + +"I beseech your pardon, sweet Prue!--indeed, indeed, I knew not what I +said; they were but idle words; good mouse, I pray you heed them not. He +may have reasons for distrusting me; and in truth I complain not; 'tis a +small matter; but I would not have you think ill of him through these +idle words of mine. Nay, nay, they tell me he is sober and diligent, +that his business prospers, that he makes many friends, and that the +young men regard him as the chief of them, whether it be at merriment or +aught else." + +"I am right glad to hear you speak so of the young man, Judith," +Prudence said, in her gentle way, and yet mildly wondering at this +sudden change of tone. "If he has displeased you, be sure he will be +sorry for it, when he knows the truth." + +"Nay, nay, sweet mouse," Judith said, rising and resuming her careless +manner, as she picked up the ribbon she had thrown aside. "'Tis of no +moment. I wish the young man well. I pray you speak to none of that I +have told you; perchance 'twas but an accident, and he meant no slight +at all; and then--and then," she added, with a kind of laugh, "as the +good parson seems determined that willy-nilly I must wed him and help +him in his charge of souls, that were a good ending, sweet Prue?" + +She was now all equipped for setting forth, even to the feather fan that +hung from her girdle by a small silver cord. + +"But I know he hath not spoken to my father yet, else I should have +heard of it, in jest or otherwise. Come, mouse, shall we go? or the good +dame will have a scolding for us." + +Indeed, this chance reference to the slight put upon her in the +church-yard seemed to have left no sting behind it. She was laughing as +she went down the stair, at some odd saying of Bess Hall's that her +father had got hold of. When they went outside she linked her arm within +that of her friend, and nodded to this or the other passer-by, and had a +merry or a pleasant word for them, accordingly as they greeted her. And + + Green sleeves was all my joy, + Green sleeves was my delight, + +came naturally into her idle brain; for the day seemed a fit one for +holiday-making; the skies were clear, with large white clouds moving +slowly across the blue; and there was a fair west wind to stir the +leaves of the trees and the bushes, and to touch warmly and softly her +pink-hued cheek and pearly neck. + +"Ah, me," said she, in mock desolation, "why should one go nowadays to +Shottery? What use is in't, sweet Prue, when all the magic and +enticement is gone from it? Aforetime I had the chance of meeting with +so gracious a young gentleman, that brought news of the King's court, +and spoke so soft you would think the cuckoo in the woods was still to +listen. That was something to expect when one had walked so far--the +apparition--a trembling interview--and then so civil and sweet a +farewell! But now he is gone away, I know not whither; and he has +forgotten that ever he lodged in a farm-house, like a king consorting +with shepherds; and doubtless he will not seek to return. Well----" + +"You have never heard of him since, Judith?" her friend said, with rapid +look. + +"Alas, no!" she said, in the same simulated vein. "And sometimes I ask +myself whether there ever was such a youth--whether the world ever did +produce such a courtly gentleman, such a paragon, such a marvel of +courtesy--or was it not but a trick of the villain wizard? Think of it, +good Prue--to have been walking and talking with a ghost, with a thing +of air, and that twice, too! Is't not enough to chill the marrow in your +bones? Well, I would that all ghosts were as gentle and mannerly; there +would be less fear of them among the Warwickshire wenches. But do you +know, good Prue," she said, suddenly altering her tone into something of +eagerness, "there is a matter of more moment than ghosts that concerns +us now. By this time, or I am mistaken quite, there must be a goodly +bulk of the new play lying in the oaken chest; and again and again have +I tried to see whether I might dare to carry away some of the sheets, +but always there was some one to hinder. My father, you know, has been +much in the summer-house since the business of the new twenty acres was +settled; and then again, when by chance he has gone away with the +bailiff somewhere, and I have had my eye on the place, there was goodman +Matthew on the watch, or else a maid would come by to gather a dish of +green gooseberries for the baking, or Susan would have me seek out a +ripe raspberry or two for the child, or my mother would call to me from +the brew-house. But 'tis there, Prue, be sure; and there will come a +chance, I warrant; I will outwit the ancient Matthew----" + +"Do you never bethink you, Judith, what your father would say were he to +discover?" her friend said, glancing at her, as they walked along the +highway. + +Judith laughed, but with some heightened color. + +"My father?" said she. "Truly, if he alone were to discover, I should +have easy penance. Were it between himself and me, methinks there were +no great harm done. A daughter may fairly seek to know the means that +has gained for her father the commendation of so many of the great +people, and placed him in such good estate in his own town. Marry, I +fear not my father's knowing, were I to confess to himself; but as for +the others, were they to learn of it--my mother, and Susan, and Dr. +Hall, and the pious Master Walter--I trow there might be some stormy +weather abroad. At all events, good Prue, in any such mischance, you +shall not suffer; 'tis I that will bear the blame, and all the blame; +for indeed I forced you to it, sweet mouse, and you are as innocent of +the wickedness as though you had ne'er been born." + +And now they were just about to leave the main road for the foot-path +leading to Shottery, when they heard the sound of some one coming along +on horseback; and turning for a second, they found it was young Tom +Quiney, who was on a smart galloway nag, and coming at a goodly pace. As +he passed them he took off his cap, and lowered it with formal courtesy. + +"Give ye good-day," said he; but he scarcely looked at them, nor did he +pull up for further talk or greeting. + +"We are in such haste to be rich nowadays," said Judith, with a touch of +scorn in her voice, as the two maidens set forth to walk through the +meadows, "that we have scarce time to be civil to our friends." + +But she bore away no ill-will; the day was too fine for that. The soft +west wind was tempering the heat and stirring the leaves of the elms; +red and white wild roses were sprinkled among the dark green of the +hedges; there was a perfume of elder blossom in the air; and perhaps +also a faint scent of hay, for in the distance they could see the mowers +at work among the clover, and could see the long sweep of the scythe. +The sun lay warm on the grass and the wild flowers around them; there +was a perfect silence but for the singing of the birds; and now and +again they could see one of the mowers cease from his work, and a soft +clinking sound told them that he was sharpening the long, curving blade. +They did not walk quickly; it was an idle day. + +Presently some one came up behind them and overtook them. It was young +Master Quiney, who seemed to have changed his mind, and was now on foot. + +"You are going over to Shottery, Prudence?" said he. + +Prudence flushed uneasily. Why should he address her, and have no word +for Judith? + +"Yes," said she; "Mistress Hathaway would have us see her roses; she is +right proud of them this year." + +"'Tis a good year for roses," said he, in a matter-of-fact way, and as +if there were no restraint at all on any of the party. + +And then it seemed to occur to him that he ought to account for his +presence. + +"I guessed you were going to Shottery," said he, indifferently, and +still addressing himself exclusively to Prudence; "and I got a lad to +take on the nag and meet me at the cross-road; the short-cut through the +meadows is pleasant walking. To Mistress Hathaway's, said you? I dare +promise you will be pleased with the show; there never was such a year +for roses; and not a touch of blight anywhere, as I have heard. And a +fine season for the crops, too; just such weather as the farmers might +pray for; Look at that field of rye over there, now--is't not a goodly +sight?" + +He was talking with much appearance of self-possession; it was Prudence +who was embarrassed. As for Judith, she paid no heed; she was looking +before her at the hedges and the elms, at the wild flowers around, and +at the field of bearded rye that bent in rustling gray-green undulations +before the westerly breeze. + +"And how does your brother, Prudence?" he continued. "'Tis well for him +his business goes on from year to year without respect of the seasons; +he can sleep o' nights without thinking of the weather. It is the common +report that the others of the Town Council hold him in great regard, and +will have him become alderman ere long; is it not so?" + +"I have heard some talk of it," Prudence said, with her eyes cast down. + +At this moment they happened to be passing some patches of the common +mallow that were growing by the side of the path; and the tall and +handsome youth who was walking with the two girls (but who never once +let his eyes stray in the direction of Judith) stooped down and pulled +one of the brightest clusters of the pale lilac blossoms. + +"You have no flower in your dress, Prudence," said he, offering them to +her. + +"Nay, I care not to wear them," said she; and she would rather have +declined them, but as he still offered them to her, how could she help +accepting them and carrying them in her hand? And then, in desperation, +she turned and addressed the perfectly silent and impassive Judith. + +"Judith," said she, "you might have brought the mastiff with you for a +run." + +"Truly I might, sweetheart," said Judith, cheerfully, "but that my +grandmother likes him not in the garden; his ways are overrough." + +"Now that reminds me," said he, quickly (but always addressing +Prudence), "of the little spaniel-gentle that I have. Do you know the +dog, Prudence? 'Tis accounted a great beauty, and of the true Maltese +breed. Will you accept him from me? In truth I will hold it a favor if +you will take the little creature." + +"I?" said Prudence, with much amazement; for she had somehow vaguely +heard that the dog had been purchased and brought to Stratford for the +very purpose of being presented to Judith. + +"I assure you 'tis just such an one as would make a pleasant companion +for you," said he; "a gentle creature as ever was, and affectionate +too--a most pleasant and frolicsome playfellow. Will you take it, +Prudence? for what can I do with the little beast? I have no one to look +after it." + +"I had thought you meant Judith to have the spaniel," said she, simply. + +"Nay, how would that do, sweetheart?" said Judith, calmly. "Do you think +the Don would brook such invasion of his domain? Would you have the +little thing killed? You should take it, good cousin; 'twill be company +for you should you be alone in the house." + +She had spoken quite as if she had been engaged in the conversation all +the way through; there was no appearance of anger or resentment at his +ostentatious ignoring of her presence: whatever she felt she was too +proud to show. + +"Then you will take the dog, Prudence," said he. "I know I could not +give it into gentler hands, for you could not but show it kindness, as +you show to all." + +"Give ye good thanks," said Prudence, with her pale face flushing with +renewed embarrassment, "for the offer of the gift; but in truth I doubt +if it be right and seemly to waste such care on a dumb animal when there +be so many of our fellow-creatures that have more pressing claims on us. +And there are enough of temptations to idleness without our wilfully +adding to them. But I thank you for the intention of your +kindness--indeed I do." + +"Nay, now, you shall have it, good Prudence, whether you will or no," +said he with a laugh. "You shall bear with the little dog but for a +week, that I beg of you; and then if it please you not, if you find no +amusement in its tricks and antics, I will take it back again. 'Tis a +bargain; but as to your sending of it back, I have no fears; I warrant +you 'twill overcome your scruples, for 'tis a most cunning and crafty +playfellow, and merry withal; nor will it hinder you from being as kind +and helpful to those around you as you have ever been. I envy the dog +that is to have so gentle a guardian." + +They were now come to a parting of the ways; and he said he would turn +off to the left, so as to reach the lane at the end of which his nag was +awaiting him. + +"And with your leave, Prudence," said he, "I will bring the little +spaniel to your house this evening, for I am only going now as far as +Bidford; and if your brother be at home he may have half an hour to +spare, that we may have a chat about the Corporation, and the new +ordinances they propose to make. And so fare you well, and good wishes +go with you!" + +And with that he departed, and was soon out of sight. + +"Oh, Judith," Prudence exclaimed, almost melting into tears, "my heart +is heavy to see it!" + +"What, then, good cousin?" said Judith, lightly. + +"The quarrel." + +"The quarrel, dear heart! Think of no such thing. In sober truth, dear +Prudence, I would not have matters other than they are; I would not; I +am well content; and as for Master Quiney, is not he improved? Did ever +mortal hear him speak so fair before? Marry, he hath been learning good +manners, and profited well. But there it is; you are so gentle, +sweetheart, that every one, no matter who, must find you good company; +while I am fractious, and ill to bear with; and do I marvel to see any +one prefer your smooth ways and even disposition? And when he comes +to-night, heed you, you must thank him right civilly for bringing you +the little spaniel; 'tis a great favor; the dog is one of value that +many would prize----" + +"I cannot take it--I will not have it. 'Twas meant for you, Judith, as +well you know," the other cried, in real distress. + +"But you must and shall accept the gift," her friend said, with +decision. "Ay, and show yourself grateful for his having singled you out +withal. Neither himself nor his spaniel would go long a-begging in +Stratford, I warrant you; give him friendly welcome, sweetheart." + +"He went away without a word to you, Judith." + +"I am content." + +"But why should it be thus?" Prudence said, almost piteously. + +"Why? Dear mouse, I have told you. He and I never did agree; 'twas ever +something wrong on one side or the other; and wherefore should not he +look around for a gentler companion? 'Twere a wonder should he do aught +else; and now he hath shown more wisdom than ever I laid to his credit." + +"But the ungraciousness of his going, Judith," said the gentle Prudence, +who could in no wise understand the apparent coolness with which Judith +seemed to regard the desperate thing that had taken place. + +"Heaven have mercy! why should that trouble you if it harm not me?" was +the instant answer. "My spirits are not like to be dashed down for want +of a 'fare you well.' In good sooth, he had given you so much of his +courtesy and fair speeches that perchance he had none to spare for +others." + +By this time they were come to the little wooden gate leading into the +garden; and it was no wonder they should pause in passing through that +to regard the bewildering and glowing luxuriance of foliage and blossom, +though this was but a cottage inclosure, and none of the largest. The +air seemed filled with the perfume of this summer abundance; and the +clear sunlight shone on the various masses of color--roses red and +white, pansies, snapdragon, none-so-pretty, sweet-williams of every +kind, to say nothing of the clustering honeysuckle that surrounded the +cottage door. + +"Was't not worth the trouble, sweetheart?" Judith said. "Indeed, the +good dame does well to be proud of such a pageant." + +As she spoke her grandmother suddenly made her appearance, glancing +sharply from one to the other of them. + +"Welcome, child, welcome," she said, "and to you, sweet Mistress Shawe." + +And yet she did not ask them to enter the cottage; there was some kind +of hesitation about the old dame's manner that was unusual. + +"Well, grandmother," said Judith, gayly, "have you no grumbling? My cap +I made myself; then must it be out of fashion. Or I did not make it +myself; then it must have cost a mint of money. Or what say you to my +petticoat--does not the color offend you? Shall I ever attain to the +pleasing of you, think you, good grandmother?" + +"Wench, wench, hold your peace!" the old dame said, in a lower voice. +"There is one within that may not like the noise of strangers--though he +be no stranger to you, as he says----" + +"What, grandmother?" Judith exclaimed, and involuntarily she shrank back +a little, so startled was she. "A stranger? In the cottage? You do not +mean the young gentleman that is in hiding--that I met in the lane----" + +"The same, Judith, the same," she said, quickly; "and I know not whether +he would wish to be seen by more than needs be----" + +She glanced at Judith, who understood: moreover, the latter had pulled +together her courage again. + +"Have no fear, good grandmother," said she; and she turned to Prudence. +"You hear, good Prue, who is within." + +"Yes," the other answered, but somewhat breathless. + +"Now, then, is such an opportunity as may ne'er occur again," Judith +said. "You will come with me, good Prue? Nay, but you must." + +"Indeed I shall not!" Prudence exclaimed, stepping back in affright. +"Not for worlds, Judith, would I have aught to do with such a thing. And +you, Judith, for my sake, come away! We will go back to Stratford!--we +will look at the garden some other time!--in truth, I can see your +grandmother is of my mind too. Judith, for the love of me, come!--let us +get away from this place!" + +Judith regarded her with a strange kind of smile. + +"I have had such courtesy and fair manners shown me to-day, sweet +Prue," said she, with a sort of gracious calmness, "that I am fain to +seek elsewhere for some other treatment, lest I should grow vain. Will +it please you wait for me in the garden, then? Grandmother, I am going +in with you to help you give your guest good welcome." + +"Judith!" the terrified Prudence exclaimed, in a kind of despair. + +But Judith, with her head erect, and with a perfect and proud +self-possession, had followed her grandmother into the house. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A HERALD MERCURY. + + +The distance between this luxuriant garden, all radiant and glowing in +light and color, and the small and darkened inner room of the cottage, +was but a matter of a few yards; yet in that brief space, so alert was +her brain, she had time to reconsider much. And with her, pride or anger +was always of short duration, the sunny cheerfulness of her nature +refusing to harbor such uncongenial guests. Why, she asked herself, +should she take umbrage at the somewhat too open neglect that had just +been shown her? Was it not tending in the very direction she had herself +desired? Had she not begged and prayed him to give Prudence the little +spaniel-gentle? Nay, had she not wilfully gone and buried in the +church-yard the bit of rosemary that he had sent her to keep, putting it +away from her with the chance of it summoning an unknown lover? So now, +she said to herself, she would presently come out again to the poor +affrighted Prudence, and would reassure her, and congratulate her, +moreover, with words of good cheer and comfort for the future. + +And then again, in this lightning-like survey of the situation, she was +conscious that she was becomingly dressed--and right glad indeed that +she had chanced to put on the gray velvet cap with the brass beads and +the curling feather; and she knew that the young gentleman would be +courteous and civil, with admiring eyes. Moreover, she had a vague +impression that he was somewhat too much given to speak of Ben Jonson; +and she hoped for some opportunity to let him understand that her father +was one of good estate, and much thought of by every one around, whose +daughter knew what was due to his position, and could conduct herself +not at all as a country wench. And so it was that the next minute found +her in the twilight of the room; and there, truly enough, he was, +standing at the small window. + +"Give ye good welcome sir," said she. + +"What! fair Mistress Judith?" he said, as he quickly turned round. And +he would have come forward and kissed her hand, perchance, but that a +moment's hesitation prevented him. + +"It may be that I have offended you," said he, diffidently. + +"In what, good sir?" + +She was quite at her ease; the little touch of modest color in her face +could scarcely be attributed to rustic shyness; it was but natural; and +it added to the gentleness of her look. + +"Nay, then, sweet lady, 'twas but a lack of courage that I would ask you +to pardon," said he--though he did not seem conscious of heavy guilt, to +judge by the way in which his black and eloquent eyes regarded Judith's +face and the prettinesses of her costume. "There was a promise that I +should communicate with you if I returned to this part of the country; +but I found myself not bold enough to take advantage of your kindness. +However, fortune has been my friend, since again I meet you; 'tis the +luckiest chance; I but asked your good grandmother here for a cup of +water as I passed, and she would have me take a cup of milk instead; and +then she bade me to come in out of the heat for a space--which I was +nothing loath to do, as you may guess; and here have I been taking up +the good lady's time with I know not what of idle gossip----" + +"But sit ye down, grandchild," the good dame said; "and you, sir, pray +sit you down. Here, wench," she called to the little maid that was her +sole domestic; "go fill this jug from the best barrel." + +And then she herself proceeded to get down from the high wooden rail +some of the pewter trenchers that shone there like a row of white moons +in the dusk; and these she placed on the table, with one or two knives; +and then she began to get forth cakes, a cheese, a ham, some spiced +bread, the half of a cold gooseberry-tart, and what not. + +"'Tis not every day we come by a visitor in these quiet parts," said +she--"ay, good sir, and one that is not afraid to speak out his mind. +Nay, nay, grandchild, I tell thee sit thee down; thou art too fine a +madam this morning to meddle wi' kitchen matters. Tell the gentleman I +be rather deaf; but I thank him for his good company. Sit ye down, +sweeting; sooth, you look bravely this morning." + +"Have I pleased you at last, grandmother?--'tis a miracle, surely," she +said, with a smile; and then she turned gravely to entertain the old +dame's visitor. "I hope your fortunes have mended, sir," said she. + +"In a measure--somewhat; but still I am forced to take heed--" + +"Perchance you have still the letter to my father?" she asked. + +"Nay, madam, I considered it a prudent thing to destroy it--little as +that was in my heart." + +"I had thought on your next coming to the neighborhood that you would +have taken the chance to make my father's friendship," said she, and not +without some secret disappointment; for she was anxious that this +acquaintance of Ben Jonson's should see the New Place, with all its +tapestries, and carved wood, and silver-gilt bowls; with its large fair +garden, too, and substantial barns and stables. Perhaps she would have +had him carry the tale to London? There were some things (she +considered) quite as fine as the trumpery masques and mummeries of the +court that the London people seemed to talk about. She would have liked +him to see her father at the head of his own table, with her mother's +napery shining, and plenty of good friends round the board, and her +father drinking to the health of Bess Hall out of the silver-topped +tankard that Thomas Combe, and Russell, and Sadler, and Julius Shawe, +and the rest of them, had given him on his last birthday. Or perchance +she would have had him see her father riding through the town of +Stratford with some of these good neighbors (and who the handsomest of +all the company? she would make bold to ask), with this one and that +praising the Evesham roan, and the wagoners as they passed touching +their caps to "worthy Mahster Shacksper." Ben Jonson! Well, she had seen +Ben Jonson. There was not a maid in the town would have looked his way. +Whereas, if there were any secret enchantments going forward on +Hallowmas-eve (and she knew of such, if the ministers did not), and if +the young damsels were called on to form a shape in their brain as they +prayed for the handsome lover that was to be sent them in the future, +she was well aware what type of man they would choose from amongst those +familiar to them; and also it had more than once reached her ears that +the young fellows would jokingly say among themselves that right well it +was that Master Shakespeare was married and in safe-keeping, else they +would never have a chance. In the meanwhile, and with much courtesy, +this young gentleman was endeavoring to explain to her why it was he +dared not go near Stratford town. + +"Truly, sweet Mistress Judith," said he, in his suave voice, and with +modestly downcast eyes, "it is a disappointment to me in more regards +than one; perchance I dare not say how much. But in these times one has +to see that one's own misfortunes may not prove harmful to one's +friends; and then again, ever since the French King's murder, they are +becoming harder and harder against any one, however innocent he may be, +that is under suspicion. And whom do they not suspect? The Parliament +have entreated the King to be more careful of his safety; and the +recusants--as they call those that have some regard for the faith they +were brought up in--must not appear within ten miles of the court. Nay, +they are ordered to betake themselves to their own dwellings; and by the +last proclamation all Roman priests, Jesuits, and seminaries are +banished the kingdom. I wonder not your good grandmother should have a +word of pity for them that are harried this way and that for conscience' +sake." + +"I say naught, I say naught; 'twere well to keep a still tongue," the +old dame said, being still busy with the table. "But I have heard there +wur more peace and quiet in former days when there wur but one faith in +the land; ay, and good tending of the poor folk by the monks and the +rich houses." + +However, the chance reference to the French King had suddenly recalled +to Judith that Prudence was waiting her in the garden; and her +conscience smote her for her neglect; while she was determined that so +favorable an opportunity should not be lost of banishing once and +forever her dear gossip's cruel suspicions. So she rose. + +"I crave your pardon, good sir," said she, "if I leave you for a moment +to seek my gossip Prudence Shawe, that was to wait for me in the garden. +I would have you acquainted with each other; but pray you, sir, forbear +to say anything against the Puritan section of the church, for she is +well inclined that way, and she has a heart that is easily wounded." + +"And thank you for the caution, fair Mistress Judith," said he; and he +rose, and bowed low, and stood hat in hand until she had left the +apartment. + +At first, so blinding was the glare of light and color, she could hardly +see; but presently, when her eyes were less dazzled, she looked +everywhere, and found the garden quite empty. She called; there was no +answer. She went down to the little gate; there was no one in the road. +And so, taking it for granted that Prudence had sought safety in flight, +and was now back in Stratford town, or on the way thither, she returned +into the cottage with a light heart, and well content to hear what news +was abroad. + +"Pray you, sir," said old Mistress Hathaway, "sit in to the table; and +you, grandchild, come your ways. If the fare be poor, the welcome is +hearty. What, then, Judith? Dined already, sayst thou? Body o' me, a +fresh-colored young wench like you should be ready for your dinner at +any time. Well, well, sit thee in, and grace the table; and you shall +sip a cup of claret for the sake of good company." + +Master Leofric Hope, on the other hand, was not at all backward in +applying himself to this extemporized meal; on the contrary, he did it +such justice as fairly warmed the old dame's heart. And he drank to her, +moreover, bending low over his cup of ale; but he did not do the like by +Judith--for some reason or another. And all the while he was telling +them of the affairs of the town; as to how there was much talking of the +new river that was to bring water from some ten or twelve miles off, and +how one Middleton was far advanced with the cutting of it, although many +were against it, and would have the project overthrown altogether. Of +these and similar matters he spoke right pleasantly, and the old dame +was greatly interested; but Judith grew to think it strange that so much +should be said about public affairs, and what the people were talking +about, and yet no mention made of her father. And so it came about, when +he went on to tell them of the new ship of war that so many were going +to see at Woolwich, and that the King made so much of, she said: + +"Oh, my father knows all about that ship. 'Twas but the other day I +heard him and Master Combe speak of it; and of the King too; and my +father said, 'Poor man, 'tis a far smaller ship than that he will make +his last voyage in.'" + +"Said he that of the King?" + +She looked up in quick alarm. + +"But as he would have said it of me, or of you, or of any one," she +exclaimed. "Nay, my father is well inclined toward the King, though he +be not as much at the court as some, nor caring to make pageants for the +court ladies and their attendants and followers." + +If there were any sarcasm in this speech, he did not perceive it; for it +merely led him on to speak of the new masque that Ben Jonson was +preparing for the Prince Henry; and incidentally he mentioned that the +subject was to be Oberon, the Fairy Prince. + +"Oberon?" said Judith, opening her eyes. "Why, my father hath writ about +that!" + +"Oh, yes, as we all know," said he, courteously; "but there will be a +difference----" + +"A difference?" said she. "By my life, yes! There will be a difference. +I wonder that Master Jonson was not better advised." + +"Nay, in this matter, good Mistress Judith," said he, "there will be no +comparison. I know 'tis the fashion to compare them----" + +"To compare my father and Master Jonson?" she said, as if she had not +heard aright. "Why, what comparison? In what way? Pray you remember, +sir, I have seen Master Ben Jonson. I have seen him, and spoken with +him. And as for my father, I'll be bound there is not his fellow for a +handsome presence and gracious manners in all Warwickshire--no, nor in +London town neither, I'll be sworn!" + +"I meant not that, sweet lady," said he, with a smile; and he added, +grimly: "I grant you our Ben looks as if he had been in the wars; he +hath had a tussle with Bacchus on many a merry night, and bears the +scars of these noble combats. No; 'tis the fashion to compare them as +wits----" + +"I'd as lief compare them as men, good sir," said she, with a touch of +pride; "and I know right well which should have my choice." + +"When it is my good fortune, dear lady," said the young man, "to have +Master William Shakespeare's daughter sitting before me, I need no other +testimony to his grace and bearing, even had I never set eyes on him." +And with that he bowed low; and there was a slight flush on her face +that was none of displeasure; while the old dame said: + +"Ay, ay, there be many a wench in Warwickshire worse favored than she. +Pray Heaven it turn not her head! The wench is a good wench, but ill to +manage; and 'twere no marvel if the young men got tired of waiting." + +To escape from any further discussion of this subject, Judith proposed +that they should go out and look at her grandmother's roses and pansies, +which was in truth the object of her visit; and she added that if Master +Hope (this was the first time she had named him by his name) were still +desirous of avoiding observation, they could go to the little bower at +the upper hedge-row, which was sufficiently screened from the view of +any passer-by. The old dame was right willing, for she was exceedingly +proud of this garden, that had no other tending than her own; and so she +got her knitting-needles and ball of wool, and preceded them out into +the warm air and the sunlight. + +"Dear, dear me," said she, stopping to regard two small shrubs that +stood withered and brown by the side of the path. "There be something +strange in that rosemary, now; in good sooth there be. Try as I may, I +cannot bring them along; the spring frost makes sure to kill them." And +then she went on again. + +"Strange, indeed," said the young man to his companion, these two being +somewhat behind, "that a plant that is so fickle and difficult to hold +should be the emblem of constancy." + +"I know not what they do elsewhere," said Judith, carelessly pulling a +withered leaf or two to see if they were quite inodorous, "but +hereabouts they often use a bit of rosemary for a charm, and the +summoning of spirits." + +He started somewhat, and glanced at her quickly and curiously. But there +was clearly no subtle intention in the speech. She idly threw away the +leaves. + +"Have you faith in such charms, Mistress Judith?" said he, still +regarding her. + +"In truth I know not," she answered, as if the question were of but +little moment. "There be some who believe in them, and others that +laugh. But strange stories are told; marry, there be some of them that +are not pleasant to hear of a winter's night, when one has to change the +warm chimney-corner for the cold room above. There is my grandmother, +she hath a rare store of them; but they fit not well with the +summer-time and with such a show as this." + +"A goodly show, indeed," said he; and by this time they were come to a +small arbor of rude lattice-work mostly smothered in foliage; and there +was a seat within it, and also a tiny table; while in front they were +screened from the gaze of any one going along the road by a straggling +and propped-up wall of peas that were now showing their large white +blossoms plentifully among the green. + +"'Tis a quiet spot," said he, when they were seated, and the old dame +had taken to her knitting; "'tis enough to make one pray never to hear +more of the din and turmoil of London." + +"I should have thought, sir," said Judith, "you would have feared to go +near London, if there be those that would fain get to know of your +whereabout." + +"Truly," said he, "I have no choice. I must run the risk. From time to +time I must seek to see whether the cloud that is hanging over me give +signs of breaking. And surely such must now be the case, when fortune +hath been so kind to me as to place me where I am at this moment--in +such company--with such a quiet around. 'Tis like the work of a +magician; though from time to time I remind me that I should rise and +leave, craving your pardon for intruding on you withal." + +"Trouble not yourself, young sir," the old dame said, in her +matter-of-fact way, as she looked up from her knitting; "if the place +content you, 'tis right well; we be in no such hurry in these country +parts; we let the day go by as it lists, and thank God for a sound +night's rest at the end of it." + +"And you have a more peaceful and happy life than the London citizens, +I'll be bound," said he, "with all their feasts and gayeties and the +noise of drums and the like." + +"We hear but the murmur of such things from a far distance," Judith +said. "Was there not a great to-do on the river when the citizens gave +their welcome to the Prince?" + +"Why, there, now," said he, brightening up at this chance of repaying in +some measure the courtesy of his entertainers; "there was as wonderful a +thing as London ever saw. A noble spectacle, truly; for the Companies +would not be outdone; and such bravery of apparel, and such a banqueting +in the afternoon! And perchance you heard of it but through some +news-letter! Shall I tell you what I saw on my own part?" + +"If it be not too troublesome to you, good sir." + +He was glad enough; for he had noticed, when he was describing such +things, that Judith's eyes grew absent, and he could gaze at them +without fear of causing her to start and blush. Moreover, it was a +pretty face to tell a story to; and the day was so still and shining; +and all around them there was a scent of roses in the air. + +"Why, it was about daybreak, as I should think," he said, "that the +citizens began to come forth; and a bright fair morning it was; and all +of them in their best array. And you may be sure that when the Companies +learned that the whole of the citizens were minded to show their love +for the Prince Henry on his coming back from Richmond, they were not +like to be behindhand; and such preparations had been made as you would +scarce believe. Well, then, so active were they in their several ways +that by eight of the clock the Companies were all assembled in their +barges of state to wait the Lord Mayor and Aldermen; and such a sound of +drums and trumpets and fifes was there; and the water covered with the +fleet, and the banks all crowded with them that had come down to see. +Then the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen being arrived, the great procession +set forth in state; and such a booming of cannon there was, and cheering +from the crowd. 'Twas a sight, on my life; for they bore the pageant +with them--that was a huge whale and a dolphin; and on the whale sat a +fair and lovely nymph, Corinea she was called, the Queen of Cornwall; +and she had a coronet of strange sea-shells, and strings of pearls +around her neck and on her wrists; and her dress was of crimson silk, so +that all could make her out from a distance; and she had a silver shield +slung on to her left arm, and in her right hand a silver spear--oh, a +wonderful sight she was; I marvel not the crowd cheered and cheered +again. Then on the other animal--that is, the dolphin--sat one that +represented Amphion--he was the father of music, as you must know; and a +long beard he wore, and he also had a wreath of sea-shells on his head, +and in his hand a harp of gold that shone in the sun. Well, away they +set toward Chelsea; and there they waited for the Prince's approach----" + +"And the young Prince himself," Judith said, quickly and eagerly; "he +bears himself well, does he not? He bears himself like a prince? He +would match such a pageant right royally, is't not so?" + +"Why, he is the very model and mirror of princehood!--the pink of +chivalry!--nor is there one of them at the court that can match him at +the knightly exercises," said this enthusiastic chronicler, who had his +reward in seeing how interested she was. "Well, when the young Prince +was come to Chelsea, there he paused; and the Queen Corinea addressed +him in a speech of welcome--truly, I could not hear a word of it, there +was such a noise among the multitude; but I was told thereafter that it +presented him with their love and loyal duty; and then they all set +forth toward Whitehall again. By this time 'twas late in the day; and no +man would have believed so many dwelt in the neighborhood of our great +river; and that again was as naught to the crowd assembled when they +were come again to the town. And here--as it must have been arranged +beforehand, doubtless--the fleet of barges separated and formed two long +lines, so as to make a lane for the Prince to pass through, with great +cheering and shouting, so that when they were come to the court steps, +he was at the head of them all. And now it was that the dolphin +approached, and Amphion, that was riding on his back, bid the Prince a +loyal farewell in the name of all the citizens; and at the end of the +speech--which, in truth the people guessed at rather than heard--there +was such a tumult of huzzas, and a firing of cannon, and the drums and +the trumpets sounding, and on every hand you could hear nothing but +'Long live our Prince of Wales, the Royal Henry!'" + +"And he bore himself bravely, I'll dare be sworn!" she exclaimed. "I +have heard my father speak of him; he is one that will uphold the honor +of England when he comes to the throne!" + +"And there was such a feasting and rejoicing that evening," he +continued, "within doors and without; and many an honest man, I fear me, +transgressed, and laid the train for a sore-distracted head next day. +Then 'twas some two or three evenings after that, if I remember aright, +that we had the great water-fight and the fire-works; but perchance you +heard of these, sweet Mistress Judith?" + +"In truth, good sir," she answered, "I heard of these, as of the welcome +you speak of, but in so scant a way as to be worth naught. 'Tis not a +kind of talking that is encouraged at our house; unless, indeed, when +Julius Shawe and Master Combe and some of them come in of an evening to +chat with my father; and then sometimes I contrive to linger, with the +bringing in of a flagon of Rhenish or the like, unless I am chid and +sent forth. I pray you, good sir, if I do not outwear your patience, to +tell us of the water-fight, too." + +"'Tis I that am more like to outwear your patience, fair Judith," said +he. "I would I had a hundred fights to tell you of. But this one--well, +'twas a goodly pageant; and a vast crowd was come down to the water's +edge to see what was going forward, for most of the business of the day +was over, and both master and 'prentice were free. And very soon we saw +how the story was going; for there was a Turkish pirate, with fierce men +with blackened faces; and they would plunder two English merchantmen and +make slaves of the crews. This was but the beginning of the fight; and +there was great firing of guns and manoeuvring of the vessels; and the +merchantmen were like to fare badly, not being trained to arms like the +pirate. In sooth they were sore bestead; but presently up came two ships +of war to rescue; and then the coil began in good earnest, I warrant +you; for there was boarding and charging and clambering over the +bulwarks--ay, and many a man on both sides knocked into the sea; until +in the end they had killed or secured all the pirates, and then there +was naught to do but to blow up the pirate ship into the air, with a +noise like thunder, and scarce a rag or spar of him remaining. 'Twas a +right good ending, I take it, in the minds of the worthy citizens; +doubtless they hoped that every Turkish rogue would be served the like. +And then it was that the blowing up of the pirate ship was a kind of +signal for the beginning of the fire-works; and it had grown to dusk +now, so that the blazes of red light and blue light and the whizzing of +the squibs and what not seemed to fill all the air. 'Twas a rare climax +to the destruction of the Turks; and the people cheered and cheered +again when 'twas well done; and then at the end came a great discharge +of guns and squibs and showers of stars, that one would have thought the +whole world was on fire. Sure I am that the waters of the Thames never +saw such a sight before. And the people went home right well content, +and I doubt not drank to the confusion of all pirates, as well as to the +health of the young Prince, that is to preserve the realm to us in years +to come." + +They talked for some time thereafter about that and other matters, and +about his own condition and occupations at the farm; and then he rose, +and there was a smile on his face. + +"You know, fair Mistress Judith," said he, "that a wise man is careful +not to out-stay his welcome, lest it be not offered to him again; and +your good grandmother has afforded me so pleasant an hour's gossip and +good company that I would fain look forward to some other chance of the +same in the future." + +"Must you go, good sir?" said Judith, also rising. "I trust we have not +over-taxed your patience. We country folk are hungry listeners." + +"To have been awarded so much of your time, sweet Mistress Judith," said +he, bowing very low, "is an honor I am not likely to forget." + +And then he addressed the old dame, who had missed something of this. + +"Give ye good thanks for your kindness, good Mistress Hathaway," said +he. + +"Good fortune attend ye, sir," said the old dame, contentedly, and +without ceasing from her knitting. + +Judith was standing there, with her eyes cast down. + +"Sweet lady, by your leave," said he, and he took her hand and raised it +and just touched her fingers with his lips. Then he bowed low again, and +withdrew. + +"Fare you well, good sir," Judith had said at the same moment, but +without any word as to a future meeting. Then she returned into the +little arbor and sat down. + +"Is't not like a meteor, grandmother, shooting across the sky?" said +she, merrily. "Beshrew me, but the day has grown dark since he left! +Didst ever hear of such a gallymawfrey of dolphins and whales, and +prince's barges, and the roaring of cannon, and fire-works? Sure 'tis +well we live in the country quiet, our ears would be riven in twain +else. And you, grandmother, that was ever preaching about prudent +behavior, to be harboring one that may be an outlaw--a recusant; +perchance he hath drawn his sword in the King's presence----" + +"What know you of the young gentleman, Judith?" the old dame said, +sharply. + +"Marry, not a jot beyond what he hath doubtless told to yourself, good +grandmother. But see you any harm in him? Have you suspicion of him? +Would you have me think--as Prudence would fain believe--that there is +witchcraft about him?" + +"Truly I see no harm in the young gentleman," the old grandmother was +constrained to say. "And he be fair-spoken, and modest withal. But look +you to this, wench, should you chance to meet him again while he bideth +here in this neighborhood--I trow 'twere better you did not--but should +that chance, see you keep a still tongue in your head about Church and +King and Parliament. Let others meddle who choose; 'tis none of your +affairs: do you hear me, child? These be parlous times, as the talk is; +they do well that keep the by-ways, and let my lord's coaches go whither +they list." + +"Grandmother," said Judith, gravely, "I know there be many things in +which I cannot please you, but this sin that you would lay to my +charge--nay, dear grandam, when have you caught me talking about Church +and King and Parliament? Truly I wish them well; but I am content if +they go their own way." + +The old dame glanced at her, to see what this demure tone of speech +meant. + +"Thou?" she said, in a sort of grumble. "Thy brain be filled with other +gear, I reckon. 'Tis a bit of ribbon that hath hold of thee; or the +report as to which of the lads shot best at the match; or perchance 'tis +the purchase of some penny ballads, that you may put the pictures on +your chamber wall, as if you were a farm wench just come in from the +milking pail." + +"Heaven have pity on me, good grandmother," said she, with much +penitence, and she looked down at her costume, "but I can find no way of +pleasing you. You scold me for being but a farm wench; and truly this +petticoat, though it be pretty enough, methinks might have been made of +a costlier stuff; and my cap--good grandmother, look at my cap--" + +She took it off, and smoothed the gray velvet of it, and arranged the +beads and the feather. + +"--is the cap also too much of the fashion of a farm wench? or have I +gone amiss the other way, and become too like a city dame? Would that I +knew how to please you, grandam!" + +"Go thy ways, child; get thee home!" the old woman said, but only half +angrily. "Thy foolish head hath been turned by hearing of those court +gambols. Get you to your needle; be your mother's napery all so well +mended that you can spend the whole day in idleness?" + +"Nay, but you are in the right there, good grandmother," said Judith, +drawing closer to her, and taking her thin and wrinkled hand in her own +warm, white, soft ones. "But not to the needle--not to the needle, good +grandam; I have other eggs on the spit. Did not I tell you of the +Portugal receipts that Prudence got for me?--in good sooth I did; well, +the dishes were made; and next day at dinner my father was right well +pleased. 'Tis little heed he pays to such matters; and we scarce thought +of asking him how he liked the fare, when all at once he said: 'Good +mother, you must give my thanks to Jane cook; 'twill cheer her in her +work; nay, I owe them.' Then says my mother: 'But these two dishes were +not prepared by the cook, good husband; 'twas one of the maids.' 'One of +the maids?' he says. 'Well, which one of the maids? Truly, 'tis +something rare to be found in a country house.' And then there was a +laughing amongst all of them; and he fixes his eyes on me. 'What?' he +says, 'that saucy wench? Is she striving to win her a husband at last?' +And so you see, good grandmother, I must waste no more time here, for +Prudence hath one or two more of these receipts; and I must try them to +see whether my father approves or not." + +And so she kissed the old dame, and bade her farewell, refusing at the +same time to have the escort of the small maid across the meadows to the +town. + +All the temporary annoyance of the morning was now over and forgotten; +she was wholly pleased to have had this interview, and to have heard +minutely of all the great doings in London. She walked quickly; a +careless gladness shone in her face; and she was lightly singing to +herself, as she went along the well-beaten path through the fields, + + "Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, + Men were deceivers ever." + +But it was not in the nature of any complaint against the inconstancy of +man that this rhyme had come into her head. Quite other thoughts came as +well. At one moment she was saying to herself: + +"Why, now, have I no spaniel-gentle with me to keep me company?" + +And then the next minute she was saying with a sort of laugh: + +"God help me, I fear I am none of the spaniel-gentle kind!" + +But there was no deep smiting of conscience even when she confessed so +much. Her face was radiant and content; she looked at the cattle, or the +trees, or the children, as it chanced, as if she knew them all, and +knew that they were friendly toward her; and then again the idle air +would come into her brain: + + Then sigh not so, but let them go, + And be you blithe and bonny, + Converting all your sounds of woe + Into hey, nonny, nonny! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A TIRE-WOMAN. + + +It was not until after supper that evening that Judith was free to seek +out her companion, who had fled from her in the morning; and when she +did steal forth--carrying a small basket in her hand--she approached the +house with much more caution than was habitual with her. She glanced in +at the lower windows, but could see nothing. Then, instead of trying +whether the latch was left loose, she formally knocked at the door. + +It was opened by a little rosy-cheeked girl of eleven or twelve, who +instantly bobbed a respectful courtesy. + +"Is Mistress Prudence within, little Margery?" she said. + +"Yes, if it please you," said the little wench, and she stood aside to +let Judith pass. + +But Judith did not enter; she seemed listening. + +"Where is she?" + +"In her own chamber, if it please you." + +"Alone, then?" + +"Yes, if it please you, Mistress Judith." + +Judith patted the little maid in requital of her courtesy, and then +stole noiselessly up-stairs. The door was open. Prudence was standing +before a small table ironing a pair of snow-white cuffs, the while she +was repeating to herself verses of a psalm. Her voice, low as it was, +could be heard distinctly: + + Open thou my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. + + For thou desirest no sacrifice, though I would give it; thou + delightest not in burnt-offering. + + The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit; a contrite and a broken + heart, O God, thou will not despise. + + Be favorable unto Zion for thy good pleasure; build the walls of + Jerusalem. + + Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of righteousness, even the + burnt offering and oblation; then shall they offer calves upon thine + altar. + +She happened to turn her head; and then she uttered a slight cry of +surprise, and came quickly to Judith, and caught her by the hand. + +"What said he?" she exclaimed, almost breathlessly. "You saw him? 'Twas +the same, was it not? How came he there? Judith, tell me!" + +"You timid mouse that ran away!" the other said, with a complacent +smile. "Why, what should he say? But prithee go on with the cuffs, else +the iron will be cold. And are you alone in the house, Prudence? There +is no one below?" + +"None but the maids, I trow; or Julius, perchance, if he be come in from +the malt-house." + +"Quick, then, with the cuffs," Judith said, "and get them finished. Nay, +I will tell thee all about the young gentleman thereafter. Get thee +finished with the cuffs, and put them on----" + +"But I meant them not for this evening, Judith," said she, with her eyes +turned away. + +"'Tis this evening, and now, you must wear them," her friend said, +peremptorily. "And more than these. See, I have brought you some things, +dear mouse, that you must wear for my sake--nay, nay, I will take no +denial--you must and shall--and with haste, too, must you put them on, +lest any one should come and find the mistress of the house out of call. +Is not this pretty, good Prudence?" + +She had opened the basket and taken therefrom a plaited ruff that the +briefest feminine glance showed to be of the finest cobweb lawn, tinged +a faint saffron hue, and tied with silken strings. Prudence, who now +divined the object of her visit, was overwhelmed with confusion. The +fair and pensive face became rose red with embarrassment, and she did +not even know how to protest. + +"And this," said Judith, in the most matter-of-fact way, taking +something else out of the basket, "will also become you well--nay, not +so, good mouse, you shall be as prim and Puritanical as you please +to-morrow; to-night you shall be a little braver; and is it not +handsome, too?--'twas a gift to my mother--and she knows that I have +it--though I have never worn it." + +This second article that she held out and stroked with her fingers was a +girdle of buff-colored leather, embroidered with flowers in silk of +different colors, and having a margin of filigree silver-work both above +and below and a broad silver clasp. + +"Come, then, let's try----" + +"Nay, Judith," the other said, retreating a step; "I cannot--indeed I +cannot----" + +"Indeed you must, silly child!" Judith said, and she caught hold of her +angrily. "I say you shall. What know you of such things? Must I teach +you manners?" + +And when Judith was in this authoritative mood, Prudence had but little +power to withstand her. Her face was still burning with embarrassment, +but she succumbed in silence, while Judith whipped off the plain linen +collar that her friend wore, and set on in its stead this small but +handsome ruff. She arranged it carefully, and smoothed Prudence's soft +fair hair, and gave a finishing touch to the three-cornered cap; then +she stepped back a pace or two to contemplate her handiwork. + +"There!" she exclaimed (pretending to see nothing of Prudence's +blushes). "A princess! On my life, a princess! And now for the girdle; +but you must cast aside that housewife's pouch, sweetheart, and I will +lend thee this little pomander of mine; in truth 'twill suit it well." + +"No, no, dear Judith!" the other said, almost piteously. "Indeed I +cannot prank me out in these borrowed plumes. If you will have it so, I +will wear the ruff; but not the girdle--not the girdle, dear +cousin--that all would see was none of mine----" + +"What's that?" Judith exclaimed, suddenly, for there was a noise below. + +"'Tis Julius come in from the barn," Prudence said. + +"Mercy on us," the other cried, with a laugh, "I thought 'twas the +spaniel-gentle come already. So you will not wear the girdle? Well, the +ruff becomes you right fairly: and--and those roses in your cheeks, good +Prue--why, what is the matter? Is there aught wonderful in one of +Julius's friends coming to see him in the evening? And as the mistress +of the house you must receive him well and courteously; and be not so +demure of speech and distant in manner, dearest heart, for youth must +have a little merriment, and we cannot always be at our prayers." + +"I know not what you mean, Judith, unless it be something that is far +away from any thought or wish of mine." + +There was a touch of sincerity in this speech that instantly recalled +Judith from her half-gibing ways. The truth was that while she herself +was free enough in confiding to this chosen gossip of hers all about +such lovers or would-be lovers as happened to present themselves, +Prudence had never volunteered any similar confidence in return; and the +very fact that there might be reasons for this reticence was enough to +keep Judith from seeking to remove the veil. Judith herself was +accustomed to make merry over the whole matter of sweethearts and rhymed +messages and little tender gifts; but Prudence was sensitive, and Judith +was careful not to wound her by indiscreet questioning. And at this +moment, when Prudence was standing there confused and abashed, some +compunction seized the heart of her friend. She took her hand. + +"In good sooth, I meant not to tease you, sweetheart," said she, in a +kindly way; "and if I advise you in aught, 'tis but that you should make +your brother's house a pleasant resort for them that would be friendly +with him and visit him. What harm can there be in receiving such with a +cheerful welcome, and having a pretty house-mistress, and all things +neat and comfortable? Dear mouse, you so often lecture me that I must +have my turn; and I do not find fault or cause of quarrel; 'tis but a +wish that you would be less severe in your ways, and let your kind heart +speak more freely. Men, that have the burden of the world's fight to +bear, love to meet women-folk that have a merry and cheerful +countenance; 'twere a marvel else; and of an evening, when there is +idleness and some solace after the labors of the day, why should one be +glum, and thinking ever of that next world that is coming soon enough of +its own accord? Look you how well the ruff becomes you; and what sin is +in it? The girdle, too; think you my mother would have worn it had there +been aught of evil in a simple piece of leather and embroidery?" + +"'Tis many a day since she put it aside, as I well remember," Prudence +said, but with a smile, for she was easily won over. + +"Truly," said Judith, with a touch of scorn, "the good preachers are +pleased to meddle with small matters when they would tell a woman what +she should wear, and order a maiden to give up a finger ring or a bit of +lace on peril of her losing her soul. These be marvellous small deer to +be so hunted and stormed about with bell, book, and candle. But now, +good Prudence, for this one evening, I would have you please your +visitor and entertain him; and the spaniel-gentle--that, indeed, you +must take from him----" + +"I cannot, dear Judith; 'twas meant for you," Prudence exclaimed. + +"You cannot go back from your promise, good cousin," Judith said, +coolly, and with some slight inattention to facts. "'Twould be +unmannerly of you to refuse the gift, or to refuse ample thanks for it +either. And see you have plenty on the board, for men like good fare +along with good company; and let there be no stint of wine or ale as +they may choose, for your brother's house, Prudence, must not be +niggard, were it only for appearance' sake." + +"But you will stay, dear Judith, will you not?" the other said, +anxiously. "In truth you can entertain them all wherever you go; and +always there is such heart in the company----" + +"Nay, I cannot, sweet mouse," Judith said, lightly. "There is much for +me to do now in the evenings since Susan has gone back to her own home. +And now I must go, lest your visitor arrive and find you unprepared: +marry, you must wear the cuffs as they are, since I have hindered you in +the ironing." + +"But you cannot go, Judith, till you have told me what happened to-day +at the cottage," the other pleaded. + +"What happened? Why, nothing," Judith said, brightly. "Only that my +grandmother is of a mind with myself that a fairer-spoken young +gentleman seldom comes into these parts, and that, when he does, he +should be made welcome. Bless thy heart, hadst thou but come in and seen +how attentive the good dame was to him! And she would press him to have +some claret wine; but he said no: perchance he guessed that good grandam +had but small store of that. Nay, but you should have come in, sweet +mouse; then would you have been conscience-smitten about all your dark +surmisings. A murderer, forsooth! a ghost! a phantom! Why, so civil was +his manner that he but asked for a cup of water in passing, and my +grandmother must needs have him come in out of the sun, and rest him, +and have some milk. Was that like a ghost? I warrant you there was +naught of the ghost about him when she put a solid repast before him on +the table: ghosts make no such stout attacks on gooseberry tart and +cheese, else they be sore belied." + +"But who and what is this man, Judith?" + +"Why, who can tell what any man is?" said the other. "They all of them +are puzzles, and unlike other human creatures. But this one--well, he +hath a rare store of knowledge as to what is going forward at the +court--and among the players, too; and as we sat in the little bower +there you would have sworn you could see before you the river Thames, +with a wonderful pageant on it--dolphins, and whales, and crowned +sea-queens, and the like; and in the midst of them all the young Prince +Henry--'Long live the young Prince Henry!' they cried; and there was +such a noise of drums and cannons and trumpets that you could scarce +hear my grandmother's bees among the flowers. I warrant you the good +dame was well repaid for her entertainment, and right well pleased with +the young gentleman. I should not marvel to find him returning thither, +seeing that he can remain there in secrecy, and have such gossip as +pleases him." + +"But, Judith, you know not what you do!" her friend protested, +anxiously. "Do you forget--nay, you cannot forget--that this was the +very man the wizard prophesied that you should meet; and, more than +that, that he would be your husband!" + +"My husband?" said Judith, with a flush of color, and she laughed +uneasily. "Nay, not so, good Prudence. He is not one that is likely to +choose a country wench. Nay, nay, the juggler knave failed me--that is +the truth of it; the charm was a thing of naught; and this young +gentleman, if I met him by accident, the same might have happened to +you, as I showed you before. Marry, I should not much crave to see him +again, if anything like that were in the wind. This is Stratford town, +'tis not the forest of Arden; and in this neighborhood a maiden may not +go forth to seek her lover, and coax him into the wooing of her. My +father may put that into a play, but methinks if he heard of his own +daughter doing the like, the key would quickly be turned on her. Nay, +nay, good Prue, you shall not fright me out of doing a civil kindness to +a stranger, and one that is in misfortune, by flaunting his lovership +before my eyes. There be no such thing: do not I know the tokens? By my +life, this gentleman is too courteous to have a lover's mind within +him!" + +"And you will go and see him again, Judith?" her friend asked, quickly. + +"Nay, I said not that," Judith answered, complacently. "'Tis not the +forest of Arden; would to Heaven it were, for life would move to a +pleasanter music! I said not that I would go forth and seek him; that +were not maidenly; and belike there would come a coil of talking among +the gossips or soon or late; but at this time of the year, do you see, +sweet cousin, the country is fair to look upon, and the air is sweeter +in the meadows than it is here in the town; and if a lone damsel, +forsaken by all else, should be straying silent and forlorn along the +pathway or by the river-side, and should encounter one that hath but +lately made her acquaintance, why should not that acquaintance be +permitted in all modesty and courtesy to ripen into friendship? The +harm, good Prue--the harm of it? Tush! your head is filled with childish +fears of the wizard; that is the truth; and had you but come into the +house to-day, and had but five minutes' speech of the young gentleman, +you would have been as ready as any one to help in the beguilement of +the tedium of his hiding, if that be possible to two or three silly +women. And bethink you, was't not a happy chance that I wore my new +velvet cap this morning?" + +But she had been speaking too eagerly. This was a slip; and instantly +she added, with some touch of confusion, + +"I mean that I would fain have my father's friends in London know that +his family are not so far out of the world, or out of the fashion." + +"Is he one of your father's friends, Judith?" Prudence said, gravely. + +"He is a friend of my father's friends, at least," said she, "and some +day, I doubt not, he will himself be one of these. Truly that will be a +rare sight, some evening at New Place, when we confront you with him, +and tell him how he was charged with being a ghost, or a pirate, or an +assassin, or something of the like." + +"Your fancy runs free, Judith," her friend said. "Is't a probable thing, +think you, that one that dares not come forth into the day, that is +hiding from justice, or perchance scheming in Catholic plots, should +become the friend of your house?" + +"You saw him not at my grandmother's board, good Prue," said Judith, +coolly. "The young gentleman hath the trick of making himself at home +wherever he cometh, I warrant you. And when this cloud blows away, and +he is free to come to Stratford, there is none will welcome him more +heartily than I, for methinks he holdeth Master Benjamin Jonson in too +high consideration, and I would have him see what is thought of my +father in the town, and what his estate is, and that his family, though +they live not in London, are not wholly of Moll the milkmaid kind. And +I would have Susan come over too; and were she to forget her preachers +and her psalms for but an evening, and were there any merriment going +forward, the young gentleman would have to keep his wits clear, I'll be +bound. There is the house, too, I would have him see; and the +silver-topped tankard with the writing on it from my father's good +friends; nay, I warrant me Julius would not think of denying me the loan +of the King's letter to my father--were it but for an hour or two----" + +But here they were startled into silence by a knocking below; then there +was the sound of a man's voice in the narrow passage. + +"'Tis he, sweetheart," Judith said, quickly, and she kissed her friend, +and gave a final touch to the ruff and the cap. "Get you down and +welcome him; I will go out when that you have shut the door of the room. +And be merry, good heart, be merry--be brave and merry, as you love me." + +She almost thrust her out of the apartment, and listened to hear her +descend the stairs; then she waited for the shutting of the chamber +door; and finally she stole noiselessly down into the passage, and let +herself out without waiting for the little maid Margery. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A FIRST PERFORMANCE. + + +"Nay, zur," said the sour-visaged Matthew, as he leaned his chin and +both hands on the end of a rake, and spoke in his slow-drawling, +grumbling fashion--"nay, zur, this country be no longer the country it +wur; no, nor never will be again." + +"Why, what ails the land?" said Judith's father, turning from the small +table in the summer-house, and lying back in his chair, and crossing one +knee over the other, as if he would give a space to idleness. + +"Not the land, zur," rejoined goodman Matthew, oracularly--"not the +land; it be the men that live in it, and that are all in such haste to +make wealth, with plundering of the poor and each other, that there's +naught but lying and cheating and roguery--God-a-mercy, there never wur +the loike in any country under the sun! Why, zur, in my vather's time a +pair o' shoes would wear you through all weathers for a year; but now, +with their half-tanned leather, and their horse-hide, and their cat-skin +for the inner sole, 'tis a marvel if the rotten leaves come not asunder +within a month. And they be all aloike; the devil would have no choice +among 'em. The cloth-maker he hideth his bad wool wi' liquid stuff; and +the tailor, no matter whether it be doublet, cloak, or hose, he will +filch you his quarter of the cloth ere you see it again; and the +chandler--he be no better than the rest--he will make you his wares of +stinking offal that will splutter and run over, and do aught but give +good light; and the vintner, marry, who knoweth not his tricks and +knaveries of mixing and blending, and the selling of poison instead of +honest liquor? The rogue butcher, too, he will let the blood soak in, +ay, and puff wind into the meat--meat, quotha!--'tis as like as not to +have been found dead in a ditch!" + +"A bad case indeed, good Matthew, if they be all preying on each other +so." + +"'Tis the poor man pays for all, zur. Though how he liveth to pay no man +can tell; what with the landlords racking the rents, and inclosing the +commons and pasturages--nay, 'tis a noble pastime the making of parks +and warrens, and shutting the poor man out that used to have his cow +there and a pig or two; but no, now shall he not let a goose stray +within the fence. And what help hath the poor man? May he go to the +lawyers, with their leases and clauses that none can understand--ay, and +their fists that must be well greased ere they set to the business? 'Tis +the poor man pays for all, zur, I warrant ye; nor must he grumble when +the gentleman goes a-hunting and breaks down his hedges and tramples his +corn. Corn? 'Tis the last thing they think of, beshrew me else! They are +busiest of all in sending our good English grain--ay, and our good +English beef and bacon and tallow--beyond the seas; and to bring back +what?--baubles of glass beads and amber, fans for my ladies, and new +toys from Turkey! The proud dames--I would have their painted faces +scratched!" + +"What, what, good Matthew?" Judith's father said, laughing. "What know +you of the city ladies and their painting?" + +"Nay, nay, zur, the London tricks be spread abroad, I warrant ye; +there's not a farmer's wife nowadays but must have her french-hood, and +her daughter a taffeta cap--marry, and a grogram gown lined through with +velvet. And there be other towns in the land than London to learn the +London tricks; I have heard of the dames and their daughters; set them +up with their pinching and girding with whalebone, to get a small waist +withal!--ay, and the swallowing of ashes and candles, and whatever will +spoil their stomach, to give them a pale bleak color. Lord, what a thing +'tis to be rich and in the fashion!--let the poor man suffer as he may. +Corn, i' faith!--there be plenty of corn grown in the land, God wot; but +'tis main too dear for the poor man; the rack-rents for him, and a +murrain on him; the corn for the forestallers and the merchants and +gentlemen, that send it out of the country; and back come the silks and +civets for proud madam and her painted crew!" + +"God have mercy on us, man!" Judith's father exclaimed, and he drove him +aside, and got out into the sunlight. At the same moment he caught sight +of Judith herself. + +"Come hither, wench, come hither!" he called to her. + +She was nothing loath. She had merely been taking some scraps to the +Don; and seeing Matthew in possession there, she had not even stayed to +look into the summer-house. But when her father came out and called to +her, she went quickly toward him; and her eyes were bright enough, on +this bright morning. + +"What would you, father?" + +For answer he plucked off her cap and threw it aside, and took hold of +her by a bunch of her now loosened and short sun-brown curls. + +"Father!" she protested (but with no great anger). "There be twenty +minutes' work undone!" + +"Where bought you those roses?" said he, sternly. "Answer me, wench!" + +"I bought no roses, father!" + +"The paint? Is't not painted? Where got you such a face, madam?" + +"Father, you have undone my hair; and the parson is coming to dinner." + +"Nay, I'll be sworn 'tis as honest a face as good Mother Nature ever +made. This goodman Matthew hath belied you!" + +"What said he of me?" she asked, with a flash of anger in her eyes. + +Her father put his hand on her neck, and led her away. + +"Nay, nay, come thy ways, lass; thou shalt pick me a handful of +raspberries. And as for thine hair, let that be as God made it; 'tis +even better so; and yet, methinks"--here he stopped, and passed his hand +lightly once or twice over her head, so that any half-imprisoned curls +were set free--"methinks," said he, regarding the pretty hair with +considerable favor, "if you would as lief have some ornament for it, I +saw that in London that would answer right well. 'Twas a net-work kind +of cap; but the netting so fine you could scarce see it; and at each +point a bead of gold. Now, Madame Vanity, what say you to that? Would +you let your hair grow free as it is now, and let the sunlight play with +it, were I to bring thee a fairy cap all besprinkled with gold?" + +"I will wear it any way you wish, father, and right gladly," said she, +"and I will have no cap at all if it please you." + +"Nay, but you shall have the gossamer cap, wench; I will not forget it +when next I go to London." + +"I would you had never to go to London again," said she, rather timidly. + +He regarded her for a second with a scrutinizing look, and there was an +odd sort of smile on his face. + +"Why," said he, "I was but this minute writing about a man that had to +use divers arts and devices for the attainment of a certain end--yea, +and devices that all the world would not approve of, perchance; and that +was ever promising to himself that when the end was gained he would put +aside these spells and tricks, and be content to live as other men live, +in a quiet and ordinary fashion. Wouldst have me live ever in Stratford, +good lass?" + +"The life of the house goes out when you go away from us," said she, +simply. + +"Well, Stratford is no wilderness," said he, cheerfully; "and I have no +bitter feud with mankind that I would live apart from them. Didst ever +think, wench," he added, more absently, "how sad a man must have been +ere he could speak so: + + 'Happy were he could finish forth his fate + In some unhaunted desert, most obscure + From all societies, from love and hate + Of worldly folk; then might he sleep secure; + Then wake again, and ever give God praise, + Content with hips and haws and brambleberry; + In contemplation spending all his days, + And change of holy thoughts to make him merry; + Where, when he dies, his tomb may be a bush, + Where harmless robin dwells with gentle thrush.'" + +"Is it that you are writing now, father?" + +"Nay, indeed," said he, slowly, and a cloud came over his face. "That +was written by one that was my good friend in by-gone days; by one that +was betrayed and done to death by lying tongues, and had but sorry favor +shown him in the end by those he had served." + +He turned away. She thought she heard him say, "My noble Essex," but she +was mutely following him. And then he said: + +"Come, lass; come pick me the berries." + +He kept walking up and down, by himself, while her nimble fingers were +busy with the bushes; and when she had collected a sufficiency of the +fruit, and brought it to him, she found that he appeared to be in no +hurry this morning, but was now grown cheerful again, and rather +inclined to talk to her. And she was far from telling him that her +proper place at this moment was within-doors, to see that the maids were +getting things forward; and if she bestowed a thought of any kind on the +good parson, it was to the effect that both he and the dinner would have +to wait. Her father had hold of her by the arm. He was talking to her of +all kinds of things, as they slowly walked up and down the path, but of +his friends in Stratford mostly, and their various ways of living; and +this she conceived to have some reference to his project of withdrawing +altogether from London, and settling down for good among them. Indeed, +so friendly and communicative was he on this clear morning--in truth, +they were talking like brother and sister--that when at last he went +into the summer-house, she made bold to follow; and when he chanced to +look at some sheets lying on the table, she said: + +"Father, what is the story of the man with the devices?" + +For an instant he did not understand what she meant; then he laughed. + +"Nay, pay you no heed to such things, child." + +"And why should not I, father, seeing that they bring you so great +honor?" + +"Honor, said you?" but then he seemed to check himself. This was not +Julius Shawe, to whom he could speak freely enough about the conditions +of an actor's life in London. "Well, then, the story is of a banished +duke, a man of great wisdom and skill, and he is living on a desert +island with his daughter--a right fair maiden she is, too, and she has +no other companion in the world but himself." + +"But he is kind to her and good?" she said, quickly. + +"Truly." + +"What other companion would she have, then? Is she not content--ay, and +right well pleased withal?" + +"Methinks the story would lag with but these," her father said, with a +smile. "Would you not have her furnished with a lover--a young prince +and a handsome--one that would play chess with her, and walk with her +while her father was busy?" + +"But how on a desert island? How should she find such a one?" Judith +said, with her eyes all intent. + +"There, you see, is where the magic comes in. What if her father have at +his command a sprite, a goblin, that can work all wonders--that can +dazzle people in the dark, and control the storm, and whistle the young +prince to the very feet of his mistress?" + +Judith sighed, and glanced at the sheets lying on the table. + +"Alas, good father, why did you aid me in my folly, and suffer me to +grow up so ignorant?" + +"Folly, fond wench!" said he, and he caught her by the shoulders and +pushed her out of the summer-house. "Thank God you have naught to do +with any such stuff. There, go you and seek out Prudence, and get you +into the fields, and give those pink roses in your cheeks an airing. +Is't not a rare morning? And you would blear your eyes with books, silly +wench? Get you gone--into the meadows with you--and you may gather me a +nosegay if your fingers would have work." + +"I must go in-doors, father; good Master Blaise is coming to dinner," +said she; "but I will bring you the nosegay in the afternoon, so please +you. So fare you well," she added; and she glanced at him, "and pray +you, sir, be kind to the young prince." + +He laughed and turned away; and she hurried quickly into the house. In +truth, all through that day she had plenty to occupy her attention; but +whether it was the maids that were asking her questions, or her mother +seeking her help, or good Master Walter paying authoritative court to +her, her eyes were entirely distraught. For they saw before them a +strange island, with magic surrounding it, and two young lovers, and a +grave and elderly man regarding them; and she grew to wonder how much +more of that story was shut up in the summer-house, and to lament her +misfortune in that she could not go boldly to her father and ask him to +be allowed to read it. She felt quite certain that could she but sit +down within there and peruse these sheets for herself, he would not say +her nay; and from that conclusion to the next--that on the first chances +she would endeavor to borrow the sheets and have them read to her--was +but an obvious step, and one that she had frequently taken before. +Moreover, on this occasion the chance came to her sooner than she could +have expected. Toward dusk in the evening her father went out, saying +that he was going along to see how the Harts were doing. Matthew +gardener was gone home; the parson had left hours before; and her mother +was in the brew-house, and out of hearing. Finally, to crown her good +fortune, she discovered that the key had been left in the door of the +summer-house; and so the next minute found her inside on her knees. + +It was a difficult task. There was scarcely any light, for she dare not +leave the door open; and the mark that she put on the sheets, to know +which she had carried to Prudence, was minute. And yet the sheets seemed +to have been tossed into this receptacle in fairly regular order; and +when at length, and after much straining of her eyes, she had got down +to the marked ones, she was rejoiced to find that there remained above +these a large bulk of unperused matter, and the question was as to how +much it would be prudent to carry off. Further, she had to discover +where there was some kind of division, so that the story should not +abruptly break off; and she had acquired some experience in this +direction. In the end, the portion of the play that she resolved upon +taking with her was modest and small; there would be the less likelihood +of detection; and it was just possible that she would have no +opportunity of returning the sheets that night. + +And then she quickly got in-doors, and put on her hood and muffler, and +slipped out into the dusk. She found Prudence alone in the lower room, +sitting sewing, the candles on the table being already lit; and some +distance off, curled up and fast asleep on the floor, lay the little +spaniel-gentle. + +"Dear heart," said Judith, brightly, as she glanced at the little dog, +"you have shown good sense after all; I feared me you would fall away +from my wise counsel." + +"My brother was well inclined to the little creature," Prudence said, +with some embarrassment. + +"And you had a right merry evening, I'll be bound," Judith continued, +blithely. "And was there singing?--nay, he can sing well when he is in +the mood--none better. Did he give you + + 'There is a garden in her face + Where roses and white lilies grow,' + +for Julius is more light-hearted in such matters than you are, dear +mouse. And was there any trencher business--and wine? I warrant me +Julius would not have his guest sit dry-throated. 'Twas a merry evening, +in good sooth, sweetheart?" + +"_They_ talked much together," Prudence said, with her eyes cast down. + +"They talked? Mercy on us, were you not civil to him? Did you not thank +him prettily for the little spaniel?" + +"In a measure I think 'twas Julius took the little creature from him," +Prudence said, bashfully. + +"Beshrew me now, but you know better!--'twas given to you, you know +right well. A spaniel-gentle for your brother! As soon would he think of +a farthingale and a petticoat! And what did he say? Had he aught special +to say to you, dear mouse?" + +"He would have me look at an ancient book he had, with strange devices +on the leaves," Prudence said. "Truly 'twas strange and wonderful, the +ornamentation of it in gold and colors, though I doubt me 'twas the work +of monks and priests. He would have me take it from him," she added, +with a faint blush. + +"And you would not, silly one?" Judith exclaimed, angrily. + +"Would you have me place such Popish emblems alongside such a book as +that that Dr. Hall gave me? Dear Judith, 'twould be a pollution and a +sin!" + +"But you gave him thanks for the offer, then?" + +"Of a surety; 'twas meant in friendship." + +"Well, well; right glad am I to see the little beast lying there; and +methinks your gentleness hath cast a spell o'er it already, sweetheart, +or 'twould not rest so soundly. And now, dear mouse, I have come to tax +your patience once more: see, here is part of the new play; and we must +go to your chamber, dear Prue, lest some one come in and discover us." + +Prudence laughed in her quiet fashion. "I think 'tis you that casteth +spells, Judith, else I should not be aiding thee in this perilous +matter." + +But she took one of the candles in her hand nevertheless, and led the +way up-stairs; and then, when they had carefully bolted the door, Judith +placed the roll of sheets on the table, and Prudence sat down to arrange +and decipher them. + +"But this time," Judith said, "have I less weight on my conscience; for +my father hath already told me part of the story, and why should not I +know the rest? Nay, but it promises well, I do assure thee, sweetheart. +'Tis a rare beginning: the desert island, and the sprite that can work +wonders, and the poor banished duke and his daughter. Ay, and there +comes a handsome young prince, too; marry, you shall hear of marvels! +For the sprite is one that can work magic at the bidding of the duke, +and be seen like a fire in the dark, and can lead a storm whither he +lists----" + +"'Tis with a storm that it begins," Prudence said, for now she had +arranged the sheets. + +And instantly Judith was all attention. It is true, she seemed to care +little for the first scene and the squabbles between the sailors and the +gentlemen; she was anxious to get to the enchanted island; and when at +length Prudence introduced Prospero and Miranda, Judith listened as if a +new world were being slowly opened before her. And yet not altogether +with silence, for sometimes she would utter a few words of quick assent, +or even explanation; but always so as not to interfere with the +gentle-voiced reader. Thus it would go: + +"Then Prospero says to her-- + + 'Be collected: + No more amazement: tell your piteous heart + There's no harm done. + + _Miranda._ Oh, woe the day! + + _Prospero._ No harm. + I have done nothing but in care of thee, + Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who + Art ignorant of what thou art, naught knowing + Of whence I am, nor that I am more better + Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, + And thy no greater father. + + _Miranda._ More to know + Did never meddle with my thoughts.'" + +"A right dutiful daughter!" Judith would exclaim--but as apart. "A rare +good wench, I warrant; and what a gentle father he is withal!" + +And then, when the banished duke had come to the end of his story, and +when he had caused slumber to fall upon his daughter's eyes, and was +about to summon Ariel, Judith interposed to give the patient reader a +rest. + +"And what say you, Prudence?" said she, eagerly. "Is't not a beautiful +story? Is she not a sweet and obedient maiden, and he a right noble and +gentle father? Ah, there, now, they may talk about their masques and +pageants of the court, and gods and goddesses dressed up to saw the air +with long speeches: see you what my father can tell you in a few words, +so that you can scarcely wait, but you must on to hear the rest. And do +I hurry you, good Prue? Will you to it again? For now the spirit is +summoned that is to work the magic." + +"Indeed, 'tis no heavy labor, Judith," her friend said, with a smile. +"And now here is your Ariel: + + 'All hail! great master! grave sir, hail! I come + To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, + To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride + On the curled clouds; to thy strong bidding task + Ariel and all his quality!' + +Then says Prospero: + + 'Hast thou, spirit, + Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee? + + _Ariel._ To every article. + I boarded the King's ship; now on the beak, + Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, + I flamed amazement; sometimes I'd divide, + And burn in many places; on the topmast, + The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, + Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors + O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary + And sight-outrunning were not.... + + _Prospero._ My brave spirit! + Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil + Would not infect his reason? + + _Ariel._ Not a soul + But felt a fever of the mad, and played + Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners + Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel, + Then all afire with me: the King's son Ferdinand----'" + +"The prince, sweetheart!--the prince that is to be brought ashore." + +"Doubtless, Judith, + + 'The King's son Ferdinand, + With hair up-staring--then like reeds, not hair-- + Was the first man that leaped: cried, "Hell is empty, + And all the devils are here." + + _Prospero._ Why, that's my spirit! + But was not this nigh shore? + + _Ariel._ Close by, my master. + + _Prospero._ But are they, Ariel, safe? + + _Ariel._ Not a hair perished, + On their sustaining garments not a blemish, + But fresher than before; and, as thou badst me, + The King's son have I landed by himself; + Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs + In an odd angle of the isle, and sitting, + His arms in this sad knot.'" + +"And hath he not done well, that clever imp!" Judith cried. "Nay, but my +father shall reward him--that he shall--'twas bravely done and well. And +now to bring him to the maiden that hath never seen a sweetheart--that +comes next, good Prue? I marvel now what she will say?" + +"'Tis not yet, Judith," her friend said, and she continued the reading, +while Judith sat and regarded the dusky shadows beyond the flame of the +candle as if wonder-land were shining there. Then they arrived at +Ariel's song, "Come unto these yellow sands," and all the hushed air +around seemed filled with music; but it was distant, somehow, so that it +did not interfere with Prudence's gentle voice. + +"Then says Prospero to her: + + 'The fringed curtains of thine eye advance, + And say what thou seest yond. + + _Miranda._ What is't? a spirit? + Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, + It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit. + + _Prospero._ No, wench; it eats and sleeps, and hath such senses + As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest + Was in the wreck; and but he's something stained + With grief, that's beauty's canker, thou might'st call him + A goodly person. He hath lost his fellows, + And strays about to find them. + + _Miranda._ I might call him + A thing divine, for nothing natural + I ever saw so noble.'" + +"And what says he? What thinks he of her?" Judith said, eagerly. + +"Nay, first the father says--to himself, as it were + + 'It goes on, I see, + As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee + Within two days, for this.' + +And then the Prince says: + + 'Most sure, the goddess + On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe, my prayer + May know, if you remain upon this island; + And that you will some good instruction give, + How I may bear me here; my prime request, + Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder! + If you be maid or no? + + _Miranda._ No wonder, sir, + But certainly a maid. + + _Ferdinand._ My language! heavens! + I am the best of them that speak this speech, + Were I but where 'tis spoken.'" + +"But would he take her away?" said Judith, quickly (but to herself, as +it were). "Nay, never so! They must remain on the island--the two happy +lovers--with Ariel to wait on them: surely my father will so make it?" + +Then, as it appeared, came trouble to check the too swift anticipations +of the Prince, though Judith guessed that the father of Miranda was but +feigning in his wrath; and when Prudence finally came to the end of such +sheets as had been brought her, and looked up, Judith's eyes were full +of confidence and pride--not only because she was sure that the story +would end happily, but also because she would have her chosen gossip say +something about what she had read. + +"Well?" said she. + +"'Tis a marvel," Prudence said, with a kind of sigh, "that shapes of the +air can so take hold of us." + +Judith smiled; there was something in her manner that Prudence did not +understand. + +"And Master Jonson, good Prue--that they call Ben Jonson--what of him?" + +"I know not what you mean, Judith." + +"Sure you know they make so much of him at the court, and of his long +speeches about Greece and Rome and the like; and when one comes into the +country with news of what is going forward, by my life you'd think that +Master Jonson were the only writer in the land! What say you, good +Prue: could worthy Master Jonson invent you a scene like that?" + +"In truth I know not, Judith; I never read aught of his writing." + +Judith took over the sheets and carefully rolled them up. + +"Why," said she, "'twas my father brought him forward, and had his first +play taken in at the theatre!" + +"But your father and he are great friends, Judith, as I am told; why +should you speak against him?" + +"I speak against him?" said Judith, as she rose, and there was an air of +calm indifference on her face. "In truth, I have naught to say against +the good man. 'Tis well that the court ladies are pleased with +Demogorgons and such idle stuff, and 'tis passing well that he knows the +trade. Now give ye good-night and sweet dreams, sweet mouse; and good +thanks, too, for the reading." + +But at the door below--Prudence having followed her with the candle--she +turned, and said, in a whisper: + +"Now tell me true, good cousin: think you my father hath ever done +better than this magic island, and the sweet Miranda, and the rest?" + +"You know I am no judge of such matters, Judith," her friend answered. + +"But, dear heart, were you not bewitched by it? Were you not taken away +thither? Saw you not those strange things before your very eyes?" + +"In good sooth, then, Judith," said the other, with a smile, "for the +time being I knew not that I was in Stratford town, nor in our own +country of England either." + +Judith laughed lightly and quickly, and with a kind of pride too. And +when she got home to her own room, and once more regarded the roll of +sheets, before bestowing them away in a secret place, there was a fine +bravery of triumph in her eyes. "Ben Jonson!" she said, but no longer +with any anger, rather with a sovereign contempt. And then she locked up +the treasure in her small cupboard of boxes, and went down-stairs again +to seek out her mother, her heart now quite recovered from its envy, and +beating warm and equally in its disposition toward all mankind, and her +mind full of a perfect and complacent confidence. "Ben Jonson!" she +said. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BY THE RIVER. + + +The next morning she was unusually demure, and yet merry withal. In her +own chamber, as she chose out a petticoat of pale blue taffeta, and laid +on the bed her girdle of buff-colored leather, and proceeded to array +herself in these and other braveries, it was to the usual accompaniment +of thoughtless and quite inconsequent ballad-singing. At one moment it +was "Green-sleeves was all my joy," and again "Fair, fair, and twice so +fair," or perhaps-- + + "An ambling nag, and a-down, a-down, + We have borne her away to Dargison." + +But when she came to take forth from the cupboard of boxes the portion +of the play she had locked up there the night before, and when she +carefully placed that in a satchel of dark blue velvet that she had +attached to the girdle, she was silent; and when she went down-stairs +and encountered her mother, there was a kind of anxious innocence on her +face. The good parson (she explained) had remained so late on the +previous afternoon, and there were so many things about the house she +had to attend to, that she had been unable to get out into the fields, +as her father had bade her, to bring him home some wild flowers. +Besides, as every one knew, large dogs got weak in the hind-legs if they +were kept chained up too continuously; and it was absolutely necessary +she should take Don Roderigo out for a run with her through the meadows, +if her father would permit. + +"There be plenty of flowers in the garden, surely," her mother said, who +was busy with some leather hangings, and wanted help. + +"But he would liefer have some of the little wildlings, good mother," +said Judith. "That I know right well; for he is pleased to see them +lying on the table before him; and sometimes, too, he puts the names of +them in his writing." + +"How know you that?" was the immediate and sharp question. + +"As I have heard, good mother," Judith said, with calm equanimity. + +And then she went to the small mirror to see that her gray velvet cap +and starched ruff were all right. + +"What can your father want with wild flowers if he is to remain the +whole day at Warwick!" her mother said. + +"Is my father gone to Warwick?" she asked, quickly. + +"If he be not already set forth." + +She glanced at the window; there was neither horse nor serving-men +waiting there. And then she hastily went out and through the back yard +into the garden; and there, sure enough was her father, ready booted for +the road, and giving a few parting directions to his bailiff. + +"Well, wench," he said, when he had finished with the man, "what would +you?" + +She had taken from her purse all the money she could find there. + +"Good father," said she, "will you do this errand for me at Warwick?" + +"More vanities?" said he. "I wonder you have no commissioner to despatch +to Spain and Flanders. What is't, then?--a muff of satin--a gimmal +ring----" + +"No, no, not so, father; I would have you buy for me a clasp-knife--as +good a one as the money will get; and the cutler must engrave on the +blade, or on the handle, I care not which, a message--an inscription, as +it were; 'tis but three words--_For Judith's Sweetheart_. Could you +remember that, good father? Is't too much of a trouble?" + +"How now?" said he. "For whom do you wish me to bring you such a token?" + +"Nay, sir," said she, demurely, "would you have me name names? The gift +of a sweetheart is a secret thing." + +"You are a mad wench," said he (though doubtless he guessed for whom the +knife was intended), and he called to Matthew gardener to go round and +see if Master Shawe were not yet ready. "But now I bethink me, child, I +have a message for thee. Good Master Walter spoke to me yesternight +about what much concerns him--and you." + +Instantly all her gay self-confidence vanished; she became confused, +anxious, timid; and she regarded him as if she feared what his look or +manner might convey. + +"Yes, sir," she said, in rather a low voice. + +"Well, you know what the good man wishes," her father said, "and he +spoke fairly, and reasoneth well. Your mother, too, would be right well +pleased." + +"And you, sir?" she said, rather faintly. + +"I?" said he. "Nay, 'tis scarce a matter that I can say aught in. 'Tis +for yourself to decide, wench; but were you inclined to favor the young +parson, I should be well pleased enough--indeed 'tis so--a good man and +honest, as I take him to be, of fair attainment, and I know of none that +bear him ill-will, or have aught to say against him. Nay, if your heart +be set that way, wench, I see no harm; you are getting on in years to be +still in the unmarried state; and, as he himself says, there would be +security in seeing you settled in a home of your own, and your future no +longer open and undecided. Nay, nay, I see no harm. He reasons well." + +"But, father, know you why he would have me become his wife?" Judith +said, with a wild feeling overcoming her that she was drowning and must +needs throw out her hands for help. "'Tis for no matter of affection +that I can make out--or that he might not as well choose any other in +the town; but 'tis that I should help him in his work, and--and labor in +the vineyard, as he said. In truth I am all unfit for such a task--there +be many another far better fitted than I; my mother must know that right +well. There is little that I would not do to please her; but surely we +might all of us have just as much of the good man's company without this +further bond. But what say you, father? What is your wish?" she added, +humbly. "Perchance I could bring my mind to it if all were anxious that +it should be so." + +"Why, I have told thee, wench, thou must choose for thyself. 'Twould +please your mother right well, as I say; and as for the duties of a +parson's wife--nay, nay, they are none so difficult. Have no fears on +that score, good lass; I dare be sworn you are as honest and well-minded +as most, though perchance you make less profession of it." (The +gratitude that sprang to her eyes, and shone there, in spite of her +downcast face!) "Nor must you think the good parson has but that end in +view; 'tis not in keeping with his calling that he should talk the +language of romance. And there is more for you to think of. Even if +Master Blaise be no vehement lover, as some of the young rattlepates +might be, that is but a temporary thing; 'tis the long years of life +that weigh for the most; and all through these you would be in an +honorable station, well thought of, and respected. Nay, there be many, I +can tell thee, lass, that might look askance now at the player's +daughter, who would be right glad to welcome the parson's wife." + +"What say you, father?" said she--and she was so startled that the blood +forsook her lips for a moment. "That--that there be those--who scorn the +player's daughter--and would favor the parson's wife?" And then she +instantly added: "I pray you, sir, did not you say that I was to decide +for myself?" + +"Truly, child, truly," said he, somewhat wondering at her manner, for +her face had grown quite pale. + +"Then I have decided, father." + +"And how? What answer will you have for Master Walter?" + +She spoke slowly now, and with a distinctness that was almost harsh. + +"This, so please you, sir--that the player's daughter shall not, and +shall never, become the parson's wife, God helping her!" + +"Why, how now? what a coil is this!" he exclaimed. "Good lass, 'twas not +the parson that said aught of the kind. Lay not that to his charge, in +fair honesty." + +"I have decided," she said proudly and coldly. "Father, the horses are +brought round--I can hear them. You will not forget the knife, and the +message on the blade?" + +He looked at her, and laughed, but in a kindly way; and he took her by +the shoulder. + +"Nay, now, wench, thou shalt not throw over the good man for a matter +that was none of his bringing forward. And why should you wish to have +less than the respect of all your neighbors, all and sundry, whatever be +their views? In good sooth I meant to speak for the parson, and not to +harm him; and when I have more time I must undo the ill that I have done +him. So soften your heart, you proud one, and be thankful for the honor +he would do you; and think over it; and be civil and grateful." + +"Nay, I will be civil enough to the good minister," said she, with a +return to her ordinary placid humor, "if he speak no more of making me +his wife." + +"He will win you yet, for as stubborn as you are," her father said, with +a smile. "He hath a rare gift of reason: do not say nay too soon, wench, +lest you have to recall your words. Fare you well, lass, fare you well." + +"And forget not the knife, good father. '_With Judith's Love_,' or '_For +Judith's Sweetheart_,' or what you will." And then she added, daringly: +"'Tis for the young prince Mamillius, if you must know, good sir." + +He was just going away; but this caused him to stop for a second; and he +glanced at her with a curious kind of suspicion. But her eyes had become +quite inscrutable. Whatever of dark mischief was within them was not to +be made out but by further questioning, and for that he had now no time. +So she was left alone, mistress of the field, and rather inclined to +laugh at her own temerity; until it occurred to her that now she could +go leisurely forth for her stroll along the banks of the Avon, taking +the great dog with her. + +Indeed, her anger was always short-lived. Or perhaps it was the feeling +that this danger was got rid of--that the decision was taken, and the +parson finally and altogether left behind her--that now raised her +spirits. At all events, as she went along the thoroughfare, and +cheerfully greeted those that met her, the neighbors said 'twas little +wonder that Master William Shakespeare's second daughter put off the +choosing of a mate for herself, for that she seemed to grow younger and +more winsome every day. And she knew all the children by name, and had a +word for them--scolding or merry, as the case might be--when that she +passed them by; and what with the clear sunlight of the morning, and the +fresher atmosphere as she got out of the town, it seemed to herself as +if all the air were filled with music. + + "Then sigh not so, but let them go, + And be you blithe and bonny," + +she said or sung to herself; and she had not a trace of ill-will in her +mind against the parson (although she did not fail to recollect that she +was a player's daughter); and she was admonishing the Don to take good +care of her, for that phantom conspirators and such like evil creatures +might be about. And so she got down to the river-side; but she did not +cross; she kept along by the path that followed the windings of the +stream, between the wide meadows and the luxurious vegetation that +overhung the current. + +This English-looking landscape was at its fairest on this fair morning, +for some heavy rain in the night had washed the atmosphere clear; +everything seemed sharp and luminous; and the rows of trees along the +summits of the distant and low-lying hills were almost black against the +white and blue sky. Nearer her all the foliage of the wide-branching +elms was stirring and rustling before a soft westerly breeze; the +flooded river was of a tawny brown; while its banks were a wilderness of +wild flowers between the stems of the stunted willows--straggling +rose-bushes of white and red, tall masses of goose-grass all powdered +over with cream-white blossom, a patch of fragrant meadow-sweet here and +there, or an occasional blood-red poppy burning among the dark, dull +greens. And as for companions? Well, she caught a glimpse of a brood of +ducks sidling along by the reeds, and tried to follow them, but the +bushes shut them out from her sight. A mare and her foal, standing under +the cool shadow of the trees, gazed blankly at her as she passed. +Further off there were some shorn sheep in the meadows; but she could +see no shepherd. The harsh note of the corn-crake sounded somewhere in +the long grass; and the bees were busy; and now and again a blue-backed +swallow would swoop by her and over the stream; while all around there +was a smell of clover sweetening the westerly wind. At this moment, she +convinced herself, she bore no ill-will at all against the good parson: +only that she had it in her mind that she would be well content to +remain a player's daughter. Her condition, she imagined, was one that +she did not desire to have bettered. Why, the air that touched her cheek +was like velvet; and there could be nothing in the world fairer than the +pink and white roses bestarring the bushes there; and the very pulse of +her blood seemed to beat to an unheard and rhythmical and subtle tune. +What was it her father had said? "I dare be sworn you are as honest and +well-minded as most, though perchance you make less profession of it." +She laughed to herself, with a kind of pride. And she was so well +content that she wished she had little Willie Hart here, that she might +put her hand on his shoulder and pet him, and convey to him some little +of that satisfaction that reigned within her own bosom. No matter; he +should have the clasp-knife--"_With Judith's Love_;" and right proud he +would be of that, she made sure. And so she went idly on her way, +sometimes with + + "Fair, fair, and twice so fair, + And fair as any may be," + +coming uncalled for into her head; and always with an eye to the various +wild flowers, to see what kind of a nosegay she would be able to gather +on her homeward walk. + +But by and by her glances began to go further afield. Master Leofric +Hope, in his brief references to his own habits and condition at the +farm, had incidentally remarked that of all his walks abroad he +preferred the following of the path by the river-side; for there he was +most secure from observation. Nay, he said that sometimes, after +continued solitude, a longing possessed him to see a town--to see a +populated place filled with a fair number of his fellow-creatures--and +that he would come within sight of Stratford itself and have a look at +the church, and the church spire, and the thin blue smoke rising over +the houses. That, he said, was safer for him than coming over such an +exposed thoroughfare as Bardon Hill; and then again, when he was of a +mind to read--for this time he had brought one or two books with him--he +could find many a sheltered nook by the side of the stream, where even a +passer-by would not suspect his presence. Nor could Judith, on this +fresh, warm, breezy morning, conceal from herself the true object of her +coming forth. If she had tried to deceive herself, the contents of the +blue velvet satchel would have borne crushing testimony against her. In +truth she was now looking with some eagerness to find whether, on such a +pleasant morning, it was possible that he could have remained +within-doors, and with the very distinct belief that sooner or later she +would encounter him. + +Nor was she mistaken, though the manner of the meeting was unexpected. +The mastiff happened to have gone on a yard or two in front of her, and +she was paying but little attention to the beast, when all of a sudden +it stopped, became rigid, and uttered a low growl. She sprang forward +and seized it by the collar. At the same instant she caught sight of +some one down by the water's edge, where, but for this occurrence, he +would doubtless have escaped observation. It was Leofric Hope, without a +doubt; for now he was clambering up through the bushes, and she saw that +he had a small book in his hand. + +"My good fortune pursues me, fair Mistress Judith," said he (but with a +watchful eye on the dog), "that I should so soon again have an +opportunity of meeting with you. But perchance your protector is +jealous? He likes not strangers?" + +"A lamb, sir--a very lamb!" Judith said, and she patted the dog and +coaxed him, and got him into a more friendly--or at least neutral and +watchful--frame of mind. + +"I marvel not you have come forth on such a morning," said he, regarding +the fresh color in her face. "'Tis a rare morning; and 'tis a rare +chance for one that is a prisoner, as it were, that his dungeon is not +four walls, but the wide spaces of Warwickshire. Will you go further? +May I attend you?" + +"Nay, sir," said she, "I but came forth to look at the country, and see +what blossoms I could carry back to my father; I will go as far as the +stile there, and rest a few minutes, and return." + +"'Tis like your kindness, sweet lady, to vouchsafe me a moment's +conversation; a book is but a dull companion," said he, as they walked +along to the stile that formed part of a boundary hedge. And when they +reached it she seated herself on the wooden bar with much content, and +the mastiff lay down, stretching out his paws, while the young gentleman +stood idly--but not carelessly--by. He seemed more than ever anxious to +interest his fair neighbor, and so to beguile her into remaining. + +"A dull companion," he repeated, "it is. One would rather hear the sound +of one's voice occasionally. When I came along here this morning I +should have been right glad even to have had a she shepherd say 'Good +Morrow' to me----" + +"A what, good sir?" she asked. + +He laughed. + +"Nay, 'tis a book the wits in London have much merriment over just +now--a guide-book for the use of foreigners coming to this country--and +there be plenty of them at present, in the train of the ambassadors. +Marry, the good man's English is none of the best. '_For to ask the +Way_' is a chapter of the book; and the one traveller saith to the +other, '_Ask of that she shepherd_'--in truth the phrase hath been +caught up by the town. But the traveller is of a pleasant and courteous +turn; when that he would go to bed, he saith to the chambermaid: 'Draw +the curtains, and pin them with a pin. My she friend, kiss me once, and +I shall sleep the better. I thank you, fair maiden.' Well, their English +may be none of the best, but they have a royal way with them, some of +those foreigners that come to our court. When the Constable of Castile +was at the great banquet at Whitehall--doubtless you heard of it, sweet +Mistress Judith?--he rose and drank the health of the Queen from a cup +of agate of extraordinary value, all set with diamonds and rubies, and +when the King had drank from the same cup the Constable called a +servant, and desired that the cup should be placed on his Majesty's +buffet, to remain there. Was't not a royal gift? And so likewise he +drank the health of the King from a beautiful dragon-shaped cup of +crystal all garnished with gold; but he drank from the cover only, for +the Queen, standing up, drank the pledge from the cup itself; and then +he would have that in turn transferred to her buffet, as he had given +the other one to the King." + +"My father," said she, with much complacent good-nature--for she had got +into the way of talking to this young gentleman with a marvellous +absence of restraint or country shyness, "hath a tankard of great age +and value, and on the silver top of it is a tribute engraved from many +of his friends--truly I would that you could come and see it, good +sir--and--and--my father, too, he would make you welcome, I doubt not. +And what book is it," she continued, with a smile, "that you have for +companion, seeing that there be no she shepherd for you to converse +withal?" + +"'Tis but a dull affair," said he, scarce looking at it, for Judith's +eyes were more attractive reading. "And yet if the book itself be dull, +there is that within its boards that is less so. Perchance you have not +heard of one Master Browne, a young Devonshire gentleman, that hath but +late come to London, and that only for a space, as I reckon?" + +"No, sir," she said hesitatingly. + +"The young man hath made some stir with his poems," he continued, +"though there be none of them in the booksellers' hands as yet. And as +it hath been my good fortune to see one or two of them--marry, I am no +judge, but I would call them excellent, and of much modesty and grace--I +took occasion to pencil down a few of the lines inside the cover of this +little book. May I read them to you Mistress Judith?" + +"If it please you, good sir." + +He opened the book, and she saw that there were some lines pencilled on +the gray binding; but they must have been familiar to him, for he scarce +took his eyes from Judith's face as he repeated them. + +"They are a description," said he, "of one that must have been fair +indeed: + + 'Her cheeks, the wonder of what eye beheld, + Begot betwixt a lily and a rose, + In gentle rising plains divinely swelled, + Where all the graces and the loves repose, + Nature in this piece all her works excelled, + Yet showed herself imperfect in the close, + For she forgot (when she so fair did raise her) + To give the world a wit might duly praise her. + + 'When that she spoke, as at a voice from heaven, + On her sweet words all ears and hearts attended; + When that she sung, they thought the planets seven + By her sweet voice might well their tunes have mended; + When she did sigh, all were of joy bereaven; + And when she smiled, heaven had them all befriended: + If that her voice, sighs, smiles, so many thrilled, + Oh, had she kissed, how many had she killed!'" + +"'Tis a description of a lady of the court?" Judith asked timidly. + +"No, by heavens," he said, with warmth; "the bonniest of our English +roses are they that grow in the country air!" and his glance of +admiration was so open and undisguised, and the application of his words +so obvious, that her eyes fell, and in spite of herself the color +mounted to her cheeks. In her embarrassment she sought safety in the +blue velvet satchel. She had contemplated some other way of introducing +this latest writing of her father's; but now that had all fled from her +brain. She knew that the town gentlemen were given to flattery; but then +she was not accustomed to it. And she could not but swiftly surmise that +he had written down these lines with the especial object of addressing +them to her when he should have the chance. + +"Good sir," said she, endeavoring to hide this brief embarrassment by +assuming a merry air, "a fair exchange, they say, is no robbery. +Methinks you will find something here that will outweigh good Master +Browne's verses--in bulk, if not in merit." + +He gazed in astonishment at the parcel of sheets she handed to him, and +he but glanced at the first page when he exclaimed. + +"Why, I have heard naught of this before." + +"Nay, sir," said she, with a calm smile, "the infant is but young--but a +few weeks, as I take it; it hath had but little chance of making a noise +in the world as yet. Will you say what you think of it?" + +But now he was busy reading. Then by and by she recollected something of +the manner in which she had meant to introduce the play. + +"You see, sir, my father hath many affairs on his hands; 'tis not all +his time he can give to such things. And yet I have heard that they be +well spoken of in London--if not by the wits, perchance, or by the court +ladies, at least by the common people and the 'prentices. We in these +parts have but little skill of learning; but--but methinks 'tis a +pretty story--is it not, good sir?--and perchance as interesting as a +speech from a goddess among the clouds?" + +"In truth it is a rare invention," said he, but absently, for his whole +and rapt attention was fixed on the sheets. + +She, seeing him so absorbed, did not interfere further. She sat still +and content--perhaps with a certain sedate triumph in her eyes. She +listened to the rustling of the elms overhead, and watched the white +clouds slowly crossing the blue, and the tawny-hued river lazily and +noiselessly stealing by below the bushes. The corn-crake was silent +now--there was not even that interruption; and when the bell in the +church tower began to toll, it was so soft and faint and distant that +she thought it most likely he would not even hear it. And at what point +was he now? At the story of how the sweet Miranda came to grow up in +exile? Or listening to Ariel's song? Or watching the prince approach +this new wonder of the magic island? Her eyes were full of triumph. "Ben +Jonson!" she had said. + +But suddenly he closed the sheets together. + +"It were unmannerly so to keep you waiting," said he. + +"Nay, heed not that, good sir," she said instantly. "I pray you go on +with the reading. How like you it? 'Tis a pretty story, methinks; but my +father hath been so busy of late--what with acres, and tithes, and +sheep, and malt and the like--that perchance he hath not given all his +mind to it." + +"It is not for one such as I, fair Mistress Judith," said he, with much +modesty, "to play the critic when it is your father's writing that comes +forward. Beshrew me, there be plenty of that trade in London, and +chiefly the feeble folk that he hath driven from our stage. No, sweet +lady; rather consider me one of those that crowd to see each new piece +of his, and are right thankful for aught he pleaseth to give us." + +"Is that so?" said she; and she regarded him with much favor, which he +was not slow to perceive. + +"Why," said he, boldly, "what needs your father to heed if some +worshipful Master Scoloker be of opinion that the play of the Prince +Hamlet belongeth to the vulgar sort, and that the prince was but +moon-sick; or that some one like Master Greene--God rest his soul, +wherever it be!--should call him an upstart crow, and a Johannes +factotum, and the like? 'Tis what the people of England think that is of +import; and right sure am I what they would say--that there is no +greater writer than your father now living in the land." + +"Ah, think you so?" she said, quickly, and her face grew radiant, as it +were, and her eyes were filled with gratitude. + +"This Master Greene," he continued, "was ever jibing at the players, as +I have heard, and bidding them be more humble, for that their labor was +but mechanical, and them attracting notice through wearing borrowed +plumes. Nay, he would have it that your father was no more than +that--poor man, he lived but a sorry life, and 'twere ill done to +cherish anger against him; but I remember to have seen the apology that +he that published the book made thereafter to your father--in good truth +it was fitting and right that it should be printed and given to the +world; and though I forget the terms of it, 'twas in fair praise of +Master William Shakespeare's gentle demeanor, and his uprightness of +conduct, and the grace of his wit." + +"Could you get that for me, good sir?" said she, eagerly. "Is't possible +that I could get it?" + +And then she stopped in some embarrassment, for she remembered that it +was not becoming she should ask this stranger for a gift. "Nay, sir, +'twould be of little use to me, that have no skill of reading." + +"But I pray you, sweet Mistress Judith, to permit me to bring you the +book; 'twill be something, at least, for you to keep and show to your +friends----" + +"If I might show it to Prudence Shawe, I could return it to you, good +sir," said she. And then she added, "Not that she--no, nor any one in +Stratford town--would need any such testimony to my father's qualities, +that are known to all." + +"At least they seem to have won him the love and loyalty of his +daughter," said he, gallantly; "and they know most about a man who live +nearest him. Nay, but I will beg you to accept the book from me when I +can with safety get to London again; 'twill be a charge I am not likely +to forget. And in return, fair Mistress Judith, I would take of you +another favor and a greater." + +"In what manner, gentle sir?" + +"I have but glanced over this writing, for fear of detaining you, and +but half know the value of it," said he. "I pray you let me have it with +me to my lodging for an hour or two, that I may do it justice. When one +hath such a chance come to him, 'tis not to be lightly treated, and I +would give time and quiet to the making out the beauties of your +father's latest work." + +She was at first somewhat startled by this proposal, and almost +involuntarily was for putting forth her hand to receive the sheets again +into safe-keeping; but then she asked herself what harm there could be +in acceding to his request. She was eagerly anxious that he should +understand how her father--even amidst those multifarious occupations +that were entailed on him by his prominent position in the town--could, +when he chose, sit down and write a tale far exceeding in beauty and +interest any of the mummeries that the court people seemed to talk +about. Why should not he have a few hours' time to study this fragment +withal? Her father had gone to Warwick for the day. Nay, more, she had +taken so small a portion of what had been cast aside that she knew the +absence of it would not be noticed, however long it might be kept. And +then this young gentleman, who was so civil and courteous, and who spoke +so well of her father, was alone, and to be pitied for that he had so +few means of beguiling the tedium of his hiding. + +"In the afternoon," said he, seeing that she hesitated, "I could with +safety leave it at your grandmother's cottage, and then, perchance, you +might send some one for it. Nay, believe me, sweet Mistress Judith, I +know the value of that I ask; but I would fain do justice to such a +treasure." + +"You would not fail me, sir, in leaving it at the cottage?" said she. + +"You do me wrong, Mistress Judith, to doubt--in good sooth you do. If +you can find a trusty messenger----" + +"Nay, but I will come for it myself, good sir, and explain to my +grandmother the nature of the thing, lest she suspect me of meddling +with darker plots. Let it be so, then, good sir, for now I must get me +back to the town. I pray you forget not to leave the package; and +so--farewell!" + +"But my thanks to you, dear lady----" + +"Nay, sir," said she, with a bright look of her eyes "bethink you you +have not yet fairly made out the matter. Tarry till you have seen +whether these sheets be worth the trouble--whether they remind you in +aught of the work of your friend Master Jonson--and then your thanks +will be welcome. Give ye good-day, gentle sir." + +There was no thought in her mind that she had done anything imprudent +in trusting him with this portion of the play for the matter of an hour +or two; it was but a small equivalent, she recollected, for his promise +to bring her from London the retractation or apology of one of those who +had railed at her father, or abetted in that, and found himself +constrained by his conscience to make amends. And now it occurred to her +that it would look ill if, having come out to gather some wild flowers +for the little table in the summer-house, she returned with empty hands; +so, as she proceeded to walk leisurely along the winding path leading +back to the town, she kept picking here and there such blossoms as came +within her reach. If the nosegay promised to be somewhat large and +straggling, at least it would be sweet-scented, and she felt pretty sure +that her father would be well content with it. At first she was silent, +however; her wonted singing was abandoned; perchance she was trying to +recall something of the lines that Master Leofric Hope had repeated to +her with so marked an emphasis. + +"And what said he of our English roses?" she asked herself, with some +faint color coming into her face at the mere thought of it. + +But then she forcibly dismissed these recollections, feeling that that +was due to her own modesty, and busied herself with her blossoms and +sprays; and presently, as she set out in good earnest for the town, she +strove to convince herself that there was nothing more serious in her +brain than the tune of "Green-sleeves:" + + "Green-sleeves, now farewell, adieu; + God I pray to prosper thee; + For I am still thy lover true-- + Come once again and love me!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +WILD WORDS. + + +Her light-heartedness did not last long. In the wide clear landscape a +human figure suddenly appeared, and the briefest turn of her head showed +her that Tom Quiney was rapidly coming toward her across the fields. For +a second her heart stood still. Had he been riding home from Ludington? +Or from Bidford? Was it possible that he had come over Bardon Hill, and +from that height espied the two down by the river? She could not even +tell whether that was possible, or what he had done with his horse, or +why he had not interfered sooner, if he was bent on interfering. But she +had an alarmed impression that this rapid approach of his boded trouble, +and she had not long to wait before that fear was confirmed. + +"Judith, who is that man?" he demanded, with a fury that was but half +held in. + +She turned and faced him. + +"I knew not," she said, coldly and slowly, "that we were on a speaking +platform." + +"'Tis no time to bandy words," said he; and his face was pale, for he +was evidently striving to control the passion with which his whole +figure seemed to quiver from head to heel. "Who is that man? I ask. Who +is he, that you come here to seek him, and alone?" + +"I know not by what right you put such questions to me," she said; but +she was somewhat frightened. + +"By what right? And you have no regard, then, for your good name?" + +There was a flash in her eyes. She had been afraid; she was no longer +afraid. + +"My good name?" she repeated. "I thank God 'tis in none of your +keeping!" + +In his madness he caught her by the wrist. + +"You shall tell me----" + +"Unhand me, sir!" she exclaimed; and she threw off his grasp, while her +cheeks burned with humiliation. + +"Nay, I quarrel not with women," said he. "I crave your pardon. But, by +God, I will get to know that man's name and purpose here if I rive it +from his body!" + +So he strode off in the direction that Leofric Hope had taken; and for a +moment she stood quite terror-stricken and helpless, scarcely daring to +think of what might happen. A murder on this fair morning? This young +fellow, that was quite beside himself in his passion of jealous anger, +was famed throughout the length and breadth of Warwickshire for his +wrestling prowess. And the other--would he brook high words? These +things flashed across her mind in one bewildering instant; and in her +alarm she forgot all about her pride. She called to him, + +"I pray you--stay!" + +He turned and regarded her. + +"Stay," said she, with her face afire. "I--I will tell you what I know +of him--if you will have it so." + +He approached her with seeming reluctance, and with anger and suspicion +in his lowering look. He was silent, too. + +"Indeed, there is no harm," said she (and still with her face showing +her mortification that she was thus forced to defend herself). "'Tis a +young gentleman that is in some trouble--his lodging near Bidford is +also a hiding, as it were--and--and I know but little of him beyond his +name, and that he is familiar with many of my father's friends in +London." + +"And how comes it that you seek him out here alone?" said he. "That is a +becoming and maidenly thing!" + +"I promised you I would tell you what I know of the young gentleman," +said she, with scornful lips. "I did not promise to stand still and +suffer your insolence." + +"Insolence!" he exclaimed, as if her audacity bewildered him. + +"How know you that I sought him out?" she said, indignantly. "May not +one walk forth of a summer morning without being followed by suspicious +eyes--I warrant me, eyes that are only too glad to suspect! To think +evil is an easy thing, it seems, with many; I wonder, sir, you are not +ashamed." + +"You brave it out well," said he, sullenly; but it was evident that her +courage had impressed him, if it still left him angered and suspicious. + +And then he asked: + +"How comes it that none of your friends or your family know aught of +this stranger?" + +"I marvel you should speak of my family," she retorted. "I had thought +you were inclined to remain in ignorance of them of late. But had you +asked of Prudence Shawe she might have told you something of this young +gentleman; or had you thought fit to call in at my grandmother's +cottage, you might perchance have found him seated there, and a welcome +guest at her board. Marry, 'tis easier far to keep aloof and to think +evil, as one may see." + +And then she added: + +"Well, sir, are you satisfied? May I go home without farther threats?" + +"I threatened you not, Judith," said he, rather more humbly. "I would +have my threats kept for those that would harm you." + +"I know of none such," she said, distinctly. "And as for this young +gentleman--that is in misfortune--such as might happen to any one--and +not only in hiding, but having intrusted his secret to one or two of us +that pity him and see no harm in him--I say it were a cruel and unmanly +thing to spy out his concealment, or to spread the rumor of his being in +the neighborhood." + +"Nay, you need not fear that of me, Judith," said he. "Man to man is my +way, when there is occasion. But can you marvel if I would have you for +your own sake avoid any farther meetings with this stranger? If he be in +hiding, let him remain there, in God's name; I for one will set no +beagles to hunt him out. But as for you, I would have you meddle with no +such dangerous traps." + +"Good sir," said she, "I have my conduct in my own keeping, and can +answer to those that have the guardianship of me." + +He did not reply to this rebuke. He said: + +"May I walk back to the town with you, Judith?" + +"You forget," she said, coldly, "that if we were seen together the +gossips might say I had come out hither to seek you, and alone." + +But he paid no heed to this taunt. + +"I care not," said he, with an affectation of indifference, "what the +gossips in Stratford have to talk over. Stratford and I are soon to +part." + +"What say you?" said she, quickly--and they were walking on together +now, the Don leisurely following at their heels. + +"Nay, 'tis nothing," said he, carelessly; "there are wider lands beyond +the seas, where a man can fight for his own and hold it." + +"And you?" she said. "You have it in your mind to leave the country?" + +"Marry, that have I!" said he, gayly. "My good friend Daniel Hutt hath +gotten together a rare regiment, and I doubt not I shall be one of the +captains of them ere many years be over." + +Her eyes were downcast, and he could not see what impression this piece +of news had made upon her--if, indeed, he cared to look. They walked for +some time in silence. + +"It is no light matter," said she at length, and in rather a low voice, +"to leave one's native land." + +"As for that," said he, "the land will soon be not worth the living in. +Why, in former times, men spoke of the merry world of England. A merry +world? I trow the canting rogues of preachers have left but little +merriment in it; and now they would seek to have all in their power, and +to flood the land with their whining and psalm-singing, till we shall +have no England left us, but only a vast conventicle. Think you that +your father hath any sympathy with these? I tell you no; I take it he is +an Englishman, and not a conventicle-man. 'Tis no longer the England of +our forefathers when men may neither hawk nor hunt, and women are doomed +to perdition for worshipping the false idol starch, and the very +children be called in from their games of a Sunday afternoon. +God-a-mercy, I have had enough of Brother Patience-in-suffering, and his +dominion of grace!" + +This seemed to Judith a strange reason for his going away, for he had +never professed any strong bias one way or the other in these religious +dissensions; his chief concern, like that of most of the young men in +Stratford, lying rather in the direction of butt-shooting, or wrestling, +or having a romp with some of the wenches to the tune of "Packington's +Pound." + +"Nay, as I hear," said he, "there be some of them in such discontent +with the King and the Parliament that they even talk of transplanting +themselves beyond seas, like those that went to Holland: 'twere a goodly +riddance if the whole gang of the sour-faced hypocrites went, and left +to us our own England. And a fair beginning for the new country across +the Atlantic--half of them these Puritanical rogues, with their fastings +and preachments; and the other half the constable's brats and broken men +that such as Hutt are drifting out: a right good beginning, if they but +keep from seizing each other by the throat in the end! No matter: we +should have our England purged of the double scum!" + +"But," said Judith, timidly, "methought you said you were going out with +these same desperate men?" + +"I can take my life in my hand as well as another," said he gloomily. +And then he added: "They be none so desperate, after all. Broken men +there may be amongst them, and many against whom fortune would seem to +have a spite; perchance their affairs may mend in the new country." + +"But your affairs are prosperous," Judith said--though she never once +regarded him. "Why should you link yourself with such men as these?" + +"One must forth to see the world," said he; and he went on to speak in +a gay and reckless fashion of the life that lay before him, and of its +possible adventures and hazards and prizes. "And what," said he, "if one +were to have good fortune in that far country, and become rich in land, +and have good store of corn and fields of tobacco; what if one were to +come back in twenty years' time to this same town of Stratford, and set +up for the trade of gentleman?" + +"Twenty years?" said she, rather breathlessly. "'Tis a long time; you +will find changes." + +"None that would matter much, methinks," said he, indifferently. + +"There be those that will be sorry for your going away," she ventured to +say--and she forced herself to think only of Prudence Shawe. + +"Not one that will care a cracked three-farthings!" was the answer. + +"You do ill to say so--indeed you do!" said she, with just a touch of +warmth in her tone. "You have many friends; you serve them ill to say +they would not heed your going." + +"Friends?" said he. "Yes, they will miss me at the shovel-board, or when +there is one short at the catches." + +"There be others than those," said she with some little hesitation. + +"Who, then?" said he. + +"You should know yourself," she answered. "Think you that Prudence, for +one, will be careless as to your leaving the country?" + +"Prudence?" said he, and he darted a quick glance at her. "Nay, I +confess me wrong, then; for there is one that hath a gentle heart, and +is full of kindness." + +"Right well I know that--for who should know better than I?" said +Judith. "As true a heart as any in Christendom, and a prize for him that +wins it, I warrant you. If it be not won already," she added, quickly. +"As to that, I know not." + +They were now nearing the town--they could hear the dull sound of the +mill, and before them was the church spire among the trees, and beyond +that the gray and red huddled mass of houses, barns, and orchards. + +"And when think you of going?" she said, after a while. + +"I know not, and I care not," said he, absently. "When I spoke of my +acquaintances being indifferent as to what might befall me, I did them +wrong, for in truth there be none of them as indifferent as I am +myself." + +"'Tis not a hopeful mood," said she, "to begin the making of one's +fortunes in a new country withal. I pray you, what ails this town of +Stratford, that you are not content?" + +"It boots not to say, since I am leaving it," he answered. "Perchance in +times to come, when I am able to return to it, I shall be better +content. And you?" + +"And I?" she repeated, with some surprise. + +"Nay, you will be content enough," said he, somewhat bitterly. "Mother +Church will have a care of you. You will be in the fold by then. The +faithful shepherd will have a charge over you, to keep you from +communication with the children of anger and the devil, that rage +without like lions seeking to destroy." + +"I know not what you mean," said she, with a hot face. + +"Right well you know," said he, coolly; but there was an angry +resentment running through his affected disdain as he went on: "There be +those that protest, and go forth from the Church. And there be those +that protest, and remain within, eating the fat things, and well content +with the milk and the honey, and their stores of corn and oil. Marry, +you will be well provided for--the riches of the next world laid up in +waiting for you, and a goodly share of the things of this world to +beguile the time withal. Nay, I marvel not; 'tis the wisdom of the +serpent along with the innocence of the dove. What matters the surplice, +the cross in baptism, and the other relics of popery, if conformity will +keep the larder full? Better that than starvation in Holland, or seeking +a home beyond the Atlantic, where, belike, the children of the devil +might prove overrude companions. I marvel not, I; 'tis a foolish bird +that forsakes a warm nest." + +And now she well knew against whom his bitter speech was levelled; and +some recollection of the slight he had put upon her in the church-yard +came into her mind, with the memory that it had never been atoned for. +And she was astounded that he had the audacity to walk with her now and +here, talking as if he were the injured one. The sudden qualm that had +filled her heart when he spoke of leaving the country was put aside; the +kindly reference to Prudence was forgotten; she only knew that this +sarcasm of his was very much out of place, and that this was far from +being the tone in which he had any right to address her. + +"I know not," said she, stiffly, "what quarrel you may have with this +or that section of the Church; but it concerns me not. I pray you attack +those who are better able to defend themselves than I am, or care to be. +Methinks your studies in that line have come somewhat late." + +"'Tis no greater marvel," said he, "than that you should have joined +yourself to the assembly of the saints; it was not always so with you." + +"I?" she said; but her cheeks were burning; for well she knew that he +referred to his having seen her with the parson on that Sunday morning, +and she was far too proud to defend herself. "Heaven help me now, but I +thought I was mistress of my own actions!" + +"In truth you are, Mistress Judith," said he, humbly (and this was the +first time that he had ever addressed her so, and it startled her, for +it seemed to suggest a final separation between them--something as wide +and irrevocable as that twenty years of absence beyond the seas). And +then he said, "I crave your pardon if I have said aught to offend you; +and would take my leave." + +"God be wi' you," said she, civilly; and then he left, striking across +the meadows toward the Bidford road, and, as she guessed, probably going +to seek his horse from whomsoever he had left it with. + +And as she went on, and into the town, she was wondering what Prudence +had said to him that should so suddenly drive him to think of quitting +the country. All had seemed going well. As for Master Leofric Hope, his +secret was safe; this late companion of hers seemed to have forgotten +him altogether in his anger against the good parson. And then she grew +to think of the far land across the ocean, that she had heard vaguely of +from time to time; to think how twenty years could be spent there: and +what Stratford would be like when that long space was over. + +"Twenty years," she said to herself, with a kind of sigh. "There are +many things will be settled, ere that time be passed, for good or ill." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A CONJECTURE. + + +When she got back to New Place she found the house in considerable +commotion. It appeared that the famous divine, Master Elihu Izod, had +just come into the town, being on his way toward Leicestershire, and +that he had been brought by the gentleman whose guest he was to pay a +visit to Judith's mother. Judith had remarked ere now that the preachers +and other godly persons who thus honored the New Place generally made +their appearance a trifling time before the hour of dinner; and now, as +she reached the house, she was not surprised to find that Prudence had +been called in to entertain the two visitors--who were at present in the +garden--while within doors her mother and the maids were hastily making +such preparations as were possible. To this latter work she quickly lent +a helping hand; and in due course of time the board was spread with a +copious and substantial repast, not forgetting an ample supply of wine +and ale for those that were that way inclined. Then the two gentlemen +were called in, Prudence was easily persuaded to stay, and, after a +lengthened grace, the good preacher fell to, seasoning his food with +much pious conversation. + +At such times Judith had abundant opportunities for reverie, and for a +general review of the situation of her own affairs. In fact, on this +occasion she seemed in a manner to be debarred from participation in +these informal services at the very outset. Master Izod, who was a tall, +thin, dark, melancholy-visaged man--unlike his companion, Godfrey +Buller, of the Leas, near to Hinckley, who, on the contrary, was a +stout, yeoman-like person, whose small gray absent eyes remained +motionless and vacant in the great breadth of his rubicund face--had +taken for his text, as it were, a list he had found somewhere or other +of those characters that were entitled to command the admiration and +respect of all good people. These were: a young saint; an old martyr; a +religious soldier; a conscionable statesman; a great man courteous; a +learned man humble; a silent woman; a merry companion without vanity; a +friend not changed with honor; a sick man cheerful; a soul departing +with comfort and assurance. And as Judith did not make bold to claim to +be any one of these--nor, indeed, to have any such merits or excellences +as would extort the approval of the membership of the saints--she +gradually fell away from listening; and her mind was busy with other +things; and her imagination, which was vivid enough, intent upon other +scenes. One thing that had struck her the moment she had returned was +that Prudence seemed in an unusually cheerful mood. Of course the +arrival of two visitors was an event in that quiet life of theirs; and +no doubt Prudence was glad to be appointed to entertain the +strangers--one of them, moreover, being of such great fame. But so +pleased was she, and so cheerful in her manner, that Judith was +straightway convinced there had been no quarrel between her and Tom +Quiney. Nay, when was there time for that? He could scarcely have seen +her that morning; while the night before there had certainly been no +mention of his projected migration to America, else Prudence would have +said as much. What, then, had so suddenly driven him to the conclusion +that England was no longer a land fit to live in? And why had he paid +Prudence such marked attention--why had he presented her with the +spaniel-gentle and offered her the emblazoned missal--one evening, only +to resolve the next morning that he must needs leave the country? Nay, +why had he so unexpectedly broken the scornful silence with which he had +recently treated herself? He had given her to understand that, as far as +he was concerned, she did not exist. He seemed determined to ignore her +presence. And yet she could not but remember that, if this contemptuous +silence on his part was broken by the amazement of his seeing her in the +company of a stranger, his suspicions in that direction were very +speedily disarmed. A few words and they fled. It was his far more deadly +jealousy of the parson that remained; and was like to remain, for she +certainly would not stoop to explain that the meeting in the church-yard +was quite accidental. But why should he trouble his head about either +her or the parson? Had he not betaken himself elsewhere--and that with +her right good-will? Nay, on his own confession he had discovered how +kind and gentle Prudence was: there was a fit mate for him--one to +temper the wildness and hot-headedness of his youth. Judith had never +seen the sea, and therefore had never seen moonlight on the sea; but +the nearest to that she could go, in thinking of what Prudence's nature +was like, in its restful and sweet and serious beauty, was the moonlight +she had seen on the river Avon in the calm of a summer's night, the +water unbroken by a ripple, and not a whisper among the reeds. Could he +not perceive that too, and understand? + +As for herself, she knew that she could at any moment cut the knot of +any complications that might arise by allowing Master Walter to talk her +over into marrying him. Her father had assured her that the clear-headed +and energetic young parson was quite equal to that. Well, it was about +time she should abandon the frivolities and coquetries of her youth; and +her yielding would please many good people, especially her mother and +sister, and obtain for herself a secure and established position, with +an end to all these quarrels and jealousies and uncertainties. Moreover, +there would be safety there. For, if the truth must be told, she was +becoming vaguely and uncomfortably conscious that her relations with +this young gentleman who had come secretly into the neighborhood were no +longer what they had been at first. Their friendship had ripened +rapidly; for he was an audacious personage, with plenty of +self-assurance; and with all his professions of modesty and deference, +he seemed to know very well that he could make his society agreeable. +Then those lines he had repeated: why, her face grew warm now as she +thought of them. She could not remember them exactly, but she remembered +their purport; and she remembered, too, the emphasis with which he had +declared that the bonniest of our English roses were those that grew in +the country air. Now a young man cut off from his fellows as he was +might well be grateful for some little solace of companionship, or for +this or the other little bit of courtesy; but he need not (she +considered) show his gratitude just in that way. Doubtless his flattery +might mean little; the town gentlemen, she understood, talked in that +strain; and perhaps it was only by an accident that the verses were +there in the book; but still she had the uneasy feeling that there was +something in his manner and speech that, if encouraged, or suffered to +continue without check, might lead to embarrassment. That is to say, if +she continued to see him; and there was no need for that. She could cut +short this acquaintance the moment she chose. But on the one hand she +did not wish to appear uncivil; and on the other she was anxious that +he should see the whole of this play that her father had written--thrown +off, as it were, amid the various cares and duties that occupied his +time. If Master Leofric Hope talked of Ben Jonson when he came into the +country, she would have him furnished with something to say of her +father when he returned to town. + +These were idle and wandering thoughts; and in one respect they were not +quite honest. In reality she was using them to cloak and hide, or to +drive from her mind altogether, a suspicion that had suddenly occurred +to her that morning, and that had set her brain afire in a wild way. It +was not only the tune of "Green-sleeves" that was in her head as she set +off to walk home, though she was trying to force herself to believe +that. The fact is this: when Master Leofric Hope made the pretty speech +about the country roses, he accompanied it, as has been said, by a +glance of only too outspoken admiration; and there was something in this +look--apart from the mere flattery of it--that puzzled her. She was +confused, doubtless; but in her confusion it occurred to her that she +had met that regard somewhere before. She had no time to pursue this +fancy further; for in order to cover her embarrassment she had betaken +herself to the sheets in her satchel; and thereafter she was so anxious +that he should think well of the play that all her attention was fixed +on that. But after leaving him, and having had a minute or two to think +over what had happened, she recalled that look, and wondered why there +should be something strange in it. And then a startling fancy flashed +across her mind--the wizard! Was not that the same look--of the same +black eyes--that she had encountered up at the corner of the field above +the Weir Brake?--a glance of wondering admiration, as it were? And if +these two were one and the same man? Of course that train, being lit, +ran rapidly enough: there were all kinds of parallels--in the elaborate +courtesy, in the suave voice, in the bold and eloquent eyes. And she had +no magical theory to account for the transformation--it did not even +occur to her that the wizard could have changed himself into a young +man--there was no dismay or panic in that direction; she instantly took +it for granted that it was the young man who had been personating the +wizard. And why?--to what end, if this bewildering possibility were to +be regarded for an instant? The sole object of the wizard's coming was +to point out to her her future husband. And if this young man were +himself the wizard? A trick to entrap her? + +Ariel himself could not have flashed from place to place more swiftly +than this wild conjecture; but the next moment she had collected +herself. Her common-sense triumphed. She bethought her of the young man +she had just left--of his respectful manners--of the letter he had +brought for her father--of the circumstances of his hiding. It was not +possible that he had come into the neighborhood for the deliberate +purpose of making a jest of her. Did he look like one that would play +such a trick; that would name himself as her future husband; that would +cozen her into meeting him? She felt ashamed of herself for harboring +such a thought for a single instant. Her wits had gone wool-gathering! +Or was it that Prudence's fears had so far got hold of her brain that +she could not regard the young man but as something other than an +ordinary mortal? In fair justice, she would dismiss this absurd surmise +from her mind forthwith; and so she proceeded with her gathering of the +flowers; and when she did set forth for home, she had very nearly +convinced herself that there was nothing in her head but the tune of +"Green-sleeves." Nay, she was almost inclined to be angry with Prudence +for teaching her to be so suspicious. + +Nevertheless, during this protracted dinner, while good Master Izod was +enlarging upon the catalogue of persons worthy of honor and emulation, +Judith was attacked once more by the whisperings of the demon. For +awhile she fought against these, and would not admit to herself that any +further doubt remained in her mind; but when at last, she found herself, +despite herself, going back and back to that possibility, she took heart +of grace and boldly faced it. What if it were true? Supposing him to +have adopted the disguise, and passed himself off as a wizard, and +directed her to the spot where she should meet her future husband--what +then? What ought she to do? How ought she to regard such conduct? As an +idle frolic of youth? Or the device of one tired of the loneliness of +living at the farm, and determined at all hazards to secure +companionship? Or a darker snare still--with what ultimate aims she +could not divine? Or again (for she was quite frank), if this were +merely some one who had seen her from afar, at church, or fair, or +market, and considered she was a good-looking maid, and wished to have +further acquaintance, and could think of no other method than this +audacious prank? She had heard of lovers' stratagems in plenty; she knew +of one or two of such that had been resorted to in this same quiet town +of Stratford. And supposing that this last was the case, ought she to be +indignant? Should she resent his boldness in hazarding such a stroke to +win her? And then, when it suddenly occurred to her that, in discussing +this possibility, she was calmly assuming that Master Leofric Hope was +in love with her--he never having said a word in that direction, and +being in a manner almost a stranger to her--she told herself that no +audacity on his part could be greater than this on hers; and that the +best thing she could do would be to get rid once and forever of such +unmaidenly conjectures. No; she would go back to her original position. +The facts of the case were simple enough. He would have brought no +letter to her father had he been bent on any such fantastic enterprise. +Was it likely he would suffer the thraldom of that farm-house, and live +away from his friends and companions, for the mere chance of a few +minutes' occasional talk with a Stratford wench? As for the similarity +between his look and that of the wizard, the explanation lay no doubt in +her own fancy, which had been excited by Prudence's superstitious fears. +And if in his courtesy he had applied to herself the lines written by +the young Devonshire poet--well, that was but a piece of civility and +kindness, for which she ought to be more than usually grateful, seeing +that she had not experienced too much of that species of treatment of +late from one or two of her would-be suitors. + +She was awakened from these dreams by the conversation suddenly ceasing; +and in its place she heard the more solemn tones of the thanksgiving +offered up by Master Izod: + + "The God of glory and peace, who hath created, redeemed, and + presently fed us, be blessed forever and ever. So be it. The God of + all power, who hath called from death that great pastor of the + sheep, our Lord Jesus, comfort and defend the flock which he hath + redeemed by the blood of the eternal testament; increase the number + of true preachers; repress the rage of obstinate tyrants; mitigate + and lighten the hearts of the ignorant; relieve the pains of such + as be afflicted, but specially of those that suffer for the + testimony of thy truth; and finally, confound Satan by the power of + our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." + +And then, as the travellers were continuing their journey forthwith, +they proposed to leave; and Master Buller expressed his sorrow that +Judith's father had not been at home to have made the friendship of a +man so famous as Master Izod; and the good parson, in his turn, as they +departed, solemnly blessed the house and all that dwelt therein, whether +present or absent. As soon as they were gone, Judith besought her mother +for the key of the summer-house, for she wished to lay on her father's +table the wild flowers she had brought; and having obtained it, she +carried Prudence with her into the garden, and there they found +themselves alone, for goodman Matthew had gone home for his dinner. + +"Dear mouse," said she, quickly, "what is it hath happened to Tom +Quiney?" + +"I know not, Judith," the other said, in some surprise. + +"It is in his mind to leave the country." + +"I knew not that." + +"I dare be sworn you did not, sweetheart," said she, "else surely you +would have told me. But why? What drives him to such a thing? His +business prospers well, as I hear them say; and yet must he forsake it +for the company of those desperate men that are going away to fight the +Indians beyond seas. Nothing will content him. England is no longer +England; Stratford is no longer Stratford. Mercy on us, what is the +meaning of it all?" + +"In truth I know not, Judith." + +Then Judith regarded her. + +"Good cousin, I fear me you gave him but a cold welcome yesternight." + +"I welcomed him as I would welcome any of my brother's friends," said +Prudence, calmly and without embarrassment. + +"But you do not understand," Judith said, with a touch of impatience. +"Bless thy heart! young men are such strange creatures; and must have +all to suit their humors; and are off and away in their peevish fits if +you do not entertain them, and cringe, and say your worship to every +sirrah of them! Oh, they be mighty men of valor in their own esteem; and +they must have us poor handmaidens do them honor; and if all be not done +to serve, 'tis boot and spur and off to the wars with them, and many a +fine tale thereafter about the noble ladies that were kind to them +abroad. Marry! they can crow loud enough; 'tis the poor hens that durst +never utter a word; and all must give way before his worship! What, +then? What did you do? Was not the claret to his liking? Did not your +brother offer him a pipe of Trinidado?" + +"Indeed, Judith, it cannot be through aught that happened last night, if +he be speaking of leaving the country," Prudence said. "I thought he was +well content, and right friendly in his manner." + +"But you do not take my meaning," Judith said. "Dear heart, bear me no +ill-will; but I would have you a little more free with your favors. You +are too serious, sweet mouse. Could you not pluck up a little of the +spirit that the pretty Rosalind showed--do you remember?--when she was +teasing Orlando in the forest? In truth these men are fond of a varying +mood; when they play with a kitten they like to know it has claws. And +again, if you be too civil with them, they presume, and would become the +master all at once; and then must everything be done to suit their +lordships' fantasies, or else 'tis up and away with them, as this one +goes." + +"I pray you, Judith," her friend said, and now in great embarrassment, +"forbear to speak of such things: in truth, my heart is not set that +way. Right well I know that if he be leaving the country, 'tis through +no discontent with me, nor that he would heed in any way how I received +him. Nay, 'tis far otherwise; it is no secret whom he would choose for +wife. If you are sorry to hear of his going away from his home, you know +that a word from you would detain him." + +"Good mouse, the folly of such thoughts!" Judith exclaimed. "Why, when +he will not even give me a 'Good-day to you, wench'!" + +"You best know what reasons he had for his silence, Judith; I know not." + +"Reasons?" said she, with some quick color coming to her face. "We will +let that alone, good gossip. I meddle not with any man's reasons, if he +choose to be uncivil to me; God help us, the world is wide enough for +all!" + +"Did you not anger him, Judith, that he is going away from his home and +his friends?" + +"Anger him? Perchance his own suspicions have angered him," was the +answer; and then she said, in a gentler tone: "But in truth, sweetheart, +I hope he will change his mind. Twenty years--for so he speaks--is a +long space to be away from one's native land; there would be many +changes ere he came back. Twenty years, he said." + +Judith rather timidly looked at her companion, but indeed there was +neither surprise nor dismay depicted on the pale and gentle face. Her +eyes were absent, it is true, but they did not seem to crave for +sympathy. + +"'Tis strange," said she. "He said naught of such a scheme last night, +though he and Julius spoke of this very matter of the men who were +preparing to cross the seas. I know not what can have moved him to such +a purpose." + +"Does he imagine, think you," said Judith, "that we shall all be here +awaiting him at the end of twenty years, and as we are now? Or is he so +sure of his own life? They say there is great peril in the new lands +they have taken possession of beyond sea, and that there will be many a +bloody fight ere they can reap the fruit of their labors in peace. Nay, +I will confess to thee, sweet mouse, I like not his going. Old friends +are old friends, even if they have wayward humors; and fain would I have +him remain with us here in Stratford--ay, and settled here, moreover, +with a sweet Puritan wife by his side, that at present must keep +everything hidden. Well no matter," she continued, lightly. "I seek no +secrets--except those that be in the oaken box within here." + +She unlocked the door of the summer-house, and entered, and put the +flowers on the table. "Tell me, Prue," said she, "may we venture to take +some more of the play, or must I wait till I have put back the other +sheets?" + +"You have not put them back?" + +"In truth, no," said Judith, carelessly. "I lent them to the young +gentleman, Leofric Hope." + +"Judith!" her friend exclaimed, with frightened eyes. + +"What then?" + +"To one you know nothing of? You have parted with these sheets--that are +so valuable?" + +"Nay, nay, good mouse," said she; "you know the sheets are cast away as +useless. And I but lent them to him for an hour or two to lighten the +tedium of his solitude. Nor was that all, good Prue, if I must tell thee +the truth; I would fain have him know that my father can do something +worth speaking of as well as his friend Ben Jonson, and perchance even +better; what think you?" + +"You have seen him again, then--this morning?" + +"Even so," Judith answered, calmly. + +"Judith, why would you run into such danger?" her friend said, in +obvious distress. "In truth I know not what 'twill come to. And now +there is this farther bond in this secret commerce--think you that all +this can remain unknown? Your meeting with him must come to some one's +knowledge--indeed it must, sweetheart." + +"Nay, but this time you have hit the mark," complacently. "If you would +assure yourself, good Prue, that the young gentleman is no grisly ghost +or phantom, methinks you could not do better than ask Tom Quiney, who +saw him this very morning--and saw us speaking together, as I guess." + +"He saw you!" Prudence exclaimed. "And what said he?" + +"He talked large and wild for a space," said Judith, coolly, "but soon I +persuaded him there was no great harm in the stranger gentleman. In +sooth his mind was so full of his own affairs--and so bitter against all +preachers, ministers, and pastors--and he would have it that England was +no longer fit to live in--marry, he told me so many things in so few +minutes that I have half forgotten them!" + +And then it suddenly occurred to her that this fantasy that had entered +her mind in the morning, and that had haunted her during Master Elihu +Izod's discourse, would be an excellent thing with which to frighten +Prudence. 'Twas but a chimera, she assured herself; but there was enough +substance in it for that. And so, when she had carefully arranged the +flowers on the table, and cast another longing look at the oaken chest, +she locked the door of the summer-house, and put her arm within the arm +of her friend, and led her away for a walk in the garden. + +"Prudence," said she, seriously, "I would have you give me counsel. Some +one hath asked me what a young maiden should do in certain circumstances +that I will put before you; but how can I tell, how can I judge of +anything, when my head is in a whirligig of confusion with parsons' +arguments, and people leaving the country, and I know not what else? But +you, good mouse--your mind is ever calm and equable--you can speak sweet +words in Israel--you are as Daniel that was so excellent a judge even in +his youth----" + +"Judith!" the other protested; but indeed Judith's eyes were perfectly +grave and apparently sincere. + +"Well, then, sweetheart, listen: let us say that a young man has seen a +young maiden that is not known to him but by name--perchance at church +it may have been, or as she was walking home to her own door. And there +may be reasons why he should not go boldly to her father's house, +though he would fain do so; his fancy being taken with her in a small +measure, and he of a gentle disposition, and ready to esteem her higher +than she deserved. And again it might be that he wished for private +speech with her--to judge of her manners and her inclinations--before +coming publicly forward to pay court to her: but alack, I cannot tell +the story as my father would; 'tis the veriest skeleton of a story, and +I fear me you will scarce understand. But let us say that the young man +is bold and ingenious, and bethinks him of a stratagem whereby to make +acquaintance with the damsel. He writes to her as a wizard that has +important news to tell her; and begs her to go forth and meet him; and +that on a certain morning he will be awaiting her at such and such a +place. Now this maiden that I am telling you of has no great faith in +wizards, but being curious to see the juggling, she goes forth to meet +him as he asks----" + +"Judith, I pray you speak plain; what is't you mean?" Prudence +exclaimed; for she had begun to suspect. + +"You must listen, good mouse, before you can give judgment," said +Judith, calmly; and she proceeded: "Now you must understand that it was +the young gentleman himself whom she met, though she knew it not; for he +had dressed himself up as an ancient wizard, and he had a solemn manner, +and Latin speech, and what not. Then says the wizard to her, 'I can show +you the man that is to be your lover and sweetheart and husband; that +will win you and wear you in the time coming; and if you would see him, +go to such and such a cross-road, and he will appear.' Do you perceive, +now, sweet mouse, that it was a safe prophecy, seeing that he had +appointed himself to be the very one who should meet her?" + +Prudence had gradually slipped her arm away from that of her friend, and +now stood still, regarding her breathlessly, while Judith, with eyes +quite placid and inscrutable, continued her story: + +"'Twas a noteworthy stratagem, and successful withal; for the maiden +goes to the cross-road, and there she meets the young gentleman--now in +his proper costume. But she has no great faith in magic; she regards him +not as a ghost summoned by the wizard; she would rather see in this +meeting an ordinary accident; and the young man being most courteous and +modest and civil-spoken, they become friends. Do you follow the story? +You see, good mouse, there is much in his condition to demand sympathy +and kindness--he being in hiding, and cut off from his friends; and she, +not being too industrious, and fond rather of walking in the meadows and +the like, meets him now here, now there, but with no other thought than +friendliness. I pray you, bear that in mind, sweetheart; for though I +esteem her not highly, yet would I do her justice: there was no thought +in her mind but friendliness, and a wish to be civil to one that seemed +grateful for any such communion. And then one morning something +happens--beshrew me if I can tell thee how it happened, and that is the +truth--but something happens--an idea jumps into her head--she suspects +that this young gentleman is no other than the same who was the wizard, +and that she has been entrapped by him, and that he, having played the +wizard, would now fain play the lover----" + +"Judith, is't possible! is't possible!" + +"Hold, cousin, hold; your time is not yet. I grant you 'tis a bold +conjecture, and some would say not quite seemly and becoming to a +maiden, seeing that he had never spoken any word to her of the kind; but +there it was in her head--the suspicion that this young gentleman had +tricked her, for his own amusement, or perchance to secure her company. +Now, sweet judge in Israel, for your judgment! And on two points, please +you. First supposing this conjecture to be false, how is she to atone to +the young gentleman? And how is she to punish herself? And how is she to +be anything but uneasy should she chance to see him again? Nay, more, +how is she to get this evil suspicion banished from her mind, seeing +that she dare not go to him and confess, and beg him for the assurance +that he had never heard of the wizard? Then the second point: supposing +the conjecture to be true, ought she to be very indignant? How should +she demean herself? Should she go to him and reproach him with his +treachery? She would never forgive it, dear mouse, would she, even as a +lover's stratagem?" + +"Judith, I cannot understand you; I cannot understand how you can even +regard such a possibility, and remain content and smiling----" + +"Then I ought to be indignant? Good cousin, I but asked for your +advice," Judith said. "I must be angry; I must fret and fume, and use +hot language, and play the tragedy part? In good sooth, when I think +on't, 'twas a piece of boldness to put himself forward as my future +husband--it was indeed--though twas cunningly contrived. Marry, but I +understand now why my goodman wizard would take no money from me; 'twas +myself that he would have in payment of his skill; and 'gracious lady' +and 'sweet lady,' these were the lures to lead me on; and his shepherd's +dial placed on the ground! Then off go beard and cloak, and a couple of +days thereafter he is a gay young gallant; and 'sweet lady' it is +again--or 'fair lady,' was't?--'know you one Master Shakespeare in the +town?' And such modesty, and such downcast eyes, and an appeal for one +in misfortune. Heaven save us, was it not well done? Modesty! By my +life, a rare modest gentleman! He comes down to Stratford, armed with +his London speech and his London manners, and he looks around. Which +one, then? which of all the maidens will his lordship choose for wife? +'Oh!' saith he, 'there is Judith Shakespeare; she will do as well as +another; perchance better, for New Place is the fairest house in the +town, and doubtless she will have a goodly marriage portion. So now how +to secure her? how to charm her away from any clownish sweetheart she +may chance to have? Easily done, i' faith! A country wench is sure to +believe in magic; 'tis but raising my own ghost out of the ground, and a +summons to her, and I have her sure and safe, to win and to wear, for +better or worse!'" She looked at Prudence. "Heaven's blessings on us +all, good Prue, was there ever poor maiden played such a scurril trick?" + +"Then your eyes are opened, Judith?" said Prudence, eagerly; "you will +have naught more to do with such a desperate villain?" + +Again Judith regarded her, and laughed. + +"I but told a story to frighten thee, good heart," said she. "A +desperate villain? Yes, truly; but 'tis I am a desperate villain to let +such rascal suspicions possess me for an instant. Nay, good mouse, think +of it! Is't possible that one would dare so much for so poor a prize? +That the young gentleman hath some self-assurance, I know; and he can +quickly make friends; but do you think, if any such dark design had been +his, he would have entered my grandmother's cottage, and ate and drank +there, and promised to renew his visit? Sweet judge in Israel, your +decision on the other point, I pray you! What penance must I do for +letting such cruel thoughts stray into my brain? How shall I purge them +away? To whom must I confess? Nay, methinks I must go to the young +gentleman himself, and say: 'Good sir, I have a friend and gossip that +is named Prudence Shawe, who hath a strange belief in phantom-men and +conspirators. I pray you pardon me that through her my brain is somewhat +distraught; and that I had half a mind to accuse you of a plot for +stealing me away--me, who have generally this stout mastiff with me. I +speech you, sir, steal me not--nay, forgive me that I ever dreamed of +your having any such purpose. 'Tis our rude country manners, good sir, +that teach a maid to believe a man may not speak to her without intent +to marry her. I pray you pardon me--my heart is kneeling to you, could +you but see--and give me such assurance that you meditated no such thing +as will bring me back my scattered senses.' Were not that well done? +Shall that be my penance, good mouse?" + +"Dear Judith, tell me true," her friend said, almost piteously, "do you +suspect him of having played the wizard to cheat you and entrap you?" + +"Good cousin," said she, in her frankest manner, "I confess: I did +suspect--for an instant. I know not what put it into my head. But sure I +am I have done him wrong--marry, 'twere no such deadly sin even had he +been guilty of such a trick; but I believe it not--nay, he is too civil +and gentle for a jest of the kind. When I see him again I must make him +amends for my evil thinking: do not I owe him as much, good gossip?" + +This was all she could say at present, for Matthew gardener here made +his appearance, and that was the signal for their withdrawing into the +house. But that afternoon, as Judith bethought her that Master Leofric +Hope would be coming to her grandmother's cottage with the manuscript he +had promised to return, she became more and more anxious to see him +again. Somehow she thought she could more effectually drive away this +disquieting surmise if she could but look at him, and regard his manner, +and hear him speak. As it turned out, however, it was not until somewhat +late on in the evening that she found time to seek out little Willie +Hart, and propose to him that he should walk with her as far as +Shottery. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A DAUGHTER OF ENGLAND. + + +"Sweetheart Willie," she said--and her hand lay lightly on his shoulder, +as they were walking through the meadows in the quiet of this warm +golden evening--"what mean you to be when you grow up?" + +He thought for a second or two, and then he rather timidly regarded her. + +"What would you have me to be, Cousin Judith?" he said. + +"Why, then," said she, "methinks I would have you be part student and +part soldier, were it possible, like the gallant Sir Philip Sidney, that +Queen Elizabeth said was the jewel of her reign. And yet you know, +sweetheart, that we cannot all of us be of such great estate. There be +those who live at the court, and have wealth and lands, and expeditions +given them to fit out, so that they gain fame; that is not the lot of +every one, and I know not whether it may be yours--though for brave men +there is ever a chance. But this I know I would have you ready to do, +whether you be in high position or in low, and that is to fight for +England, if needs be, and defend her, and cherish her. Why," she said, +"what would you think, now, of one brought up by a gentle mother, one +that owes his birth and training to this good mother, and because there +is something amiss in the house, and because everything is not to his +mind, he ups and says he must go away and forsake her? Call you that the +thought of a loyal son and one that is grateful? I call it the thought +of a peevish, froward, fractious child. Because, forsooth, this thing or +the other is not to his worship's liking, or all the company not such as +he would desire, or others of the family having different opinions--as +surely, in God's name, they have a right to have--why, he must needs +forsake the mother that bore him, and be off and away to other +countries! Sweetheart Willie, that shall never be your mind, I charge +you. No, you shall remain faithful to your mother England, that is a +dear mother and a good mother, and hath done well by her sons and +daughters for many a hundred years; and you shall be proud of her, and +ready to fight for her, ay, and to give your life for the love of her, +if ever the need should be!" + +He was a small lad, but he was sensitive and proud-spirited; and he +loved dearly this Cousin Judith who had made this appeal to him; so that +for a second the blood seemed to forsake his face. + +"I am too young as yet to do aught, Cousin Judith," said he, in rather a +low voice, for his breath seemed to catch; "but--but when I am become a +man I know that there will be one that will sooner die than see any +Spaniard or Frenchman seize the country." + +"Bravely said, sweetheart, by my life!" she exclaimed (and her approval +was very sweet to his ears). "That is the spirit that women's hearts +love to hear of, I can tell thee." And she stooped and kissed him in +reward. "Hold to that faith. Be not ashamed of your loyalty to your +mother England! Ashamed? Heaven's mercy! where is there such another +country to be proud of? And where is there another mother that hath bred +such a race of sons? Why, times without number have I heard my father +say that neither Greece, nor Rome, nor Carthage, nor any of them, were +such a race of men as these in this small island, nor had done such +great things, nor earned so great a fame, in all parts of the world and +beyond the seas. And mark you this, too: 'tis the men who are fiercest +to fight with men that are the gentlest to women; they make no slaves of +their women; they make companions of them; and in honoring them they +honor themselves, as I reckon. Why, now, could I but remember what my +father hath written about England, 'twould stir your heart, I know; that +it would; for you are one of the true stuff, I'll be sworn; and you will +grow up to do your duty by your gracious mother England--not to run away +from her in peevish discontent!" + +She cast about for some time, her memory, that she could not replenish +by any book-reading, being a large and somewhat miscellaneous +store-house. + +"'Twas after this fashion," said she, "if I remember aright: + + 'This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, + This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, + This fortress, built by Nature for herself + Against infestion and the hand of war; + This happy breed of men, this little world, + This precious stone set in the silver sea, + Which serves it in the office of a wall, + Or as a moat defensive to a house, + Against the envy of less happier lands-- + This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England!' + +Mark you that, sweetheart?--is't not a land worth fighting for? Ay, and +she hath had sons that could fight for her; and she hath them yet, I +dare be sworn, if the need were to arise. And this is what you shall +say, Cousin Willie, when you are a man and grown: + + 'Come the three corners of the world in arms, + And we shall shock them. Naught shall make us rue, + If England to itself do rest but true!'" + +These quotations were but for the instruction of this small cousin of +hers, and yet her own face was proud. + +"Shall I be a soldier, then, Cousin Judith?" the boy said. "I am willing +enough. I would be what you would wish me to be; and if I went to the +wars, you would never have need to be ashamed of me." + +"That know I right well, sweetheart," said she, and she patted him on +the head. "But 'tis not every one's duty to follow that calling. You +must wait and judge for yourself. But whatever chances life may bring +you, this must you ever remain, if you would have my love, sweetheart, +and that I hope you shall have always--you must remain a good and loyal +son to your mother England, one not easily discontented with small +discomforts, and sent forth in a peevish fit. Where is there a fairer +country? Marry, I know of none. Look around--is't not a fair enough +country?" + +And fair indeed on this quiet evening was that wide stretch of +Warwickshire, with its hedges and green meadows, and low-lying wooded +hills bathed in the warm sunset light. But it was the presence of Judith +that made it all magical and mystical to him. Whatever she regarded with +her clear-shining and wondrous eyes was beautiful enough for him--while +her hand lay on his shoulder or touched his hair. He was a willing +pupil. He drank in those lessons in patriotism: what was it he would not +do for his cousin Judith? What was it he would not believe if it were +she who told him, in that strange voice of hers, that thrilled him, and +was like music to him, whether she spoke to him in this proud, +admonitory way, or was in a teasing mood, or was gentle and affectionate +toward him? Yes, this Warwickshire landscape was fair enough, under the +calm sunset sky; but he knew not what made it all so mystical and +wonderful, and made the far golden clouds seem as the very gateways to +heaven. + +"Or is there one with a prouder story?" she continued. "Or a land of +greater freedom? Why, look at me, now. Here am I, a woman, easily +frightened, helpless if there were danger, not able to fight any one. +Why, you yourself, Cousin Willie, if you were to draw a dagger on me, I +declare to thee I would run and shriek and hide. Well, look at me as I +stand here: all the might and majesty of England cannot harm me; I am +free to go or to stay. What needs one more? None durst put a hand on me. +My mind is as free as my footsteps. I may go this way or that as I +choose; and no one may command me to believe this, that, or the other. +What more? And this security--think you it had not to be fought +for?--think you it was not worth the fighting for? Or think you we +should forget to give good thanks to the men that faced the Spaniards, +and drove them by sea and shore, and kept our England to ourselves? Or +think you we should forget our good Queen Bess, that I warrant me had as +much spirit as they, and was as much a man as any of them?" + +She laughed. + +"Perchance you never heard, sweetheart, of the answer that she made to +the Spanish ambassador?" + +"No, Judith," said he, but something in her manner told him that there +had been no cowardice in that answer. + +"Well," she said, "I will tell thee the story of what happened at +Deptford. And now I bethink me, this must you do, cousin Willie, when +you are grown to be a man; and whether you be soldier or sailor, or +merchant, or student, 'tis most like that some day or other you will be +in London; and then must you not fail to go straightway to Deptford to +see the famous ship of Sir Francis Drake lying there. I tell thee, 'twas +a goodly thought to place it there; that was like our brave Queen Bess; +she would have the youth of the country regard with honor the ship that +had been all round the world, and chased the Spaniards from every sea. +Nay, so bad is my memory that I cannot recall the name of the +vessel--perchance 'twas the Judith--at least I have heard that he had +one of that name; but there it lies, to signal the glory of England and +the routing of Spain." + +"The Judith?" said he, with wondering eyes. "Did he name the ship after +you, cousin?" + +"Bless the lad! All that I'm going to tell thee happened ere I was +born." + +"No matter," said he, stoutly: "the first thing I will ask to see, if +ever I get to London is that very ship." + +"Well, then, the story," she continued, shaping the thing in her mind +(for being entirely destitute of book learning, historical incidents +were apt to assume a dramatic form in her imagination, and also to lose +literal accuracy of outline). "You must know the Spaniards were sore +vexed because of the doings of Francis Drake in all parts of the world, +for he had plundered and harried them and burned their ships and their +towns, and made the very name of England a terror to them. 'Tis no +marvel if they wished to get hold of him; and they declared him to be no +better than a pirate; and they would have the Queen--that is, our last +Queen--deliver him over to them that they might do with him what they +willed. Marry, 'twas a bold demand to made of England! And the Queen, +how does she take it, think you?--how is she moved to act in such a +pass? Why, she goes down to Deptford, to this very ship that I told thee +of--she and all her nobles and ladies, for they would see the famous +ship. Then they had dinner on board, as I have heard the story; and the +Queen's Majesty asked many particulars of his voyages from Master Drake, +and received from him certain jewels as a gift, and was right proud to +wear them. Then says she aloud to them all: 'My lords, is this the man +the Spaniards would have me give over to them?' Right well she knew he +was the man; but that was her way, and she would call the attention of +all of them. 'Your Majesty,' they said, ''tis no other.' Then she swore +a great oath that the Queen of England knew how to make answer to such a +demand. 'Come hither, Master Drake,' says she, in a terrible voice. +'Kneel!' Then he knelt on his knee before her. 'My lord,' says she to +one of the noblemen standing by, 'your sword!' And then, when she had +the sword in her hand, she says, in a loud voice, 'My lords, this is the +man that Spain would have us give up to her; and this is the answer of +England: Arise, Sir Francis!'--and with that she taps him on the +shoulder--which is the way of making a knight, Cousin Willie; and I pray +you may be brave and valiant, and come to the same dignity, so that all +of us here in Stratford shall say, 'There, now, is one that knew how to +serve faithfully his fair mother England!' But that was not all, you +must know, that happened with regard to Sir Francis Drake. For the +Spanish ambassador was wroth with the Queen; ay, and went the length +even of speaking with threats. ''Twill come to the cannon,' says he. +'What?' says she, turning upon him. 'Your Majesty,' says he, 'I fear me +this matter will come to the cannon.' And guess you her answer?--nay, +they say she spoke quite calmly, and regarded him from head to foot, and +that if there were anger in her heart there was none in her voice. +'Little man, little man,' says she, 'if I hear any more such words from +thee, by God I will clap thee straight into a dungeon!'" + +Judith laughed, in a proud kind of way. + +"That was the answer that England gave," said she, "and that she is like +to give again, if the Don or any other of them would seek to lord it +over her." + +Three-fourths of these details were of her own invention, or rather--for +it is scarcely fair to say that--they had unconsciously grown up in her +mind from the small seed of the true story. But little Willie Hart had +no distrust of any legend that his cousin Judith might relate to him. +Whatever Judith said was true, and also luminous in a strange kind of +fashion; something beautiful and full of color, to be thought over and +pondered over. And now as they walked along toward the village, idly and +lazily enough--for she had no other errand than to fetch back the +manuscript that would be lying at the cottage--his eyes were wistful. +His fancies were far away. What was it, then, that he was to do for +England--that Judith should approve in the after-years? And for how long +should he be away--in the Spanish Main, perchance, of which he had heard +many stories, or fighting in the lowlands of Holland, or whatever he was +called to do--and what was there at the end? Well, the end that he +foresaw and desired--the reward of all his toil--was nothing more nor +less than this: that he should be sitting once again in a pew in +Stratford church, on a quiet Sunday morning, with Judith beside him as +of old, they listening to the singing together. He did not think of his +being grown up, or that she would be other than she was now. His mind +could form no other or fairer consummation than that--that would be for +him the final good--to come back to Stratford town to find Judith as she +had ever been to him, gentle, and kind, and soft-handed, and ready with +a smile from her beautiful and lustrous eyes. + +"Yes, sweetheart Willie," said she, as they were nearing the cottages, +"look at the quiet that reigns all around, and no priests of the +Inquisition to come dragging my poor old grandmother from her knitting. +What has she to do but look after the garden, and scold the maid, and +fetch milk for the cat? And all this peace of the land that we enjoy we +may have to fight for again; and then, if the King's Majesty calls +either for men or for money, you shall have no word but obedience. Heard +you never of the Scotch knight, Sir Patrick Spens?--that the Scotch King +would send away to Norroway at an evil time of the year? Did he grumble? +Did he say his men were ill content to start at such a time? Nay, as I +have heard, when he read the King's letter the tears welled in his eyes; +but I'll be sworn that was for the companions he was taking with him to +face the cruel sea. + + 'The King's daughter from Norroway, + 'Tis we must fetch her home,' + +he says; and then they up with their sails, and set out from the land +that they never were to see more. What of that? They were brave men; +they did what was demanded of them; though the black seas of the north +were too strong for them in the end. 'Twas a sad tale, in good sooth: + + 'O lang, lang may the ladies sit, + Wi' the fans into their hand, + Before they see Sir Patrick Spens + Come sailing to the strand! + + 'And lang, lang may the maidens sit, + Wi' their gold combs in their hair, + All waiting for their ain dear loves, + For them they'll see nae mair. + + 'Half owre, half owre to Aberdour, + 'Tis fifty fathoms deep, + And there lies good Sir Patrick Spens + Wi' the Scots lords at his feet.' + +But what then? I tell thee, sweetheart, any maiden that would be worth +the winning would a hundred times liefer wail for a lover that had died +bravely than welcome him back safe and sound as a coward. You shall be +no coward, I warrant me, when you are grown up to be a man; and above +all, as I say, shall you be gentle and forgiving with your mother +England, even if your own condition be not all you wish; and none the +less for that shall you be willing to fight for her should she be in +trouble. Nay, I'll answer for thee, lad: I know thee well." + +"But, Judith," said he, "who are they you speak of, that are +discontented, and would go away and leave the country?" + +Well, it is probable she might have found some embarrassment in +answering this question (if she had been pressed to name names) but that +what she now beheld deprived her of the power of answering altogether. +She had come over from the town with no other thought than to pay a +brief visit to her grandmother, and fetch back the portion of the play, +and she had not the slightest expectation of encountering Master Leofric +Hope. But there unmistakably he was, though he did not see her, for he +was standing at the gate of her grandmother's cottage, and talking to +the old dame, who was on the other side. There was no pretence of +concealment. Here he was in the public path, idly chatting, his hand +resting on the gate. And as Judith had her cousin Willie with her, her +first thought was to hurry away in any direction in order to escape an +interview; but directly she saw that this was impossible, for her +grandmother had descried her, if Leofric Hope had not. The consequence +was that, as she went forward to the unavoidable meeting, she was not +only surprised and a trifle confused and anxious, but also somewhat and +vaguely resentful; for she had been intending, before seeing him again, +to frame in her mind certain tests which might remove or confirm one or +two suspicions that had caused her disquietude. And now--and unfairly, +as she thought--she found herself compelled to meet him without any such +legitimate safeguard of preparation. She had no time to reflect that it +was none of his fault. Why had not he left the play earlier? she asked +herself. Why had not he departed at once? Why, with all his professions +of secrecy, should he be standing in the open highway, carelessly +talking? And what was she to say to little Willie Hart that would +prevent his carrying back the tale to the school and the town? When she +went forward, it was with considerable reluctance; and she had a dim, +hurt sense of having been imposed upon, or somehow or another injured. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +VARYING MOODS. + + +But the strange thing was that the moment he turned and saw her--and the +moment she met the quick look of friendliness and frank admiration that +came into his face and his eloquent dark eyes--all her misgivings, +surmises, suspicions, and half-meditated safeguards instantly vanished. +She herself could not have explained it; she only knew that, face to +face with him, she had no longer any doubt as to his honesty; and +consequently that vague sense of injury vanished also. She had been +taken unawares, but she did not mind. Everything, indeed, connected with +this young man was of a startling, unusual character; and she was +becoming familiar with that, and less resentful at being surprised. + +"Ah, fair Mistress Judith," said he, "you come opportunely: I would +thank you from the heart for the gracious company I have enjoyed this +afternoon through your good-will; in truth, I was loath to part with +such sweet friends, and perchance detained them longer than I should." + +"I scarce understand you, sir," said she, somewhat bewildered. + +"Not the visions that haunt a certain magic island?" said he. + +Her face lit up. + +"Well, sir?" she asked, with a kind of pride; but at this point her +grandmother interposed, and insisted--somewhat to Judith's +surprise--that they should come in and sit down, if not in the house, at +least in the garden. He seemed willing enough; for without a word he +opened the gate to let Judith pass; and then she told him who her cousin +was; and in this manner they went up to the little arbor by the hedge. + +"Well, good sir, and how liked you the company?" said she, cheerfully, +when she had got within and sat down. + +Her grandmother had ostensibly taken to her knitting; but she managed +all the same to keep a sharp eye on the young man; for she was curious, +and wanted to know something further of the parcel that he had left with +her. It was not merely hospitality or a freak of courtesy that had +caused her to give him this sudden invitation. Her granddaughter Judith +was a self-willed wench and mischievous; she would keep an eye on her +too; she would learn more of this commerce between her and the young +gentleman who had apparently dropped, as it were, from the skies. As for +little Willie Hart, he remained outside, regarding the stranger with no +great good-will; but perhaps more with wonder than with anger, for he +marvelled to hear Judith talk familiarly with this person, of whom he +had never heard a word, as though she had known him for years. + +"'Tis not for one such as I," said Master Leofric Hope, modestly--and +with such a friendly regard toward Judith that she turned away her eyes +and kept looking at this and that in the garden--"to speak of the +beauties of the work; I can but tell you of the delight I have myself +experienced. And yet how can I even do that? How can I make you +understand that--or my gratitude either, sweet Mistress Judith--unless +you know something of the solitude of the life I am compelled to lead? +You would have yourself to live at Bassfield Farm; and watch the +monotony of the days there; and be scarcely able to pass the time: then +would you know the delight of being introduced to this fair region that +your father hath invented, and being permitted to hear those creatures +of his imagination speak to each other. Nay, but 'tis beautiful! I am no +critical judge; but I swear 'twill charm the town." + +"You think so, sir?" said she, eagerly, and for an instant she withdrew +her eyes from the contemplation of the flowers. But immediately she +altered her tone to one of calm indifference. "My father hath many +affairs to engage him, you must understand, good sir; perchance, now, +this play is not such as he would have written had he leisure, and--and +had he been commanded by the court, and the like. Perchance 'tis too +much of the human kind for such purposes?" + +"I catch not your meaning, sweet lady," said he. + +"I was thinking," said she, calmly, "of the masques you told us of--at +Theobald's and elsewhere--that Master Benjamin Jonson has written, and +that they all seem to prize so highly: perchance these were of a finer +stuff than my father hath time to think of, being occupied, as it were, +with so many cares. 'Tis a rude life, having regard to horses, and +lands, and malt, and the rest; and--and the court ladies--they would +rather have the gods and goddesses marching in procession, would they +not? My father's writing is too much of the common kind, is it not, good +sir?--'tis more for the 'prentices, one might say, and such as these?" + +He glanced at her. He was not sure of her. + +"The King, sweet lady," said he, "is himself learned, and would have the +court familiar with the ancient tongues; and for such pageants 'tis no +wonder they employ Master Jonson, that is a great scholar. But surely +you place not such things--that are but as toys--by the side of your +father's plays, that all marvel at, and applaud, and that have driven +away all others from our stage?" + +"Say you so?" she answered, with the same indifferent demeanor. "Nay, I +thought that Master Scoloker--was that his worship's name?--deemed them +to be of the vulgar sort. But perchance he was one of the learned ones. +The King, they say, is often minded to speak in the Latin. What means he +by that, good sir, think you? Hath he not yet had time to learn our +English speech?" + +"Wench, what would you?" her grandmother interposed, sharply. "Nay, good +sir, heed her not; her tongue be an unruly member, and maketh sport of +her, as I think; but the wench meaneth no harm." + +"The King is proud of his learning, no doubt," said he; and he would +probably have gone on to deprecate any comparison between the court +masques and her father's plays but that she saw here her opportunity, +and interrupted him. + +"I know it," she said, "for the letter that the King sent to my father +is writ in the Latin." + +"Nay, is it so?" said he. + +She affected not to observe his surprise. + +"'Twas all the same to my father," she continued, calmly, "whether the +letter was in one tongue or the other. He hath one book now--how is it +called?--'tis a marvellous heap of old stories--the Jests----" + +"Not the _Gesta Romanorum_?" he said. + +"The same, as I think. Well, he hath one copy that is in English, and of +our own time, as I am told; but he hath also another and a very ancient +copy, that is in the Latin tongue; and this it is--the Latin one, good +sir--that my father is fondest of; and many a piece of merriment he will +get out of it, when Julius Shawe is in the house of an evening." + +"But the _Gesta_ are not jests, good Mistress Judith," said he, looking +somewhat puzzled. + +"I know not; I but hear them laughing," said she, placidly. "And as for +the book itself, all I know of it is the outside; but that is right +strange and ancient, and beautiful withal: the back of it white leather +stamped with curious devices; and the sides of parchment printed in +letters of red and black; and the silver clasps of it with each a boar's +head. I have heard say that that is the crest of the Scotch knight that +gave the volume to my father when they were all at Aberdeen; 'twas when +they made Laurence Fletcher a burgess; and the knight said to my +father, 'Good sir, the honor to your comrade is a general one, but I +would have you take this book in particular, in the way of thanks and +remembrance for your wit and pleasant company'--that, or something like +that, said he; and my father is right proud of the book, that is very +ancient and precious; and often he will read out of it--though it be in +the Latin tongue. Oh, I assure you, sir," she added, with a calm and +proud air, "'tis quite the same thing to him. If the King choose to +write to him in that tongue, well and good. Marry, now I think of it, I +make no doubt that Julius Shawe would lend me the letter, did you care +to see it." + +He looked up quickly and eagerly. + +"Goes your goodness so far, sweet Mistress Judith? Would you do me such +a favor and honor?" + +"Nay, young sir," the grandmother said, looking up from her knitting, +"tempt not the wench; she be too ready to do mad things out of her own +mind. And you, grandchild, see you meddle not in your father's affairs." + +"Why, grandam," Judith cried, "'tis the common property of Stratford +town. Any one that goeth into Julius Shawe's house may see it. And why +Julius Shawe's friends only? Beshrew me, there are others who have as +good a title to that letter--little as my father valueth it." + +"Nay, I will forego the favor," said he at once, "though I owe you none +the less thanks, dear lady, for the intention of your kindness. In +truth, I know not how to make you sensible of what I already owe you; +for, having made acquaintance with those fair creations, how can one but +long to hear of what further befell them? My prayer would rather go in +that direction--if I might make so bold." + +He regarded her now with a timid look. Well, she had not undertaken that +he should see the whole of the play, nor had she ever hinted to him of +any such possibility; but it had been in her mind, and for the life of +her she could not see any harm in this brief loan of it. Harm? Had not +even this brief portion of it caused him to think of her father's +creations as if they were of a far more marvellous nature than the +trumpery court performances that had engrossed his talk when first she +met him? + +"There might be some difficulty, good sir," said she, "but methinks I +could obtain for you the further portions, if my good grandmother here +would receive them and hand them to you when occasion served." + +"What's that, wench?" her grandmother said, instantly. + +"'Tis but a book, good grandam, that I would lend Master Hope to lighten +the dulness of his life at the farm withal: you cannot have any +objection, grandmother?" + +"'Tis a new trade to find thee in, wench," said her grandmother. "I'd 'a +thought thou wert more like to have secret commerce in laces and silks." + +"I am no pedler, good madam," said he, with a smile; "else could I find +no pleasanter way of passing the time than in showing to you and your +fair granddaughter my store of braveries. Nay, this that I would beg of +you is but to keep the book until I have the chance to call for it; and +that is a kindness you have already shown in taking charge of the little +package I left for Mistress Judith here." + +"Well, well, well," said the old dame, "if 'tis anything belonging to +her father, see you bring it back, and let not the wench get into +trouble." + +"I think you may trust me so far, good madam," said he, with such +simplicity of courtesy and sincerity that even the old grandmother was +satisfied. + +In truth she had been regarding the two of them with some sharpness +during these few minutes to see if she could detect anything in their +manner that might awaken suspicion. There was nothing. No doubt the +young gentleman regarded Judith with an undisguised wish to be friendly +with her, and say pretty things; but was that to be wondered at? 'Twas +not all the lads in Stratford that would be so modest in showing their +admiration for a winsome lass. And this book-lending commerce was but +natural in the circumstances. She would have been well content to hear +that his affairs permitted him to leave the neighborhood, and that would +happen in good time; meanwhile there could be no great harm in being +civil to so well-behaved a young gentleman. So now, as she had satisfied +herself that the leaving of the package meant nothing dark or dangerous, +she rose and hobbled away in search of the little maid, to see that some +ale were brought out for the refreshment of her visitor. + +"Sweetheart Willie," Judith called, "what have you there? Come hither!" + +Her small cousin had got hold of the cat, and was vainly endeavoring to +teach it to jump over his clasped hands. He took it up in his arms, and +brought it with him to the arbor, though he did not look in the +direction of the strange gentleman. + +"We shall be setting forth for home directly," said she. "Wilt thou not +sit down and rest thee?" + +"'Tis no such distance, cousin," said he. + +He seemed unwilling to come in; he kept stroking the cat, with his head +averted. So she went out to him, and put her arm round his neck. + +"This, sir," said she, "is my most constant companion, next to Prudence +Shawe; I know not to what part of all this neighborhood we have not +wandered together. And such eyes he hath for the birds' nests; when I +can see naught but a cloud of leaves he will say, why, 'tis so and so, +or so and so; and up the tree like a squirrel, and down again with one +of the eggs, or perchance a small naked birdling, to show me. But we +always put them back, sweetheart, do we not?--we leave no bereft +families, or sorrowing mother bird to find an empty nest. We do as we +would be done by; and 'tis no harm to them that we should look at the +pretty blue eggs, or take out one of the small chicks with its downy +feathers and its gaping bill. And for the fishing, too--there be none +cleverer at setting a line, as I hear, or more patient in watching; but +I like not that pastime, good Cousin Willie, for or soon or late you are +certain to fall through the bushes into the river, as happened to Dickie +Page last week, and there may not be some one there to haul you out, as +they hauled out him." + +"And how fares he at the school?" said the young gentleman in the arbor. + +"Oh, excellent well, as I am told," said she, "although I be no judge of +lessons myself. Marry, I hear good news of his behavior; and if there be +a bloody nose now and again, why, a boy that's attacked must hold his +own, and give as good as he gets--'twere a marvel else--and 'tis no use +making furious over it, for who knows how the quarrel began? Nay, I will +give my cousin a character for being as gentle as any, and as +reasonable; and if he fought with Master Crutchley's boy, and hit him +full sore, I fear, between the eyes--well, having heard something of the +matter, I make no doubt it served young Crutchley right, and that elder +people should have a care in condemning when they cannot know the +beginning of the quarrel. Well, now I bethink me, sweetheart, tell me +how it began, for that I never heard. How began the quarrel?" + +"Nay, 'twas nothing," he said, shamefacedly. + +"Nothing? Nay, that I will not believe. I should not wonder now if it +were about some little wench. What? Nay, I'll swear it now! 'Twas about +the little wench that has come to live at the Vicarage--what's her +name?--Minnie, or Winnie?" + +"'Twas not, then, Judith," said he. "If you must know, I will tell you; +I had liefer say naught about it. But 'twas not the first time he had +said so--before all of them--that my uncle was no better than an idle +player, that ought to be put in the stocks and whipped." + +"Why, now," said she, "to think that the poor lad's nose should be set +a-bleeding for nothing more than that!" + +"It had been said more than once, Cousin Judith; 'twas time it should +end," said he, simply. + +At this moment Master Leofric Hope called to him. + +"Come hither, my lad," said he. "I would hear how you get on at school." + +The small lad turned and regarded him, but did not budge. His demeanor +was entirely changed. With Judith he was invariably gentle, submissive, +abashed: now, as he looked at the stranger, he seemed to resent the +summons. + +"Come hither, my lad." + +"Thank you, no, sir," he said; "I would as lief be here." + +"Sweetheart, be these your manners?" Judith said. + +But the young gentleman only laughed good-naturedly. + +"Didst thou find any such speeches in the _Sententiae Pueriles_?" said +he. "They were not there when I was at school." + +"When go we back to Stratford, Judith?" said the boy. + +"Presently, presently," said she (with some vague impression that she +could not well leave until her grandmother's guest showed signs of going +also). "See, here is my grandam coming with various things for us; and I +warrant me you shall find some gingerbread amongst them." + +The old dame and the little maid now came along, bringing with them ale +and jugs and spiced bread and what not, which were forthwith put on the +small table; and though Judith did not care to partake of these, and was +rather wishful to set out homeward again, still, in common courtesy, she +was compelled to enter the arbor and sit down. Moreover, Master Hope +seemed in no hurry to go. It was a pleasant evening, the heat of the day +being over; the skies were clear, fair, and lambent with the declining +golden light: why should one hasten away from this quiet bower, in the +sweet serenity and silence, with the perfume of roses all around, and +scarce a breath of air to stir the leaves? He but played with this +slight refection; nevertheless, it was a kind of excuse for the starting +of fresh talk; and his talk was interesting and animated. Then he had +discovered a sure and easy way of pleasing Judith, and instantly gaining +her attention. When he spoke of the doings in London, her father was no +longer left out of these: nay, on the contrary, he became a central +figure; and she learned more now of the Globe and Blackfriars theatres +than ever she had heard in her life before. Nor did she fail to lead him +on with questions. Which of her father's friends were most constant +attendants at the theatre? Doubtless they had chairs set for them on the +stage? Was there any one that her father singled out for especial favor? +When they went to the tavern in the evening, what place had her father +at the board? Did any of the young lords go with them? How late sat +they? Did her father outshine them all with his wit and merriment, or +did he sit quiet and amused?--for sometimes it was the one and sometimes +the other with him here in Stratford. Did they in London know that he +had such a goodly house, and rich lands, and horses? And was there good +cooking at the tavern--Portugal dishes and the like? Or perchance (she +asked, with an inquiring look from the beautiful, clear eyes) it was +rather poor? And the napery, now: it was not always of the cleanest? And +instead of neat-handed maids, rude serving-men, tapsters, drawers, and +so forth? And the ale--she could be sworn 'twas no better than the +Warwickshire ale; no, nor was the claret likely to be better than that +brought into the country for the gentlefolk by such noted vintners as +Quiney. Her father's lodging--that he said was well enough, as he said +everything was well enough, for she had never known him utter a word of +discontent with anything that happened to him--perchance 'twas none of +the cleanliest? for she had heard that the London housewives were mostly +slovens, and would close you doors and windows against the air, so that +a countryman going to that town was like to be sickened. And her +father--did he ever speak of his family when he was in London? Did they +know he had belongings? Nay, she was certain he must have talked to his +friends and familiars of little Bess Hall, for how could he help that? + +"You forget, sweet Mistress Judith," said he, in his pleasant way, "that +I have not the honor of your father's friendship, nor of his +acquaintance even, and what I have told you is all of hearsay, save with +regard to the theatre, where I have seen him often. And that is the +general consent: that this one may have more learning, and that one more +sharpness of retort, but that in these encounters he hath a grace and a +brilliancy far outvying them all, and, moreover, with such a gentleness +as earns him the general good-will. Such is the report of him; I would +it had been in my power to speak from my own experience." + +"But that time will come, good sir," said she, "and soon, I trust." + +"In the mean while," said he, "bethink you what a favor it is that I +should be permitted to come into communion with those fair creations of +his fancy; and I would remind you once more of your promise, sweet +Mistress Judith; and would beseech your good grandmother to take charge +of anything you may leave for me. Nay, 'twill be for no longer than an +hour or two that I would detain it; but that brief time I would have +free from distractions, so that the mind may dwell on the picture. Do I +make too bold, sweet lady? Or does your friendship go so far?" + +"In truth, sir," she answered, readily, "if I can I will bring you the +rest of the play--but perchance in portions, as the occasion serves; +'twere no great harm should you carry away with you some memory of the +Duke and his fair daughter on the island." + +"The time will pass slowly until I hear more of them," said he. + +"And meanwhile, good grandmother," said she, "if you will tell me where +I may find the little package, methinks I must be going." + +At this he rose. + +"I beseech your pardon if I have detained you, sweet lady," said he, +with much courtesy. + +"Nay, sir, I am indebted to you for welcome news," she answered, "and I +would I had longer opportunity of hearing. And what said you--that he +outshone them all?--that it was the general consent?" + +"Can you doubt it?" he said, gallantly. + +"Nay, sir, we of his own household--and his friends in Stratford--we +know and see what my father is: so well esteemed, in truth, as Julius +Shawe saith, that there is not a man in Warwickshire would cheat him in +the selling of a horse, which they are not slow to do, as I hear, with +others. But I knew not he had won so wide and general a report in +London, where they might know him not so well as we." + +"Let me assure you of that, dear lady," he said, "and also that I will +not forget to bring or send you the printed tribute to his good +qualities that I spoke of, when that I may with safety go to London. +'Tis but a trifle; but it may interest his family; marry, I wonder he +hath not himself spoken of it to you." + +"He speak of it!" said she, regarding him with some surprise, as if he +ought to have known better. "We scarce know aught of what happeneth to +him in London. When he comes home to Warwickshire it would seem as if he +had forgotten London and all its affairs, and left them behind for +good." + +"Left them behind for good, say you, wench?" the old dame grumbled, +mostly to herself, as she preceded them down the path. "I would your +father had so much sense. What hath he to gain more among the players +and dicers and tavern brawlers and that idle crew? Let him bide at home, +among respectable folk. Hath he not enough of gear gathered round him, +eh? It be high time he slipped loose from those mummers that play to +please the cut-purses and their trulls in London. Hath he not enough of +gear?" + +"What say you, grandmother? You would have my father come away from +London and live always in Warwickshire? Well, now, that is nearer than +you think, or my guesses are wrong." + +But her grandmother had gone into the cottage; and presently she +returned with the little package. Then there was a general leave-taking +at the gate; and Leofric Hope, after many expressions of his thanks and +good-will, set out on his own way, Judith and her cousin taking the path +through the meadows. + +For some time they walked in silence; then, as soon as the stranger was +out of ear-shot, the lad looked up and said, + +"Who is that, Judith?" + +"Why," said she, lightly, "I scarcely know myself; but that he is in +misfortune and hiding, and that he knoweth certain of my father's +friends, and that he seems pleased to have a few words with one or other +of us to cheer his solitude. You would not begrudge so much, sweetheart? +Nay, there is more than that I would have you do: his safety depends on +there being no talk about him in the town; and I know you can keep a +secret, Cousin Willie; so you must not say a word to any one--whether at +school, or at home, or at New Place--of your having seen him. You will +do as much for my sake, sweetheart?" + +"Yes; but why for your sake, cousin?" said the boy, looking up. "Why +should you concern yourself?" + +"Nay, call it for anybody's sake, then," said she. "But I would not have +him betrayed by any one that I had aught to do with--and least of all by +you, sweetheart, that I expect to show nothing but fair and manly parts. +Nay, I trust you. You will not blab." + +And then, as they walked on, it occurred to her that this young +gentleman's secret--if he wished it kept--was becoming somewhat widely +extended in his neighborhood. In her own small circle how many already +knew of his presence?--her grandmother, Prudence Shawe, herself, Tom +Quiney, and now this little Willie Hart. And she could not but remember +that not much more than half an hour ago she had seen him at the garden +gate, carelessly chatting, and apparently not heeding in the least what +passers-by might observe him. But that was always the way: when she left +him, when she was with her own thoughts, curious surmises would cross +her mind; whereas, when she met him, these were at once discarded. And +so she took to arguing with herself as to why she should be so given to +do this young man injustice in his absence, when every time she +encountered him face to face she was more than ever convinced of his +honesty. Fascination? Well, she liked to hear of London town and the +goings on there; and this evening she had been particularly interested +in hearing about the Globe Theatre, and the spectators, and the tavern +to which her father and his friends repaired for their supper; but +surely that would not blind her if she had any reason to think that the +young man was other than he represented? And then, again, this evening +he had been markedly deferential. There was nothing in his manner of +that somewhat too open gallantry he had displayed in the morning when he +made his speech about the English roses. Had she not wronged him, then, +in imagining even for a moment that he had played a trick upon her in +order to make her acquaintance? It is true, she had forgotten to make +special remark of his eyes, as to whether they were like those of the +wizard; for indeed the suspicion had gone clean out of her mind. But now +she tried to recall them; and she could not fairly say to herself that +there was a resemblance. Nay, the wizard was a solemn person, who seemed +to rebuke her light-heartedness; he spoke gravely and slow; whereas this +young man, as any one could see, had a touch of merriment in his eye +that was ready to declare itself on further acquaintance, only that his +deference kept him subdued, while his talk was light and animated and +rapid. No, she would absolve him from this suspicion; and soon, indeed, +as she guessed, he would absolve himself by removing from the +neighborhood, and probably she would hear no more of him, unless, +perchance, he should remember to send her that piece of print concerning +her father. + +And then her thoughts went far afield. She had heard much of London that +evening; and London, in her mind, was chiefly associated with her +father's plays, or such as she knew of them; and these again were +represented to her by a succession of figures, whose words she thought +of, whose faces she saw, when, as now, her fancies were distant. And she +was more silent than usual as they went on their way across the meadows, +and scarce addressed a word to her companion; insomuch that at last he +looked up into her face, and said, + +"Judith, why are you so sad this evening?" + +"Sad, sweetheart? Surely no," she answered; and she put her hand on his +head. "What makes thee think so?" + +"Did Dame Hathaway speak harshly to you?" said he. "Methought I heard +her say something. Another time I will bid her hold her peace." + +"Nay, nay, not so," said she; and as they were now come to a stile, she +paused there, and drew the boy toward her. + +Not that she was tired; but the evening was so quiet and still, and the +whole world seemed falling into a gentle repose. There was not a sound +near them; the earth was hushed as it, sank to sleep; far away they +could hear the voices of children going home with their parents, or the +distant barking of a dog. It was late, and yet the skies seemed full of +light, and all the objects around them were strangely distinct and +vivid. Behind them, the northwestern heavens were of a pale luminous +gold; overhead and in front of them, the great vault was of a beautiful +lilac-gray, deepening to blue in the sombre east; and into this lambent +twilight the great black elms rose in heavy masses. The wide meadows +still caught some of the dying radiance; and there was a touch of it on +the westward-looking gables of one or two cottages; and then through +this softened glow there came a small keen ray of lemon yellow--a light +in one of the far-off windows that burned there like a star. So hushed +this night was, and so calm and beautiful, that a kind of wistfulness +fell over her mind--scarcely sadness, as the boy had imagined--but a +dull longing for sympathy, and some vague wonder as to what her life +might be in the years to come. + +"Why, sweetheart," said she, absently, and her hand lay affectionately +on his shoulder, "as we came along here this evening we were speaking of +all that was to happen to you in after-life; and do you never think you +would like to have the picture unrolled now, and see for yourself, and +have assurance? Does not the mystery make you impatient, or restless, or +sad--so that you would fain have the years go by quick, and get to the +end? Nay, I trow not; the day and the hour are sufficient for thee; and +'tis better so. Keep as thou art, sweetheart, and pay no heed to what +may hereafter happen to thee." + +"What is't that troubles you, Judith?" said he, with an instinctive +sympathy, for there was more in her voice than in her words. + +"Why, I know not myself," said she, slowly, and with her eyes fixed +vacantly on the darkening landscape. "Nothing, as I reckon. 'Tis but +beating one's wings against the invisible to seek to know even +to-morrow. And in the further years some will have gone away from +Stratford, and some to far countries, and some will be married, and some +grown old; but to all the end will be the same; and I dare say now that, +hundreds of years hence, other people will be coming to Stratford, and +they will go into the church-yard there, and walk about and look at the +names--that is, of you and me and all the rest of us--and they will say, +'Poor things, they vexed themselves about very small matters while they +were alive, but they are all at peace at last.'" + +"But what is it that troubles you, Judith?" said he; for this was an +unusual mood with her, who generally was so thoughtless and merry and +high-hearted. + +"Why, nothing, sweetheart, nothing," said she, seeming to rouse herself. +"'Tis the quiet of the night that is so strange, and the darkness +coming. Or will there be moonlight? In truth, there must be, and getting +near to the full, as I reckon. A night for Jessica! Heard you ever of +her sweetheart?" + +"No, Judith." + +"Well, she was a fair maiden that lived long ago, somewhere in Italy, as +I think. And she ran away with her lover, and was married to him, and +was very happy; and all that is now known of her is connected with music +and moonlight and an evening such as this. Is not that a fair life to +lead after death: to be in all men's thoughts always as a happy bride, +on such a still night as this is now? And would you know how her lover +spoke to her?--this is what he says: + + 'How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! + Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music + Creep to our ears; soft stillness and the night + Become the touches of sweet harmony. + Sit, Jessica: Look, how the floor of heaven + Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; + There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st + But in his motion like an angel sings, + Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: + Such harmony is in immortal souls; + But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay + Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.-- + Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn; + With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear, + And draw her home with music.' + +Is not that a gentle speech? And so shall you speak to your bride, +sweetheart, in the years to come, when you have wooed her and won her. +And then you will tell her that if she loves you not--ay, and if she +loves you not dearly and well--then is she not like one that you knew +long ago, and that was your cousin, and her name was Judith Shakespeare. +Come, sweetheart," said she, and she rose from the stile and took his +hand in hers. "Shall I draw thee home? But not with sweet music, for I +have not Susan's voice. I would I had, for thy sake." + +"You have the prettiest voice in the whole world, Cousin Judith," said +he. + +And so they walked on and into the town, in silence mostly. The world +had grown more solemn now: here and there in the lilac-gray deeps +overhead a small silver point began to appear. And sure he was that +whatever might happen to him in the years to come, no sweetheart or any +other would ever crush out from his affection or from his memory this +sweet cousin of his; for him she would always be the one woman, strange +and mystical and kind; there never would be any touch like the touch of +her hand, so gentle was it as it rested on his hair; and there never +would be anything more wonderful and gracious to look forward to than +the old and familiar sitting in the church pew by Judith's side, with +the breathless fascination of knowing that she was so near, and the +thrill of hearing her join (rather timidly, for she was not proud of her +voice) in the singing of the choir. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +A DISCOVERY. + + +"That be so as I tell ye, zur," said Matthew gardener, as he slowly +sharpened a long knife on the hone that he held in his hand; "it all +cometh of the pampering of queasy stomachs nowadays that cannot hold +honest food. There be no such folk now as there wur in former days, when +men wur hardy, and long-lived, and healthy; and why, zur?--why, but that +they wur content wi' plain dishes of pulse or herbs, and for the most +worshipful no more than a dish of broth and a piece of good wholesome +beef withal. But nowadays, Lord! Lord!--dish after dish, with each his +several sauce; and this from Portugal and that from France, so that +gluttony shall have its swing, and never a penny be kept for the poor. +Nay, I tell ye, zur, rich and poor alike wur stronger and healthier when +there wur no such waste in the land; when a man would wear his frieze +coat and hosen of the color of the sheep that bore them; and have his +shirt of honest hemp or flax, and could sleep well with his head on a +block of wood and a sheep-skin thrown o'er it. But nowadays must he have +his shirt of fine lawn and needle-work; ay, and his soft pillow to lie +on, so that his lily-white body shall come to no scratching; nor will he +drink any longer small drink, no, nor water, but heavy ales and rich +wines; and all goeth to the belly, and naught to his poorer neighbor. +And what cometh of this but tender stomachs, and riot, and waste?--and +lucky if Bocardo be not at the end of it all." + +As it chanced on this fine morning, Judith's father had strolled along +to look at some trained apple-trees at the further end of the garden, +and finding goodman Matthew there, and having a mind for idleness, had +sat down on a bench to hear what news of the condition of the land +Matthew might have to lay before him. + +"Nay, but, good Matthew," said he, "if these luxuries work such +mischief, 'tis the better surely that the poor have none of them. They, +at least, cannot have their stomachs ruined with sauces and condiments." + +"Lord bless ye, zur," said the ancient, with a wise smile, "'tis not in +one way, but in all ways, that the mischief is done; for the poorest, +seeing such waste and gluttony everywhere abroad, have no continence of +their means, but will spend their last penny on any foolishness. Lord! +Lord! they be such poor simple creatures! they that have scarce a rag to +their backs will crowd at the mops and fairs, and spend their money--on +what? Why, you must ha' witnessed it, zur--the poor fools!--emptying +their pouches to see a woman walking on a rope, or a tumbler joining his +hands to his heels, or a hen with two heads. The poor simple +creatures!--and yet I warrant me they be none so poor but that the +rascal doctor can make his money out o' them: 'tis a foine way o' making +a fortune that, going vagrom about the country with his draughts and +pills--not honest medicines that a body might make out o' wholesome +herbs, but nauseous stinking stuff that robs a man of his breath in the +very swallowing of it. And the almanac-makers, too--marry, that, now, is +another thriving trade!--the searching of stars, and the prophesying of +dry or wet weather! Weather? what know they of the weather, the +town-bred rogues, that lie and cheat to get at the poor country folks' +money? God 'a mercy, a whip to their shoulders would teach them more o' +the weather than ever they are like to get out of the stars! And yet the +poor fools o' countrymen--that scarce know a B from a battle-door--will +sit o' nights puzzling their brains o'er the signs o' the heavens; and +no matter what any man with eyes can see for himself--ay, and fifty +times surer, as I take it--they will prophesy you a dry month or a wet +month, because the almanac saith so; and they will swear to you that +Taurus--that is a lion--and the virgin scales have come together, +therefore there must be a blight on the pear-trees! Heard you ever the +like, zur?--that a man in Lunnon, knowing as much about husbandry and +farm-work as a cat knows about quoit-throwing, is to tell me the weather +down here in Warwickshire? God help us, they be poor weak creatures that +think so; I'd liefer look at the cover of a penny ballad, if I wanted to +know when there was to be frost o' nights." + +At this juncture the old man grinned, as if some secret joke were +tickling his fancy. + +"Why, zur," said he, looking up from the hone, "would you believe this, +zur--they be such fools that a rogue will sell them a barren cow for a +milch cow if he but put a strange calf to her. 'Tis done, zur--'tis +done, I assure ye." + +"In truth, a scurvy trick!" Judith's father said. He was idly drawing +figures on the ground with a bit of stick he had got hold of. Perhaps he +was not listening attentively; but at all events he encouraged Matthew +to talk. "But surely with years comes wisdom. The most foolish are not +caught twice with such a trick." + +"What of that, zur?" answered Matthew. "There be plenty of other fools +in the land to make the trade of roguery thrive. 'Tis true that a man +may learn by his own experience; but what if he hath a son that be +growing up a bigger fool than himself? And that's where 'tis nowadays, +zur; there be no waiting and prudence; but every saucy boy must match on +to his maid, and marry her ere they have a roof to put over their heads. +'Tis a fine beginning, surely! No waiting, no prudence--as the rich are +wasteful and careless, so are the poor heedless of the morrow; and the +boy and the wench they must have their cottage at the lane end, run up +of elder poles, and forthwith begin the begetting of beggars to swarm +over the land. A rare beginning! Body o' me, do they think they can live +on nettles and grass, like Nebuchadnezzar?" + +And so the old man continued to rail and grumble and bemoan, sometimes +with a saturnine grin of satisfaction at his own wit coming over his +face; and Judith's father did not seek to controvert; he listened, and +drew figures on the ground, and merely put in a word now and again. It +was a pleasant morning--fresh, and clear, and sunny; and this town of +Stratford was a quiet place at that hour, with the children all at +school. Sometimes Judith's father laughed; but he did not argue; and +goodman Matthew, having it all his own way, was more than ever convinced +not only that he was the one wise man among a generation of fools, but +also that he was the only representative and upholder of the Spartan +virtues that had characterized his forefathers. It is true that on more +than one occasion he had been found somewhat overcome with ale; but +this, when he had recovered from his temporary confusion, he declared +was entirely due to the rascal brewers of those degenerate days--and +especially of Warwickshire--who put all manner of abominations into +their huff-cap, so that an honest Worcestershire stomach might easily be +caught napping, and take no shame. + +And meanwhile what had been happening in another part of the garden? As +it chanced, Judith had been sent by her mother to carry to the +summer-house a cup of wine and some thin cakes; and in doing so she of +course saw that both her father and goodman Matthew were at the further +end of the garden, and apparently settled there for the time being. The +opportunity was too good to be lost. She swiftly went back to the house, +secured the portion of the play that was secreted there, and as quickly +coming out again, exchanged it for an equal number of new sheets. It was +all the work of a couple of minutes; and in another second she was in +her own room, ready to put the precious prize into her little cupboard +of boxes. And yet she could not forbear turning over the sheets, and +examining them curiously, and she was saying to herself: "You cruel +writing, to have such secrets, and refuse to give them up! If it were +pictures, now, I could make out something with a guess; but all these +little marks, so much alike, what can one make of them?--all alike--with +here and there a curling, as if my father had been amusing himself--and +all so plain and even, too, with never a blot: marry, I marvel he should +make the other copy, unless with the intent to alter as he writes. And +those words with the big letters at the beginning--these be the people's +names--Ferdinand, and sweet Miranda, and the Duke, and the ill beast +that would harm them all. Why, in Heaven's mercy, was I so fractious? I +might even now be learning all the story--here by myself--the only one +in the land: I might all by myself know the story that will set the +London folk agog in the coming winter. And what a prize were this, now, +for Master Ben Jonson! Could one but go to him and say, 'Good sir, here +be something better than your masques and mummeries, your Greeks and +clouds and long speeches: put your name to it, good sir--nay, my father +hath abundant store of such matter, and we in Warwickshire are no +niggards--put your name to it, good sir, and you will get the court +ladies to say you have risen a step on the ladder, else have they but a +strange judgment!' What would the goodman do? Beshrew me, Prudence never +told me the name of the play! But let us call it _The Magic Island_. +_The Magic Island, by Master Benjamin Jonson._ What would the wits say?" + +But here she heard some noise on the stairs; so she quickly hid away +the treasure in the little drawer, and locked it up safe there until she +should have the chance of asking Prudence to read it to her. + +That did not happen until nearly nightfall; for Prudence had been away +all day helping to put the house straight of a poor woman that was ill +and in bed. Moreover, she had been sewing a good deal at the children's +clothes and her eyes looked tired--or perhaps it was the wan light that +yet lingered in the sky that gave her that expression, the candles not +yet being lit. Judith regarded her, and took her hand tenderly, and made +her sit down. + +"Sweet mouse," said she, "you are wearing yourself out in the service of +others; and if you take such little heed of yourself, you will yourself +fall ill. And now must I demand of you further labor. Or will it be a +refreshment for you after the fatigues of the day? See, I have brought +them all with me--the sprite Ariel, and the sweet prince, and Miranda; +but in good sooth I will gladly wait for another time if you are +tired----" + +"Nay, not so, Judith," she answered. "There is nothing I could like +better--but for one thing." + +"What, then?" + +"Mean you to show this also to the young gentleman that is at Bidford?" + +"And wherefore not, good Prue? He hath seen so much of the story, 'twere +a pity he should not have the rest. And what a small kindness--the loan +but for an hour or two; and I need not even see him, for I have but to +leave it at my grandmother's cottage. And if you heard what he says of +it--and how grateful he is: marry, it all lies in this, sweet Prue, that +you have not seen him, else would you be willing enough to do him so +small a favor." + +By this time Prudence had lit the candles; and presently they made their +way up-stairs to her own room. + +"And surely," said Judith, as her gentle gossip was arranging the +manuscript, "the story will all end well, and merrily for the sweet +maiden, seeing how powerful her father is? Will he not compel all things +to her happiness--he that can raise storms, and that has messengers to +fly round the world for him?" + +"And yet he spoke but harshly to the young man when last we saw them," +Prudence said. "Why, what's this?" + +She had run her eye down the first page; and now she began reading: + + "'_Enter_ FERDINAND _bearing a log_. + + _Ferdinand._ There be some sports are painful, and their labor + Delight in them sets off. This my mean task + Would be as heavy to me as odious, but + The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead, + And makes my labors pleasures. Oh, she is + Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed; + And he's composed of harshness. I must remove + Some thousands of these logs and pile them up, + Upon a sore injunction. My sweet mistress + Weeps when she sees me work; and says such baseness + Had never like executor.'" + +Judith's face had gradually fallen. + +"Why, 'tis cruel," said she; "and 'tis cruel of my father to put such +pain on the sweet prince, that is so gentle, and so unfortunate withal." + +But Prudence continued the reading: + + "'_Enter_ MIRANDA. + + _Miranda._ Alas, now, pray you, + Work not so hard: I would the lightning had + Burnt up those logs, that you are enjoined to pile! + Pray, set it down and rest you; when this burns, + 'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father + Is hard at study; pray, now, rest yourself; + He's safe for these three hours. + + _Ferdinand._ O most dear mistress, + The sun will set before I shall discharge + What I must strive to do. + + _Miranda._ If you'll sit down, + I'll bear your logs the while: pray give me that-- + I'll carry it to the pile.'" + +At this point Judith's eyes grew proud and grateful (as though Miranda +had done some brave thing), but she did not speak. + + "'_Ferdinand._ No, precious creature: + I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, + Than you should such dishonor undergo, + While I sit lazy by. + + _Miranda._ You look wearily. + + _Ferdinand._ No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me, + When you are by at night. I do beseech you + (Chiefly that I may set it in my prayers), + What is your name? + + _Miranda._ Miranda.--O my father, + I have broke your hest to say so! + + _Ferdinand._ Admired Miranda! + Indeed, the top of admiration; worth + What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady + I have eyed with best regard; and many a time + The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage + Brought my too diligent ear; for several virtues + Have I liked several women; never any + With so full soul but some defect in her + Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed, + And put it to the foil. But you, O you, + So perfect and so peerless, are created + Of every creature's best! + + _Miranda._ I do not know + One of my sex: no woman's face remember, + Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen + More that I may call men than you, good friend, + And my dear father; how features are abroad, + I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty + (The jewel in my dower), I would not wish + Any companion in the world but you; + Nor can imagination form a shape, + Besides yourself, to like of: But I prattle + Something too wildly, and my father's precepts + I therein do forget.'" + +"Nay, is she not fair and modest!" Judith exclaimed--but apart; and, as +the reading proceeded, she began to think of how Master Leofric Hope +would regard this maiden. Would he not judge her to be right gentle, and +timid, and yet womanly withal, and frank in her confiding? And +he--supposing that he were the young prince--what would he think of such +a one? Was it too submissive that she should offer to carry the logs? +Ought she to so openly confess that she would fain have him to be her +companion? And then, as Judith was thus considering, this was what she +heard, in Prudence's gentle voice: + + "'_Miranda._ Do you love me? + + _Ferdinand._ O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, + And crown what I profess with kind event, + If I speak true; if hollowly, invert + What best is boded me, to mischief! I, + Beyond all limit of what else i' the world, + Do love, prize, honor you. + + _Miranda._ I am a fool + To weep at what I am glad of. + + _Ferdinand._ Wherefore weep you? + + _Miranda._ At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer + What I desire to give; and much less take + What I shall die to want: But this is trifling; + And all the more it seeks to hide itself, + The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! + And prompt me, plain and holy innocence! + I am your wife, if you will marry me; + If not, I'll die your maid; to be your fellow + You may deny me; but I'll be your servant, + Whether you will or no. + + _Ferdinand._ My mistress, dearest; + And I thus humble ever. + + _Miranda._ My husband, then? + + _Ferdinand._ Ay, with a heart as willing + As bondage e'er of freedom; here's my hand. + + _Miranda._ And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell, + Till half an hour hence. + + _Ferdinand._ A thousand thousand!'" + +She clapped her hands and laughed, in delight and triumph. + +"Why, sure her father will relent," she cried. + +"But, Judith, Judith, stay," Prudence said, quickly, and with scarce +less gladness. "'Tis so set down; for this is what her father says: + + 'So glad of this as they I cannot be, + Who are surprised withal; but by rejoicing + At nothing can be more.' + +Nay, I take it he will soon explain to us why he was so harsh with the +young prince--perchance to try his constancy?" + +Well, after that the reading went on as far as the sheets that Judith +had brought; but ever her mind was returning to the scene between the +two lovers, and speculating as to how Leofric Hope would look upon it. +She had no resentment against Ben Jonson now; her heart was full of +assurance and triumph, and was therefore generous. Her only vexation was +that the night must intervene before there could be a chance of the +young London gentleman calling at the cottage; and she looked forward to +the possibility of seeing him some time or other with the determination +to be more demure than ever. She would not expect him to praise this +play. Perchance 'twas good enough for simple Warwickshire folk; but the +London wits might consider it of the vulgar kind? And she laughed to +herself at thinking how awkward his protests would be if she ventured to +hint anything in that direction. + +Prudence put the sheets carefully together again. + +"Judith, Judith," she said, with a quiet smile, "you lead me far +astray. I ought to find such things wicked and horrible to the ear; but +perchance 'tis because I know your father, and see him from day to day, +that I find them innocent enough. They seem to rest the mind when one is +sorrowful." + +"Beware of them, good Prue; they are the devil himself come in the guise +of an angel to snatch thee away. Nay, but, sweetheart, why should you be +sorrowful?" + +"There is Martha Hodgson," said she, simply, "and her children, nigh to +starving; and I cannot ask Julius for more----" + +Judith's purse was out in an instant. + +"Why," said she, "my father did not use half of what I gave him for the +knife he bought at Warwick--marry, I guess he paid for it mostly +himself; but what there is here you shall have." + +And she emptied the contents on to the table, and pushed them over to +her friend. + +"You do not grudge it, Judith?" said Prudence. "Nay, I will not ask thee +that. Nor can I refuse it either, for the children are in sore want. But +why should you not give it to them yourself, Judith?" + +"Why?" said Judith, regarding the gentle face with kindly eyes. "Shall I +tell thee why, sweetheart? 'Tis but this: that if I were in need, and +help to be given me, I would value it thrice as much if it came from +your hand. There is a way of doing such things, and you have it; that is +all." + +"I hear Julius is come in," Prudence said, as she took up the two +candles. "Will you go in and speak with him?" + +There was some strange hesitation in her manner, and she did not go to +the door. She glanced at Judith somewhat timidly. Then she set the +candles down again. + +"Judith," said she, "your pity is quick, and you are generous and kind; +I would you could find it in your heart to extend your kindness." + +"How now, good cousin?" Judith said, in amazement. "What's this?" + +Prudence glanced at her again, somewhat uneasily, and obviously in great +embarrassment. + +"You will not take it ill, dear Judith?" + +"By my life, I will not! Not from you, dear heart, whatever it be. But +what is the dreadful secret?" + +"Tom Quiney has spoken to me," she said, diffidently. + +Judith eagerly caught both her hands. + +"And you! What said you? 'Tis all settled, then!" she exclaimed, almost +breathlessly. + +"It is as I imagined, Judith," said Prudence, calmly--and she withdrew +her hands, with a touch of maidenly pride, perhaps, from what she could +not but imagine to be a kind of felicitation. "He hath no fault to find +with the country. If he goes away to those lands beyond seas, 'tis +merely because you will say no word to hold him back." + +"I!" said Judith, impatiently; and then she checked herself. "But you, +sweetheart, what said he to you?" + +Prudence's cheeks flushed red. + +"He would have me intercede for him," she said, timidly. + +"Intercede? with whom?" + +"Why, you know, Judith; with whom but yourself? Nay, but be +patient--have some kindness. The young man opened his heart to me; and I +know he is in trouble. 'Twas last night as we were coming home from the +lecture; and he would have me wait till he left a message at his door, +so that thus we fell behind; and then he told me why it was that +Stratford had grown distasteful to him, and not to be borne, and why he +was going away. How could I help saying that that would grieve +you?--sure I am you cannot but be sorry to think of the young man +banishing himself from his own people. And he said that I was your +nearest friend; and would I speak for him? And I answered that I was all +unused to such matters, but that if any pleading of mine would influence +you I would right gladly do him that service; and so I would, dear +Judith; for how can you bear to think of the youth going away with these +godless men, and perchance never to return to his own land, when a word +from you would restrain him?" + +Judith took both her hands again, and looked with a kindly smile into +the timid, pleading eyes. + +"And 'tis you, sweet mouse, that come to me with such a prayer? Was +there ever so kind a heart? But that is you ever and always--never a +thought for yourself, everything for others. And so he had the cruelty +to ask you--you--to bring this message?" + +"Judith," said the other, with the color coming into her face again, +"you force me to speak against my will. Nay, how can I hide from myself, +dear friend, that you have plans and wishes--perchance suspicions--with +regard to me? And if what I guess be true--if that is your +meaning--indeed 'tis all built on a wrong foundation: believe me, +Judith, it is so. I would have you assured of it, sweetheart. You know +that I like not speaking of such matters; 'tis not seemly and becoming +to a maiden; and fain would I have my mind occupied with far other +things; but, Judith, this time I must speak plain; and I would have you +put away from you all such intentions and surmises--dear heart, you do +me wrong!" + +"In good sooth, am I all mistaken?" Judith said, glancing keenly at her. + +"Do you doubt my word, Judith?" said she. + +"And yet," her friend said, as if to herself, and musingly, "there were +several occasions: there was the fortune-teller at Hampton Lucy that +coupled you, and Quiney seemed right merry withal; and then again, when +he would have us play kiss-in-the-ring on the evening after Mary +Sadler's marriage, and I forbade it chiefly for your sake, sweet mouse, +then methought you seemed none overpleased with my interference----" + +But here she happened to look at Prudence, and she could not fail to see +that the whole subject was infinitely distressing to her. There was a +proud, hurt expression on the gentle face, and a red spot burning in +each cheek. So Judith took hold of her and kissed her. + +"Once and forever, dearest heart," said she, "I banish all such +thoughts. And I will make no more plans for thee, nor suspect thee, but +let thee go in thine own way, in the paths of charity and goodness. But +I mean not to give up thy friendship, sweet Prue; if I cannot walk in +the same path, at least I may stretch a hand over to thee; and if I but +keep so near so true a saint, marry, I shall not go so far wrong." + +She took up one of the candles. + +"Shall we go down and see Julius?" said she. + +"But Tom Quiney, Judith--what shall I say?" Prudence asked, anxiously. + +"Why, say nothing, sweetheart," was the immediate answer. "'Twas a shame +to burden you with such a task. When he chooses he can at any moment +have speech of me, if his worship be not too proud or too suspicious. In +Stratford we can all of us speak the English tongue, I hope." + +"But, Judith," said the other, slowly and wistfully, "twenty years is a +long space for one to be away from his native land." + +"Marry is it, sweet mouse," Judith answered, as she opened the door and +proceeded to go down the narrow wooden steps. "'Tis a long space indeed, +and at the end of it many a thing that seemeth of great import and +consequence now will be no better than an old tale, idle and half +forgotten." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +PORTENTS. + + +It was somewhat hard on little Bess Hall that her aunt Judith was +determined she should grow up as fearless as she herself was, and had, +indeed, charged herself with this branch of her niece's education. The +child, it is true, was not more timid than others of her age, and could +face with fair equanimity beggars, school-boys, cows, geese, and other +dangerous creatures; while as for ghosts, goblins, and similar nocturnal +terrors, Judith had settled all that side of the question by informing +the maids of both families, in the plainest language, that any one of +them found even mentioning such things to this niece of hers would be +instantaneously and without ceremony shot forth from the house. But +beyond and above all this Judith expected too much, and would flout and +scold when Bess Hall declined to perform the impossible, and would +threaten to go away and get a small boy out of the school to become her +playmate in future. At this moment, for example, she was standing at the +foot of the staircase in Dr. Hall's house. She had come round to carry +off her niece for the day, and she had dressed her up like a small +queen, and now she would have her descend the wide and handsome +staircase in noble state and unaided. Bess Hall, who had no ambition to +play the part of a queen, but had, on the other hand, a wholesome and +instinctive fear of breaking her neck, now stood on the landing, +helpless amid all her finery, and looking down at her aunt in a +beseeching sort of way. + +"I shall tumble down, Aunt Judith; I know I shall," said she, and budge +she would not. + +"Tumble down, little stupid! Why, what should make you tumble down? Are +you going forever to be a baby? Any baby can crawl down-stairs by +holding on to the balusters." + +"I know I shall tumble down, Aunt Judith--and then I shall cry." + +But even this threat was of no avail. + +"Come along, little goose; 'tis easy enough when you try it. Do you +think I have dressed you up as a grown woman to see you crawl like a +baby? A fine woman--you! Come along, I say!" + +But this lesson, happily for the half-frightened pupil, was abruptly +brought to an end. Judith was standing with her face to the staircase, +and her back to the central hall and the outer door, so that she could +not see any one entering, and indeed the first intimation she had of the +approach of a stranger was a voice behind her: + +"Be gentle with the child, Judith." + +And then she knew that she was caught. For some little time back she had +very cleverly managed to evade the good parson, or at least to secure +the safety of company when she saw him approach. But this time she was +as helpless as little Bess herself. Dr. Hall was away from home; +Judith's sister was ill of a cold, and in bed; there was no one in the +house, besides the servants, but herself. The only thing she could do +was to go up to the landing, swing her niece on to her shoulder, and say +to Master Walter that they were going round to New Place, for that Susan +was ill in bed, and unable to look after the child. + +"I will walk with you as far," said he, calmly, and, indeed, as if it +were rather an act of condescension on his part. + +She set out with no good-will. She expected that he would argue, and she +had an uncomfortable suspicion that he would get the best of it. And if +she had once or twice rather wildly thought that in order to get rid of +all perplexities, and in order to please all the people around her, she +would in the end allow Master Walter Blaise to win her over into +becoming his wife, still she felt that the time was not yet. She would +have the choosing of it for herself. And why should she be driven into a +corner prematurely? Why be made to confess that her brain could not save +her? She wanted peace. She wanted to play with Bess Hall, or to walk +through the meadows with Willie Hart, teaching him what to think of +England. She did not want to be confronted with clear, cold eyes, and +arguments like steel, and the awful prospect of having to labor in the +vineyard through the long, long, gray, and distant years. She grew to +think it was scarcely fair of her father to hand her over. He at least +might have been on her side. But he seemed as willing as any that she +should go away among the saints, and forsake forever (as it seemed to +her) the beautiful, free and clear-colored life that she had been well +content to live. + +And then, all of a sudden, it flashed upon her mind that she was a +player's daughter, and a kind of flame went to her face. + +"I pray you, good Master Blaise," said she, with a lofty and gracious +courtesy, "bethink you, ere you give us your company through the town." + +"What mean you, Judith?" said he, in some amazement. + +"Do you forget, then, that I am the daughter of a player?--and this his +granddaughter?" said she. + +"In truth, I know not what you mean, Judith," he exclaimed. + +"Why," said she, "may not the good people who are the saints of the +earth wonder to see you consort with such as we?--or, rather, with one +such as I, who am impenitent, and take no shame that my father is a +player--nay, God's my witness, I am wicked enough to be proud of it, and +I care not who knows it, and they that hope to have me change my +thoughts on that matter will have no lack of waiting." + +Well, it was a fair challenge; and he answered it frankly, and with such +a reasonableness and charity of speech that, despite herself, she could +not but admit that she was pleased, and also, perhaps, just a little bit +grateful. He would not set up to be any man's judge, he said; nor was he +a Pharisee; the Master that he served was no respecter of persons--He +had welcomed all when He was upon the earth--and it behooved His +followers to beware of pride and the setting up of distinctions; if +there was any house in the town that earned the respect of all, it was +New Place; he could only speak of her father as he found him, here, in +his own family, among his own friends--and what that was all men knew; +and so forth. He spoke well, and modestly; and Judith was so pleased to +hear what he said of her father that she forgot to ask whether all this +was quite consistent with his usual denunciations of plays and players; +his dire prophecy as to the fate of those who were not of the saints, +and his sharp dividing and shutting off of these. He did not persecute +her at all. There was no argument. What he was mostly anxious about was +that she should not tire herself with carrying Bess Hall on her +shoulder. + +"Nay, good sir," said she, quite pleasantly, "'tis a trick my father +taught me; and the child is but a feather-weight." + +He looked at her--so handsome and buxom, and full of life and courage; +her eyes lustrous, the rose-leaf tint of health in her cheeks; and +always at the corner of her mouth what could only be called a +disposition to smile, as if the world suited her fairly well, and that +she was ready at any moment to laugh her thanks. + +"There be many, Judith," said he, "who might envy you your health and +good spirits." + +"When I lose them, 'twill be time enough to lament them," said she, +complacently. + +"The hour that is passing seems all in all to you; and who can wonder at +it?" he continued. "Pray Heaven your carelessness of the morrow have +reason in it! But all are not so minded. There be strange tidings in the +land." + +"Indeed, sir; and to what end?" said she. + +"I know not whether these rumors have reached your house," he said, "but +never at any time I have read of have men's minds been so +disturbed--with a restlessness and apprehension of something being about +to happen. And what marvel! The strange things that have been seen and +heard of throughout the world of late--meteors, and earthquakes, and +visions of armies fighting in the heavens. Even so was Armageddon to be +foreshadowed. Nay, I will be honest with you, Judith, and say that it is +not clear to my own mind that the great day of the Lord is at hand; but +many think so; and one man's reading of the Book of Revelation is but a +small matter to set against so wide a belief. Heard you not of the +vision that came to the young girl at Chipping Camden last Monday?" + +"Indeed, no, good sir." + +"I marvel that Prudence has not heard of it, for all men are speaking of +it. 'Twas in this way, as I hear. The maiden is one of rare piety and +grace, given to fasting, and nightly vigils, and searching of the heart. +'Twas on the night of Sunday last--or perchance toward Monday +morning--that she was awakened out of her sleep by finding her room full +of light; and looking out of the window she beheld in the darkness a +figure of resplendent radiance--shining like the sun, as she said; only +clear white, and shedding rays around; and the figure approached the +window, and regarded her; and she dropped on her knees in wonder and +fear, and bowed her head and worshipped. And as she did so, she heard a +voice say to her: 'Watch and pray: Behold, I come quickly.' And she +durst not raise her head, as she says, being overcome with fear and joy. +But the light slowly faded from the room; and when at last she rose she +saw something afar off in the sky, that was now grown dark again. And +ever since she has been trembling with the excitement of it, and will +take no food; but from time to time she cries in a loud voice, 'Lord +Jesus, come quickly! Lord Jesus, come quickly!' Many have gone to see +her, as I hear, and from all parts of the country; but she heeds them +not; she is intent with her prayers; and her eyes, the people say, look +as if they had been dazzled with a great light, and are dazed and +strange. Nay, 'tis but one of many things that are murmured abroad at +present; for there have been signs in the heavens seen in sundry places, +and visions, and men's minds grow anxious." + +"And what think you yourself, good sir? You are one that should know." + +"I?" said he. "Nay, I am far too humble a worker to take upon myself the +saying ay or no at such a time; I can but watch and pray and wait. But +is it not strange to think that we here at this moment, walking along +this street in Stratford, might within some measurable space--say, a +year, or half a dozen years or so--that we might be walking by the pure +river of water that John saw flowing from the throne of God and of the +Lamb? Do you not remember how the early Christians, with such a +possibility before their eyes, drew nearer to each other, as it were, +and rejoiced together, parting with all their possessions, and living in +common, so that the poorest were even as the rich? 'Twas no terror that +overtook them, but a happiness; and they drew themselves apart from the +world, and lived in their own community, praying with each other, and +aiding each other. 'All that believed,' the Bible tells us, 'were in one +place, and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and +goods, and parted them to all men, as every one had need. And they +continued daily in the Temple, and, breaking bread at home, did eat +their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, +and had favor with all the people; and the Lord added to the Church from +day to day such as should be saved.' Such a state of spiritual +brotherhood and exaltation may come among us once more; methinks I see +the symptoms of its approach even now. Blessed are they who will be in +that communion with a pure soul and a humble mind, for the Lord will be +with them as their guide, though the waters should arise and overflow, +or fire consume the earth." + +"Yes, but, good sir," said she, "when the early Christians you speak of +thought the world was near to an end they were mistaken. And these, now, +of our day----" + +"Whatever is prophesied must come to pass," said he, "or soon or late, +though it is possible for our poor human judgment to err as to the time. +But surely we ought to be prepared; and what preparation, think you, is +sufficient for so great and awful a change? Joy there may be in the +trivial things of this world--in the vanities of the hour, that pass +away and are forgotten; but what are these things to those whose heart +is set on the New Jerusalem--the shining city? The voice that John heard +proclaimed no lie: 'twas the voice of the Lord of heaven and earth--a +promise to them that wait and watch for his coming. 'And God shall wipe +away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, +neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be any more pain, +for the first things are passed.... And there shall be no more curse, +but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants +shall serve him. And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in +their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no +candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light, +and they shall reign for evermore.'" + +She sighed. + +"'Tis too wonderful a thing for poor sinful creatures to expect," she +said. + +But by this time they were at the house, and he could not say anything +further to her; indeed, when he proposed that she should come into the +sitting-room, and that he would read to her a description of the glories +of the New Jerusalem, out of the Book of Revelation, she excused herself +by saying that she must carry Bess Hall to see her father. So he went in +and sat down, waiting for Judith's mother to be sent for; while aunt and +niece went out and through the back yard to the garden. + +"Bess," said Judith, on the way, "heardst thou aught of a white figure?" + +"No, Judith," said the child, who had been engaged all the way in +examining the prettinesses of her aunt's velvet cap, and ruff, and what +not. + +"That is well," said she. + +When she got into the garden, she could see that good man Matthew eyed +their approach with little favor--for Bess Hall, when her grandfather +had charge of her, was allowed to tear flowers, and walk over beds, or +do anything she chose; but Judith did not mind that much. On the other +hand, she would not go deliberately and disturb her father. She would +give him his choice--to come forth or not as he pleased. And so, quite +noiselessly, and at a little distance off, she passed the summer-house. +There was no sign. Accordingly, she went on idly to the further end of +the garden, and would doubtless have remained there (rather than return +within-doors) amusing the child somehow, but that the next minute her +father appeared. + +"Come hither, Bess! Come hither, wench!" he called. + +Nay, he came to meet them; and as he lifted the child down from Judith's +shoulder, something--perhaps it was the touch of the sunlight on the +soft brown of her short curls--seemed to attract his notice. + +"Why, wench," said he to Judith, "methinks your hair grows prettier +every day. And yet you keep it overshort--yes, 'tis overshort--would you +have them think you a boy?" + +"I would I were a man," said she, glancing at him rather timidly. + +"How, then? What, now?" + +"For then," said she, "might I help you in your work, so please you, +sir." + +He laughed, and said: + +"My work? What know you of that, wench?" + +The blood rushed to her face. + +"Nay, sir, I but meant the work of the fields--in going about with the +bailiff and the like. The maids say you were abroad at five this +morning." + +"Well, is't not the pleasantest time of the day in this hot weather?" he +said--and he seemed amused by her interference. + +"But why should you give yourself so many cares, good father?" she made +bold to say (for she had been meditating the saying of it for many a day +back). "You that have great fame, and land, and wealth. We would fain +see you rest a little more, father; and 'tis all the harder to us that +we can give you no help, being but women-folk." + +There was something in the tone of her voice--or perhaps in her +eyes--that conveyed more than her words. He put his hand on her head. + +"You are a good lass," said he. "And listen. You can do something for me +that is of far more value to me than any help in any kind of work: nay, +I tell thee 'tis of greater value to me than all of my work; and 'tis +this: keep you a merry heart, wench--let me see your face right merry +and cheerful as you go about--that is what you can do for me; I would +have you ever as you are now, as bright and glad as a summer day." + +"'Tis an easy task, sir, so long as you are content to be pleased with +me," she managed to answer; and then little Bess Hall--who could not +understand why she should have been so long left unnoticed--began to +scramble up his knees, and was at last transferred to his arms. + +Judith's heart was beating somewhat quickly--with a kind of pride and +gladness that was very near bringing tears to her eyes; but, of course, +that was out of the question, seeing that he had enjoined her to be +cheerful. And so she forced herself to say, with an odd kind of smile, + +"I pray you, sir, may I remain with you for a space--if Bess and I +trouble you not?" + +"Surely," said he, regarding her; "but what is it, then?" + +"Why," said she, pulling herself together, "good Master Blaise is +within-doors, and his last belief is enough to frighten a poor +maiden--let alone this small child. He says the world is nigh unto its +end." + +"Nay, I have heard of some such talk being abroad," said he, "among the +country folk. But why should that frighten thee? Even were it true, we +can make it nor better nor worse." + +"Only this, father," said she, and she looked at him with the large, +clear-shining gray eyes no longer near to tears, but rather suggesting +some dark mystery of humor, "that if the end of the world be so nigh at +hand, 'twould be an idle thing for the good parson to think of taking +him a wife." + +"I ask for no secrets, wench," her father said, as he sat little Bess +Hall on the branch of an apple-tree. + +"Nay, sir, he but said that as many were of opinion that something +dreadful was about to happen, we should all of us draw nearer together. +That is well, and to be understanded; but if the world be about to end +for all of us surely 'twere a strange thing that any of us should think +of taking husband or wife." + +"I'll meddle not," her father said. "Go thine own ways. I have heard +thou hast led more than one honest lad in Stratford a madcap dance. Take +heed; take heed--as thy grandmother saith--lest thou outwear their +patience." + +And then something--she could scarce tell what--came into her head: some +wild wish that he would remain always there at Stratford: would she not +right willingly discard all further thoughts of lovers or sweethearts if +only he would speak to her sometimes as he had just been speaking; and +approve of her hair; and perchance let her become somewhat more of a +companion to him? But she durst not venture to say so much. She only +said, very modestly and timidly, + +"I am content to be as I am, sir, if you are content that I should bide +with you." + +"Content?" said he, with a laugh that had no unkindness in it. "Content +that thou shouldst bide with us? Keep that pretty face of thine merry +and glad, good lass--and have no fear." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A LETTER. + + +When she should get back from Master Leofric Hope the last portion of +the yet unnamed play, there remained (as she considered) but one thing +more--to show him the letter written by the King to her father, so that +when the skies should clear over the young gentleman's head, and he be +permitted to return among his friends and acquaintances, he might have +something else occasionally to talk of than Ben Jonson and his masques +and his favor at court. Nor had she any difficulty in procuring the +letter; for Prudence was distinctly of opinion that by right it belonged +to Judith, who had coveted it from the beginning. However, Judith only +now wanted the loan of it for a day or two, until, in her wanderings, +she might encounter Master Hope. + +That opportunity soon arrived; for whether it was that the young +gentleman kept a sharp lookout for her, or whether she was able to make +a shrewd guess as to his probable whereabouts at certain hours of the +day, she had scarcely ever failed to meet him when she went over to +Shottery for the successive instalments of the play that he had left for +her there. On this occasion she had found the last of these awaiting her +at the cottage; and when she had put it into her velvet satchel, and +bade good-by to her grandmother, she set out for home with a pretty +clear foreknowledge that sooner or later the young gentleman would +appear. Was it not his duty?--to say what he thought of all this romance +that he had been allowed to see; and to thank her; and say farewell? For +she had a vague impression that she had done as much as could reasonably +be expected of her in the way of cheering the solitude of one in +misfortune: and she had gathered, moreover, that he was likely soon to +leave the neighborhood. But she would not have him go without seeing the +King's letter. + +Well, when he stepped forth from behind some trees, she was not +surprised; and even the Don had grown accustomed to these sudden +appearances. + +"Give ye good-day, sweet lady," said he. + +"And to you, sir," she said. "I thank you for your care in leaving me +these pages; I would not have had any harm come to them, even though my +father will in time throw them away." + +"And my thanks to you, sweet Mistress Judith," said he--"how can I +express them?"--and therewith he entered upon such a eulogy of the story +he had just been reading as she was not likely to hear from any +Stratford-born acquaintance. Indeed, he spoke well, and with obvious +sincerity; and although she had intended to receive these praises with +indifference (as though the play were but a trifle that her father had +thrown off easily amid the pressure of other labors), she did not quite +succeed. There was a kind of triumph in her eyes; her face was glad and +proud; when he quoted a bit of one of Ariel's songs, she laughed +lightly. + +"He is a clever musician, that merry imp, is he not?" said she. + +"I would I had such a magic-working spirit to serve me," said he, +looking at her. "One could shape one's own course then. 'Under the +blossom that hangs on the bough,' would be my motto; there would be no +going back to London or any other town. And what think you: might he +not find out for me some sweet Miranda?--not that I am worthy of such a +prize, or could do aught to deserve her, except in my duty and humble +service to her. The Miranda, I think, could be found," he said, glancing +timidly at her; "nay, I swear I know myself where to find just such a +beautiful and gentle maiden; but where is the Ariel that would charm her +heart and incline her to pity and kindness?" + +"Here, sir," said she, quickly, "is the letter I said I would bring you, +that the King wrote to my father." + +He did not look at the blue velvet satchel; he looked at her--perhaps to +see whether he had gone too far. But she did not show any signs of +confusion or resentment; at all events she pretended not to be +conscious; and, for one thing, her eyes were lowered, for the satchel +seemed for a second or so difficult to open. Then she brought forth the +letter. + +"Perchance you can tell me the English of it, good sir?" said she. "'Tis +some time since Master Blaise read it for us, and I would hear it +again." + +"Nay, I fear my Latin will scarce go so far," said he--"'tis but little +practice in it I have had since my school-days; but I will try to make +out the sense of it." + +She carefully opened the large folded sheet of paper, and handed it to +him. This was what he found before him: + + "JACOBUS D. G. Rex Anglorum et Scotorum poetae nostro fideli et bene + dilecto GULIELMO SHAKESPEARE, S. P. D. + + "Cum nuper apud Londinium commorati comoediam tuam nobis inductam + spectassemus, de manu viri probi Eugenii Collins fabulae libro + accepto, operam dedimus ut eam diligenter perlegeremus. + Subtilissima illa quidem, multisque ingenii luminibus et artis, + multis etiam animi oblectamentis, excogitata, nimis tamen + accommodata ad cacchinationem movendam vulgi imperiti, politioris + humanitatis expertis. Quod vero ad opera tua futura attinet, + amicissime te admonemus ut multa commentatione et meditatione + exemplaria verses antistitum illorum artis comoedicae, Menandri + scilicet Atheniensis et Plauti et Terentii Romani, qui minus vulgi + plausum captabant quam vitiis tanquam flagellis castigandis + studebant. Qui optimi erant arte et summa honestate et utilitate, + qualem te etiam esse volumus; virtutum artium et exercitationum + doctores, atque illustrium illorum a Deo ad populum regendum + praepositorum adminicula. Quibus fac ne te minorem praestes; neque + tibi nec familiaribus tuis unquam deerimus quin, quum fiat occasio, + munere regali fungamur. Te interea Deus opt. max. feliciter + sospitet. + + "Datum ex regia nostra apud Greenwich X. Kal. Jun." + +He began his translation easily: + + "'To our trusty and well-beloved poet, William Shakespeare: Health + and greeting.'" But then he began to stammer. "'When formerly--when + recently--tarrying in London--thy comedy--thy comedy'--nay, fair + Mistress Judith, I beseech your pardon; I am grown more rusty than + I thought, and would not destroy your patience. Perchance, now, you + would extend your favor once more, and let me have the letter home + with me, so that I might spell it out in school-boy fashion?" + +She hesitated; but only for a second. + +"Nay, good sir, I dare not. These sheets of the play were thrown aside, +and so far of little account; but this--if aught were to come amiss to +this letter, how should I regard myself? If my father value it but +slightly, there be others who think more of it; and--and they have +intrusted it to me; I would not have it go out of my own keeping, so +please you, and pardon me." + +It was clear that she did not like to refuse this favor to so courteous +and grateful a young gentleman. However, her face instantly brightened. + +"But I am in no hurry, good sir," said she. "Why should you not sit you +on the stile there, and take time to master the letter, while I gather +some wild flowers for my father? In truth, I am in no hurry; and I would +fain have you know what the King wrote." + +"I would I were a school-boy again for five minutes," said he, with a +laugh; but he went obediently to the stile, and sat down, and proceeded +to pore over the contents of the letter. + +And then she wandered off by herself (so as to leave him quite +undisturbed), and began to gather here and there a wild rose from the +hedge, or a piece of meadow-sweet from the bank beneath, or a bit of +yarrow from among the grass. It was a still, clear, quiet day, with some +rainy clouds in the sky; and beyond these, near to the horizon, broad +silver shafts of sunlight striking down on the woods and the distant +hills. It looked as if a kind of mid-day sleep had fallen over the +earth; there was scarce a sound; the birds were silent; and there was +not even enough wind to make a stirring through the wide fields of wheat +or in the elms. The nosegay grew apace, though she went about her work +idly--kneeling here and stretching a hand there; and always she kept +away from him, and would not even look in his direction; for she was +determined that he should have ample leisure to make out the sense of +the letter, of which she had but a vague recollection, only that she +knew it was complimentary. + +Even when he rose and came toward her she pretended not to notice. She +would show him she was in no hurry. She was plucking the heads of red +clover, and sucking them to get at the honey; or she was adding a +buttercup or two to her nosegay; or she was carelessly humming to +herself: + + "O stay and hear; your true love's coming, + That can sing both high and low." + +"Well, now, Mistress Judith," said he, with an air of apology, "methinks +I have got at the meaning of it, however imperfectly; and your father +might well be proud of such a commendation from so high a source--the +King, as every one knows, being a learned man, and skilled in the arts. +And I have not heard that he has written to any other of the poets of +our day----" + +"No, sir?" said she, quickly. "Not to Master Jonson?" + +"Not that I am aware of, sweet lady," said he, "though he hath sometimes +messages to send, as you may suppose, by one coming from the court. And +I marvel not that your father should put store by this letter that +speaks well of his work----" + +"Your pardon, good sir, but 'tis not so," said Judith, calmly. +"Doubtless if the King commend my father's writing, that showeth that +his Majesty is skilled and learned, as you say; and my father was no +doubt pleased enough--as who would not be?--by such a mark of honor; but +as for setting great value on it, I assure you he did not; nay, he gave +it to Julius Shawe. And will you read it, good sir?--I remember me there +was something in it about the ancients." + +"'Tis but a rough guess that I can make," said he, regarding the paper. +"But it seems that the King had received at the hands of one Eugene +Collins the book of a comedy of your father's that had been presented +before his Majesty when he was recently in London. And very diligently, +he says, he has read through the same; and finds it right subtly +conceived, with many beauties and delights, and such ornaments as are to +be approved by an ingenious mind. It is true his Majesty hints that +there may be parts of the play more calculated than might be to move the +laughter of the vulgar; but you would not have a critic have nothing but +praise?--and the King's praise is high indeed. And then he goes on to +say that as regards your father's future work, he would in the most +friendly manner admonish him to study the great masters of the comic +art; that is, Menander the Athenian, and the Romans Plautus and +Terentius, who--who--what says the King?--less studied to capture the +applause of the vulgar than to lash the vices of the day as with whips. +And these he highly commends as being of great service to the state; and +would have your father be the like: teachers of virtue, and also props +and aids to those whom God hath placed to rule over the people. He would +have your father be among these public benefactors; and then he adds +that, when occasion serves, he will not fail to extend his royal favor +to your father and his associates; and so commends him to the protection +of God. Nay, 'tis a right friendly letter; there is none in the land +that would not be proud of it; 'tis not every day nor with every one +that King James would take such trouble and play the part of tutor." + +He handed her the letter, and she proceeded to fold it up carefully +again and put it in her satchel. She said nothing, but she hoped that +these phrases of commendation would remain fixed in his mind when that +he was returned to London. + +And then there was a moment of embarrassment--or at least of constraint. +He had never been so near the town with her before (for his praise of +her father's comedy, as they walked together, had taken some time), and +there before them were the orchards and mud walls, and, further off, the +spire of the church among the trees. She did not like to bid him go, and +he seemed loath to say farewell, he probably having some dim notion +that, now he had seen the end of the play and also this letter, there +might be some difficulty in finding an excuse for another meeting. + +"When do you return to London?" said she, for the sake of saying +something. "Or may you return? I hope, good sir, your prospects are +showing brighter; it must be hard for one of your years to pass the time +in idleness." + +"The time that I have spent in these parts," said he, "has been far more +pleasant and joyful to me than I could have imagined--you may easily +guess why, dear Mistress Judith. And now, when there is some prospect of +my being able to go, I like it not; so many sweet hours have been passed +here, the very fields and meadows around have acquired a charm----" + +"Nay, but, good sir," said she, a little breathlessly, "at your time of +life you would not waste the days in idleness." + +"In truth it has been a gracious idleness!" he exclaimed. + +"At your time of life," she repeated, quickly, "why, to be shut up in a +farm----" + +"The Prince Ferdinand," said he, "though I would not compare myself with +him, found the time pass pleasantly and sweetly enough, as I reckon, +though he was shut up in a cave. But then there was the fair Miranda to +be his companion. There is no Ariel to work such a charm for me, else do +you think I could ever bring myself to leave so enchanting a +neighborhood?" + +"Good sir," said she (in some anxiety to get away), "I may not ask the +reason of your being in hiding, though I wish you well, and would fain +hear there was no further occasion for it. And I trust there may be none +when next you come to Warwickshire, and that those of our household who +have a better right to speak for it than I, will have the chance of +entertaining you. And now I would bid you farewell." + +"No, dear Judith!" he exclaimed, with a kind of entreaty in his voice. +"Not altogether? Why, look at the day!--would you have me say farewell +to you on such a day of gloom and cloud? Surely you will let me take +away a brighter picture of you, and Warwickshire, and our brief meetings +in these quiet spots--if go I must. In truth I know not what may happen +to me; I would speak plainer; but I am no free agent; I can but beg of +you to judge me charitably, if ever you hear aught of me----" + +And here he stopped abruptly and paused, considering, and obviously +irresolute and perplexed. + +"Why," said he at length, and almost to himself--"why should I go away +at all? I will carry logs--if needs be--or anything. Why should I go?" + +She knew instantly what he meant; and knew, also, that it was high time +for her to escape from so perilous a situation. + +"I pray you pardon me, good sir; but I must go. Come, Don." + +"But one more meeting, sweet Mistress Judith," he pleaded, "on a fairer +day than this--you will grant as much?" + +"I may not promise," said she; "but indeed I leave with you my good +wishes; and so, farewell!" + +"God shield you, dearest lady," said he, bowing low; "you leave with me +also a memory of your kindness that will remain in my heart." + +Well, there was no doubt that she felt very much relieved when she had +left him and was nearing the town; and yet she had a kind of pity for +him too, as she thought of his going away by himself to that lonely +farm: one so gentle, and so grateful for company, being shut up there on +this gloomy day. Whereas she was going back to a cheerful house; +Prudence was coming round to spend the afternoon with them, and help to +mark the new napery; and then in the evening the whole of them, her +father included, were going to sup at Dr. Hall's, who had purchased a +dishful of ancient coins in one of his peregrinations, and would have +them come and examine them. Perhaps, after all, that reference to +Miranda was not meant to apply to her. It was but natural he should +speak of Miranda, having just finished the play. And carrying logs: he +could not mean carrying logs for her father; that would be a foolish +jest. No, no; he would remain at the farm and spend the time as best he +could; and then, when this cloud blew over, he would return to London, +and carry with him (as she hoped) some discreet rumor of the new work of +her father's that he had praised so highly, and perchance some mention +of the compliments paid by the King; and if, in course of time, the +young gentleman should make his way back to Stratford again, and come to +see them at New Place, and if his pleasant manner and courtesy proved to +be quite irresistible, so that she had to allow the wizard's prophecy to +come true in spite of herself, why, then, it was the hand of fate, and +none of her doing, and she would have to accept her destiny with as good +a grace as might be. + +As she was going into the town she met Tom Quincy. He was on the other +side of the roadway, and after one swift glance at her, he lowered his +eyes, and would have passed on without speaking. And then it suddenly +occurred to her that she would put her pride in her pocket. She knew +quite well that her maidenly dignity had been wounded by his suspicions, +and that she ought to let him go his own way if he chose. But, on the +other hand (and this she did not know), there was in her nature an odd +element of what might be called boyish generosity--of frankness and +common-sense and good comradeship. And these two had been very stanch +comrades in former days, each being in a curious manner the protector of +the other; for while she many a time came to his aid--being a trifle +older than he, and always ready with her quick feminine wit and +ingenuity when they were both of them likely to get into trouble--he, on +his side, was her shield and bold champion by reason of his superior +stature and his strength, and his terrible courage in face of bulls or +barking dogs and the like. For the moment she only thought of him as her +old companion; and she was a good-natured kind of creature, and frank +and boyish in her ways, and so she stepped across the road, though there +was some mud about. + +"Why can't we be friends?" said she. + +"You have enough of other friends," said he. + +It was a rebuff; but still--she would keep down her girlish pride. + +"I hope you are not going away from the country?" said she. + +He did not meet her look; his eyes were fixed on the ground. + +"What is there to keep me in it?" was his answer. + +"Why, what is there to keep any of us in it?" she said. "Heaven's mercy, +if we were all to run away when we found something or another not quite +to our liking, what a fine thing that would be! Nay, I hope there is no +truth in it," she continued, looking at him, and not without some +memories of their escapades together when they were boy and girl. +"'Twould grieve many--indeed it would. I pray you think better of it. If +for no other, for my sake; we used to be better friends." + +There were two figures now approaching. + +"Oh, here come Widow Clemms and her daughter," she said; "a rare couple. +'Twill be meat and drink to them to carry back a story. No matter. Now, +fare you well; but pray think better of it; there be many that would +grieve if you went away." + +He stole a look at her as she passed on: perhaps there was a trifle more +than usual of color in her radiant and sunny face, because of the +approach of the two women. It was a lingering kind of look that he sent +after her; and then he, too, turned and went on his way--cursing the +parson. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A VISITOR. + + +Master Leofric Hope, on leaving Judith, returned to the farm, but not to +the solitude that had awakened her commiseration. When he entered his +room, which was at the back of the house, and facing the southern +horizon (that alone showed some streaks of sunlight on this gloomy day), +he found a stranger there--and a stranger who had evidently some notion +of making himself comfortable, for he had opened the window, and was now +sitting on the sill, and had just begun to smoke his pipe. His hat, his +sword, and sword-belt he had flung on the table. + +For a second the proper owner of the apartment knew not who this new +tenant might be--he being dark against the light; but the next second he +had recognized him, and that with no good grace. + +"What the devil brings you here?" said he, sulkily. + +"A hearty welcome, truly!" the other said, with much complacency. "After +all my vexation in finding thee out! A goodly welcome for an old friend! +But no matter, Jack--come, hast naught to offer one to drink? I have +ridden from Banbury this morning; and the plague take me if I had not +enough trouble ere I found the hare in her form. But 'tis snug--'tis +snug. The place likes me; though I thought by now you might have +company, and entered with care. Come, man, be more friendly! Will you +not ask me to sit? Must I call the landlady--or the farmer's +wife--myself, and beg for a cup of something on so hot a day? Where be +your manners, Gentleman Jack?" + +"What the devil brings you into Warwickshire?" the other repeated, as he +threw his hat on the table, and dropped into a chair, and stretched out +his legs, without a further look at his companion. + +"Nay, 'tis what the devil keeps thee here--that is the graver +question--though I know the answer right well. Come, Jack, be +reasonable! 'Tis for thy good I have sought thee out. What, man, would +you ruin us both?--for I tell thee, the end is pressing and near." + +Seeing that his unwilling host would not even turn his eyes toward him, +he got down from the window-sill, and came along to the table, and took +a chair. He was a short, stout young man, of puffy face and red hair, +good-natured in look, but with a curious glaze in his light blue-gray +eyes that told of the tavern and himself being pretty close companions. +His dress had some show of ornament about it, though it was rather +travel-stained and shabby; he wore jewelled rings in his ears; and the +handkerchief which he somewhat ostentatiously displayed, if the linen +might have been whiter, was elaborately embroidered with thread of +Coventry blue. For the rest, he spoke pleasantly and good-humoredly, and +was obviously determined not to take offence at his anything but hearty +reception. + +"Hoy-day," said he, with a laugh, "what a bother I had with the good +dame here, that would scarce let me come in! For how knew I what name +you might be dancing your latest galliard in?--not plain Jack Orridge, +I'll be bound!--what is't, your worship?--or your lordship, +perchance?--nay, but a lord would look best in the eyes of a daughter of +Will Shakespeare, that loveth to have trumpets and drums going, and +dukes and princes stalking across his boards. But 'fore Heaven, now, +Jack," said he, interrupting himself, and sending an appealing look +round the room, "have you naught to drink in the house? Came you ever to +my lodging and found such scurvy entertainment?" + +The reluctant host left the apartment for a second or two, and presently +returned, followed by the farmer's wife, who placed on the table a jug +of small beer, and some bread and cheese. The bread and cheese did not +find much favor with the new-comer, but he drank a large horn of the +beer, and took to his pipe again. + +"Come, Jack, be friendly," said he; "'tis for thine own good I have +sought thee out." + +"I would you would mind your own business," the other said, with a +sullen frown remaining on his face. + +"Mine and yours are one, as I take it, good coz," his companion said, +coolly; and then he added in a more friendly way: "Come, come, man, you +know we must sink or swim together. And sinking it will be, if you give +not up this madcap chase. Nay, you carry the jest too far, _mon ami_. +'Twas a right merry tale at the beginning--the sham wizard, and your +coquetting with Will Shakespeare's daughter to while away the time; +'twas a prank would make them roar at the Cranes in the Vintry; and +right well done, I doubt not--for, in truth, if you were not such a +gallant gentleman, you might win to a place in the theatres as well as +any of them; but to come back here again--to hide yourself away +again--and when I tell you they will no longer forbear, but will clap +thee into jail if they have not their uttermost penny--why, 'tis pure +moonshine madness to risk so much for a jest!" + +"I tell thee 'tis no jest at all!" the other said, angrily. "In Heaven's +name, what brought you here?" + +"Am I to have no care of myself, then, that am your surety, and have +their threats from hour to hour?" + +He laughed in a stupid kind of way, and filled out some more beer and +drank it off thirstily. + +"We had a merry night, last night, at Banbury," said he. "I must pluck a +hair of the same wolf to-day. And what say you? No jest? Nay, you look +sour enough to be virtuous, by my life, or to get into a pulpit and +preach a sermon against fayles and tick-tack, as wiles of the devil. No +jest? Have you been overthrown at last--by a country wench? Must you +take to the plough, and grow turnips? Why, I should as soon expect to +see Gentleman Jack consort with the Finsbury archers, or go a-ducking to +Islington ponds! Our Gentleman Jack a farmer! The price of wheat, +goodman Dickon?--how fatten your pigs?--will the fine weather last, +think you? Have done with this foolery, man! If all comes to the worst, +'twere better we should take to the road, you and I, and snip a purse +when chance might serve." + +"You?" said his companion, with only half-concealed contempt. "The first +click of a pistol would find you behind a hedge." + +"Why, old lad," said the other (who did not seem to have heard that +remark, during his pouring out of another hornful of beer), "I know you +better than you know yourself. This time, you say, 'tis serious--ay, but +how many times before hast thou said the same? And ever the wench is the +fairest of her kind, and a queen? For how long?--a fortnight!--perchance +three weeks. Oh, the wonder of her! And 'tis all a love-worship; and +the praising of her hands and ankles; and Tom Morley's ditty about a +lover and his lass, + + 'That through the green corn fields did pass + In the pretty spring-time, + Ring-a-ding-ding!' + +Ay, for a fortnight; and then Gentleman Jack discovers that some wench +of the Bankside hath brighter eyes and freer favors than the country +beauty, and you hear no more of him until he has ne'er a penny left, and +comes begging his friends to be surety for him, or to write to his +grandam at Oxford, saying how virtuous a youth he is, and in how sad a +plight. Good Lord, that were an end!--should you have to go back to the +old dame at last, and become tapster--no more acting of your lordship +and worship--what ho, there! thou lazy knave, a flask of Rhenish, and +put speed into thy rascal heels!" + +The cloud on his companion's face had been darkening. + +"Peace, drunken fool!" he muttered--but between his teeth, for he did +not seem to wish to anger this stranger. + +"Come, come, man," the other said, jovially, "unwitch thee! unwitch +thee! Fetch back thy senses. What?--wouldst thou become a jest and +byword for every tavern table between the Temple and the Tower? Nay, I +cannot believe it of thee, Jack. Serious? Ay, as you have been twenty +times before. Lord, what a foot and ankle!--and she the queen o' the +world--the rose and crown and queen o' the world--and the sighing o' +moonlight nights-- + + 'Mignonne, tant je vous aime, + Mais vous ne m'aimez pas'-- + +and we are all to be virtuous and live cleanly for the rest of our +lives; but the next time you see Gentleman Jack, lo, you, now!--'tis at +the Bear-house; his pockets lined with angels wrung from old Ely of +Queenhithe; and as for his company--Lord! Lord! And as it hath been +before, so 'twill be again, as said Solomon the wise man; only that this +time--mark you now, Jack--this time it were well if you came to your +senses at once; for I tell thee that Ely and the rest of them have lost +all patience, and they know this much of thy Stratford doings, that if +they cannot exactly name thy whereabout, they can come within a +stone's-cast of thee. And if I come to warn thee--as is the office of a +true friend and an old companion--why shouldst thou sit there with a +sulky face, man? Did I ever treat thee so in Fetter Lane?" + +While he had been talking, a savory odor had begun to steal into the +apartment, and presently the farmer's wife appeared, and proceeded to +spread the cloth for dinner. Her lodger had given no orders; but she had +taken his return as sufficient signal, and naturally she assumed that +his friend would dine with him. Accordingly, in due course, there was +placed on the board a smoking dish of cow-heel and bacon, with abundance +of ale and other garnishings; and as this fare seemed more tempting to +the new-comer than the bread and cheese, he needed no pressing to draw +his chair to the table. It was not a sumptuous feast; but it had a +beneficial effect on both of them--sobering the one, and rendering the +other somewhat more placable. Master Leofric Hope--as he had styled +himself--was still in a measure taciturn; but his guest--whose name, it +appeared, was Francis Lloyd--had ceased his uncomfortable banter; and +indeed all his talk now was of the charms and wealth of a certain widow +who lived in a house near to Gray's Inn, on the road to Hampstead. He +had been asked to dine with the widow; and he gave a magniloquent +description of the state she kept--of her serving-men, and her +furniture, and her plate, and the manner in which she entertained her +friends. + +"And why was I," said he--"why was poor Frank Lloyd--that could scarce +get the wherewithal to pay for a rose for his ear--why was he picked out +for so great a favor? Why, but that he was known to be a friend of +handsome Jack Orridge. 'Where be your friend Master Orridge, now?' she +says, for she hath sometimes a country trick in her speech, hath the +good lady. 'Business, madam--affairs of great import,' I say to her, +'keep him still in the country.' Would I tell her the wolves were +waiting to rend you should you be heard of anywhere within London city? +'Handsome Jack, they call him, is't not so?' says she. Would I tell her +thou wert called 'Gentleman Jack?' as if thou hadst but slim right to +the title. Then says she to one of the servants, 'Fill the gentleman's +cup.' Lord, Jack, what a sherris that was!--'twas meat and drink; a +thing to put marrow in your bones--cool and clear it was, and rich +withal--cool on the tongue and warm in the stomach. 'Fore Heaven, Jack, +if thou hast not ever a cup of that wine ready for me when I visit thee, +I will say thou hast no more gratitude than a toad. And then says she +to all the company (raising her glass the while), 'Absent friends;' but +she nods and smiles to me, as one would say: 'We know whom we mean; we +know.' Lord, that sherris, Jack! I have the taste of it in my mouth now; +I dream o' nights there is a jug of it by me." + +"Dreaming or waking, there is little else in thy head," said the other; +"nor in thy stomach, either." + +"Is it a bargain, Jack?" he said, looking up from his plate and +regarding his companion with a fixed look. + +"A bargain?" + +"I tell thee 'tis the only thing will save us now." This Frank Lloyd +said with more seriousness than he had hitherto shown. "Heavens, man, +you must cease this idling; I tell thee they are not in the frame for +further delay. 'Tis the Widow Becket or the King's highway, one or +t'other, if you would remain a free man; and as for the highway, why, +'tis an uncertain trade, and I know that Gentleman Jack is no lover of +broken heads. What else would you? Live on in a hole like this? Nay, but +they would not suffer you. I tell you they are ready to hunt you out at +this present moment. Go beyond seas? Ay, and forsake the merry nights at +the Cranes and the Silver Hind? When thy old grandam is driven out of +all patience, and will not even forth with a couple of shillings to buy +you wine and radish for your breakfast, 'tis a bad case. Wouldst go down +to Oxford and become tapster?--Gentleman Jack, that all of them think +hath fine fat acres in the west country, and a line of ancestors +reaching back to Noah the sailor or Adam gardener. Come, man, unwitch +thee! Collect thy senses. If this sorry jest of thine be growing +serious--and I confess I had some thought of it, when you would draw on +Harry Condell for the mere naming of the wench's name--then, o' Heaven's +name, come away and get thee out of such foolery! I tell thee thou art +getting near an end, o' one way or another; and wouldst thou have me +broken too, that have ever helped thee, and shared my last penny with +thee?" + +"Broken?" said his friend, with a laugh. "If there be any in the country +more broken than you and I are at this moment, Frank, I wish them luck +of their fortunes. But still there is somewhat for you. You have not +pawned those jewels in your ears yet. And your horse--you rode hither, +said you not?--well, I trust it is a goodly beast, for it may have to +save thee from starvation ere long." + +"Nay, ask me not how I came by the creature," said he, "but 'tis not +mine, I assure ye." + +"Whose, then?" + +Master Frank Lloyd shrugged his shoulders. + +"If you cannot guess my errand," said he, "you cannot guess who equipped +me." + +"Nay," said his friend, who was now in a much better humor, "read me no +riddles, Frank. I would fain know who knew thee so little as to lend +thee a horse and see thee ride forth with it. Who was't, Frank?" + +His companion looked up and regarded him. + +"The Widow Becket," he answered, coolly. + +"What?" said the other, laughing. "Art thou so far in the good dame's +graces, and yet would have me go to London and marry her?" + +"'Tis no laughing matter, Master Jack, as you may find out ere long," +the other said. "The good lady lent me the horse, 'tis true; else how +could I have come all the way into Warwickshire?--ay, and lent me an +angel or two to appease the villain landlords. I tell thee she is as +bountiful as the day. Lord, what a house!--I'll take my oath that Master +Butler hath a good fat capon and a bottle of claret each evening for his +supper--if he have not, his face belieth him. And think you she would be +niggard with Handsome Jack? Nay, but a gentleman must have his friends; +ay, and his suppers at the tavern, when the play is over; and store of +pieces in his purse to make you good company. Why, man, thy fame would +spread through the Blackfriars, I warrant you: where is the hostess that +would not simper and ogle and court'sy to Gentleman Jack, when that he +came among them, slapping the purse in his pouch?" + +"'Tis a fair picture," his friend said. "Thy wits have been sharpened by +thy long ride, Frank. And think you the buxom widow would consent, were +one to make bold and ask her? Nay, nay; 'tis thy dire need hath driven +thee to this excess of fancy." + +For answer Master Lloyd proceeded to bring forth a small box, which he +opened, and took therefrom a finger ring. It was a man's ring, of +massive setting; the stone of a deep blood-red, and graven with an +intaglio of a Roman bust. He pushed it across the table. + +"The horse was lent," said he, darkly. "That--if it please you--you may +keep and wear." + +"What mean you?" Leofric Hope said, in some surprise. + +"'I name no thing, and I mean no thing,'" said he, quoting a phrase +from a popular ballad. "If you understand not, 'tis a pity. I may not +speak more plainly. But bethink you that poor Frank Lloyd was not likely +to have the means of purchasing thee such a pretty toy, much as he would +like to please his old friend. Nay, canst thou not see, Jack? 'Tis a +message, man! More I may not say. Take it and wear it, good lad; and +come back boldly to London; and we will face the harpies, and live as +free men, ere a fortnight be over. What?--must I speak? Nay, an' you +understand not, I will tell no more." + +He understood well enough; and he sat for a second or two moodily +regarding the ring; but he did not take it up. Then he rose from the +table, and began to walk up and down the room. + +"Frank," said he, "couldst thou but see this wench----" + +"Nay, nay, spare me the catalogue," his friend answered, quickly. "I +heard thee declare that Ben Jonson had no words to say how fair she was: +would you better his description and overmaster him? And fair or not +fair, 'tis all the same with thee; any petticoat can bewitch thee out of +thy senses: Black Almaine or New Almaine may be the tune, but 'tis ever +the same dance; and such a heaving of sighs and despair!-- + + 'Thy gown was of the grassy green, + Thy sleeves of satin hanging by; + Which made thee be our harvest queen-- + And yet thou wouldst not love me.' + +'Tis a pleasant pastime, friend Jack; but there comes an end. I know not +which be the worse, wenches or usurers, for landing a poor lad in jail; +but both together, Jack--and that is thy case--they are not like to let +thee escape. 'Tis not to every one in such a plight there cometh a +talisman like that pretty toy there: beshrew me, what a thing it is in +this world to have a goodly presence!" + +He now rose from the table and went to the door, and called aloud for +some one to bring him a light. When that was brought, and his pipe set +going, he sat him down on the bench by the empty fire-place, for the +seat seemed comfortable, and there he smoked with much content, while +his friend continued to pace up and down the apartment, meditating over +his own situation, and seemingly not over well pleased with the survey. + +Presently something in one of the pigeon-holes over the fire-place +attracted the attention of the visitor; and having nothing better to do +(for he would leave his friend time to ponder over what he had said), he +rose and pulled forth a little bundle of sheets of paper that opened in +his hand as he sat down again. + +"What's this, Jack?" said he. "Hast become playwright? Surely all of +this preachment is not in praise of the fair damsel's eyebrows?" + +His friend turned round, saw what he had got hold of, and laughed. + +"That, now," said he, "were something to puzzle the wits with, were one +free to go to London. I had some such jest in mind; but perchance 'twas +more of idleness that made me copy out the play." + +"'Tis not yours, then? Whose?" said Master Frank Lloyd, looking over the +pages with some curiosity. + +"Whose? Why, 'tis by one Will Shakespeare, that you may have heard of. +Would it not puzzle them, Frank? Were it not a good jest, now, to lay it +before some learned critic and ask his worship's opinion? Or to read it +at the Silver Hind as of thy writing? Would not Dame Margery weep with +joy? Out upon the Mermaid!--have we not poets of our own?" + +He had drawn near, and was looking down at the sheets that his friend +was examining. + +"I tell thee this, Jack," the latter said, in his cool way, "there is +more than a jest to be got out of a play by Will Shakespeare. Would not +the booksellers give us the price of a couple of nags for it if we were +pressed so far?" + +"Mind thine own business, fool!" was the angry rejoinder; and ere he +knew what had happened his hands were empty. + + * * * * * + +And at that same moment, away over there in Stratford town, Judith was +in the garden, trying to teach little Bess Hall to dance, and merrily +laughing the while. And when the dancing lesson was over she would try a +singing lesson; and now the child was on Judith's shoulder, and had hold +of her bonny sun-brown curls. + +"Well done, Bess; well done! Now again-- + + 'The hunt is up--the hunt is up-- + Awake, my lady dear! + O a morn in spring is the sweetest thing + Cometh in all the year!' + +Well done indeed! Will not my father praise thee, lass; and what more +wouldst thou have for all thy pains?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +AN APPEAL. + + +Great changes were in store. To begin with, there were rumors of her +father being about to return to London. Then Dr. Hall was summoned away +into Worcestershire by a great lady living there, who was continually +fancying herself at the brink of death, and manifesting on such +occasions a terror not at all in consonance with her professed assurance +that she was going to a happier sphere. As it was possible that Dr. Hall +would seize this opportunity to pay several other professional visits in +the neighboring county, it was proposed that Susan and her daughter +should come for a while to New Place, and that Judith should at the same +time go and stay with her grandmother at Shottery, to cheer the old dame +somewhat. And so it happened, on this July morning, that Judith's mother +having gone round to see her elder daughter about all these +arrangements, Judith found herself not only alone in the house, but, as +rarely chanced, with nothing to do. + +She tried to extract some music from her sister's lute, but that was a +failure; she tried half a dozen other things; and then it occurred to +her--for the morning was fine and clear, and she was fond of the meadows +and of open air and sunlight--that she would walk round to the grammar +school and beg for a half-holiday for Willie Hart. He, as well as Bess +Hall, was under her tuition; and there were things she could teach him +of quite as much value (as she considered) as anything to be learned at +a desk. At the same time, before going to meet the staring eyes of all +those boys, she thought she might as well repair to her own room and +smarten up her attire--even to the extent, perhaps, of putting on her +gray beaver hat with the row of brass beads. + +That was not at all necessary. Nothing of the kind was needful to make +Judith Shakespeare attractive and fascinating and wonderful to that +crowd of lads. The fact was, the whole school of them were more or less +secretly in love with her; and this, so far from procuring Willie Hart +such bumps and thrashings that he might have received from a solitary +rival, gained for him; on the contrary, a mysterious favor and +good-will that showed itself in a hundred subtle ways. For he was in a +measure the dispenser of Judith's patronage. When he was walking along +the street with her he would tell her the name of this one or that of +his companions (in case she had forgotten), and she would stop and speak +to him kindly, and hope he was getting on well with his tasks. Also the +other lads, on the strength of Willie Hart's intermediation, would now +make bold to say, with great politeness, "Give ye good-morrow, Mistress +Judith," when they met her, and sometimes she would pause for a moment +and chat with one of them, and make some inquiries of him as to whether +her cousin did not occasionally need a little help in his lessons from +the bigger boys. Then there was a kind of fury of assistance instantly +promised; and the youth would again remember his good manners, and bid +her formally farewell, and go on his way, with his heart and his cheeks +alike afire, and his brain gone a-dancing. Even that dread being, the +head-master, had no frown for her when she went boldly up to his desk, +in the very middle of the day's duties, to demand some favor. Nay, he +would rather detain her with a little pleasant conversation, and would +at times become almost facetious (at sight of which the spirits of the +whole school rose into a seventh heaven of equanimity). And always she +got what she wanted; and generally, before leaving, she would give one +glance down the rows of oaken benches, singling out her friends here and +there, and, alas! not thinking at all of the deadly wounds she was thus +dealing with those lustrous and shining eyes. + +Well, on this morning she had no difficulty in rescuing her cousin from +the dull captivity of the school-room; and hand in hand they went along +and down to the river-side and to the meadows there. But seemingly she +had no wish to get much farther from the town; for the truth was that +she lacked assurance as yet that Master Leofric Hope had left that +neighborhood; and she was distinctly of a mind to avoid all further +communications with him until, if ever, he should be able to come +forward openly and declare himself to the small world in which she +lived. Accordingly she did not lead Willie Hart far along the river-side +path; they rather kept to seeking about the banks and hedge-rows for +wild flowers--the pink and white bells of the bind-weed she was mostly +after, and these did not abound there--until at last they came to a +stile; and there she sat down, and would have her cousin sit beside her, +so that she should give him some further schooling as to all that he +was to do and think and be in the coming years. She had far other things +than Lilly's Grammar to teach him. The Sententiae Pueriles contained no +instruction as to how, for example, a modest and well-conducted youth +should approach his love-maiden to discover whether her heart was well +inclined toward him. And although her timid-eyed pupil seemed to take +but little interest in the fair creature that was thus being provided +for him in the future, and was far more anxious to know how he was to +win Judith's approval, either now or then, still he listened contentedly +enough, for Judith's voice was soft and musical. Nay, he put that +imaginary person out of his mind altogether. It was Judith, and Judith +alone, whom he saw in these forecasts. Would he have any other supplant +her in his dreams and visions of what was to be? This world around +him--the smooth-flowing Avon, the wooded banks, the wide white skies, +the meadows and fields and low-lying hills: was not she the very spirit +and central life and light of all these? Without her, what would these +be?--dead things; the mystery and wonder gone out of them; a world in +darkness. But he could not think of that; the world he looked forward to +was filled with light, for Judith was there, the touch of her hand as +gentle as ever, her eyes still as kind. + +"So must you be accomplished at all points, sweetheart," she was +continuing, "that you shame her not in any company, whatever the kind of +it may be. If they be grave, and speak of the affairs of the realm, then +must you know how the country is governed, as becomes a man (though, +being a woman, alack! I cannot help you there), and you must have +opinions about what is best for England, and be ready to uphold them, +too. Then, if the company be of a gayer kind, again you shall not shame +her, but take part in all the merriment; and if there be dancing, you +shall not go to the door, and hang about like a booby; you must know the +new dances, every one; for would you have your sweetheart dance with +others, and you standing by? That were a spite, I take it, for both of +you!--nay, would not the wench be angry to be so used? Let me see, +now--what is the name of it?--the one that is danced to the tune of 'The +Merchant's Daughter went over the Field?'--have I shown you that, +sweetheart?" + +"I know not, Cousin Judith," said he. + +"Come, then," said she, blithely; and she took him by the hand and +placed him opposite her in the meadow. "Look you, now, the four at the +top cross hands--so (you must imagine the other two, sweetheart); and +all go round once--so; and then they change hands, and go back the other +way--so; and then each takes his own partner, and away they go round the +circle, and back to their place. Is it not simple, cousin? Come, now, +let us try properly." + +And so they began again; and for music she lightly hummed a verse of a +song that was commonly sung to the same tune: + + Maid, will you love me, yes or no? + Tell me the truth, and let me go. + +"The other hand, Willie--quick!" + + It can be no less than a sinful deed + (Trust me truly) + To linger a lover that looks to speed + (In due time duly). + +"Why, is it not simple!" she said, laughing. "But now, instead of +crossing hands, I think it far the prettier way that they should hold +their hands up together--so: shall we try it, sweetheart?" + +And then she had to sing another verse of the ballad: + + Consider, sweet, what sighs and sobs + Do nip my heart with cruel throbs, + And all, my dear, for the love of you + (Trust me truly); + But I hope that you will some mercy show + (In due time duly). + +"And then," she continued, when they had finished that laughing +rehearsal, "should the fiddles begin to squeal and screech--which is as +much as to say, 'Now, all of you, kiss your partners!'--then shall you +not bounce forward and seize the wench by the neck, as if you were a +ploughboy besotted with ale, and have her hate thee for destroying her +head-gear and her hair. No, you shall come forward in this manner, as if +to do her great courtesy, and you shall take her hand and bend one +knee--and make partly a jest of it, but not altogether a jest--and then +you shall kiss her hand, and rise and retire. Think you the maiden will +not be proud that you have shown her so much honor and respect in +public?--ay, and when she and you are thereafter together, by +yourselves, I doubt not but that she may be willing to make up to you +for your forbearance and courteous treatment of her. Marry, with that I +have naught to do; 'tis as the heart of the wench may happen to be +inclined; though you may trust me she will be well content that you show +her other than ale-house manners; and if 'tis but a matter of a kiss +that you forego, because you would pay her courtesy in public, why, +then, as I say, she may make that up to thee, or she is no woman else. I +wonder, now, what the Bonnybel will be like--or tall, or dark, or +fair----" + +"I wish never to see her, Judith," said he, simply. + +However, there was to be no further discussion of this matter, nor yet +greensward rehearsals of dancing; for they now descried coming to them +the little maid who waited on Judith's grandmother. She seemed in a +hurry, and had a basket over her arm. + +"How now, little Cicely?" Judith said, as she drew near. + +"I have sought you everywhere, so please you, Mistress Judith," the +little maid said, breathlessly, "for I was coming in to the town--on +some errands--and--and I met the stranger gentleman that came once or +twice to the house--and--and he would have me carry a message to +you----" + +"Prithee, good lass," said Judith, instantly, and with much composure, +"go thy way back home. I wish for no message." + +"He seemed in sore distress," the little maid said, diffidently. + +"How, then? Did a gentleman of his tall inches seek help from such a +mite as thou?" + +"He would fain see you, sweet mistress, and but for a moment," the girl +answered, being evidently desirous of getting the burden of the message +off her mind. "He bid me say he would be in the lane going to Bidford, +or thereabout, for the next hour or two, and would crave a word with +you--out of charity, the gentleman said, or something of the like--and +that it might be the last chance of seeing you ere he goes, and that I +was to give his message to you very secretly." + +Well, she scarcely knew what to do. At their last interview he had +pleaded for another opportunity of saying farewell to her, and she had +not definitely refused; but, on the other hand, she would much rather +have seen nothing further of him in these present circumstances. His +half-reckless references to Prince Ferdinand undergoing any kind of +hardship for the sake of winning the fair Miranda were of a dangerous +cast. She did not wish to meet him on that ground at all, even to have +her suspicions removed. But if he were really in distress? And this his +last day in the neighborhood? It seemed a small matter to grant. + +"What say you, Cousin Willie?" said she, good-naturedly. "Shall we go +and see what the gentleman would have of us? I cannot, unless with thee +as my shield and champion." + +"If you wish it, Cousin Judith," said he: what would he not do that she +wished? + +"And Cicely--shall we all go?" + +"Nay, so please you, Mistress Judith," the girl said; "I have to go back +for my errands. I have been running everywhere to seek you." + +"Then, Willie, come along," said she, lightly. "We must get across the +fields to the Evesham road." + +And so the apple-cheeked little maiden trudged back to the town with her +basket, while Judith and her companion went on their way across the +meadows. There was a kind of good-humored indifference in her consent, +though she felt anxious that the interview should be as brief as +possible. She had had more time of late to think over all the events +that had recently happened--startling events enough in so quiet and even +a life; and occasionally she bethought her of the wizard, and of the odd +coincidence of her meeting this young gentleman at the very spot that +had been named. She had tried to laugh aside certain recurrent doubts +and surmises, and was only partially successful. And she had a vivid +recollection of the relief she had experienced when their last interview +came to an end. + +"You must gather me some flowers, sweetheart," said she, "while I am +speaking to this gentleman; perchance he may have something to say of +his own private affairs." + +"I will go on to your grandmother's garden," said he, "if you wish it, +Cousin Judith, and get you the flowers there." + +"Indeed, no," she answered, patting him on the shoulder. "Would you +leave me without my champion? Nay, but if you stand aside a little, that +the gentleman may speak in confidence, if that be his pleasure, surely +that will be enough." + +They had scarcely entered the lane when he made his appearance, and the +moment she set eyes on him she saw that something had happened. His face +seemed haggard and anxious--nay, his very manner was changed; where was +the elaborate courtesy with which he had been wont to approach her? + +"Judith," said he, hurriedly, "I must risk all now. I must speak plain. +I--I scarce hoped you would give me the chance." + +But she was in no alarm. + +"Now, sweetheart," said she, calmly, to the little lad, "you may get me +the flowers; and if you find any more of the bind-weed bells and the St. +John's wort, so much the better." + +Then she turned to Master Leofric Hope. + +"I trust you have had no ill news," said she, but in a kind way. + +"Indeed, I have. Well, I know not which way to take it," he said, in a +sort of desperate fashion. "It might be good news. But I am hard +pressed; 'twill be sink or swim with me presently. Well, there is one +way of safety opened to me: 'tis for you to say whether I shall take it +or not." + +"I, sir?" she said; and she was so startled that she almost recoiled a +step. + +"Nay, but first I must make a confession," said he, quickly, "whatever +comes of it. Think of me what you will, I will tell you the truth. Shall +I beg for your forgiveness beforehand?" + +He was regarding her earnestly and anxiously, and there was nothing but +kindness and a dim expression of concern in his honest, frank face and +in the beautiful eyes. + +"No, I will not," he said. "Doubtless you will be angry, and with just +cause; and you will go away. Well, this is the truth. The devils of +usurers were after me; I had some friends not far from here; I escaped +to them; and they sought out this hiding for me. Then I had heard of +you--you will not forgive me, but this is the truth--I had heard of your +beauty; and Satan himself put it into my head that I must see you. I +thought it would be a pastime, to while away this cursed hiding, if I +could get to know you without discovering myself. I sent you a message. +I was myself the wizard. Heaven is my witness that when I saw you at the +corner of the field up there, and heard you speak, and looked on your +gracious and gentle ways, remorse went to my heart; but how could I +forego seeking to see you again? It was a stupid jest. It was begun in +thoughtlessness; but now the truth is before you: I was myself the +wizard; and--and my name is not Leofric Hope, but John Orridge--a +worthless poor devil that is ashamed to stand before you." + +Well, the color had mounted to her face: for she saw clearly the +invidious position that this confession had placed her in; but she was +far less startled than he had expected. She had already regarded this +trick as a possible thing, and she had also fully considered what she +ought to do in such circumstances. Now, when the circumstances were +actually laid before her, she made no display of wounded pride, or of +indignant anger, or anything of the kind. + +"I pray you," said she, with a perfect and simple dignity, "pass from +that. I had no such firm belief in the wizard's prophecies. I took you +as you represented yourself to be, a stranger, met by chance, one who +was known to my father's friends, and who was in misfortune; and if I +have done aught beyond what I should have done in such a pass, I trust +you will put it down to our country manners, that are perchance less +guarded than those of the town." + +For an instant--there was not the slightest doubt of it--actual tears +stood in the young man's eyes. + +"By heavens," he exclaimed, "I think you must be the noblest creature +God ever made! You do not drive me away in scorn; you have no +reproaches? And I--to be standing here--telling you such a tale----" + +"I pray you, sir, pass from that," said she. "What of your own fortune? +You are quitting the neighborhood?" + +"But how can you believe me in anything, since you know how I have +deceived you?" said he, as if he could not understand how she should +make no sign of her displeasure. + +"'Twas but a jest, as you say," she answered, good-naturedly, but still +with a trifle of reserve. "And no harm has come of it. I would leave it +aside, good sir." + +"Harm?" said he, regarding her with a kind of anxious timidity. "That +may or may not be, sweet lady, as time will show. If I dared but speak +to you--well, bethink you of my meeting you here from day to day, in +these quiet retreats, and seeing such a sweetness and beauty and +womanliness as I have never met in the world before--such a wonder of +gentleness and kindness----" + +"I would ask you to spare me these compliments," said she, simply. "I +thought 'twas some serious matter you had in hand." + +"Serious enough i' faith!" he said, in an altered tone, as if she had +recalled him to a sense of the position in which he stood. "But there is +the one way out of it, after all. I can sell my life away for money to +pacify those fiends; nay, besides that, I should live in abundance, +doubtless, and be esteemed a most fortunate gentleman, and one to be +envied. A gilded prison-house and slavery; but what would the fools +think of that if they saw me with a good fat purse at the tavern?" + +Again he regarded her. + +"There is another way yet, however, if I must needs trouble you, dear +Mistress Judith, with my poor affairs. What if I were to break with that +accursed London altogether, and go off and fight my way in another +country, as many a better man hath done? ay, and there be still one or +two left who would help me to escape if they saw me on the way to +reform, as they would call it. And what would I not do in that way--ay, +or in any way--if I could hope for a certain prize to be won at the end +of it all?" + +"And that, good sir?" + +"That," said he, watching her face--"the reward that would be enough and +more than enough for all I might suffer would be just this--to find +Judith Shakespeare coming to meet me in this very lane." + +"Oh, no, sir," was her immediate and incoherent exclamation; and then +she promptly pulled herself together, and said, with some touch of +pride: "Indeed, good sir, you talk wildly. I scarce understand how you +can be in such grave trouble." + +"Then," said he, and he was rather pale, and spoke slowly, "it would be +no manner of use for any poor Ferdinand of these our own days to go +bearing logs or suffering any hardships that might arise? There would be +no Miranda waiting for him, after all?" + +She colored deeply; she could not affect to misunderstand the repeated +allusion; and all she had in her mind now was to leave him and get away +from him, and yet without unkindness or anger. + +"Good sir," said she, with such equanimity as she could muster, "if that +be your meaning--if that be why you wished to see me again--and no mere +continuance of an idle jest, plain speech will best serve our turn. I +trust no graver matters occupy your mind; as for this, you must put +that away. It was with no thought of any such thing that I--that I met +you once or twice, and--and lent you such reading as might pass the time +for you. And perchance I was too free in that, and in my craving to hear +of my father and his friends in London, and the rest. But what you say +now, if I understand you aright--well, I had no thought of any such +thing. Indeed, good sir, if I have done wrong in listening to you about +my father's friends, 'twas in the hope that soon or late you would +continue the tale in my father's house. But now--what you say--bids me +to leave you--and yet in no anger--for in truth I wish you well." + +She gave him her hand, and he held it for a moment. + +"Is this your last word, Judith?" said he. + +"Yes, yes, indeed," she answered, rather breathlessly and earnestly. "I +may not see you again. I pray Heaven your troubles may soon be over; and +perchance you may meet my father in London, and become one of his +friends; then might I hear of your better fortunes. 'Twould be welcome +news, believe me. And now fare you well." + +He stooped to touch her hand with his lips; but he said not a word; and +she turned away without raising her eyes. He stood there motionless and +silent, watching her and the little boy as they walked along the lane +toward the village--regarding them in an absent kind of way, and yet +with no great expression of sadness or hopelessness in his face. Then he +turned and made for the highway to Bidford; and he was saying to himself +as he went along: + +"Well, there goes one chance in life, for good or ill. And what if I had +been more persistent? What if she had consented, or even half consented, +or said that in the future I might come back with some small modicum of +hope? Nay: the devil only knows where I should get logs to carry for the +winning of so fair a reward. Frank Lloyd is right. My case is too +desperate. So fare you well, sweet maiden; keep you to your quiet +meadows and your wooded lanes: and the clown that will marry you will +give you a happier life than ever you could have had with Jack Orridge +and his broken fortunes." + +Indeed, he seemed in no downcast mood. As he walked along the highway he +was absently watching the people in the distant fields, or idly +whistling the tune of "Calen o Custure me." But by and by, as he drew +near the farm, his face assumed a more sombre look; and when, coming +still nearer, he saw Frank Lloyd calmly standing at the door of the +stables, smoking his pipe, there was a sullen frown on his forehead that +did not promise well for the cheerfulness of that journey to London +which Master Lloyd had sworn he would not undertake until his friend was +ready to accompany him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +TO LONDON TOWN. + + +But that was not the departure for London which was soon to bring Judith +a great heaviness of heart, and cause many a bitter fit of crying when +that she was lying awake o' nights. She would rather have let all her +lovers go, and welcome, a hundred times over. But, as the days passed, +it became more and more evident, from certain preparations, that her +father was about to leave Stratford for the south, and finally the very +moment was fixed. Judith strove to keep a merry face (for so she had +been bid), but again and again she was on the point of going to him and +falling on her knees and begging him to remain with them. She knew that +he would laugh at her; but did he quite know what going away from them +meant? And the use of it? Had they not abundance? Still, she was afraid +of being chid for meddling in matters beyond her; and so she went about +her duties with as much cheerfulness as she could assume; though, when +in secret conclave with Prudence, and talking of this, and what the +house would be like when he was gone, quiet tears would steal down her +face in the dusk. + +To suit the convenience of one or two neighbors, who were also going to +London, the day of departure had been postponed; but at last the fatal +morning arrived. Judith, from an early hour, was on the watch, trying to +get some opportunity of saying good-by to her father by herself (and not +before all the strangers who would soon be gathering together), but +always she was defeated, for he was busy in-doors with many things, and +every one was lending a helping hand. Moreover, she was in an excited +and trembling state; and more than once she had to steal away to her +chamber and bathe her eyes with water lest that they should tell any +tale when he regarded her. But the climax of her misfortunes was this. +When the hour for leaving was drawing nigh she heard him go out and into +the garden, doubtless with the intention of locking up the cupboard in +the summer-house; and so she presently and swiftly stole out after him, +thinking that now would be her chance. Alas! the instant she had passed +through the back-court door she saw that Matthew gardener had +forestalled her; and not only that, but he had brought a visitor with +him--the master constable, Grandfather Jeremy, whom she knew well. Anger +filled her heart; but there was no time to stand on her dignity. She +would not retire from the field. She walked forward boldly, and stood by +her father's side, as much as to say: "Well, this is my place. What do +you want? Why this intrusion at such a time?" + +Grandfather Jeremy was a little, thin, round-shouldered ancient, with +long, straggling gray hair, and small, shrewd, ferret-like eyes that +kept nervously glancing from Judith's father to goodman Matthew, who had +obviously introduced him on this occasion. Indeed, the saturnine visage +of the gardener was overspread with a complacent grin, as though he were +saying, "Look you there, zur, there be a rare vool." Judith's father, on +the other hand, showed no impatience over this interruption; he kept +waiting for the old man to recover his power of speech. + +"Well, now, master constable, what would you?" he said gently. + +"Why can't 'ee tell his worship, Jeremy?" Matthew gardener said, in his +superior and facetious fashion, "Passion o' me, man, thy tongue will wag +fast enough at Mother Tooley's ale-house." + +"It wur a contrevarsie, so please your worship," the ancient constable +said, but with a kind of vacant stare, as if he were half lost in +looking back into his memory. + +"Ay, and with whom?" said Judith's father, to help him along. + +"With my poor old woman, so please your worship. She be a poor, mean +creature in your honor's eyes, I make no doubt; but she hath wisdom, she +hath, and a strength in contrevarsie past most. Lord, Lord, why be I +standing here now--and holding your worship--and your worship's time and +necessities--but that she saith, 'Jeremy, put thy better leg avore;' +'speak out,' saith she; ''twur as good for thee as a half-ox in a pie, +or a score of angels in thy pouch.' 'Speak out,' she saith, 'and be not +afraid, Jeremy.'" + +"But, master constable," said Judith's father, "if your good dame be +such a Mary Ambree in argument, she should have furnished you with fewer +words and more matter. What would you?" + +"Nay, zur, I be as bold as most," said the constable, pulling up his +courage, and also elevating his head somewhat with an air of authority. +"I can raise hue and cry in the hundred, that can I; and if the watch +bring me a rogue, he shall lie by the heels, or I am no true man. But +Lord, zur, have pity on a poor man that be put forward to speak for a +disputation. When they wur talking of it at furst, your worship--this +one and the other, and all of them to once--and would have me go forward +to speak for them, 'Zure,' says I, 'I would as lief go to a bride-ale +with my legs swaddled in wisps as go avore Mahster Shaksper without a +power o' voine words.' But Joan, she saith, 'Jeremy, fear no man, +howsoever great, for there be but the one Lord over us all; perzent +thyself like a true countryman and an honest officer; take thy courage +with thee,' saith she; 'and remember thou speakest vor thy friends as +well as vor thyself. 'Tis a right good worshipful gentleman,' she saith, +meaning yourself, sweet Mahster Shaksper; 'and will a not give us a +share?'" + +"In Heaven's name, man," said Judith's father, laughing, "what would +you? Had Joan no clearer message to give you?" + +"I but speak her words, so please your worship," said the ancient +constable, with the air of one desperately trying to recall a lesson +that had been taught him. "And all of them--they wur zaying as how she +hath a power o' wisdom--and, 'Jeremy,' she saith, 'be not overbold with +the worthy gentleman; 'tis but a share; and he be a right worthy and +civil gentleman; speak him fair, Jeremy,' she saith, 'and put thy better +leg avore, and acquit thee as a man. Nay, be bold,' she saith, 'and +think of thy vriends, that be waiting without for an answer. Think of +them, Jeremy,' she saith, 'if thy speech fail thee. 'Tis but a share; +'tis but a share; and he a right worshipful and civil gentleman.'" + +Judith's father glanced at the sun-dial on the gable of the barn. + +"My good friend," said he, "I hear that your wife Joan is ailing; 'tis +through no lack of breath, I warrant me. An you come not to the point +forthwith, I must be gone. What would you? Or what would your good dame +have of me?--for there we shall get to it more quickly." + +"So please you, zur," said Matthew, with his complacent grin, "the +matter be like this, now: this worthy master constable and his comrades +of the watch, they wur laying their heads together like; and they have +heard say that you have written of them, and taken of their wisdom the +couple o' nights they wur brought in to supper; and they see as how you +have grown rich, so please you, zur, with such writing----" + +"A vast o' money--a vast o' money and lands," the other murmured. + +"And now, zur, they would make bold to ask for their share, for the help +that they have given you. Nay, zur," continued Matthew gardener, who was +proud of the ease with which he could put into words the inarticulate +desires of this good constable, "be not angry with worthy Jeremy; he but +speaketh for the others, and for his wife Joan too, that be as full of +courage as any of them, and would have come to your worship but that she +be sore troubled with an ague. Lord, zur, I know not how much the worthy +gentlemen want. Perchance good Jeremy would be content wi' the barn and +the store of malt in the malt-house----" + +At this the small deep eyes of the ancient began to twinkle nervously; +and he glanced in an anxious way from one to the other. + +"And the watch, now," continued Matthew grinning, and regarding the old +constable; "why, zur, they be poor men; 'twould go well with them to +divide amongst them the store of good wine in the cellar, and perchance +also the leather hangings that be so much talked of in the town. But +hark you, good Jeremy, remember this, now--that whoever hath the garden +and orchard fall to his lot must pay me my wages, else 'tis no bargain." + +For the first time in her life Judith saw her father in a passion of +anger. His color did not change; but there was a strange look about his +mouth, and his eyes blazed. + +"Thou cursed fool," he said to the gardener, "'tis thou hast led these +poor men into this folly." And then he turned to the bewildered +constable, and took him by the arm. "Come, good friend," said he, in a +kindly way, "come into the house and I will explain these matters to +thee. Thou hast been mislead by that impudent knave--by my life, I will +settle that score with him ere long; and in truth the aid that you and +your comrades have given me is chiefly that we have passed a pleasant +evening or two together, and been merry or wise as occasion offered. And +I would have you spend such another to-night among yourselves, leaving +the charges at the ale-house to me; and for the present, if I may not +divide my store of wine among you, 'tis no reason why you and I should +not have a parting cup ere I put hand to bridle----" + +That was all that Judith heard; and then she turned to the ancient wise +man and said, coolly, + +"Were I in thy place, good Matthew, I would get me out of this garden, +and out of Stratford town too, ere my father come back." And Matthew was +too frightened to answer her. + +The outcome of all this, however, was that Judith's father did not +return to the garden; and when she went into the house she found that he +had taken such time to explain to Jeremy constable how small a share in +his writings had been contributed by these good people that certain of +the members of the expedition bound for London had already arrived. +Indeed, their horses and attendants were at the door; and all and +everything was in such a state of confusion and uproar that Judith saw +clearly she had no chance of saying a quiet good-by to her father all by +herself. But was she to be again balked by goodman Matthew? She thought +not. She slipped away by the back door and disappeared. + +There was quite a little crowd gathered to see the cavalcade move off. +Dr. Hall was not there, but Tom Quiney was--bringing with him as a +parting gift for Judith's father a handsome riding-whip; and the worthy +parson Blaise had also appeared, though there was no opportunity for his +professional services amid so much bustle. And then there were +hand-shakings and kissings and farewells; and Judith's father was just +about to put his foot in the stirrup, when Susanna called out: + +"But where is Judith? Is she not coming to say good-by to my father?" + +Then there were calls for Judith, here, there, and everywhere, but no +answer; and her mother was angry that the girl should detain all this +assemblage. But her father, not having mounted, went rapidly through the +house, and just opened the door leading into the garden. The briefest +glance showed him that the mastiff was gone. Then he hurried back. + +"'Tis all well, good mother," said he, as he got into the saddle. "I +shall see the wench ere I go far. I know her tricks." + +So the company moved away from the house, and through the streets, and +down to Clopton's bridge. Once over the bridge, they struck to the +right, taking the Oxford road by Shipston and Enstone; and ere they had +gone far along the highway, Judith's father, who seemed less to join in +the general hilarity and high spirits of the setting out than to be +keeping a watch around, perceived something in the distance--at a corner +where there was a high bank behind some trees--that caused him to laugh +slightly, and to himself. When they were coming near this corner the +figure that had been on the sky-line had disappeared; but down by the +road-side was Judith herself, looking very tremulous and ashamed as all +these people came along, and the great Don standing by her. Her father, +who had some knowledge of her ways, bade them all ride on, and then he +turned his horse, and sprang down from the saddle. + +"Well, wench," said he, and he took her by the shoulders, "what brings +you here?" + +In answer, she could only burst into tears, and hide her face in his +breast. + +"Why, lass," said he, "what is a journey to London? And have you not +enough left to comfort you? Have you not sweethearts a plenty?" + +But she could not speak; she only sobbed and sobbed. + +"Come, come, lass, I must be going," said he, stroking the soft brown +hair. "Cheer up. Wouldst thou spoil the prettiest eyes in Warwickshire? +Nay, an thou have not a right merry and beaming face when I come again, +I will call thee no daughter of mine." + +Then she raised her head--for still she could not speak--and he kissed +her. + +"Heaven's blessings on thee, good wench! I think 'tis the last time I +shall ever have the courage to leave thee. Fare you well, sweetheart; +keep your eyes bright and your face happy--to draw me home again." + +Then she kissed him on each cheek, and he got into the saddle and rode +on. She climbed up to the top of the bank, and watched him and his +companions while they were still in sight, and then she turned to go +slowly homeward. + +And it seemed to her, when she came in view of Stratford, and looked +down on the wide meadows and the placid river and the silent +homesteads, that a sort of winter had already fallen over the land. That +long summer had been very beautiful to her--full of sunlight and color +and the scent of flowers; but now a kind of winter was come, and a +sadness and loneliness; and the days and days that would follow each +other seemed to have no longer any life in them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +EVIL TIDINGS. + + +But a far sharper winter than any she had thought of was now about to +come upon her, and this was how it befell: + +After the departure of her father, good Master Walter Blaise became more +and more the guide and counsellor of these women-folk; and indeed New +Place was now given over to meetings for prayer and worship, and was +also become the head-quarters in the town for the entertainment of +travelling preachers, and for the institution of all kinds of pious and +charitable undertakings. There was little else for the occupants of it +to do: the head of the house was in London; Judith was at Shottery with +her grandmother; Susanna was relieved from much of her own domestic +cares by the absence of her husband in Worcestershire; and the bailiff +looked after all matters pertaining to the farm. Indeed, so constant +were these informal services and ministerings to pious travellers that +Julius Shawe (though not himself much given in that direction, and +perhaps mostly to please his sister) felt bound to interfere and offer +to open his house on occasion, or pay part of the charges incurred +through this kindly hospitality. Nay, he went privately to Master Blaise +and threw out some vague hints as to the doubtful propriety of allowing +a wife, in the absence of her husband, to be so ready with her charity. +Now Master Blaise was an honest and straightforward man, and he met this +charge boldly and openly. He begged of Master Shawe to come to New Place +that very afternoon, when two or three of the neighbors were to assemble +to hear him lecture; and both Prudence and her brother went. But before +the lecture, the parson observed that he had had a case of conscience +put before him--as to the giving of alms and charity, by whom, for whom +and on whose authority--which he would not himself decide. The whole +matter, he observed, had been pronounced upon in the holiday lectures of +that famous divine Master William Perkins, who was now gone to his +eternal reward; these lectures having recently been given to the world +by the aid of one Thomas Pickering, of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. And +very soon it appeared, as the young parson read from the little +parchment-covered book, that the passages he quoted had been carefully +chosen and were singularly pertinent. For after a discourse on the duty +of almsgiving, as enjoined by Scripture (and it was pointed out that +Christ himself had lived on alms--"not by begging, as the Papists +affirm, but by the voluntary ministration and contribution of some to +whom he preached"), Master Blaise read on, with an occasional glance at +Julius Shawe: "'It may be asked whether the wife may give alms without +the consent of her husband, considering that she is in subjection to +another, and therefore all that she hath is another's, and not her own. +Answer. The wife may give alms of some things, but with these cautions: +as, first, she may give of those goods that she hath excepted from +marriage. Secondly, she may give of those things which are common to +them both, provided it be with the husband's consent, at least general +and implicit. Thirdly, she may not give without or against the consent +of her husband. And the reason is, because both the law of nature and +the word of God command her obedience to her husband in all things. If +it be alleged that Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, with +others, did minister to Christ of their goods (Luke viii., 3), I answer: +It is to be presumed that it was not done without all consent. Again, if +it be said that Abigail brought a present to David for the relief of him +and his young men, whereof she made not Nabal, her husband, acquainted +(1 Sam. xxv., 19), I answer, it is true, but mark the reason. Nabal was +generally of a churlish and unmerciful disposition, whereupon he was +altogether unwilling to yield relief to any, in how great necessity +soever; whence it was that he railed on the young men that came to him, +and drove them away, ver. 14. Again, he was a foolish man, and given to +drunkenness, so as he was not fit to govern his house or to dispense his +alms. Besides, that Abigail was a woman of great wisdom in all her +actions, and that which she now did was to save Nabal's and her own +life--yea, the lives of his whole family; for the case was desperate, +and all that they had were in present hazard. The example, therefore, +is no warrant for any woman to give alms, unless it be in the like +case.'" And then he summed up in a few words, saying, in effect, that as +regards the question which had been put before him, it was for the wife +to say whether she had her husband's general and implied consent to her +pious expenditure, and to rule her accordingly. + +This completely and forever shut Julius Shawe's mouth. For he knew, and +they all knew, that Judith's father was well content that any preachers +or divines coming to the house should be generously received; while he +on his part claimed a like privilege in the entertainment of any vagrant +person or persons (especially if they were making a shift to live by +their wits) whom he might chance to meet. Strict economy in all other +things was the rule of the household; in the matter of hospitality the +limits were wide. And if Judith's mother half guessed, and if Susanna +Hall shrewdly perceived, why this topic had been introduced, and why +Julius Shawe had been asked to attend the lecture, the subject was one +that brought no sting to their conscience. If the whole question rested +on the general and implied consent of the husband, Judith's mother had +naught to tax herself with. + +After that there was no further remonstrance (of however gentle and +underhand a kind) on the part of Julius Shawe; and more and more did +Parson Blaise become the guide, instructor, and mainstay of the +household. They were women-folk, some of them timid, all of them pious, +and they experienced a sense of comfort and safety in submitting to his +spiritual domination. As for his disinterestedness, there could be no +doubt of that; for now Judith was away at Shottery, and he could no +longer pay court to her in that authoritative fashion of his. It seemed +as if he were quite content to be with these others, bringing them the +news of the day, especially as regarded the religious dissensions that +were everywhere abroad, arranging for the welcoming of this or that +faithful teacher on his way through the country, getting up meetings for +prayer and profitable discourse in the afternoon, or sitting quietly +with them in the evening while they went on with their tasks of +dress-making or embroidery. + +And so it came about that Master Walter was in the house one +morning--they were seated at dinner, indeed, and Prudence was also of +the company--when a letter was brought in and handed to Judith's +mother. It was an unusual thing; and all saw by the look of it that it +was from London; and all were eager for the news, the good parson as +well as any. There was not a word said as Judith's mother, with fingers +that trembled a little from mere anticipation, opened the large sheet, +and began to read to herself across the closely written lines. And then, +as they waited, anxious for the last bit of tidings about the King or +the Parliament or what not, they could not fail to observe a look of +alarm come into the reader's face. + +"Oh, Susan," she said, in a way that startled them, "what is this?" + +She read on, breathless and stunned, her face grown quite pale now; and +at last she stretched out her shaking hand with the letter in it. + +"Susan, Susan, take it. I cannot understand it. I cannot read more. Oh, +Susan, what has the girl done?" + +And she turned aside her chair, and began to cry stealthily; she was not +a strong-nerved woman, and she had gathered but a vague impression that +something terrible and irrevocable had occurred. + +Susan was alarmed, no doubt; but she had plenty of self-command. She +took the letter, and proceeded as swiftly as she could to get at the +contents of it. Then she looked up in a frightened way at the parson, as +if to judge in her own mind as to how far he should be trusted in this +matter. And then she turned to the letter again--in a kind of despair. + +"Mother," said she at last, "I understand no more than yourself what +should be done. To think that all this should have been going on, and we +knowing naught of it! But you see what my father wants; that is the +first thing. Who is to go to Judith?" + +At the mere mention of Judith's name a flash of dismay went to +Prudence's heart. She knew that something must have happened; she at +once bethought her of Judith's interviews with the person in hiding; and +she was conscious of her own guilty connivance and secrecy; so that the +blood rushed to her face, and she sat there dreading to know what was +coming. + +"Mother," Susan said again, and rather breathlessly, "do you not think, +in such a pass, we might beg Master Blaise to give us of his advice? The +Doctor being from home, who else is there?" + +"Nay, if I can be of any service to you or yours, good Mistress Hall, I +pray you have no scruple in commanding me," said the parson--with his +clear and keen gray eyes calmly waiting for information. + +Judith's mother was understood to give her consent; and then Susan +(after a moment's painful hesitation) took up the letter. + +"Indeed, good sir," said she, with an embarrassment that she rarely +showed, "you will see there is reason for our perplexity, and--and I +pray you be not too prompt to think ill of my sister. Perchance there +may be explanations, or the story wrongly reported. In good truth, sir, +my father writes in no such passion of anger as another might in such a +pass, though 'tis but natural he should be sorely troubled and vexed." + +Again she hesitated, being somewhat unnerved and bewildered by what she +had just been reading. She was trying to recall things, to measure +possibilities, to overcome her amazement, all at once. And then she knew +that the parson was coolly regarding her, and she strove to collect her +wits. + +"This, good sir, is the manner of it," said she, in as calm a way as she +could assume, "that my father and his associates have but recently made +a discovery that concerns them much, and is even a disaster to them; +'tis no less than that a copy of my father's last written play--the very +one, indeed, that he finished ere leaving Stratford--hath lately been +sold, they scarce know by whom as yet, to a certain bookseller in +London, and that the bookseller is either about to print it and sell it, +or threatens to do so. They all of them, my father says, are grievously +annoyed by this, for that the publishing of the play will satisfy many +who will read it at home instead of coming to the theatre, and that thus +the interests of himself and his associates will suffer gravely. I am +sorry, good sir, to trouble you with such matters," she added, with a +glance of apology, "but they come more near home to us than you might +think." + +"I have offered to you my service in all things--that befit my office," +said Master Walter, but with a certain reserve, as if he did not quite +like the course that matters were taking. + +"And then," continued Susan, glancing at the writing before her, "my +father says that they were much perplexed (having no right at law to +stop such a publication), and made inquiries as to how any such copy +could have found its way into the bookseller's hands; whereupon he +discovered that which hath grieved him far more than the trouble about +the play. Prudence, you are her nearest gossip; it cannot be true!" she +exclaimed; and she turned to the young maiden, whose face was no longer +pale and thoughtful, but rose-colored with shame and alarm. "For he says +'tis a story that is now everywhere abroad in London--and a laugh and a +jest at the taverns--how that one Jack Orridge came down to +Warwickshire, and made believe to be a wizard, and cozened +Judith--Judith, Prudence, our Judith!--heard ye ever the like?--into a +secret love affair; and that she gave him a copy of the play as one of +her favors----" + +"Truly, now, that is false on the face of it," said Master Blaise, +appositely. "That is a tale told by some one who knows not that Judith +hath no skill of writing." + +"Oh, 'tis too bewildering!" Susan said, as she turned again to the +letter in a kind of despair. "But to have such a story going about +London--about Judith--about my sister Judith--how can you wonder that my +father should write in haste and in anger? That she should meet this +young man day after day at a farm-house near to Bidford, and in secret, +and listen to his stories of the court, believing him to be a worthy +gentleman in misfortune! A worthy gentleman truly!--to come and make +sport of a poor country maiden, and teach her to deceive her father and +all of us, not one of us knowing--not one----" + +"Susan! Susan!" Prudence cried, in an agony of grief, "'tis not as you +think. 'Tis not as it is written there. I will confess the truth. I +myself knew of the young man being in the neighborhood, and how he came +to be acquainted with Judith. And she never was at any farm-house to +meet him, that I know well, but--but he was alone, and in trouble, he +said, and she was sorry for him, and durst not speak to any one but me. +Nay, if there be aught wrong, 'twas none of her doing, that I know: as +to the copy of the play, I am ignorant; but 'twas none of her doing. +Susan, you think too harshly--indeed you do." + +"Sweetheart, I think not harshly," said the other, in a bewildered way. +"I but tell the story as I find it." + +"'Tis not true, then. On her part, at least, there was no whit of any +secret love affair, as I know right well," said Prudence, with a +vehemence near to tears. + +"I but tell thee the story as my father heard it. Poor wench, whatever +wrong she may have done, I have no word against her," Judith's sister +said. + +"I pray you continue," interposed Master Blaise, with his eyes calmly +fixed on the letter; he had scarcely uttered a word. + +"Oh, my father goes on to say that this Orridge--this person +representing himself as familiar with the court, and the great nobles, +and the like--is none other than the illegitimate son of an Oxfordshire +gentleman who became over well acquainted with the daughter of an +innkeeper in Oxford town; that the father meant to bring up the lad, and +did give him some smattering of education, but died; that ever since he +hath been dependent on his grandmother, a widow, who still keeps the +inn; and that he hath lived his life in London in any sort of company he +could impose upon by reason of his fine manners. These particulars, my +father says, he hath had from Ben Jonson, that seems to know something +of the young man, and maintains that he is not so much vicious or +ill-disposed as reckless and idle, and that he is as likely as not to +end his days with a noose round his neck. This, saith my father, is all +that he can learn, and he would have us question Judith as to the truth +of the story, and as to how the copy of the play was made, and whether +'twas this same Orridge that carried it to London. And all this he would +have inquired into at once, for his associates and himself are in great +straits because of this matter, and have urgent need to know as much as +can be known. Then there is this further writing toward the end--'I +cannot explain all to thee at this time; but 'tis so that we have no +remedy against the rascal publisher. Even if they do not register at the +Stationers' Company, they but offend the Company; and the only +punishment that might at the best befall them would be his Grace of +Canterbury so far misliking the play as to cause it to be burnt--a +punishment that would fall heavier on us, I take it, than on them; and +that is in no case to be anticipated.'" + +"I cannot understand these matters, good sir," Judith's mother said +drying her eyes. "'Tis my poor wench that I think of. I know she meant +no harm--whatever comes of it. And she is so gentle and so +proud-spirited that a word of rebuke from her father will drive her out +of her reason. That she should have fallen into such trouble, poor +wench! poor wench!--and you, Prudence, that was ever her intimate, and +seeing her in such a coil--that you should not have told us of it!" + +Prudence sat silent under this reproach: she knew not how to defend +herself. Perhaps she did not care, for all her thoughts were about +Judith. + +"Saw you ever the young man?" Susan said, scarcely concealing her +curiosity. + +"Nay, not I," was Prudence's answer. "But your grandmother hath seen +him, and that several times." + +"My grandmother!" she exclaimed. + +"For he used to call at the cottage," said Prudence, "and pass an hour +or two--being in hiding, as he said, and glad to have a little company. +And he greatly pleased the old dame, as I have heard, because of his +gracious courtesy and good breeding; and when they believed him to be in +sad trouble, and pitied him, who would be the first to speak and +denounce a stranger so helpless? Nay, I know that I have erred. Had I +had more courage I should have come to you, Susan, and begged you to +draw Judith away from any further communication with the young man; but +I--I know not how it came about; she hath such a winning and +overpersuading way, and is herself so fearless." + +"A handsome youth, perchance?" said Susan, who seemed to wish to know +more about this escapade of her sister's. + +"Right handsome, as I have heard; and of great courtesy and gentle +manners," Prudence answered. "But well I know what it was that led +Judith to hold communication with him after she would fain have had that +broken off." And then Prudence, with such detail as was within her +knowledge, explained how Judith had come to think that the young +stranger talked overmuch of Ben Jonson, and was anxious to show that her +father could write as well as he (or better, as she considered). And +then came the story of the lending of the sheets of the play, and +Prudence had to confess how that she had been Judith's accomplice on +many a former occasion in purloining and studying the treasures laid by +in the summer-house. She told all that she knew openly and simply and +frankly; and if she was in distress, it was with no thought of herself; +it was in thinking of her dear friend and companion away over there at +Shottery, who was all in ignorance of what was about to befall her. + +Then the three women, being somewhat recovered from their dismay, but +still helpless and bewildered, and not knowing what to do, turned to +the parson. He had sat calm and collected, silent for the most part, and +reading in between the lines of the story his own interpretation. +Perhaps, also, he had been considering other possibilities--as to the +chances that such an occasion offered for gathering back to the fold an +errant lamb. + +"What your father wants done, that is the first thing, sweetheart," +Judith's mother said, in a tremulous and dazed kind of fashion. "As to +the poor wench, we will see about her afterward. And not a harsh word +will I send her; she will have punishment enough to bear--poor lass! +poor lass! So heedless and so headstrong she hath been always, but +always the quickest to suffer if a word were spoken to her; and now if +this story be put about, how will she hold up her head--she that was so +proud? But what your father wants done, Susan, that is the first +thing--that is the first thing. See what you can do to answer the letter +as he wishes: you are quicker to understand such things than I." + +And then the parson spoke, in his clear, incisive, and authoritative +way: + +"Good madam, 'tis little I know of these matters in London; but if you +would have Judith questioned--and that might be somewhat painful to any +one of her relatives--I will go and see her for you, if you think fit. +If she have been the victim of knavish designs, 'twill be easy for her +to acquit herself; carelessness, perchance, may be the only charge to be +brought against her. And as I gather from Prudence that the sheets of +manuscript lent to the young man were in his possession for a certain +time, I make no doubt that the copy--if it came from this neighborhood +at all--was made by himself on those occasions, and that she had no hand +in the mischief, save in overtrusting a stranger. Doubtless your +husband, good madam, is desirous of having clear and accurate statements +on these and other points; whereas, if you, or Mistress Hall, or even +Prudence there, were to go and see Judith, natural affection and +sympathy might blunt the edge of your inquiries. You would be so anxious +to excuse (and who would not, in your place?) that the very information +asked for by your husband would be lost sight of. Therefore I am willing +to do as you think fitting. I may not say that my office lends any +special sanction to such a duty, for this is but a worldly matter; but +friendship hath its obligations: and if I can be of service to you, +good Mistress Shakespeare, 'tis far from repaying what I owe of godly +society and companionship to you and yours. These be rather affairs for +men to deal with than for women, who know less of the ways of the world; +and I take it that Judith, when she is made aware of her father's +wishes, will have no hesitation in meeting me with frankness and +sincerity." + +It was this faculty of his of speaking clearly and well and to the point +that in a large measure gave him such an ascendency over those women; he +seemed always to see a straight path before him; to have confidence in +himself, and a courage to lead the way. + +"Good sir, if you would have so much kindness," Judith's mother said. +"Truly, you offer us help and guidance in a dire necessity. And if you +will tell her what it is her father wishes to know, be sure that will be +enough; the wench will answer you, have no fear, good sir." + +Then Susan said, when he was about to go: + +"Worthy sir, you need not say to her all that you have heard concerning +the young man. I would liefer know what she herself thought of him; and +how they came together; and how he grew to be on such friendly terms +with her. For hitherto she hath been so sparing of her favor; though +many have wished her to change her name for theirs; but always the wench +hath kept roving eyes. Handsome was he, Prudence? And of gentle manners, +said you? Nay, I warrant me 'twas something far from the common that led +Judith such a dance." + +But Prudence, when he was leaving, stole out after him; and when he was +at the door, she put her hand on his arm. He turned, and saw that the +tears were running down her face. + +"Be kind to Judith," she said--not heeding that he saw her tears, and +still clinging to his arm; "be kind to Judith, from my heart I beg it of +you--I pray you be kind and gentle with her, good Master Blaise; for +indeed she is like an own sister to me." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +RENEWALS. + + +As yet she was all unconscious; and indeed the dulness following her +father's departure was for her considerably lightened by this visit to +her grandmother's cottage, where she found a hundred duties and +occupations awaiting her. She was an expert needle-woman, and there were +many arrears in that direction to be made up: she managed the cooking, +and introduced one or two cunning dishes, to the wonder of the little +Cicely; she even tried her hand at carpentering, where a shelf, or the +frame of a casement, had got loose; and as a reward she was occasionally +invited to assist her grandmother in the garden. The old dame herself +grew wonderfully amiable and cheerful in the constant association with +this bright young life; and she had a great store of ballads with which +to beguile the tedium of sewing--though, in truth, these were for the +most part of a monotonous and mournful character, generally reciting the +woes of some poor maiden in Oxfordshire or Lincolnshire who had been +deceived by a false lover, and yet was willing to forgive him even as +she lay on her death-bed. As for Judith, she took to this quiet life +quite naturally and happily; and if she chanced to have time for a +stroll along the wooded lanes or through the meadows, she was now right +glad that there was no longer any fear of her being confronted by Master +Leofric Hope--or Jack Orridge, as he had called himself. Of course she +thought of him often, and of his courteous manners, and his eloquent and +yet modest eyes, and she hoped all was going well with him, and that she +might perchance hear of him through her father. Nor could she forget +(for she was but human) that the young man, when disguised as a wizard, +had said that he had heard her named as the fairest maid in +Warwickshire; and subsequently, in his natural character, that he had +heard Ben Jonson speak well of her looks, and she hoped that if ever he +recalled these brief interviews, he would consider that she had +maintained a sufficiency of maidenly dignity, and had not betrayed the +ignorance or awkwardness of a farm-bred wench. Nay, there were certain +words of his that she put some store by--as coming from a stranger. For +the rest, she was in no case likely to undervalue her appearance: her +father had praised her hair, and that was enough. + +One morning she had gone down to the little front gate, for some +mischievous boys had lifted it off its hinges, and she wanted to get it +back again on the rusty iron spikes. But it had got jammed somehow, and +would not move; and in her pulling, some splinter of the wood ran into +her hand, causing not a little pain. Just at this moment--whether he had +come round that way on the chance of catching a glimpse of her, it is +hard to say--Tom Quiney came by; but on the other side of the road, and +clearly with no intention of calling at the cottage. + +"Good-morrow, Judith," said he, in a kind of uncertain way, and would +have gone on. + +Well, she was vexed and impatient with her fruitless efforts, and her +hand smarted not a little; so she looked at him and said, half angrily, + +"I wish you would come and lift this gate." + +It was but a trifling task for the tall and straight-limbed young fellow +who now strode across the highway. He jerked it up in a second, and then +set it down again on the iron spikes, where it swung in its wonted way. + +"But your hand is bleeding, Judith!" he exclaimed. + +"'Tis nothing," she said. "It was a splinter. I have pulled it out." + +But he snatched her hand peremptorily, before she could draw it away, +and held it firmly and examined it. + +"Why, there's a bit still there; I can see it." + +"I can get it out for myself," said she. + +"No, you cannot," he answered. "'Tis far easier for some one else. Stay +here a second, and I will fetch out a needle." + +He went into the cottage, and presently reappeared, not only with a +needle, but also a tin vessel holding water, and a bit of linen and a +piece of thread. Then he took Judith's soft hand as gently as he could +in his muscular fingers, and began to probe for the small fragment of +wood, just visible there. He seemed a long time about it; perhaps he was +afraid of giving her pain. + +"Do I hurt you, Judith?" he said. + +"No," she answered, with some color of embarrassment in her face. "Be +quick." + +"But I must be cautious," said he. "I would it were my own hand; I would +make short work of it." + +"Let me try myself," said she, attempting to get away her hand from his +grasp. + +But he would not allow that; and in due time he managed to get the +splinter out. Then he dipped his fingers in the water and bathed the +small wound in that way; and then he must needs wrap the piece of linen +round her hand--very carefully, so that there should be no crease--and +thereafter fasten the bandage with the bit of thread. He did not look +like one who could perform a surgical operation with exceeding delicacy; +but he was as gentle as he could be, and she thanked him--in an +unwilling kind of way. + +Then all at once her face brightened. + +"Why," said she, "I hear that you gave my father a riding-whip on his +going." + +"Did you not see it, Judith?" he said, with some disappointment. "I +meant you to have seen it. The handle was of ivory, and of a rare +carving." + +"I was not at the door when they went away--I met my father as they +passed along the road," said she. "But I shall see it, doubtless, when +he comes home again. And what said he? Was he pleased? He thanked you +right heartily, did he not?" + +"Yes, truly; but 'twas a trifling matter." + +"My father thinks more of the intention than of the value of such a +gift," said she--"as I would." + +It was an innocent and careless speech, but it seemed to suddenly +inspire him with a kind of wild wish. + +"Ah," said he, regarding her, "if you, Judith, now, would but take some +little gift from me--no matter what--that would be a day I should +remember all my life." + +"Will you not come into the house?" said she, quickly. "My grandam will +be right glad to see you." + +She would have led the way; but he hesitated. + +"Nay, I will not trouble your grandmother, Judith," said he. "I doubt +not but that she hath had enough of visitors since you came to stay with +her." + +"Since I came?" she said, good-naturedly--for she refused to accept the +innuendo. "Why, let me consider, now. The day before yesterday my mother +walked over to see how we did; and before that--I think the day before +that--Mistress Wyse came in to tell us that they had taken a witch at +Abbots Morton; and then yesterday Farmer Bowstead called to ask if his +strayed horse had been seen anywhere about these lanes. There, now, +three visitors since I have come to the cottage: 'tis not a multitude." + +"There hath been none other?" said he, looking at her with some +surprise. + +"Not another foot hath crossed the threshold to my knowledge," said she, +simply, and as if it were a matter of small concern. + +But this intelligence seemed to produce a very sudden and marked +alteration in his manner. Not only would he accompany her into the +house, but he immediately became most solicitous about her hand. + +"I pray you be careful, Judith," said he, almost as if he would again +take hold of her wrist. + +"'Tis but a scratch," she said. + +"Nay, now, if there be but a touch of rust, it might work mischief," +said he, anxiously. "I pray you be careful; and I would bathe it +frequently, and keep on the bandage until you are sure that all is well. +Nay, I tell you this, Judith: there are more than you think of that +would liefer lose a finger than that you should have the smallest hurt." + +And in-doors, moreover, he was most amiable and gentle and anxious to +please, and bore some rather sharp sayings of the old dame with great +good-nature; and whatever Judith said, or suggested, or approved of, +that was right, once and for all. She wished to hear more of the +riding-whip also. Where was the handle carved? Had her father expressed +any desire for such ornamentation? + +"Truly 'twas but a small return for his kindness to us the other day," +said the young man, who was half bewildered with delight at finding +Judith's eyes once more regarding him in the old frank and friendly +fashion, and was desperately anxious that they should continue so to +regard him (with no chilling shadow of the parson intervening). "For +Cornelius Greene being minded to make one or two more catches," he +continued--and still addressing those eyes that were at once so gentle +and so clear and so kind--"he would have me go to your father and beg +him to give us words for these, out of any books he might know of. Not +that we thought of asking him to write the words himself--far from +that--but to choose them for us; and right willingly he did so. In +truth, I have them with me," he added, searching for and producing a +paper with some written lines on it. "Shall I read them to you, Judith?" + +He did not notice the slight touch of indifference with which she +assented; for when once she had heard that these compositions (whatever +they might be) were not her father's writing, she was not anxious to +become acquainted with them. But his concern, on the other hand, was to +keep her interested and amused and friendly; and Cornelius Greene and +his doings were at least something to talk about. + +"The first one we think of calling 'Fortune's Wheel,'" said he; "and +thus it goes: + + 'Trust not too much, if prosperous times do smile, + Nor yet despair of rising, if thou fall: + The Fatal Lady mingleth one with th' other, + And lets not fortune stay, but round turns all.' + +And the other one--I know not how to call it yet--but Cornelius takes it +to be the better of the two for his purpose; thus it is: + + 'Merrily sang the Ely monks + When rowed thereby Canute the King. + "Row near, my Knights, row near the land, + That we may hear the good monks sing."' + +See you now how well it will go, Judith--_Merrily sang--merrily +sang--the Ely monks--the Ely monks--when rowed thereby_--CANUTE THE +KING!" said he, in a manner suggesting the air. "'Twill go excellent +well for four voices, and Cornelius is already begun. In truth, 'twill +be something new at our merry-meetings----" + +"Ay, and what have you to say of your business, good Master Quiney?" the +old dame interrupted, sharply. "Be you so busy with your tavern catches +and your merry-makings that you have no thought of that?" + +"Indeed, I have enough regard for that, good Mistress Hathaway," said +he, in perfect good-humor; "and it goes forward safely enough. But +methinks you remind me that I have tarried here as long as I ought; so +now I will get me back to the town." + +He half expected that Judith would go to the door with him; and when she +had gone so far, he said, + +"Will you not come a brief way across the meadows, Judith?--'tis not +well you should always be shut up in the cottage--you that are so fond +of out-of-doors." + +He had no cause for believing that she was too much within-doors; but +she did not stay to raise the question; she good-naturedly went down the +little garden path with him, and across the road, and so into the +fields. She had been busy at work all the morning; twenty minutes' +idleness would do no harm. + +Then, when they were quite by themselves, he said seriously: + +"I pray you take heed, Judith, that you let not the blood flow too much +to your hand, lest it inflame the wound, however slight you may deem it. +See, now, if you would but hold it so, 'twould rest on mine, and be a +relief to you." + +He did not ask her to take his arm, but merely that she should rest her +hand on his; and this seemed easy to do, and natural (so long as he was +not tired). But also it seemed very much like the time when they used to +go through those very meadows as boy and girl together, the tips of +their fingers intertwined: and so she spoke in a gentle and friendly +kind of fashion to him. + +"And how is it with your business, in good sooth?" she asked. "I hope +there be no more of these junketings, and dancings, and brawls." + +"Dear Judith," said he, "I know not who carries such tales of me to you. +If you knew but the truth, I am never in a brawl of mine own making or +seeking; but one must hold one's own, and the more that is done, the +less are any likely to interfere. Nay," he continued, with a modest +laugh, "I think I am safe for quiet now with any in Warwickshire; 'tis +only a strange lad now and again that may come among us and seek cause +of quarrel; and surely 'tis better to have it over and done with, and +either he or we to know our place? I seek no fighting for the love of +it; my life on that; but you would not have any stranger come into +Stratford a-swaggering, and biting his thumb at us, and calling us +rogues of fiddlers?" + +"Mercy on us, then," she cried, "are you champion for the town--or +perchance for all of Warwickshire? A goodly life to look forward to! And +what give they their watch-dog? Truly they must reward him that keeps +such guard, and will do battle for them all?" + +"Nay, I am none such, Judith," said he; "I but take my chance like the +others." + +He shifted her hand on his, that it might rest the more securely, and +his touch was gentle. + +"And your merchandise--pray you, who is so kind as to look after that +when you are engaged in those pastimes?" she asked. + +"I have no fault to find with my merchandise, Judith," said he. "That I +look after myself. I would I had more inducement to attend to it, and to +provide for the future. But it goes well; indeed it does." + +"And Daniel Hutt?" + +"He has left the country now." + +"And his vagabond crew--have they all made their fortunes?" + +"Why, Judith, they cannot have reached America yet," said he. + +"I am glad that you have not gone," she remarked, simply. + +"Well," he said, "why should I strive to push my fortunes there more +than here? To what end? There be none that I could serve either way." + +And then it seemed to him that it was an ungracious speech; and he was +anxious to stand well with her, seeing that she was disposed to be +friendly. + +"Judith," he said, suddenly, "surely you will not remain over at +Shottery to-morrow, with all the merriment of the fair going on in the +town? Nay, but you must come over--I could fetch you, at any hour that +you named, if it so pleased you. There is a famous juggler come into the +town, as I hear, that can do the most rare and wonderful tricks, and +hath a dog as cunning as himself; and you will hear the new ballads, to +judge which you would have; and the peddlers would show you their +stores. Now, in good sooth, Judith, may not I come for you? Why, all the +others have someone to go about with them; and she will choose this or +that posy or ribbon, and wear it for the jest of the day; but I have no +one to walk through the crowd with me, and see the people, and hear the +bargainings and the music. I pray you, Judith, let me come for you. It +cannot be well for you always to live in such dulness as is over there +at Shottery." + +"If I were to go to the fair with you," said she, and not unkindly, +"methinks the people would stare, would they not? We have not been such +intimate friends of late." + +"You asked me not to go to America, Judith," said he. + +"Well, yes," she admitted. "Truly I did so. Why should you go away with +those desperate and broken men? Surely 'tis better you should stay among +your own people." + +"I stayed because you bade me, Judith," said he. + +She flushed somewhat at this; but he was so eager not to embarrass or +offend her that he instantly changed the subject. + +"May I, then, Judith? If you would come but for an hour!" he pleaded, +for he clearly wanted to show to everybody that Judith was under his +escort at the fair; and which of all the maidens (he asked himself) +would compare beside her? "Why, there is not one of them but hath his +companion, to buy for her some brooch, or pretty coif, or the like----" + +"Are they all so anxious to lighten their purses?" said she, laughing. +"Nay, but truly I may not leave my grandmother, lest the good dame +should think that I was wearying of my stay with her. Pray you, get some +other to go to the fair with you--you have many friends, as I know, in +the town----" + +"Oh, do you think 'tis the fair I care about?" said he, quickly. "Nay, +now, Judith, I would as lief not go to the fair at all--or but for a few +minutes--if you will let me bring you over some trinket in the +afternoon. Nay, a hundred times would I rather not go--if you would +grant me such a favor; 'tis the first I have asked of you for many a +day." + +"Why," she said, with a smile, "you must all of you be prospering in +Stratford, since you are all so eager to cast abroad your money. The +peddlers will do a rare trade to-morrow, as I reckon." + +This was almost a tacit permission, and he was no such fool as to press +her for more. Already his mind ran riot--he saw himself ransacking all +the packs and stalls in the town. + +"And now," she said, as she had come within sight of the houses, "I will +return now or the good dame will wonder." + +"But I will walk back with you, Judith," said he, promptly. + +She regarded him, with those pretty eyes of hers clearly laughing. + +"Methought you came away from the cottage," said she, "because of the +claims of your business; and now you would walk all the way back again?" + +"Your hand, Judith," said he, shamefacedly, "you must not let it hang +down by your side." + +"Nay, for such a dangerous wound," said she, with her eyes gravely +regarding him, "I will take precautions; but cannot I hold it up +myself--so--if need were?" + +He was so well satisfied with what he had gained that he would yield to +her now as she wished. And yet he took her hand once more, gently and +timidly, as if unwilling to give up his charge of it. + +"I hope it will not pain you, Judith," he said. + +"I trust it may not lead me to death's door," she answered, seriously; +and if her eyes were laughing, it was with no unkindness. + +And then they said good-bye to each other, and she walked away back to +Shottery, well content to have made friends with him again, and to have +found him for the time being quit of his dark suspicions and jealousies +of her; while as for him, he went on to the town in a sort of +foreknowledge that all Stratford Fair would not have anything worthy to +be offered to Judith; and wondering whether he could not elsewhere, and +at once, and by any desperate effort, procure something fine and rare +and beautiful enough to be placed in that poor wounded hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +"THE ROSE IS FROM MY GARDEN GONE." + + +Now when Parson Blaise set forth upon the mission that had been +intrusted to him, there was not a trace of anger or indignation in his +mind. He was not even moved by jealous wrath against the person with +whom Judith had been holding these clandestine communications, nor had +he any sense of having been himself injured by her conduct. For one +thing, he knew enough of Judith's pride and self-reliance to be fairly +well satisfied that she was not likely to have compromised herself in +any serious way; and for another, his own choice of her, from among the +Stratford maidens, as the one he wished to secure for helpmate, was the +result not so much of any overmastering passion as of a cool and +discriminating judgment. Nay, this very complication that had arisen, +might he not use it to his own advantage? Might it not prove an argument +more powerful than any he had hitherto tried? And so it was that he set +out, not as one armed to punish, but with the most placable intentions; +and the better to give the subject full consideration, he did not go +straight across the meadows to the cottage, but went through the town, +and away out the Alcester road, before turning round and making for +Shottery. + +Nor did it occur to him that he was approaching this matter with any +mean or selfish ends in view. Far from that. The man was quite honest. +In winning Judith over to be his wife, by any means whatever, was he not +adding one more to the number of the Lord's people? Was he not saving +her from her own undisciplined and wayward impulses, and from all the +mischief that might arise from these? What was for his good was for her +good, and the good of the Church also. She had a winning way; she was +friends with many who rather kept aloof from the more austere of their +neighbors; she would be a useful go-between. Her cheerfulness, her good +temper, nay, her comely presence and bright ways--all these would be +profitably employed. Nor did he forget the probability of a handsome +marriage-portion, and the added domestic comfort and serenity that that +would bring himself. Even the marriage-portion (which he had no doubt +would be a substantial one) might be regarded as coming into the Church +in a way; and so all would work together for good. + +When he reached the cottage he found the old dame in the garden, busy +with her flowers and vegetables, and was told that Judith had just gone +within-doors. Indeed, she had but that minute come back from her stroll +across the fields with Quiney, and had gone in to fetch a jug, so that +she might have some fresh water from the well in the garden. He met her +on the threshold. + +"I would say a few words with you, Judith--and in private," said he. + +She seemed surprised, but was in no ill-humor, so she said, "As you +will, good sir," and led the way into the main apartment, where she +remained standing. + +"I pray you be seated," said he. + +She was still more surprised; but she obeyed him, taking her seat under +the window, so that her face was in shadow, while the light from the +small panes fell full on him sitting opposite her. + +"Judith," said he, "I am come upon a serious errand, and yet would not +alarm you unnecessarily. Nay, I think that when all is done, good may +spring out of the present troubles----" + +"What is it?" she said quickly. "Is any one ill? my mother----" + +"No, Judith," he said; "'tis no trial of that kind you are called to +face. The Lord hath been merciful to you and yours these several years; +while others have borne the heavy hand of affliction and lost their +dearest at untimeous seasons, you have been spared for many years now, +all but such trials as come in the natural course: would I could see you +as thankful as you ought to be to the Giver of all good. And yet I know +not but that grief over such afflictions is easier to bear than grief +over the consequences of our own wrong-doing; memory preserves this last +the longer; sorrow is not so enduring, nor cuts so deep, as remorse. And +then to think that others have been made to suffer through our +evil-doing--that is an added sting; when those who have expected naught +but filial obedience and duty--and the confidence that should exist +between children and their parents----" + +But this phrase about filial obedience had struck her with a sudden +fear. + +"I pray you, what is it, sir? What have I done?" she said, almost in a +cry. + +Then he saw that he had gone too fast and too far. + +"Nay, Judith," he said, "be not over-alarmed. 'Tis perchance but +carelessness, and a disposition to trust yourself in all circumstances +to your own guidance that have to be laid to your charge. I hope it may +be so; I hope matters may be no worse; 'tis for yourself to say. I come +from your mother and sister, Judith," he continued, in measured tones. +"I may tell you at once that they have learned of your having been in +secret communication with a stranger who has been in these parts, and +they would know the truth. I will not seek to judge you beforehand, nor +point out to you what perils and mischances must ever befall you, so +long as you are bent on going your own way, without government or +counsel; that you must now perceive for yourself--and I trust the lesson +will not be brought home to you too grievously." + +"Is that all?" Judith had said quickly to herself, and with much relief. + +"Good sir," she said to him, coolly, "I hope my good mother and Susan +are in no bewilderment of terror. 'Tis true, indeed, that there was one +in this neighborhood whom I met and spoke with on several occasions; if +there was secrecy, 'twas because the poor young gentleman was in +hiding; he dared not even present the letter that he brought commending +him to my father. Nay, good Master Blaise, I pray you comfort my mother +and sister, and assure them there was no harm thought of by the poor +young man." + +"I know not that, Judith," said he, with his clear, observant eyes +trying to read her face in the dusk. "But your mother and sister would +fain know what manner of man he was, and what you know of him, and how +he came to be here." + +Then the fancy flashed across her mind that this intervention of his was +but the prompting of his own jealousy, and that he was acting as the +spokesman of her mother and sister chiefly to get information for +himself. + +"Why, sir," said she, lightly, "I think you might as well ask these +questions of my grandmother, that knoweth about as much as I do +concerning the young man, and was as sorry as I for his ill fortunes." + +"I pray you take not this matter so heedlessly, Judith," he said, with +some coldness. "'Tis of greater moment than you think. No idle curiosity +has brought me hither to-day; nay, it is with the authority of your +family that I put these questions to you, and I am charged to ask you to +answer them with all of such knowledge as you may have." + +"Well, well," said she, good-naturedly; "his name----" + +She was about to say that his name was Leofric Hope, but she checked +herself, and some color rose to her face--though he could not see that. + +"His name, good sir, as I believe, is John Orridge," she continued, but +with no embarrassment; indeed she did not think that she had anything +very serious either to conceal or to confess; "and I fear me the young +man is grievously in debt, or otherwise forced to keep away from those +that would imprison him; and being come to Warwickshire he brought a +letter to my father, but was afraid to present it. He hath been to the +cottage here certain times, for my grandmother, as well as I, was +pleased to hear of the doings in London; and right civil he was, and +well-mannered; and 'twas news to us to hear about the theatres, and my +father's way of living there. But why should my mother and Susan seek to +know aught of him? Surely Prudence hath not betrayed the trust I put in +her--for indeed the young man was anxious that his being in the +neighborhood should not be known to any in Stratford. However, as he is +now gone away, and that some weeks ago, 'tis of little moment, as I +reckon; and if ever he cometh back here, I doubt not but that he will +present himself at New Place, that they may judge of him as they please. +That he can speak for himself, and to advantage and goodly showing, I +know right well." + +"And that is all you can say of this man, Judith," said he, with some +severity in his tone--"with this man that you have been thus familiar +with?" + +"Marry is it!" she said, lightly. "But I have had guesses, no doubt; for +first I thought him a gentleman of the Court, he being apparently +acquainted with all the doings there; and then methought he was nearer +to the theatres, from his knowledge of the players. But you would not +have had me ask the young man as to his occupation and standing, good +sir? 'Twould have been unseemly in a stranger, would it not? Could I +dare venture on questions, he being all unknown to any of us?" + +And now a suspicion flashed upon him that she was merely befooling him, +so he came at once and sharply to the point. + +"Judith," said he, endeavoring to pierce with his keen eyes the dusk +that enshrouded her, "you have not told me all. How came he to have a +play of your father's in his possession?" + +"Now," said she, with a quick anger, "that is ill done of Prudence! No +one but Prudence knew; and for so harmless a secret--and that all over +and gone, moreover--and the young man himself away, I know not +where--nay, by my life! I had not thought that Prudence would serve me +so. And to what end? Why, good sir, I myself lent the young man the +sheets of my father's writing--they were the sheets that were thrown +aside--and I got each and all of them safely back, and replaced them. +Prudence knew what led me to lend him my father's play; and where was +the harm of it? I thought not that she would go and make trouble out of +so small a thing." + +By this time the good parson had come to see pretty clearly how matters +stood--what with Prudence's explanations and Judith's present +confessions; and he made no doubt that this stranger--whether from +idleness, or for amusement, or with some more sinister purpose, he had +no means of knowing--had copied the play when he had taken the sheets +home with him to the farm; while as to the appearance in London of the +copy so taken, it was sufficiently obvious that Judith was in complete +ignorance, and could afford no information whatever. So that now the +first part of his mission was accomplished. He asked her a few more +questions, and easily discovered that she knew nothing whatever about +the young man's position in life, or whether he had gone straight from +the farm to London, or whether he was in London now. As to his being in +possession, or having been in possession, of a copy of her father's +play, it was abundantly evident that she had never dreamed of any such +thing. + +And now he came to the more personal part of his mission, that was for +him much more serious. + +"Judith," said he, "'tis not like you should know what sad and grievous +consequences may spring from errors apparently small. How should you? +You will take no heed or caution. The advice of those who would be +nearest and dearest to you is of no account with you. You will go your +own way--as if one of your years and experience could know the pitfalls +that lie in a young maiden's path. The whole of life is but a jest to +you--a tale without meaning--something to pass the hour withal. And +think you that such blindness and wilfulness bring no penalty? Nay, +sooner or later the hour strikes; you look back and see what you have +done--and the offers of safe guidance that you have neglected or thrust +aside." + +"I pray you, sir, what is it now?" she said, indifferently (and with a +distinct wish that he would go away and release her, and let her get out +into the light again). "Methought I had filled up the measure of my +iniquities." + +"Thus it is--thus it will be always," said he, with a kind of +hopelessness, "so long as you harden your heart and have no thought but +for the vanities of the moment." And then he addressed her more +pointedly. "But even now methinks I can tell you what will startle you +out of your moral sloth, which is an offence in the eyes of the Lord, as +it is a cause for pity and almost despair to all who know you. It was a +light matter, you think, that you should hold this secret commerce with +a stranger; careless of the respect due to your father's house; careless +of the opinion and the anxious wishes of your friends; careless, even, +of your good name----" + +"My good name?" said she, quickly and sharply. "I pray you, sir, have +heed what you say." + +"Have heed to what I have to tell you, Judith," said he, sternly. "Ay, +and take warning by it. Think you that I have pleasure in being the +bearer of evil tidings?" + +"But what now, sir? What now? Heaven's mercy on us, let us get to the +end of the dreadful deeds I have done!" she exclaimed, with some anger +and impatience. + +"I would spare you, but may not," said he, calmly. "And, now, what if I +were to tell you that this young man whom you encouraged into secret +conversation--whose manners seemed to have had so much charm for +you--was a rascal, thief, and villain? How would your pride bear it if I +told you that he had cozened you with some foolish semblance of a +wizard?" + +"Good sir, I know it," she retorted. "He himself told me as much." + +"Perchance. Perchance 'twas part of his courteous manners to tell you as +much!" was the scornful rejoinder. "But he did not tell you all--he did +not tell you that he had copied out every one of those sheets of your +father's writing; that he was about to carry that stolen copy to London, +like the knave and thief that he was; that he was to offer it for money +to the booksellers. He did not tell you that soon your father and his +associates in the theatre would be astounded by learning that a copy of +the new play had been obtained, in some dark fashion, and sold; that it +was out of their power to recover it; that their interests would be +seriously affected by this vile conspiracy; or that they would by and by +discover that this purloined play, which was like to cause them so much +grievous loss and vexation of mind, had been obtained here--in this very +neighborhood--and by the aid of no other than your father's daughter." + +"Who--told--you--this?" she asked in a strange, stunned way: her eyes +were terror-stricken, her hands all trembling. + +"A good authority," said he--"your father. A letter is but now come from +London." + +She uttered a low, shuddering cry; it was a moan almost. + +"See you now," said he (for he knew that all her bravery was struck +down, and she entirely at his mercy), "what must ever come of your +wilfulness and your scorn of those who would aid and guide you? Loving +counsel and protection are offered you--the natural shield of a woman; +but you must needs go your own way alone. And to what ends? Think you +that this is all? Not so. For the woman who makes to herself her own +rule of conduct must be prepared for calumnious tongues. And bethink +you what your father must have thought of you--the only daughter of his +household now--when he learned the story of this young man coming into +Warwickshire, and befooling you with his wizard's tricks, and meeting +you secretly, and cozening you of the sheets of your father's play. +These deeds that are done in the dark soon reach to daylight; and can +you wonder, when your father found your name abroad in London--the +heroine of a common jest--a byword--that his vexation and anger should +overmaster him? What marvel that he should forthwith send to Stratford, +demanding to know what further could be learned of the matter--perchance +fondly trusting, who knows, to find that rumor had lied? But there is no +such hope for him--nor for you. What must your mother say in reply? What +excuse can she offer? Or how make reparation to those associates of your +father who suffer with him? And how get back your good name, that is +being bandied about the town as the heroine of a foolish jest? Your +father may regain possession of his property--I know not whether that be +possible or no--but can he withdraw the name of his daughter from the +ribald wit of the taverns? And I know which he valueth the more highly, +if his own daughter know it not." + +He had struck hard; he knew not how hard. + +"My father wrote thus?" she said; and her head was bent, and her hands +covering her face. + +"I read the letter no more than an hour ago," said he. "Your mother and +sister would have me come over to see whether such a story could be +true; but Prudence had already admitted as much----" + +"And my father is angered?" she said, in that low, strange voice. + +"Can you wonder at it?" he said. + +Again there came an almost inarticulate moan, like that of an animal +stricken to death. + +As for him, he had now the opportunity of pouring forth the discourse to +her that he had in a measure prepared as he came along the highway. He +knew right well that she would be sorely wounded by this terrible +disclosure; that the proud spirit would be in the dust; that she would +be in a very bewilderment of grief. And he thought that now she might +consent to gentle leading, and would trust herself to the only one +(himself, to wit) capable of guiding her through her sorrows; and he had +many texts and illustrations apposite. She heard not one word. She was +as motionless as one dead; and the vision that rose before her burning +brain was the face of her father as she had seen it for a moment in the +garden, on the morning of his departure. That terrible swift look of +anger toward old Matthew she had never forgotten--the sudden lowering of +the brows, the flash in the eyes, the strange contraction of the mouth; +and that was what she saw now--that was how he was regarding her--and +that, she knew, would be the look that would meet her always and always +as she lay and thought of him in the long, wakeful nights. She could not +go to him. London was far away. She could not go to him and throw +herself at his feet, and beg and pray with outstretched and trembling +hands for but one word of pity. The good parson had struck hard. + +And yet in a kind of way he was trying to administer consolation--at all +events, counsel. He was enlarging on the efficacy of prayer. And he said +that if the Canaanitish woman of old had power to intercede for her +daughter, and win succor for her, surely that would not be denied to +such an one as Judith's mother, if she sought, for her daughter, +strength and fortitude in trouble where alone these could be found. + +"The Canaanitish woman," said he, "had but the one saving grace, but +that an all-powerful one, of faith; and even when the disciples would +have her sent away, she followed worshipping, and saying 'Lord, help +me.' And the Lord himself answered and said, 'It is not good to take the +children's bread, and to cast it to whelps.' But she said, 'Truth, Lord; +yet indeed the whelps eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's +table.' Then our Lord answered, and said, 'O woman, great is thy faith; +be it to thee as thou desirest.' And her daughter was made whole at that +hour." + +Judith started up; she had not heard a single word. + +"I pray you, pardon me, good sir," she said, for she was in a +half-frantic state of misery and despair; "my--my grandmother will speak +with you--I--I pray you pardon me----" + +She got up into her own little chamber--she scarce knew how. She sat +down on the bed. There were no tears in her eyes, but there was a +terrible weight on her chest that seemed to stifle her; and she was +breathless, and could not think aright, and her trembling hands were +clinched. Sometimes she wildly thought she wanted Prudence to come to +her; and then a kind of shudder possessed her--and a wish to go +away--she cared not where--and be seen no more. That crushing weight +increased, choking her; she could not rest; she rose, and went quickly +down the stair, and through the garden into the road. + +"Judith, wench!" called her grandmother, who was talking to the parson. + +She took no heed. She went blindly on; and all these familiar things +seemed so different now. How could the children laugh so? She got into +the Bidford road; she did not turn her eyes toward any whom she met, to +see whether she knew them or no--there was enough within her own brain +for her to think of. She made her way to the summit of Bardon Hill, and +there she looked over the wide landscape; but it was toward London that +she looked, and with a strange and trembling fear. And then she seemed +anxious to hide away from being seen, and went down by hedge-rows and +field-paths, and at last she was by the river. She regarded it, flowing +so stealthily by, in the sad and monotonous silence. Here was an easy +means of slipping away from all this dread thing that seemed to surround +her and overwhelm her--to glide away as noiselessly and peacefully as +the river itself to any unknown shore, she cared not what. And then she +sat down, still looking vaguely and absently at the water, and began to +think of all that had happened to her on the banks of this stream; and +she looked at these visionary pictures and at herself in them as if they +were apart and separated from her, and she never to be like that again. +Was it possible that she ever could have been so careless and so happy, +with no weight at all resting on her heart, but singing out of mere +thoughtlessness, and teaching Willie Hart the figures of dances, herself +laughing the while? It seemed a long time ago now, and that he was cut +off from her too, and all of them, and that there was to be no expiation +for evermore for this that she had done. + +How long she sat there she knew not. Everything was a blank to her but +this crushing consciousness that what had happened could never be +recalled; that her father and she were forever separated now--and his +face regarding her with the terrible look she had seen in the garden; +that all the happy past was cut away from her, and she an outcast, and a +byword, and a disgrace to all that knew her. And then she thought, in +the very weariness of her misery, that if she could only walk away +anywhere--anywhere alone, so that no one should meet her or question +her--until she was broken and exhausted with fatigue, she would then go +back to her own small room, and lie down on the bed, and try if sleep +would procure some brief spell of forgetfulness, some relief from her +aching head and far heavier heart. But when she rose she found that she +was trembling from weakness, and a kind of shiver as of cold went +through her, though the autumn day was warm enough. She walked slowly, +and almost dragged herself, all the way home. Her hand shook so that she +could scarce undo the latch of the gate. She heard her grandmother in +the inner apartment, but she managed to creep noiselessly up-stairs into +her own little chamber, and there she sank down on the bed, and lay in a +kind of stupor, pressing her hands on her throbbing brow. + +It was some two hours afterward that her grandmother, who did not know +that Judith had returned, was walking along the little passage, and was +startled by hearing a low moaning above--a kind of dull cry of pain--so +slight that she had to listen again ere she could be sure that it was +not mere fancy. Instantly she went up the few wooden steps and opened +the door. Judith was lying on the bed, with all her things on, just as +she had seen her go forth. And then--perhaps the noise of the opening of +the door had wakened her--she started up, and looked at her grandmother +in a wild and dazed kind of way, as if she had just shaken off some +terrible dream. + +"Oh, grandmother," she said, springing to her, and clinging to her like +a child, "it is not true--it is not true--it cannot be true!" + +But then she fell to crying--crying as if her heart would break. The +whole weight of her misery came back upon her, and the hopelessness of +it, and her despair. + +"Why, good lass," said her grandmother, smoothing the sun-brown hair +that was buried in her bosom, and trying to calm the violence of the +girl's sobbing, "thou must not take on so. Thy father may be angered, +'tis true, but there will come brighter days for thee. Nay, take not on +so, good lass!" + +"Oh, grandmother, you cannot understand!" she said, and her whole form +was shaken with sobs. "You cannot understand. Grandmother, grandmother, +there was--there was but the one rose--in my garden--and that is gone +now." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +IN TIME OF NEED. + + +Late that night, in the apartment below, Tom Quiney was seated by the +big fireplace, staring moodily into the chips and logs that had been lit +there, the evenings having grown somewhat chill now. There was a little +parcel lying unopened and unheeded on the table. He had not had patience +to wait for the fair of the morrow; he had ridden all the way to Warwick +to purchase something worthy of Judith's acceptance, and he had come +over to the cottage in high hopes of her being still in that kindly mood +that reminded him of other days. Then came the good dame's story of what +had befallen; and how that the parson had been over, bringing with him +these terrible tidings; and how that since then Judith would not hear of +any one being sent for, and would take no food, but was now lying there, +alone in the dark, moaning to herself at times. And the good dame--as +this tall young fellow sat there listening to her, with his fists +clinched, and the look on his face ever growing darker--went on to +express her fear that the parson had been over-hard with her grandchild; +that probably he could not understand how her father had been the very +idol of her life-long worship; that the one thing she was ever thinking +of was how to win his approval--to be rewarded by even a nod of +encouragement. + +"Nay, I liked not the manner of his speaking, when he wur come to me in +the garden," the old dame continued. "I liked it not. He be sharp of +tongue, the young pahrson, and there were too much to my mind of +discipline, and chastening of proud spirits, and the like o' that. To my +mind he have not years enough to be placed in such authority." + +"The Church is behind him," said this young fellow, almost to himself, +and his eyes were burning darkly as he spoke. "I may not put hand on +him. The Church is behind him. Marry, 'tis a goodly shelter for men that +be of the woman kind." + +Then he looked up quickly, and his words were savage.--"What think you, +good grandmother, were one to seize him by the neck and heel and break +his back on the rail of Clopton's bridge? Were it not well done? By my +life I think it were well done!" + +"Nay, nay, now," said she, quickly, for she was somewhat alarmed, seeing +his face set hard with passion and his eyes afire. "I would have no +brawling. There be plenty of harm done already. Perchance the good +pahrson hath not spoken so harshly after all. In good sooth, now, none +but her own people can understand how the wench hath ever looked up to +her father--for a word or a nod commending her, as I say--and when she +be told now that she hath wrought mischief, and caused herself to be +talked about, and her father vexed, and all the rest of the tale, why +'tis like to drive her out of her mind. And now this be all her +cry--that she may see no one of her people any more, she would bide with +me here; 'Grandmother, grandmother,' she saith, 'I will bide with you, +if you will suffer me. I will show myself in Stratford no more; they +shall have no shame through me.' Nay, but the wench be half out of her +senses, as I think, and saith wild things--that she would go and sell +herself to be a slave in the Indies, could she restore the money to her +father or bring him back this that he hath lost. 'Tis a terrible plight +for the poor wench; and always she saith, 'Grandmother, grandmother, let +me bide with you; I will never go back to New Place; grandmother, I can +work as well as any, and you will let me bide with you.' Poor lass--poor +lass!" + +"But how came the parson to interfere?" Quiney said, hotly. "I'll be +sworn Judith's father did not write to him. How came he to be preaching +his discipline and chastisement? How came he to be intrusted with the +task of abusing her and crushing the too proud spirit? By heavens, now, +there may be occasion erelong to tame some one's proud spirit, but not +the spirit of a defenceless young maid--marry, that is work fit only for +parsons. Man to man is the better way--and it will come erelong." + +"Nay, softly, softly, good Master Quiney," said the old dame in her +gentlest tones. "Would you mar all the good opinion that Judith hath of +you? Why, to-day, now, just ere the parson came, I wur in the garden, +putting things straight a bit, and as she came through she says to me, +quite pleasant-like, I have just been across the fields, grandmother, +with Master Quiney--or Tom Quiney, as she said, being friendly and +pleasant-like--and I hear less now of his quarrelling and fighting among +the young men; and his business goeth on well; and to-morrow, +grandmother, he is going to buy me something at the fair." + +"Said she all that?" he asked, quickly, and with a flush of color +rushing to his face. + +"Marry did she, and looked pleased; for 'tis a right friendly wench, and +good-natured withal," the old dame said, glad to see that these words +had for the moment scattered his wrath to the winds; and she went on for +some little time talking to him in her garrulous easy fashion about +Judith's frank and honest qualities, and her goodhearted ways, and the +pretty daintinesses of her coaxing when she was so inclined. It was a +story he was not loath to listen to, and yet it seemed so strange; they +were talking of her almost as of one passed away--as if the girl lying +there in that darkened room, instead of torturing her brain with +incessant and lightning-like visions of all the harm she had caused in +London, were now far removed from all such troubles, and hushed in the +calm of death. + +He went to the table and opened the box, and took out the little present +he had brought for Judith. It was a pair of lace cuffs, with a slender +silver circle at the wrist, the lace going back from that in a +succession of widening leaves. It was not only a pretty present, it was +also (in proportion to his means) a costly one, as the old dame's sharp +eyes instantly saw. + +"I think she would have been pleased with them," he said, absently. And +then he said, + +"Good grandmother, it were of no use to lay them near her in the +morning--on a chair or at the window--that perchance she might look at +them?" + +"Nay, nay," the grandmother said, shaking her head, "'tis no child's +trouble that hath befallen the poor wench, that she can be comforted +with pretty trifles." + +"I meant not that," said he, flushing somewhat. "'Tis that I would have +her know that--that there were friends thinking of her all the +same--those that would rather have her gladdened and tended and made +much of, than--than--chidden with any chastisement." + +This word chastisement seemed to recall his anger. + +"I say that Judith hath done no wrong at all," he said, as if he were +confronting some one not there; "and that I will maintain; and let no +man in my hearing say aught else. Why, now, the story as you tell it, +good grandmother--'tis as plain as daylight--a child can see it--all +that she did was done to magnify her father and his writing; and if the +villain sold the play--or let it slip out of his hands--was that her +doing? Doubtless it is a sore mischance; but I see not that Judith is to +be blamed for it; and right well I know that if her father were to hear +how she is smitten down with grief he would be the first to say, 'Good +lass, there is no such harm done. A great harm would be your falling +sick; get you up and out, seek your friends again, and be happy as you +were before.' That is what he would say, I will take my oath of it; and +if the parson and his chastisements were to come across him, by my life +I would not seek to be in the parson's shoes!" + +"I must make another trial with the poor wench," said the good +grandmother, rising, "that hath eaten nothing all the day. In truth her +only crying is to be left alone now, and that hereafter I am to let her +bide with me. It be a poor shelter, I think, for one used to live in a +noble house; but there 'tis, so long as she wisheth it." + +"Nay, but this cannot be suffered to go on, good Mistress Hathaway," +said he, as he rose and got his cap; "for if Judith take no food, and +will see no one, and be alone with her trouble, of a surety she will +fall ill. Now to-morrow morning I will bring Prudence over. If any can +comfort her, Prudence can; and that she will be right willing, I know. +They have been as sisters." + +"That be well thought of, Master Quiney," said the grandmother, as she +went to the door with him. "Take care o' the ditch the other side of the +way; it be main dark o' nights now." + +"Good-night to you, good grandmother," said he, as he disappeared in the +darkness. + +But it was neither back home nor yet to Stratford town that Tom Quiney +thought of going all that long night. He felt a kind of constraint upon +him (and yet a constraint that kept his heart warm with a secret +satisfaction) that he should play the part of a watch-dog, as it +were--as if Judith were sorely ill, or in danger, or in need of +protection somehow; and he kept wandering about in the dark, never at +any great radius from the cottage. His self-imposed task was the easier +now that, as the black clouds overhead slowly moved before the soft +westerly wind, gaps were opened, and here and there clusters of stars +were visible, shedding a faint light down on the sombre roads and fields +and hedges. Many strange fancies occurred to him during that long and +silent night, as to what he could do, or would like to do, for Judith's +sake. Breaking the parson's neck was the first and most natural, and +the most easily accomplished; but fleeing the country, which he knew +must follow, did not seem so desirable a thing. He wanted to do +something--he knew not what. He wished he had been less of a companion +with the young men, and less careful to show, with them, that Stratford +town and the county of Warwick could hold their own against all comers. +If he had been more considerate and gentle with Judith, perhaps she +would not have sought the society of the parson. He knew he had not the +art of winning her over, like the parson. He could not speak so +plausibly. Nor had he the authority of the Church behind him. It was +natural for women to think much of that, and to be glad of the shelter +of authority. Parsons themselves (he considered) were a kind of half +women, being in women's secrets, and entitled to speak to them in +ghostly confidence. But if Judith, now, wanted some one to do something +for her, no matter what, in his rough-and-ready way--well, he wondered +what that could be that he would refuse. And so the dark hours went by. + +With the gray of the dawn he began to cast his eyes abroad, as if to see +if any one were stirring, or approaching the cluster of cottages nestled +down there among the trees. The daylight widened and spread up in the +trembling east; the fields and the woods became clear; here and there a +small tuft of blue smoke began to arise from a cottage chimney. And now +he was on Bardon Hill, and could look abroad over the wide landscape +lying between Shottery and Stratford town; and if any one--any one +bringing lowering brows and further cruel speech to a poor maid already +stricken down and defenceless--had been in sight, what then? Watchfully +and slowly he went down from the hill, and back to the meadows lying +between the hamlet and Stratford, there to interpose, as it were, and +question all comers. And well it was, for the sake of peace and charity, +that the good parson did not chance to be early abroad on this still +morning; and well it was for the young man himself. There was no +wise-eyed Athene to descend from the clouds and bid this wrathful +Achilles calm his heart. He was only an English country youth, though +sufficiently Greek-like in form; and he was hungry and gray-faced with +his vigil of the night, and not in a placable mood. Nay, when a young +man is possessed with the consciousness that he is the defender of some +one behind him--some one who is weak and feminine and suffering--he is +apt to prove a dangerous antagonist; and it was well for all concerned +that he had no occasion to pick a quarrel on this morning in these quiet +meadows. In truth he might have been more at rest had he known that the +good parson was in no hurry to follow up his monitions of the previous +day; he wished these to sink into her mind and take root there, so that +thereafter might spring up such wholesome fruits as repentance and +humility, and the desire of godly aid and counsel. + +By-and-by he slipped away home, plunged his head into cold water to +banish the dreams of the night, and then, having swallowed a cup of milk +to stay his hunger, he went along to Chapel Street, to see if he could +have speech of Prudence. He found that not only were all of the +household up and doing, but that Prudence herself was ready to go out, +being bent on one of her charitable errands; and it needed but a word to +alter the direction of her kindness: of course she would at once go to +see Judith. + +"Truly I had fears of it," said she, as they went through the fields, +the pale, calm face having grown more and more anxious as she listened +to all that he had to tell her. "Her father was as the light of the +world to her. With the others of us she hath ever been headstrong in a +measure, and careless--and yet so lovable withal, and merry, that I for +one could never withstand her--nay, I confess I tried not to withstand +her, for never knew I of any wilfulness of hers springing from anything +but good-nature and her kind and generous ways. But that she was ever +ready to brave our opinions I know, and perchance make light of our +anxieties, we not having her courage; and in all things she seemed to be +a guide unto herself, and to walk sure and have no fear. In all things +but one. Indeed 'tis true what her grandmother told you, and who should +know better than I, who was always with her? The slightest wish of her +father's--that was law to her. A word of commending from him, and she +was happy for days. And think what this must be now--she that was so +proud of his approval--that scarce thought of aught else. Nay, for +myself I can see that they have told him all a wrong story in London, +that know I well; and 'tis no wonder that he is vexed and angry; but +Judith--poor Judith----" + +She could say no more just then; she turned aside her face somewhat. + +"Do you know what she said to her grandmother, Prudence, when she fell +a crying? that there had been but the one rose in her garden, and that +was gone now." + +"'Tis what Susan used to sing," said Prudence, with rather trembling +lips. "'_The rose is from my garden gone_,' 'twas called. Ay, and hath +she that on her mind now? Truly I wish that her mother and Susan had let +me break this news to her; none know as well as I what it must be to +her." + +And here Tom Quiney quickly asked her whether it was not clear to her +that the parson had gone beyond his mission altogether--and that in a +way that would have to be dealt with afterward, when all these things +were amended? Prudence, with some faint color in her pale face, defended +Master Blaise to the best of her power, and said she knew he could not +have been unduly harsh; nay, had she not herself, just as he was setting +forth, besought him to be kind and considerate with Judith? Hereupon +Quiney rather brusquely asked what the good man could mean by phrases +about discipline and chastenings and chastisements; to which Prudence +answered gently that these were but separate words, and that she was +sure Master Blaise had fulfilled what he undertook in a merciful spirit, +which was his nature. After that there was a kind of silence between +these two; perhaps Quiney considered that no good end could be served at +present by stating his own ideas on that subject. The proper time would +come, in due course. + +At length they reached the cottage. But here, to their amazement, and to +the infinite distress of Prudence, when Judith's grandmother came down +the wooden steps again, she shook her head, saying that the wench would +see no one. + +"I thought as 'twould be so," she said. + +"But me, good grandmother! Me!" Prudence cried, with tears in her eyes. +"Surely she will not refuse to see me!" + +"No one, she saith," was the answer. "Poor wench, her head do ache so +bad. And when one would cheer her or comfort her a morsel, 'tis another +fit of crying--that will wear her to skin and bone, if she do not pluck +up better heart. She hath eaten naught this morning neither; 'tis for no +wilfulness, poor lass, for she tried an hour ago; and now 'tis best as I +think to leave her alone." + +"By your leave, good grandmother," said Prudence, with some firmness, +"that will I not. If Judith be in such trouble, 'tis not likely that I +should go away and leave her. It hath never been the custom between us +two." + +"As you will, Prudence," the grandmother said. "Young hearts have their +confidences among themselves. Perchance you may be able to rouse her." + +Prudence went up the stairs silently and opened the door. Judith was +lying on the bed, her face turned away from the light, her hands clasped +over her forehead. + +"Judith!" + +There was no answer. + +"Judith," said her friend, going near, "I am come to see you." + +There was a kind of sob--that was all. + +"Judith, is your head so bad? Can I do nothing for you?" + +She put over her hand--the soft and cool and gentle touch of which had +comforted many a sick-bed--and she was startled to find that both +Judith's hands and forehead were burning hot. + +"No, sweetheart," was the answer, in a low and broken voice, "you can do +nothing for me now." + +"Nay, nay, Judith, take heart," Prudence said, and she gently removed +the hot fingers from the burning forehead, and put her own cooler hand +there, as if to dull the throbbing of the pain. "Sweetheart, be not so +cast down! 'Twill be all put right in good time." + +"Never--never!" the girl said, without tears, but with an abject +hopelessness of tone. "It can never be undone now. He said my name was +become a mockery among my father's friends. For myself, I would not heed +that--nay, they might say of me what they pleased--but that my father +should hear of it--a mockery and scorn--and they think I cared so little +for my father that I was ready to give away his papers to any one +pretending to be a sweetheart and befooling me--and my father to know it +all, and to hear such things said--no, that can never be undone now. I +used to count the weeks and the days and the very hours when I knew he +was coming back--that was the joy of my life to me--and now, if I were +to know that he were coming near to Stratford I should fly and hide +somewhere--anywhere--in the river as lief as not. Nay, I make no +complaint. 'Tis my own doing, and it cannot be undone now." + +"Judith, Judith, you break my heart!" her friend cried. "Surely to all +troubles there must come an end." + +"Yes, yes," was the answer, in a low voice, and almost as if she were +speaking to herself. "That is right. There will come an end. I would it +were here now." + +All Prudence's talking seemed to be of no avail. She reasoned and +besought--oftentimes with tears in her eyes--but Judith remained quite +listless and hopeless; she seemed to be in a stunned and dazed condition +after the long sleeplessness of the night; and Prudence was afraid that +further entreaties would only aggravate her headache. + +"I will go and get you something to eat now," said she. "Your +grandmother says you have had nothing since yesterday." + +"Do not trouble; 'tis needless, sweetheart," Judith said; and then she +added with a brief shiver, "but if you could fetch a thick cloak, dear +Prudence, and throw it over me--surely the day is cold somewhat." + +A few minutes after (so swift and eager was everybody in the house) +Judith was warmly wrapped up; and by the side of the bed, on a chair, +was some food the good grandmother had been keeping ready, and also a +flask of wine that Quiney had brought with him. + +"Look you, Judith," said Prudence, "here is some wine that Thomas Quiney +hath brought for you--'tis of a rare quality, he saith--and you must +take a little. Nay, you must and shall, sweetheart; and then perchance +you may be able to eat." + +She sipped a little of the wine; it was but to show her gratitude and +send him her thanks. She could not touch the food. She seemed mostly +anxious for rest and quiet; and so Prudence noiselessly left her and +stole down the stair again. + +Prudence was terribly perplexed and in a kind of despair almost. + +"I know not what to do," she said. "I would bring over her mother and +Susan, but that she begs and prays me not to do that--nay, she cannot +see them she says. And there is no reasoning with her. It cannot be +undone now--that is her constant cry. What to do I cannot tell; for +surely, if she remain so, and take no comfort, she will fall ill." + +"Ay, and if that be so who is to blame?" said Quiney, who was walking up +and down in considerable agitation. "I say that letter should never have +been put into the parson's hands. Was it meant to be conveyed to Judith? +I warrant me it was not! Did her father say that he wished her chidden? +did he ask any of you to bid the parson go to her with his upbraidings? +would he himself have been so quick and eager to chasten her proud +spirit? I tell you no. He is none of the parson kind. Vexed he might +have been, but he would have taken no vengeance. What--on his own child? +By heavens, I'll be sworn now that if he were here, at this minute, he +would take the girl by the hand, and laugh at her for being so afraid of +his anger--ay, I warrant me he would--and would bid her be of good +cheer, and brighten her face, that was ever the brightest in +Warwickshire, as I have heard him say. That would he--my life on it!" + +"Ah," said Prudence, wistfully, "if you could only persuade Judith of +that!" + +"Persuade her?" said he. "Why, I would stake my life that is what her +father would do?" + +"You could not persuade her," said Prudence, with a hopeless air. "No; +she thinks it is all over now between her father and her. She is +disgraced and put away from him. She hath done him such injury, she +says, as even his enemies have never done. When he comes back again, she +says, to Stratford, she will be here, and she knows that he will never +come near this house; and that will be better for her, she says, for she +could never again meet him face to face." + +Well, all that day Judith lay there in that solitary room, desiring only +to be left alone; taking no food; the racking pains in her head +returning from time to time; and now and again she shivered slightly, as +if from cold. Tom Quiney kept coming and going to hear news of her, or +to consult with Prudence as to how to rouse her from this hopelessness +of grief; and as the day slowly passed, he grew more and more disturbed +and anxious and restless. Could nothing be done? Could nothing be done? +was his constant cry. + +He remained late that evening, and Prudence stayed all night at the +cottage. In the morning he was over again early, and more distressed +than ever to hear that the girl was wearing herself out with this agony +of remorse--crying stealthily when that she thought no one was near, and +hiding herself away from the light, and refusing to be comforted. + +But during the long and silent watches he had been taking counsel with +himself. + +"Prudence," said he, regarding her with a curious look, "do you think +now, if some assurance were come from her father himself--some actual +message from him--a kindly message--some token that he was far indeed +from casting her away from him--think you Judith would be glad to have +that?" + +"'Twould be like giving her life back to her," said the girl, simply. +"In truth I dread what may come of this; 'tis not in human nature to +withstand such misery of mind. My poor Judith, that was ever so careless +and merry!" + +He hesitated for a second or two, and then he said, looking at her, and +speaking in a cautious kind of way. + +"Because, when next I have need to write to London, I might beg of some +one--my brother Dick, perchance, that is now in Bucklersbury, and would +have small trouble in doing such a service--I say I might beg of him to +go and see Judith's father, and tell him the true story, and show him +that she was not so much to blame. Nay, for my part I see not that she +was to blame at all, but for over-kindness and confidence, and the wish +to exalt her father. The mischief that hath been wrought is the doing of +the scoundrel and villain on whose head I trust it may fall erelong; +'twas none of hers. And if her father were to have all that now put +fairly and straight before him, think you he would not be right sorry to +hear that she had taken his anger so much to heart, and was lying almost +as one dead at the very thought of it? I tell you, now, if all this be +put before him, and if he send her no comfortable message--ay, and that +forthwith, and gladly--I have far misread him. And as for her, +Prudence--'twould be welcome, say you?" + +"'Twould be of the value of all the world to her," Prudence said, in her +direct and earnest way. + +Well, he almost immediately thereafter left (seeing that he could be of +no further help to these women-folk), and walked quickly back to +Stratford, and to his house, which was also his place of business. He +seemed to hurry through his affairs with speed; then he went up-stairs +and looked out some clothing; he took down a pair of pistols and put +some fresh powder in the pans, and made a few other preparations. Next +he went round to the stable, and the stout little Galloway nag whinnied +when she saw him at the door. + +"Well, Maggie, lass," said he, going into the stall, and patting her +neck, and stroking down her knees, "what sayst thou? Wouldst like a +jaunt that would carry thee many a mile away from Stratford town? Nay, +but if you knew the errand, I warrant me you would be as eager as I! +What, then--a bargain, lass! By my life, you shall have many a long +day's rest in clover when this sharp work is done!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +A LOST ARCADIA. + + +It was on this same morning that Judith made a desperate effort to rouse +herself from the prostration into which she had fallen. All through that +long darkness and despair she had been wearily and vainly asking herself +whether she could do nothing to retrieve the evil she had wrought. Her +good name might go--she cared little for that now--but was there no +means of making up to her father the actual money he had lost? It was +not forgiveness she thought of, but restitution. Forgiveness was not to +be dreamed of; she saw before her always that angered face she had +beheld in the garden, and her wish was to hide away from that, and be +seen of it no more. Then there was another thing: if she were to be +permitted to remain at the cottage, ought she not to show herself +willing to take a share of the humblest domestic duties? Might not the +good dame begin to regard her as but a useless encumbrance? If it were +so that no work her ten fingers could accomplish would ever restore to +her father what he had lost through her folly, at least it might win her +grandmother's forbearance and patience. And so it was on the first +occasion of her head ceasing to ache quite so badly she struggled to her +feet (though she was so languid and listless and weak that she could +scarcely stand), and put round her the heavy cloak that had been lying +on the bed, and smoothed her hair somewhat, and went to the door. There +she stood for a minute or two, listening, for she would not go down if +there were any strangers about. + +The house seemed perfectly still. There was not a sound anywhere. Then, +quite suddenly, she heard little Cicely begin to sing to herself--but in +snatches, as if she were occupied with other matters--some well-known +rhymes to an equally familiar tune-- + + "By the moon we sport and play; + With the night begins our day; + As we drink the dew doth fall, + Trip it, dainty urchins all! + Lightly as the little bee, + Two by two, and three by three, + And about go we, go we." + +--and she made no doubt that the little girl was alone in the kitchen. +Accordingly, she went down. Cicely, who was seated near the window and +busily engaged in plucking a fowl, uttered a slight cry when she +entered, and started up. + +"Dear Mistress Judith," she said, "can I do aught for you? Will you sit +down? Dear, dear, how ill you do look!" + +"I am not at all ill, little Cicely," said Judith, as cheerfully as she +could, and she sat down. "Give me the fowl--I will do that for you, and +you can go and help my grandmother in whatever she is at." + +"Nay, not so," said the little maid, definitely refusing. "Why should +you?" + +"But I wish it," Judith said. "Do not vex me now--go and seek my +grandmother, like a good little lass." + +The little maid was thus driven to go, but it was with another purpose. +In about a couple of minutes she had returned, and preceding her was +Judith's grandmother. + +"What! art come down, wench?" the old dame said, patting her kindly on +the shoulder. "That be so far well--ay, ay, I like that now--that be +better for thee than lying all alone. But what would you with the little +maid's work, that you would take it out of her hands?" + +"Why, if I am idle, and do nothing, grandmother, you will be for turning +me out of the house," the girl answered, looking up with a strange kind +of smile. + +"Turn thee out of the house," said her grandmother, who had just caught +a better glimpse of the wan and tired face. "Ay, that will I--and now. +Come thy ways, wench; 'tis time for thee to be in the fresh air. Cicely, +let be the fowl now. Put some more wood on the fire, and hang on the +pot--there's a clever lass. And thou, grandchild, come thy ways with me +into the garden, and I warrant me when thou comest back a cupful of +barley-broth will do thee no harm." + +Judith obeyed, though she would fain have sat still. And then, when she +reached the front door what a bewilderment of light and color met her +eyes! She stood as one dazed for a second or two. The odors of the +flowers and the shrubs were so strange, moreover--pungent and strange +and full of memories. It seemed so long a time since she had seen this +wonderful glowing world and breathed this keen air, that she paused on +the stone flag to collect her senses as it were. And then a kind of +faintness came over her, and perhaps she might have sank to the ground, +but that she laid hold of her grandmother's arm. + +"Ay, ay, come thy ways and sit thee down, dearie," the old dame said, +imagining that the girl was but begging for a little assistance in her +walking. "I be main glad to see thee out again. I liked not that lying +there alone--nay, I wur feared of it, and I bade Prudence send your +mother and Susan to see you----" + +"No, no, good grandmother, no, no!" Judith pleaded, with all the effort +that remained to her. + +"But yea, yea!" her grandmother said, sharply. "Foolish wench, that +would hide away from them that can best aid thee! Ay, and knowest thou +how the new disease, as they call it, shows itself at the beginning? +Why, with a pinching of the face and sharp pains in the head. Wouldst +thou have me let thee lie there, and perchance go from bad to worse, and +not send for them--ay, and for Susan's husband, if need were? Nay, but +let not that fright thee, good wench," she said, in a gentler way. "'Tis +none so bad as I thought, else you would not be venturing down the +stairs--nay, nay, there be no harm done as yet, I warrant me--'tis a +breath of fresh air to sharpen thee into a hungry fit that will be the +best doctor for thee. Here, sit thee down and rest now, and when the +barley-broth be warm enough, Cicely shall bring thee out a dish of it. +Nay, I see no harm done. Keep up thy heart, lass; thou wert ever a brave +one--ay, what was there ever that could daunt thee? and not the boldest +of the youths but was afraid of thy laugh and thy merry tongue. Heaven +save us, that thou should take on so! And if you would sell yourself to +work in slavery in the Indies, think you they would buy a poor, weak, +trembling creature? Nay, nay, we will have to fetch back the roses to +your cheeks ere you make for that bargain, I warrant me!" + +They were now seated in the little arbor. On entering Judith had cast +her eyes round it in a strange and half-frightened fashion; and now, as +she sat there, she was scarcely listening to the good-natured garrulity +of the old dame, which was wholly meant to cheer her spirits. + +"Grandmother," said she, in a low voice, "think you 'twas really he that +took away with him my father's play?" + +"I know not how else it could have been come by," said the grandmother, +"but I pray you, child, heed not that for the present. What be done and +gone cannot be helped--let it pass--there, there, now, what a lack of +memory have I, that should have shown thee the pretty lace cuffs that +Thomas Quiney left for thee--fit for a queen they be, to be sure--ay, +and the fine lace of them, and the silver, too. He hath a free hand, he +hath; 'tis a fair thing for any that will be in life-partnership with +him; 'twill not away, marry 'twill not; 'twill bide in his nature--that +will never out of the flesh that's bred in the bone, as they say; and I +like to see a young man that be none of the miser kind, but ready forth +with his money where 'tis to please them he hath a fancy for. A brave +lad he is too, and one that will hold his own; and when I told him that +you were pleased that his business went forward well, why, saith he, as +quick as quick, 'Said she that?' and if my old eyes fail me not, I know +of one that setteth greater share by your good word than you imagine, +wench." + +She but half heard; she was recalling all that had happened in this very +summer-house. + +"And think you, grandmother," said she, slowly, and with absent eyes, +"that when he was sitting here with us, and telling us all about the +Court doings, and about my father's friends in London, and when he was +so grateful to us--or saying that he was so--for our receiving of him +here, think you that all the time he was planning to steal my father's +play, and to take it and sell it in London? Grandmother can you think it +possible? Could any one be such a hypocrite? I know that he deceived me +at the first, but 'twas only a jest, and he confessed it all, and +professed his shame that he had so done. But, grandmother, think of +him--think of how he used to speak--and ever so modest and gentle; is't +possible that all the time he was playing the thief, and looking forward +to the getting away to London to sell what he had stolen?" + +"For love's sake, sweetheart, heed that man no more! 'tis all done and +gone--there can come no good of vexing thyself about it," her +grandmother said. "Be he villain or not, 'twill be well for all of us +that we never hear his name more. In good sooth I am as much to blame as +thou thyself, child, for the encouraging him to come about, and +listening to his gossip--beshrew me, that I should have meddled in such +matters, and not bade him go about his business! But 'tis all past and +gone now, as I say--there be no profit in vexing thyself----" + +"Past and gone, grandmother!" she exclaimed, and yet in a listless way. +"Yes--but what remains? Good grandmother, perchance you did not hear all +that the parson said. 'Tis past and gone, truly--and more than you +think." + +The tone in which she uttered these words somewhat startled the good +dame, who looked at her anxiously. And then she said, + +"Why, now, I warrant me the barley-broth will be hot enough by this +time: I will go fetch thee a cupful, wench--'twill put warmth in thy +veins, it will--ay, and cheer thy heart too." + +"Trouble not, good grandmother," she said. "I would as lief go back to +my room now. The light hurts my eyes strangely." + +"Back to your room? that shall you not!" was the prompt answer, but not +meant unkindly. "You shall wait here, wench, till I bring thee that will +put some color in thy white face--ay, and some of Thomas Quiney's wine +withal; and if the light hurt thee, sit farther back, then--of a truth +'tis no wonder, after thou hast hid thyself like a dormouse for so +long." + +And so she went away to the house. But she was scarcely gone when +Judith--in this extreme silence that the rustling of a leaf would have +disturbed--heard certain voices; and listening more intently she made +sure that the new-comers must be Susan and her mother, whom Prudence had +asked to walk over. Instantly she got up, though she had to steady +herself for a moment by resting her hand on the table; and then, as +quickly as she could, and as noiselessly, she stole along the path to +the cottage, and entered, and made her way up to her own room. She +fancied she had not been heard. She would rather be alone. If they had +come to accuse her, what had she to answer? Why, nothing: they might say +of her what they pleased now, it was all deserved; only, the one +denunciation of her that she had listened to--the one she had heard from +the parson--seemed like the ringing of her death-knell. Surely there +was no need to repeat that? They could not wish to repeat it, did they +but know all it meant to her. + +Then the door was quietly opened, and her sister appeared, bearing in +one hand a small tray. + +"I have brought you some food, Judith, and a little wine, and you must +try and take them, sweetheart," said she. "'Twas right good news to us +that you had come down and gone into the garden for a space. In truth, +making yourself ill will not mend matters; and Prudence was in great +alarm." + +She put the tray on a chair, for there was no table in the room--but +Judith, finding that her sister had not come to accuse her, but was in +this gentle mood, said quickly and eagerly, + +"Oh, Susan, you can tell me all that I would so fain know! You must have +heard, for my father speaks to you of all his affairs, and at your own +wedding you must have heard when all these things were arranged. Tell +me, Susan--I shall have a marriage-portion, shall I not?--and how much, +think you? Perchance not so large as yours, for you are the elder, and +Dr. Hall was ever a favorite with my father. But I shall have a +marriage-portion, Susan, shall I not? nay, it may already be set aside +for me." + +And then the elder sister did glance somewhat reproachfully at her. + +"I wonder you should be thinking of such things, Judith," said she. + +"Ah, but 'tis not as you imagine," the girl said, with the same pathetic +eagerness. "Tis in this wise now: would my father take it in a measure +to repay him for the ill that I have done? Would it make up the loss, +Susan, or a part of it? Would he take it, think you? Ah, but if he would +do that!" + +"Why, that were an easy way out of the trouble, assuredly!" her sister +exclaimed. "To take the marriage-portion that is set aside for thee--and +if I mistake not, 'tis all provided--ay, and the Rowington copyhold, +which will fall to thee, if 'tis not thine already; truly, 'twere a wise +thing to take these to make good this loss, and then, when you marry, to +have to give you your marriage-portion all the same!" + +"Nay, nay, not so, Susan!" her sister cried, quickly. "What said you? +The Rowington copyhold also? and perchance mine already? Susan, would it +make good the loss? Would all taken together make good the loss? For, +as Heaven is my witness, I will never marry--nor think of marrying--but +rejoice all the days of my life if my father would but take these to +satisfy him of the injury I have done him. Nay, but is't possible, +Susan? Will he do that for me--as a kindness to me? I have no right to +ask for such--but--but if only he knew--if only he knew!" + +The tears were running down her face; her hands were clasped in abject +entreaty. + +"Sweetheart, you know not what you ask," her sister said, but gently. +"When you marry, your marriage-portion will have to be in accordance +with our position in the town--my father would not have it otherwise; +were you to surrender that now, would he let one of his daughters go +forth from his house as a beggar, think you? Or what would her husband +say to be so treated? You might be willing to give up these, but my +father could not, and your husband would not." + +"Susan, Susan, I wish for no marriage," she cried; "I will stay with my +grandmother here; she is content that I should bide with her; and if my +father will take these, 'twill be the joy of my life; I shall wish for +no more; and New Place shall come to no harm by me; 'tis here that I am +to bide. Think you he would take them, Susan--think you he would take +them?" she pleaded; and in her excitement she got up, and tried to walk +about a little, but with her hands still clasped. "If one were to send +to London now--a message--or I would walk every foot of the way did I +but think he would do this for me--oh, no! no! no! I durst not--I durst +never see him more--he has cast me off--and--and I deserve no less!" + +Her sister went to her and took her by the hand. + +"Judith, you have been in sore trouble, and scarce know what you say," +she said, in that clear, calm way of hers. "But this is now what you +must do. Sit down and take some of this food. As I hear, you have scarce +tasted anything these two days. You have always been so wild and +wayward; now must you listen to reason and suffer guidance." + +She made her sit down. The girl took a little of the broth, some of the +spiced bread, and a little of the wine, but it was clear that she was +forcing herself to it; her thoughts were elsewhere. And scarcely had she +finished this make-believe of a repast when she turned to her sister and +said, with a pathetic pleading in her voice, + +"And is it not possible, Susan? Surely I can do something! It is so +dreadful to think of my father imagining that I have done him this +injury, and gone on the same way, careless of what has happened. That +terrifies me at night! Oh, if you but knew what it is in the darkness, +in the long hours, and none to call to, and none to give you help; and +to think that these are the thoughts he has of me; that it was all for a +sweetheart I did it--that I gave away his writing to please a +sweetheart--and that I care not for what has happened, but would do the +like again to-morrow! It is so dreadful in the night." + +"I would comfort you if I could, Judith," said her sister, "but I fear +me you must trust to wiser counsel than mine. In truth I know not +whether all this can be undone, or how my father regards it at the +moment; for at the time of the writing they were all uncertain. But +surely now you would do well to be ruled by some one better able to +guide you than any of us women-folk; Master Blaise hath been most kind +and serviceable in this as in all other matters, and hath written to +your father in answer to his letter, so that we have had trust and +assurance in his direction. And you also--why should you not seek his +aid and counsel?" + +At the mere mention of the parson's name Judith shivered instinctively, +she scarce knew why. + +"Judith," her sister continued, regarding her watchfully, "to-morrow, as +I understand, Master Blaise is coming over here to see you." + +"May not I be spared that? He hath already brought his message," the +girl said, in a low voice. + +"Nay, he comes but in kindness--or more than kindness, if I guess +aright. Bethink you, Judith," she said, "'tis not only the loss of the +money--or great or small I know not--that hath distressed my father. +There was more than that. Nay, do not think that I am come to reproach +you; but will it not be ever thus so long as you will be ruled by none, +but must always go your own way? There was more than merely concerned +money affairs in my father's letter, as doubtless Master Blaise hath +told you; and then, think of it, Judith, how 'twill be when the bruit of +the story comes down to Stratford----" + +"I care not," was the perfectly calm answer. "That is for me to bear. +Can Master Blaise tell me how I may restore to my father this that he +hath lost? Then his visit might be more welcome, Susan." + +"Why will you harden your heart so?" the elder sister said, with some +touch of entreaty in her tone. "Nay, think of it, Judith! Here is an +answer to all. If you but listen to him, and favor him, you will have +one always with you as a sure guide and counsellor; and who then may +dare say a word against you?" + +"Then he comes to save my good name?" the girl said, with a curious +change of manner. "Nay, I will give him no such tarnished prize!" + +And here it occurred to the elder sister, who was sufficiently shrewd +and observant, that her intercession did not seem to be producing good +results, and she considered it better that the parson should speak for +himself. Indeed, she hoped she had done no mischief, for this that she +now vaguely suggested had for long been the dream and desire of both her +mother and herself; and at this moment, if ever, there was a chance of +Judith's being obedient and compliant. Not only did she forthwith change +the subject, but also she managed to conquer the intense longing that +possessed her to learn something further about the young man who (as she +imagined) had for a time captured Judith's fancies. She gave her sister +what news there was in the town. She besought her to take care of +herself, and to go out as much as possible, for that she was looking far +from well. And, finally, when the girl confessed that she was fain to +lie down for a space (having slept so little during these two nights), +she put some things over her and quietly left, hoping that she might +soon get to sleep. + +Judith did not rest long, however. The question whether the sacrifice of +her marriage-portion might not do something toward retrieving the +disaster she had caused was still harassing her mind; and then again +there was the prospect of the parson coming on the morrow. By-and-by, +when she was certain that her mother and sister were gone, she went +down-stairs, and began to help in doing this or the other little thing +about the house. Her grandmother was out-of-doors, and so did not know, +to interfere, though the small maid-servant remonstrated as best she +might. Luckily, however, nature was a more imperative monitress, and +again and again the girl had to sit down from sheer physical weakness. + +But there came over a visitor in the afternoon who restored to her +something of her old spirit. It was little Willie Hart, who, having +timidly tapped at the open door without, came along the passage and +entered the dusky chamber where she was. + +"Ah, sweetheart," said she (but with a kind of sudden sob in her +throat), "have you come to see me?" + +"I heard that you were not well, cousin," said he, and he regarded her +with troubled and anxious eyes as she stooped to kiss him. + +"Nay, I am well enough," said she, with as much cheerfulness as she +could muster. "Fret not yourself about that. And what a studious scholar +you are, Cousin Willie, to be sure, that must needs bring your book with +you! Were I not so ignorant myself, I should hear you your tasks; but +you would but laugh at me----" + +"'Tis no task-book, Judith," said he, diffidently. "'Twas Prudence who +lent it to me." And then he hesitated, through shyness. + +"Why, you know, Judith," he said, "you have spoken to me many a time +about Sir Philip Sidney; and I was asking this one and the other, at +times, and Prudence said she would show me a book he had written that +belongs to her brother. And then to-day, when I went to her, she bade me +bring the book to you, and to read to you, for that you were not well +and might be pleased to hear it, she not being able to come over till +the morrow." + +"In truth, now, that was well thought of, and friendly," said she, and +she put her hand in a kindly fashion on his shoulder. "And you have come +all the way over to read to me! see you how good a thing it is to be +wise and instructed. Well, then, we will go and sit by the door, that +you may have more of light; and if my grandmother catch us at such +idleness, you shall have to defend me--you shall have to defend me, +sweetheart--for you are the man of us two, and I must be shielded." + +So they went to the door, and sat down on the step, the various-colored +garden and the trees and the wide heavens all shining before them. + +"And what is the tale, Cousin Willie?" said she, quite pleasantly (for +indeed she was glad to see the boy, and to chat with one who had no +reproaches for her, who knew nothing against her, but was ever her true +lover and slave). "Nay, if it be by Sir Philip Sidney, 'twill be of +gallant and noble knights, assuredly." + +"I know not, Cousin Judith," said he; "I but looked at the beginning as +I came through the fields. And this is how it goes." + +He opened the book and began to read-- + +"'It was in the time that the Earth begins to put on her new apparel +against the approach of her lover, and that the sun running a most even +course becomes an indifferent arbiter between the night and the day, +when the hopeless shepherd Strephon was come to the sands which lie +against the island of Cythera, where, viewing the place with a heavy +kind of delight, and sometimes casting his eyes to the isleward, he +called his friendly rival the pastor Claius unto him, and, setting first +down in his darkened countenance a doleful copy of what he would speak, +"O my Claius," said he----'" + +Thus he went on; and as he read, her face grew more and more wistful. It +was a far-off land that she heard of; and beautiful it was; it seemed to +her that she had been dwelling in some such land, careless and all +unknowing. + +"'The third day after,'" she vaguely heard him say, "'in the time that +the morning did strew roses and violets in the heavenly floor against +the coming of the sun, the nightingales, striving one with the other +which could in most dainty variety recount their wrong-caused sorrow, +made them put off their sleep, and rising from under a tree, which that +night had been their pavilion, they went on their journey, which +by-and-by welcomed Musidorus's eyes with delightful prospects. There +were hills which garnished their proud heights with stately trees; +humble valleys whose base estate seemed comforted with the refreshing of +silver rivers; meadows enamelled with all sorts of eye-pleasing flowers; +thickets which, being lined with most pleasant shade, were witnessed so +to by the cheerful disposition of many well-tuned birds; each pasture +stored with sheep, feeding with sober security, while the pretty lambs, +with bleating oratory, craved the dams' comfort; here a shepherd's boy +piping, as though he should never be old; there a young shepherdess +knitting, and withal singing; and it seemed that her voice comforted her +hands to work, and her hands kept time to her voice-music.'" + +Surely she had herself been living in some such land of pleasant +delights, without a thought that ever it would end for her, but that +each following day would be as full of mirth and laughter as its +predecessor. She scarcely listened to the little lad now; she was +looking back over the years, so rare and bright and full of light and +color were they--and always a kind of music in them--and laughter at the +sad eyes of lovers. She had never known how happy she had been. It was +all distant now--the idle flower-gathering in the early spring-time; the +afternoon walking in the meadows, she and Prudence together (with the +young lads regarding them askance); the open casements on the moonlit +nights, to hear the madrigal singing of the youths going home; or the +fair and joyous mornings that she was allowed to ride away in the +direction of Oxford, to meet her father and his companions coming in to +Stratford town. And now, when next he should come--to all of them, and +all of them welcoming him--even neighbors and half-strangers--and he +laughing to them all, and getting off his horse, and calling for a cup +of wine as he strode into the house, where should she be? Not with all +of these--not laughing and listening to the merry stories of the +journey--but away by herself, hiding herself, as it were, and thinking, +alone. + +"Dear Judith, but why are you crying?" said the little lad, as he +chanced to look up; and his face was of an instant and troubled anxiety. + +"Why, 'tis a fair land--oh, indeed, a fair land," said she, with an +effort at regarding the book, and pretending to be wholly interested in +it. "Nay, I would hear more of Musidorus, sweetheart, and of that pretty +country. I pray you continue the reading--continue the reading, +sweetheart Willie. Nay, I never heard of a fairer country I assure thee, +in all the wide world!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +A RESOLVE. + + +Then that night, as she lay awake in the dark, her incessant imaginings +shaped themselves toward one end. This passion of grief she knew to be +unavailing and fruitless. Something she would try to do, if but to give +evidence of her contrition: for how could she bear that her father +should think of her as one having done him this harm and still going on +light-hearted and unconcerned? The parson was coming over on the morrow. +And if she were to put away her maidenly pride (and other vague dreams +that she had sometimes dreamed), and take it that her consent would +re-establish her in the eyes of those who were now regarding her +askance, and make her peace with her own household? And if the +surrender of her marriage-portion and her interest in the Rowington +copyhold (whatever it might be) were in a measure to mitigate her +father's loss? It was the only thing she could think of. And if at times +she looked forward with a kind of shudder (for in the night-time all +prospects wear a darker hue) to her existence as the parson's wife, +again there came to her the reflection that it was not for her to +repine. Some sacrifice was due from her. And could she not be as +resolute as the daughter of the Gileadite? Oftentimes she had heard the +words read out in the still afternoon: "Now when Iphtah came to Mizpeh +unto his house, behold his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels +and dances: which was his only child; he had none other, son nor +daughter. And when he saw her he rent his clothes, and said, Alas! my +daughter, thou hast brought me low, and art of them that trouble me." +The Jewish maiden had done no ill, and yet was brave to suffer. Why +should she repine at any sacrifice demanded of her to atone for her own +wrong-doing? What else was there? She hoped that Susan and her mother +would be pleased now, and that her father and his friends in London +would not have any serious loss to regret. There was but the one way, +she said to herself again and again. She was almost anxious for the +parson to come over, to see if he would approve. + +With the daylight her determination became still more clear, and also +she saw more plainly the difficulties before her; for it could not be +deemed a very seemly and maidenly thing that she, on being asked to +become a bride (and she had no doubt that was his errand), should begin +to speak of her marriage-portion. But would he understand? Would he help +her over her embarrassment? Nay, she could not but reflect, here was an +opportunity for his showing himself generous and large-minded. He had +always professed, or at least intimated, that his wish to have her for +wife was based mostly on his care for herself and his regard for the +general good of the pious community to which he belonged. She was to be +a helpmate for one laboring in the Lord's vineyard; she was to be of +service in the church; she was to secure for herself a constant and +loving direction and guidance. And now, if he wished to prove all +this--if he wished to show himself so noble and disinterested as to win +for himself her life-long gratitude--what if he were to take over all +her marriage-portion, as that might be arranged, and forthwith and +chivalrously hand it back again, so that her grievous fault should so +far be condoned? If the girl had been in her usual condition of health +and spirits, it is probable that she would have regarded this question +with a trifle of scepticism (for she was about as shrewd in such matters +as Susan herself); nay, it is just probable that she might have +experienced a malicious joy in putting him to the proof. But she was in +despair; her nerves were gone through continual wakefulness and mental +torture; this was the only direction in which she saw light before her, +and she regarded it, not with her ordinary faculty of judgment, but with +a kind of pathetic hope. + +Master Blaise arrived in the course of the morning. His reception was +not auspicious, for the old dame met him at the gate, and made more than +a show of barring the way. + +"Indeed, good sir," said she, firmly, "the wench be far from well now, +and I would have her left alone." + +He answered that his errand was of some importance, and that he must +crave a few minutes' interview. Both her mother and sister, he said, +were aware he was coming over to see her, and had made no objection. + +"No, no, perchance not," the grandmother said, though without budging an +inch, "but she be under my care now, and I will have no harm befall +her----" + +"Harm! good Mistress Hathaway?" said he. + +"Well, she be none so strong as she were--and--and perchance there hath +been overmuch lecturing of the poor lass. Nay, I doubt not 'twas meant +in kindness; but there hath been overmuch of it, as I reckon, and what I +say is, if the wench have done amiss, let those that have the right to +complain come to her. Nay, 'twas kindness, good sir; 'twas well meant, I +doubt not; and 'tis your calling belike to give counsel and reproof; I +say naught against that, but I am of a mind to have my grandchild left +alone at present." + +"If you refuse me, good Mistress Hathaway," said he, quite courteously +and calmly, "there is no more to be said. But I imagine that her mother +and sister will be surprised. And as for the maiden herself--go you by +her wishes?" + +"Nay, not I," was the bold answer. "I know better than all of them +together. For to speak plainly with you, good Master Parson, your +preaching must have been oversharp when last you were within here--and +was like to have brought the wench to death's door thereafter; marry, +she be none so far recovered as to risk any further of such treatment. +Perchance you meant no harm; but she is proud and high-spirited, and by +your leave, good sir, we will see her a little stronger and better set +up ere she have any more of the discipline of the church bestowed on +her." + +It was well that Judith appeared at this juncture, for the tone of the +old dame's voice was growing more and more tart. + +"Grandmother," said she, "I would speak with Master Blaise." + +"Get thee within-doors at once, I tell thee, wench!" was the peremptory +rejoinder. + +"No, good grandmother, so please you," Judith said, "I must speak with +him. There is much of importance that I have to say to him. Good sir, +will you step into the garden?" + +The old dame withdrew, sulky and grumbling, and evidently inclined to +remain within ear-shot, lest she should deem it necessary to interfere. +Judith preceded Master Blaise to the door of the cottage, and asked the +little maid to bring out a couple of chairs. As she sat down he could +not but observe how wan and worn her face was, and how listless she was +in manner; but he made no comment on that; he only remarked that her +grandmother seemed in no friendly mood this morning, and that only the +fact that his mission was known to Susan and her mother had caused him +to persist. + +It was clear that this untoward reception had disconcerted him somewhat; +and it was some little time before he could recover that air of mild +authority with which he was accustomed to convey his counsels. At first +he confined himself to telling Judith what he had done on behalf of her +mother and Susan, in obedience to their wishes; but by and by he came to +herself and her own situation; and he hoped that this experience through +which she had passed, though it might have caused her bitter distress +for the time, would eventually make for good. If the past could not be +recalled, at least the future might be made safe. Indeed one or two +phrases he had used sounded as if they had done some previous service, +perhaps he had consulted with Mistress Hall ere making this appeal--but +in any case Judith was not listening so particularly as to think of +that--she seemed to know beforehand what he had to say. + +To tell the truth, he was himself a little surprised at her tacit +acquiescence. He had always had to argue with Judith, and many a time he +had found that her subtle feminine wit was capable of extricating +herself from what he considered a defenceless position. But now she sat +almost silent. She seemed to agree to everything. There was not a trace +left of the old audacious self-reliance, nor yet of those saucy +rejoinders which were only veiled by her professed respect for his +cloth--she was at his mercy. + +And so, growing bolder, he put in his own personal claim. He said little +that he had not said or hinted on previous occasions; but now all the +circumstances were changed; this heavy misfortune that had befallen her +was but another and all too cogent reason why she should accept his +offer of shelter and aid and counsel, seeing into what pitfalls her own +unguided steps were like to lead her. + +"I speak the words of truth and soberness," said he, as he sat and +calmly regarded her downcast face, "and make no appeal to the foolish +fancies of a young and giddy-headed girl--for that you are no longer, +Judith. The years are going by. There must come a time in life when the +enjoyment of the passing moment is not all in all--when one must look to +the future, and make provision for sickness and old age. Death strikes +here and there; friends fall away. What a sad thing it were to find +one's self alone, the dark clouds of life thickening over, and none by +to help and cheer. Then your mother and sister, Judith----" + +"Yes, I know," she said, almost in despair--"I know 'twould please +them." + +And then she reflected that this was scarcely the manner in which she +should receive his offer, that was put before her so plainly and with so +much calm sincerity. + +"I pray you, good sir," said she, in a kind of languid way, "forgive me +if I answer you not as frankly as might be. I have been ill; my head +aches now; perchance I have not followed all you said. But I understand +it--I understand it--and in all you say there is naught but good +intention." + +"Then it is yes, Judith?" he exclaimed; and for the first time there was +a little brightness of ardor--almost of triumph--in this clearly +conceived and argued wooing. + +"It would please my mother and sister," she repeated, slowly. "They are +afraid of some story coming from London about--about--what is passed. +This would be an answer, would it not?" + +"Why, yes!" he said, confidently, for he saw that she was yielding (and +his own susceptibilities were not likely to be wounded in that +direction). "Think you we should heed any tavern scurrility? I trow not! +There would be the answer plain and clear--if you were my wife, Judith." + +"They would be pleased," again she said, and her eyes were absent. And +then she added, "I pray you pardon me, good sir, if I speak of that +which you may deem out of place, but--but if you knew--how I have been +striving to think of some means of repairing the wrong I have done my +father, you would not wonder that I should be anxious, and perchance +indiscreet. You know of the loss I have caused him and his companions. +How could I ever make that good with the work of my own hands? That is +not possible; and yet when I think of how he hath toiled for all of +us--late and early, as it were--why, good sir, I have myself been bold +enough to chide him--or to wish that I were a man, to ride forth in the +morning in his stead and look after the land; and then that his own +daughter should be the means of taking from him what he hath earned so +hardly--that I should never forget; 'twould be on my mind year after +year, even if he were himself to try to forget it." + +She paused for a second; the mere effort of speaking seemed to fatigue +her. + +"There is but the one means, as I can think, of showing him my humble +sorrow for what hath been done--of making him some restitution. I know +not what my marriage-portion may be--but 'twill be something--and Susan +saith there is a part of the manor of Rowington, also, that would fall +to me; now, see you, good Master Blaise, if I were to give these over to +my father in part quittance of this injury--or if, belike--my--my--husband +would do that--out of generosity and nobleness--would not my father be +less aggrieved?" + +She had spoken rather quickly and breathlessly (to get over her +embarrassment), and now she regarded him with a strange anxiety, for so +much depended on his answer! Would he understand her motives? Would he +pardon her bluntness? Would he join her in this scheme of restitution? + +He hesitated only for a moment. + +"Dear Judith," he said, with perfect equanimity, "such matters are +solely within the province of men, and not at the disposition of women, +who know less of the affairs of the world. Whatever arrangements your +father may have made in respect of your marriage-portion--truly I have +made no inquiry in that direction--he will have made with due regard to +his own circumstances, and with regard to the family and to your future. +Would he be willing to upset these in order to please a girlish fancy? +Why, in all positions in life pecuniary losses must happen; and a man +takes account of these; and is he likely to recover himself at the +expense of his own daughter?" + +"Nay, but if she be willing! If she would give all that she hath, good +sir!" she cried, quickly. + +"'Twould be but taking it from one pocket to put it in the other," said +he, in his patient and forbearing way. "I say not, if a man were like to +become bankrupt, that his family might not forego their expectations in +order to save him; but your father is one in good position. Think you +that the loss is so great to him? In truth it cannot be." + +The eagerness fell away from her face. She saw too clearly that he could +not understand her at all. She did not reckon her father's loss in +proportion to his wealth--in truth, she could not form the faintest +notion of what that loss might be; all her thought was of her winning +back (in some remote day, if that were still possible to her) to her +father's forgiveness, and the regarding of his face as no longer in +dread wrath against her. + +"Why," said he, seeing that she sat silent and distraught (for all the +hope had gone out of her), "in every profession and station in life a +man must have here or there a loss, as I say; but would he rob his +family to make that good? Surely not. Of what avail might that be? 'Tis +for them that he is working, 'tis not for himself; why should he take +from them to build up a property which must in due course revert and +become theirs? I pray you put such fancies out of your head, Judith. +Women are not accustomed to deal with such matters; 'tis better to have +them settled in the ordinary fashion. Were I you I would leave it in +your father's hands." + +"And have him think of me as he is thinking now!" she said, in a kind of +wild way. "Ah, good sir, you know not!--you know not! Every day that +passes is but the deeper misery--for--for he will be hardened in the +belief--'twill be fixed in his mind forever--that his own daughter did +him this wrong, and went on lightly--not heeding--perchance to seek +another sweetheart. This he is thinking now, and I--what can I +do?--being so far away and none to help!" + +"In truth, dear Judith," said he, "you make too much of your share in +what happened. 'Tis not to you your father should look for reparation of +his loss, but to the scoundrel who carried the play to London. What +punishment would it be for him--or what gain to your father--that your +father should upset the arrangements he has made for the establishment +and surety of his own family? Nay, I pray you put aside such a strange +fancy, dear heart, and let such things take their natural course." + +"In no wise, in no wise!" she exclaimed, almost in despair. "In truth I +cannot. 'Twould kill me were nothing to be done to appease my father's +anger; and I thought that if he were to learn that you had sought me in +marriage--and--and agreed that such restitution as I can make should be +made forthwith--or afterward, as might be decided--but only that he +should know now that I give up everything he had intended for me--then I +should have great peace of mind." + +"Indeed, Judith," said he, somewhat coldly, "I could be no party to any +such foolish freak--nay, not even in intention, whatever your father +might say to it. The very neighbors would think I was bereft of my +senses. And 'twould be an ill beginning of our life together--in which +there must ever be authority and guidance, as well as dutiful +obedience--if I were to yield to what every one must perceive to be an +idle and fantastic wish. I pray you consult your own sober judgment; at +present you are ailing, and perturbed; rest you awhile until these +matters have calmed somewhat, and you will see them in their true +light." + +"No, no," she said, hurriedly and absently--"no, no, good sir, you know +not what you ask. Rest? Nay, one way or the other this must be done, and +forthwith. I know not what he may have intended for me; but be it large +or small, 'tis all that I have to give him--I can do no more than +that--and then--then there may be some thoughts of rest." + +She spoke as if she were scarcely aware of the good parson's presence; +and in truth, though he was not one to allow any wounded self-love to +mar his interests, he could not conceal from himself that she was +considering the proposal he had put before her mainly, if not wholly, +with a view to the possible settlement of these troubles and the +appeasing of her friends. Whether, in other circumstances, he might not +have calmly overlooked this slight, needs not now be regarded; in the +present circumstances--that is to say, after her announced determination +to forego every penny of her marriage-portion--he did take notice of it, +and with some sharpness of tone, as if he were truly offended. + +"Indeed you pay me no compliment, Judith," said he. "I come to offer you +the shelter of an honest man's home, an honorable station as his wife, a +life-long guidance and protection; and what is your answer?--that +perchance you may make use of such an offer to please your friends and +to pay back to your father what you foolishly think you owe him. If +these be the only purposes you have in view--and you seem to think of +none other--'twould be a sorry forecast for the future, as I take it. At +the very beginning an act of madness! Nay, I could be no party to any +such thing. If you refuse to be guided by me in great matters, how could +I expect you to be guided in small?" + +These words, uttered in his clear and precise and definite manner, she +but vaguely understood (for her head troubled her sorely, and she was +tired, and anxious to be at rest) to be a withdrawal of his proposal. +But that was enough; and perhaps she even experienced some slight sense +of relief. As for his rebuking of her, she heeded not that. + +"As you will, sir, as you will," she said, listlessly, and she rose from +her chair. + +And he rose too. Perhaps he was truly offended; perhaps he only appeared +to be; but at all events he bade her farewell in a cold and formal +manner, and as if it were he who had brought this interview to an end, +and that for good. + +"What said he, wench, what said he?" her grandmother asked (who had been +pretending all the time to be gathering peas, and now came forward). +"Nay, I caught but little--a word here or there--and yet methinks 'tis a +brave way of wooing they have nowadays that would question a maid about +her marriage-portion! Heaven's mercy, did ever any hear the like? 'Twas +not so when I was young--nay, a maid would have bade him go hang that +brought her such a tale. Oh, the good parson! his thoughts be not all +bent on heaven, I warrant me! Ay, and what said he? And what saidst +thou, wench? Truly you be in no fit state to answer him; were you well +enough, and in your usual spirits, the good man would have his +answer--ay, as sharp as need be. But I will say no more; Master Quiney +hath a vengeful spirit, and perchance he hath set me too much against +the good man; but as for thyself, lass, there be little cause for +talking further of thy offences, if 'tis thy marriage-portion the parson +be after now!" + +"Good grandmother, give me your arm," Judith said, in a strange way. "My +head is so strange and giddy. I know not what I have said to him--I +scarce can recollect it--if I have offended, bid him forgive +me--but--but I would have him remain away." + +"As I am a living woman," said the old dame (forgetting her resolve to +speak smooth words), "he shall not come within the door, nor yet within +that gate while you bide with me and would have him kept without! What +then? More talk of chastenings? Marry now Thomas Quiney shall hear of +this--that shall he--by my life he shall!" + +"No, no, no, good grandmother, pray you blame no one," the girl said, +and she was trembling somewhat. "'Tis I that have done all the harm--to +every one. But I know not what I said--I--I would fain lie down, +grandmother, if you will give me your arm so far--'tis so strangely +cold--I understand it not--and I forget what wast he said to me--but I +trust I offended him not----" + +"Nay, but what is it, then, my deary?" the old woman said, taking both +the girl's hands in hers. "What is it that you should fret about? Nay, +fret not, fret not, good wench; the parson be well away, and there let +him bide. And would you lie down?--well, come, then; but sure you shake +as if 'twere winter. Come, lass! nay, fret not, we will keep the parson +away, I warrant, if 'tis that vexes thee!" + +"No, grandmother, 'tis not so," the girl said, in a low voice. "'Twas +down by the river, as I think--'twas chilly there--I have felt it ever +since, from time to time--but 'twill pass away when I am laid down and +become warm again." + +"Heaven grant it be no worse," the old dame said to herself, as she +shrewdly regarded the girl; but of course her outward talk, as she took +her within-doors, was ostensibly cheerful. "Come thy ways, then, +sweeting, and we shall soon make thee warm enough. Ay, ay, and Prudence +be coming over this afternoon, as I hear; and no doubt Thomas Quiney +too; and thou must get thyself dressed prettily, and have supper with us +all, though 'tis no treat to offer to a man of his own wine. Nay, I +warrant me he will think naught of that so thou be there with a pleasant +face for him; he will want nor wine nor aught else if he have but that, +and a friendly word from thee, as I reckon; ay, and thou shalt put on +the lace cuffs now, to do him fair service for his gift to thee--that +shalt thou, and why not? I swear to thee, my brave lass, they be fit for +a queen!" + +And she would comfort her and help her (just as if this granddaughter of +hers, that always was so bright and gay and radiant, so self-willed and +self-reliant, with nothing but laughter for the sad eyes of the stricken +youths, was now but a weak and frightened child, that had to be guarded +and coaxed and caressed), and would talk as if all her thinking was of +that visit in the afternoon; but the only answer was---- + +"Will you send for Prudence, grandmother? Oh, grandmother, my head aches +so! I scarce know what I said." + +Swiftly and secretly the old dame sent across to the town; and not to +Prudence only, but also (for she was grown anxious) to Mistress Hall, to +say that if her husband were like to return soon to Stratford he might +come over and see Judith, who was far from well. As for Prudence, a word +was sufficient to bring her; she was there straightway. + +She found Judith very much as she had left her, but somewhat more +restless and feverish perhaps, and then again hopelessly weak and +languid, and always with those racking pains in the head. She said it +was nothing--it would soon pass away; it was but a chill she had caught +in sitting on the river-bank; would not Prudence now go back to her +duties and her affairs in the house? + +"Judith," said her friend, leaning over her and speaking low, "I have +that to tell thee will comfort thee, methinks." + +"Nay, I cannot listen to it now," was the answer--and it was a moan +almost. "Dear mouse, do not trouble about me--but my head is so bad that +I--that I care not now. And the parson is gone away, thinking that I +have wronged him also--'tis ever the same now--oh, sweetheart, my head, +my head!" + +"But listen, Judith," the other pleaded. "Nay, but you must know what +your friends are ready to do for you--this surely will make thee well, +sweetheart. Think of it now; do you know that Quiney is gone to see +your father?" + +"To my father!" she repeated, and she tried to raise her head somewhat, +so that her eyes might read her friend's face. + +"I am almost sure of it, dear heart," Prudence said, taking her hot hand +in hers. "Nay, he would have naught said of it. None of his family know +whither he is gone, and I but guess. But this is the manner of it, dear +Judith--that he and I were talking, and sorely vexed he was that your +father should be told a wrong story concerning you--ay, and sorry to see +you so shaken, Judith, and distressed; and said he, 'What if I were to +get a message to her from her father--that he was in no such mood of +anger--and had not heard the story aright--and that he was well disposed +to her, and grieved to hear she had taken it so much to heart--would not +that comfort her?' he said. And I answered that assuredly it would, and +even more perchance than he thought of; and I gathered from him that he +would write to some one in London to go and see your father, and pray +him to send you assurance of that kind. But now--nay, I am certain of +it, dear Judith--I am certain that he himself is gone all the way to +London to bring thee back that comfort; and will not that cheer thee +now, sweetheart?" + +"He is doing all that for me?" the girl said, in a low voice, and +absently. + +"Ah, but you must be well and cheerful, good mouse, to give him greeting +when he comes back," said Prudence, striving to raise her spirits +somewhat. "Have I not read to thee many a time how great kings were wont +to reward the messengers that brought them good news?--a gold chain +round their neck, or lands perchance. And will you have no word of +welcome for him? Will you not meet him with a glad face? Why, think of +it now--a journey to London--and the perils and troubles by the way--and +all done to please thee. Nay, he would say naught of it to any one--lest +they might wonder at his doing so much for thee, belike--but when he +comes back 'twere a sorry thing that you should not give him a good and +gracious welcome." + +Judith lay silent and thinking for a while, and then she said--but as if +the mere effort to speak were too much for her-- + +"Whatever happens, dear Prudence--nay, in truth I think I am very +ill--tell him this--that he did me wrong--he thought I had gone to meet +the parson that Sunday morning in the church-yard--'twas not so--tell +him it was not so--'twas but a chance, dear heart--I could not help +it----" + +"Judith, Judith," her friend said, "these be things for thine own +telling. Nay, you shall say all that to himself, and you must speak him +fair; ay, and give him good welcome and thanks that hath done so much +for thee." + +Judith put her head down on the pillow again, languidly; but presently +Prudence heard her laugh to herself, in a strange way. + +"Last night," she said--"'twas so wonderful, dear Prue--I thought I was +going about in a strange country, looking for my little brother Hamnet, +and I knew not whether he would have any remembrance of me. Should I +have to tell him my name? I kept asking myself. And 'Judith, Judith,' I +said to him, when I found him; but he scarce knew; I thought he had +forgotten me, 'tis so long ago now; 'Judith, Judith,' I said; and he +looked up, and he was so strangely like little Willie Hart that I +wondered whether it was Hamnet or no----" + +But Prudence was alarmed by these wanderings, and did her best to hush +them. And then, when at length the girl lay silent and still, Prudence +stole down-stairs again and bade the grandmother go to Judith's room, +for that she must at once hurry over to Stratford to speak with Susan +Hall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +ARRIVALS. + + +Some few mornings after that two travellers were standing in the +spacious archway of the inn at Shipston, chatting to each other, and +occasionally glancing toward the stable-yard, as if they were expecting +their horses to be brought round. + +"The wench will thank thee for this service done her," the elder of the +two said; and he regarded the younger man in a shrewd and not unkindly +way. + +"Nay, I am none well pleased with the issue of it at all," the young man +said, moodily. + +"What, then?" his companion said. "Can nothing be done and finished but +with the breaking of heads? Must that ever crown the work? Mercy on +us!--how many would you have slaughtered? now 'tis the parson that must +be thrown into the Avon; again it is Gentleman Jack you would have us +seek out for you; and then it is his friend, whose very name we know +not, that you would pursue through the dens and stews of London town. A +hopeful task, truly, for a Stratford youth! What know you of London, +man? And to pursue one whose very name you have not--and all for the +further breaking of heads, that never did any good anywhere in the +world." + +"Your are right, sir," the younger man said, with some bitterness. "I +can brag and bluster as well as any. But I see not that much comes of +it. 'Tis easy to break the heads of scoundrels--in talk. Their bones are +none the worse." + +"And better so," the other said, gravely. "I will have no blood shed. +What, man, are you still fretting that I would not leave you behind in +London?" + +"Nay, sir, altogether I like not the issue of it," he said, but +respectfully enough. "I shall be told, I doubt not, that I might have +minded my own business. They will blame me for bringing you all this way +and hindering your affairs." + +"Heaven bless us," said the other, laughing, "may not a man come to see +his own daughter without asking leave of the neighbors?" + +"'Tis as like as not that she herself will be the first to chide me," +the younger man answered. "A message to her was all I asked of you, sir. +I dreamt not of hindering your affairs so." + +"Nay, nay," said Judith's father, good-naturedly. "I can make the +occasion serve me well. Trouble not about that, friend Quiney. If we can +cheer up the wench, and put her mind at rest--that will be a sufficient +end of the journey; and we will have no broken heads withal, so please +you. And if she herself should have put aside these idle fears, and +become her usual self again, why, then, there is no harm done either. I +mind me that some of them wondered that I should ride down to see my +little Hamnet when he lay sick, for 'twas no serious illness that time, +as it turned out; but what does that make for now? Now, I tell you, I am +right glad I went to see the little lad; it cheered him to be made so +much of, and such small services or kindnesses are pleasant things for +ourselves to think of, when those who are dearest to us are no longer +with us. So cease your fretting, friend Quiney, for the hindering of my +affairs I take it that I am answerable to myself, and not to the good +gossips of Stratford town. And if 'tis merely to say a kind word to the +lass--if that is all that needs be done--well, there are many things +that are of different value to different people; and the wench and I +understand each other shrewdly well." + +The horses were now brought round; but ere they mounted, Judith's father +said, again regarding the youth in that observant way, + +"Nay, I see how it is with you, good lad--you are anxious as to how +Judith may take this service you have done her. Is't not so?" + +"Perchance she may be angry that I called you away, sir," he said. + +"Have no fear. 'Twas none of thy doing; 'twas but a whim of mine own. +Nay, there be other and many reasons for my coming--that need not be +explained to her. What, must I make apology to my own daughter? She is +not the guardian of Stratford town. I am no rogue; she is no constable. +May not I enter? Nay, nay, have no fear, friend Quiney; when that she +comes to understand the heavy errand you undertook for her, she will +give you her thanks, or I know nothing of her. Her thanks?--marry, yes!" + +He looked at the young man again. + +"But let there be no broken heads, good friend, I charge you," said he, +as he put his foot in the stirrup. "If the parson have been over-zealous +we will set all matters straight, without hurt or harm to any son of +Adam." + +And now as they rode on together, the younger man's face seemed more +confident and satisfied, and he was silent for the most part. Of course +he would himself be the bearer of the news; it was but natural that he +should claim as much. And as Judith's father intended to go first to New +Place, Quiney intimated to him that he would rather not ride through the +town; in fact, he wanted to get straightway (and unobserved, if +possible) to Shottery, to see how matters were there. + +When he arrived at the little hamlet, Willie Hart was in the garden, and +instantly came down to the gate to meet him. He asked no questions of +the boy, but begged of him to hold the bridle of his horse for a few +minutes; then he went into the house. + +Just within the threshold he met Judith's sister. + +"Ah," said he, quickly, and even joyously, "I have brought good news. +Where is Judith? May I see her? I want to tell her that her father is +come, and will be here to see her presently----" + +And then something in the scared face that was regarding him struck him +with a sudden terror. + +"What is it?" he said, with his own face become about as pale as hers. + +"Judith is very ill," was the answer. + +"Yes, yes," he said eagerly, "and that she was when I left. But now that +her father is come, 'twill be all different--'twill be all set right +now. And you will tell her, then, if I may not? Nay, but may not I see +her for a moment--but for a moment--to say how her father is come all +the way to see her--ay, and hath a store of trinkets for her--and is +come to comfort her into the assurance that all will go well? Why, will +not such a message cheer her?" + +"Good Master Quiney," Susan said, with tears welling into her eyes, "if +you were to see her she would not know you--she knows no one--she knows +not that she is ill--but speaks of herself as some other----" + +"But her father!" he exclaimed, in dismay, "will she not know him? Will +she not understand? Nay, surely 'tis not yet too late!" + +But here Doctor Hall appeared; and when he was told that Judith's father +was come to the town, and would shortly be at the cottage, he merely +said that perhaps his presence might soothe her somewhat, or even lead +her delirious wanderings into a gentler channel, but that she would +almost certainly be unable to recognize him. Nor was the fever yet at +its height, he said, and they could do but little for her. They could +but wait and hope. As for Quiney, he did not ask to be admitted to the +room. He seemed stunned. He sat down in the kitchen, heeding no one, and +vaguely wondering whether any lengthening of the stages of the journey +would have brought them better in time. Nay, had he not wasted precious +hours in London in vainly seeking to find himself face to face with Jack +Orridge! + +Prudence chanced to come down-stairs. As he entered the kitchen he +forgot to give her any greeting; he only said, quickly, + +"Think you she will not understand that her father is come to see her? +Surely she must understand so much, Prudence! You will tell her, will +you not? and ask her if she sees him standing before her?" + +"I know not--I am afraid," said Prudence, anxiously. "Perchance it may +frighten her the more; forever she says that she sees him, and always +with an angry face toward her; and she is for hiding herself away from +him--and even talking of the river! Good lack, 'tis pitiful that she +should be so struck down--and almost at death's door--and all we can do +of so little avail." + +"Prudence," said he, starting to his feet, "there is her father just +come; I hear him; now take him to her--and you will see--you will see. I +may not go--a strange face might frighten her--but I know she will +recognize him--and understand--and he will tell her to have no longer +any fear of him----" + +Prudence hurried away to meet Judith's father, who was in the doorway, +getting such information as was possible, from the doctor. And then they +all of them (all but Quiney) stole gently up-stairs; and they stood at +the door in absolute silence, while Judith's father went forward to the +bed--so quietly that the girl did not seem to notice his approach. + +The grandmother was there, sitting by the bedside and speaking to her in +a low voice. + +"Hush thee now, sweeting, hush thee now," she was saying, and she patted +her hand. "Nay, I know 'twas ill done; 'tis quite right what thou +sayest; they treated her not well; and the poor wench anxious to please +them all. But have no fear for her--nay, trouble not thy head with +thoughts of her--she be safe at home again, I trust. Hush thee, now, +sweeting; 'twill go well with her, I doubt not; I swear to thee her +father be no longer angry with the wench; 'twill all go well with her, +and well. Have no fear." + +The girl looked at her steadily, and yet with a strange light in her +eyes, as if she saw distant things before her, or was seeking to recall +them. + +"There was Susan, too," she said, in a low voice, "that sang so +sweet--oh, in the church it was so sweet to hear her; but when it was +'_The rose is from my garden gone_,' she would not sing that, though +that was ever in her sister's mind after she went away down to the +river-side. I cannot think why they would not sing it to her; perchance +the parson thought 'twas wicked--I know not now. And when she herself +would try it with the lute, nothing would come right--all went wrong +with her--all went wrong; and her father came angry and terrible to seek +her--and 'twas the parson that would drag her forth--the bushes were not +thick enough--good grandam, why should the bushes in the garden be so +thin that the terrible eyes peered through them, and she tried to hide +and could not?" + +"Nay, I tell thee, sweetheart," said the grandmother, whispering to her, +"that the poor wench you speak of went home; and all were well content +with her, and her father was right pleased; indeed, indeed, 'twas so." + +"Poor Judith, poor Judith!" the girl murmured to herself; and then she +laughed slightly. "She was ever the stupid one; naught would go right +with her; ay, and evil-tempered she was, too, for Quiney would ride all +the way to London for her, and she thanked him with never a word or a +look--never a word or a look, and he going all the way to please her. +Poor wench, all went wrong with her somehow; but they might have let her +go; she was so anxious to hide; and then to drag her forth--from under +the bushes--grandam, it was cruelly done of them, was it not?" + +"Ay, ay, but hush thee now, dearie," her grandmother said, as she put a +cool cloth on the burning forehead. "'Tis quite well now with the poor +wench you speak of." + +Her father drew nearer, and took her hand quietly. + +"Judith," said he, "poor lass, I am come to see you." + +For an instant there was a startled look of fear in her eyes; but that +passed, and she regarded him at first with a kind of smiling wonder, and +thereafter with a contented satisfaction, as though his presence was +familiar. Nay, she turned her attention altogether toward him now, and +addressed him--not in any heart-broken way, but cheerfully, and as if he +had been listening to her all along. It was clear that she did not in +the least know who he was. + +"There now, lass," said he, "knowest thou that Quiney and I have ridden +all the way from London to see thee? and thou must lie still and rest, +and get well again, ere we can carry thee out into the garden." + +She was looking at him with those strangely brilliant eyes. + +"But not into the garden," she said, in a vacant kind of way. "That is +all gone away now--gone away. 'Twas long ago--when poor Judith used to +go into the garden--and right fair and beautiful it was--ay, and her +father would praise her hair and the color of it--until he grew angry, +and drove her away far from him then--and then--she wandered down to the +river--and always Susan's song was in her mind--or the other one, that +was near as sad as that, about the western wind, was it not? How went it +now?-- + + "'Western wind, when will you blow?' + +Nay, I cannot recall it--'tis gone out of my head, grandam, and there is +only fire there--and fire--and fire-- + + "'Western wind, when will you blow?' + +it went--and then about the rain next, what was it?-- + + "'So weary falls the rain!' + +Ay, ay, that was it now--I remember Susan singing it-- + + "'Western wind, when will you blow? + So weary falls the rain! + Oh, if my love were in my arms, + Or I in my bed again!'" + +And here she turned away from them and fell a-crying, and hid from them, +as it were, covering her face with both her hands. + +"Grandmother, grandmother," they could hear her say through her sobbing, +"there was but the one rose in my garden, and that is gone now--they +have robbed me of that--and what cared I for aught else? And Quiney is +gone too, without a word or a look--without a word or a look--and ere he +be come back--well, I shall be away by then--he will have no need to +quarrel with me and think ill of me that I chanced to meet the parson. +'Tis all over now, grandmother, and done with, and you will let me bide +with you for just a little while longer--a little while, grandmother; +'tis no great matter for so little a while, though I cannot help you as +I would--but Cicely is a good lass--and 'twill be for a little +while--for last night again I found Hamnet--ay, ay, he hath all things +in readiness now--all in readiness----" And then she uttered a slight +cry, or moan rather. "Grandmother, grandmother, why do you not keep the +parson away from me? You said that you would!" + +"Hush, hush, child," the grandmother said, bending over her and +speaking softly and closely. "You are over-concerned about the poor lass +that was treated so ill. Take heart now; I tell thee all is going well +with her; her father hath taken her home again, and she is as happy as +the day is long. Nay, I swear to thee, good wench, if thou lie still and +restful, I will take thee to see her some of these days. Hush thee now, +dearie; 'tis going right well with the lass now." + +The doctor touched the arm of Judith's father, and they both withdrew. + +"She knew you not," said he; "and the fewer people around her the +better--they set her fancies wandering." + +They went down-stairs to where Quiney was awaiting them, and the sombre +look on their faces told its tale. + +"She is in danger!" he said, quickly. + +The doctor was busy with his own thoughts, but he glanced at the young +man and saw the burning anxiety of his eyes. + +"The fever must run its course," said he, "and Judith hath had a brave +constitution these many years that I fear not will make a good fight. +'Twas a sore pity that she was so distressed and stricken down in +spirits, as I hear, ere the fever seized her." + +Quiney turned to the window. + +"Too late--too late!" said he. "And yet I spared not the nag." + +"You have done all that man could do," her father said, going to him. +"Nay, had I myself guessed that she was in such peril--but 'tis past +recall now." + +And then he took the young man by the hand, and grasped it firmly. + +"Good lad," said he, "this that you did for us was a right noble act of +kindness, and I trust in Heaven's mercy that Judith herself may live to +thank you. As for me, my thanks to you are all too poor and worthless; +and I must be content to remain your debtor--and your friend." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +AN AWAKENING. + + +It was going ill with her. Late one night, Quiney, who had kept hovering +about the house, never able to sit patiently and watch the anxious +coming and going within-doors, and never able to tear himself away but +for a few hundred yards, wandered out into the clear starlit darkness. +His heart was full. They had told him the crisis was near at hand. And +almost it seemed to him that it was already over. Judith was going away +from them. And those stars overhead--he knew but little of their names; +he understood but little of the vast immensities and deeps that lay +between them; they were to him but as grains of light in a darkened +floor: and far above that floor rose the wonderful shining city that he +had heard of in the Book of Revelation. And already, so wild and +unstrung were his fancies, he could see the four square walls of jasper, +and the gates of pearl, and the wide white steps leading up to these; +and who was that who went all alone--giving no backward thought to any +she was leaving behind--up those shining steps, with a strange light on +her forehead and on her trembling hands? He saw her slowly kneel at the +gate, her head meekly bowed, her hands clasped. And when they opened it, +and when she rose, and made to enter, he could have cried aloud to her +for one backward look, one backward thought, toward Stratford town and +the friends of her childhood and her youth. Alas! there was no such +thing. There was wonder on her face, as she turned to this side and to +that, and she went hesitatingly; and when they took her hands to lead +her forward, she regarded them--this side and that--pleased and +wondering and silent; but there was never a thought of Stratford town. +Could that be Judith that was going away from them so--she that all of +them had known so dearly? And to leave her own friends without one word +of farewell! Those others there--she went with them smiling and +wondering, and looking in silence from one to the other--but she knew +them not. Her friends were here--here--with breaking hearts because she +had gone away and forgotten them, and vanished within those far-shining +gates. + +And then some sudden and sullen thought of the future would overtake +him. The injunctions laid on him by Judith's father could not be +expected to last forever. And if this were to be so--if the love and +desire of his youth were to be stolen away from him--if her bright young +life, that was so beautiful a thing to all who knew her, was to be +extinguished, and leave instead but a blankness and an aching memory +through the long years--then there might arrive a time for a settlement. +The parson was still coming about the house, for the women-folk were +comforted by his presence; but Judith's father regarded him darkly, and +had scarce ever a word for him. As for Quiney, he moved away, or left +the house, when the good man came near--it was safer so. But in the +future? When one was freer to act? For those injunctions could not be +expected to last forever; and what greater joy could then be secured +than the one fierce stroke of justice and revenge? He did not reason out +the matter much: it was a kind of flame in his heart whenever he thought +of it. + +And in truth that catastrophe was nearly occurring now. He had been +wandering vaguely along the highways, appealing to the calmness of the +night, as it were, and the serenity of the starlit heavens, for some +quieting of his terrible fears; and then in his restlessness he walked +back toward the cottage, anxious for further news and yet scarcely +daring to enter and ask. He saw the dull red light in the window, but +could hear no sound. And would not his very footfall on the path disturb +her? They all of them went about the house like ghosts. And were it not +better that he should remain here, so that the stillness dwelling around +the place should not be broken even by his breathing? So quiet the night +was, and so soundless, he could have imagined that the wings of the +angel of mercy were brooding over the little cottage, hushing it, as it +were, and bringing rest and sleep to the sore-bewildered brain. He would +not go near. These were the precious hours. And if peace had at last +stolen into the sick-chamber, and closed the troubled eyelids, were it +not better to remain away, lest even a whisper should break the charm? + +Suddenly he saw the door of the cottage open, and in the dull light a +dark figure appeared. He heard footsteps on the garden-path. At first +his heart felt like a stone, and he could not move, for he thought it +was some one coming to seek him with evil views; but presently, in the +clear starlight, he knew who this was that was now approaching him. He +lost his senses. All the black night went red. + +"So, good parson," said he (but he clinched his fists together so that +he should not give way), "art thou satisfied with thy handiwork?" + +There was more of menace in the tone than in the taunt; at all events, +with some such phrase as "Out of the way, tavern-brawler!" the parson +raised his stick, as if to defend himself, And then the next instant, he +was gripped firm, as in a vise; the stick was twisted from his grasp +and whirled away far into the dark; and forthwith, for it all happened +in a moment, five fingers had him by the back of the neck. + +There was one second of indecision--what it meant to this young athlete, +who had his eyes afire and his mind afire with thoughts of the ill that +had been done to the one he loved the dearest, can well be imagined. But +he flung his enemy from him, forward, into the night. + +"Take thy dog's life and welcome--coward and woman-striker!" + +He waited; there was no answer. And then, all shaking from the terrible +pressure he had put on himself, and still hungering and athirst to go +back and settle the matter then and there, he turned and walked along +the road, avoiding the cottage, and still with his heart aflame, and +wondering whether he had done well to let the hour of vengeance go. + +But that did not last long. What cared he for this man that any thought +of him should occupy him at such a moment? All his anxieties were +elsewhere--in that hushed, small chamber, where the lamp of life was +flickering low, and all awaiting, with fear and trembling, what the dawn +might bring. And if she were to slip away so--escaping from them, as it +were--without a word of recognition? It seemed so hard that the solitary +figure going up those far, wide steps should have no thought for them +she had left behind. As he saw her there, content was on her face, and a +mild radiance and wonder; and her new companions were pleasant to her. +She would go away with them--she was content to be with them--she would +disappear among them, and leave no sign. And Sunday morning after Sunday +morning he would look in vain for her coming through the church-yard, +under the trees; and there would be a vacant place in the pew; no matter +who might be there, one face would be wanting; and in the afternoon the +wide meadows would be empty. Look where he might--from the foot-bridge +over the river, from Bardon Hill, from the Wier Brake--there would be no +more chance of his descrying Judith walking with Prudence--the two +figures that he could make out at any distance almost. And what a +radiance there used to be on her face--not that mild wonder that he saw +as she passed away with her companions within the shining gates, but a +happy, audacious radiance, so that he could see she was laughing long +ere he came near her. That was Judith--that was the Judith he had +known--laughing, radiant--in summer meadows, as it seemed to +him--careless of the young men, though her eyes would regard them--and +always with her chief secrets and mystifications for her friend +Prudence. That was Judith--not this poor, worn sufferer, wandering +through darkened ways, the frail lamp of her life going down and down, +so that they dared not speak in the room. And that message that she had +left for him with Prudence--was it a kind of farewell? They were about +the last words she had spoken ere her speech lost all coherence and +meaning--a farewell before she entered into that dark and unknown realm. +And there was a touch of reproach in them too--"Tell him he did me wrong +to think I had gone to meet the parson in the church-yard: 'twas but a +chance." The Judith of those former days was far too proud to make any +such explanation; but this poor stricken creature seemed anxious to +appease every one and make friends. And was he to have no chance of +begging her forgiveness for doing her that wrong, and of telling how +little she need regard it, and how that she might dismiss the parson +from her mind altogether, as he had done? The ride to London--she knew +nothing of that; she knew nothing of her father having come all the way +to see her. Why, as they came riding along by Uxbridge and Wycombe, and +Woodstock and Enstone, many a time he looked forward to telling Judith +of what he had done; and he hoped that she would go round to the stable +and have a word for the Galloway nag and pet the good beast's neck. But +all that was over now, and only this terrible darkness and the silence +of the roads and the trees; and always the dull, steady, ominous light +in the small window. And still more terrible, that vision overhead--the +far and mystic city, and Judith entering with those new and strange +companions, regarding this one and that, and ever with a smile on her +face and a mild wonder in her eyes; they leading her away by the hand, +and she timid, and looking from one to the other, but pleased to go with +them into the strange country. And as for her old friends, no backward +look or backward thought for them; for them only the sad and empty town, +the voiceless meadows, the vacant space in the pew, to which many an eye +would be turned as week by week came round. And there would be a grave +somewhere that Prudence would not leave untended. + +But with the first gray light of the dawn there came a sudden trembling +joy, that was so easily and eagerly translated into a wild, audacious +hope. Judith had fallen into a sound sleep--a sleep hushed and profound, +and no longer tortured with moanings and dull low cries as if for pity; +a slumber profound and beneficent, with calmer breathing and a calmer +pulse. If only on the awakening she might show that the crisis was over, +and she started on the road--however long and tedious that might +be--toward the winning back of life and health! + +It was Prudence who brought him the news. She looked like a ghost in the +wan light, as she opened the door and came forth. She knew he would not +be far away; indeed, his eyes were more accustomed to this strange light +than hers, and ere she had time to look about and search for him he was +there. And when she told him this news, he could not speak for a little +while, for his mind rushed forward blindly and wildly to a happy +consummation; he would have no misgivings; this welcome sleep was a sure +sign Judith was won back to them; not yet was she to go away all alone +up those wide, sad steps. + +"And you, Prudence," said he, or rather he whispered it eagerly, that no +sound should disturb the profound quiet of the house, "now you must go +and lie down; you are worn out; why, you are all trembling----" + +"The morning air is a little cold," said she; but it was not that that +caused her trembling. + +"You must go and lie down, and get some sleep too," said he (but +glancing up at the window, as if his thoughts were there). "What a +patient watcher you have been! And now when there is this chance--do, +dear Prudence, go within and lie down for a while----" + +"Oh, how could I?" she said; and unknown to herself she was wringing her +hands--not from grief, but from mere excitement and nervousness. "But +for this sleep, now, the doctor was fearing the worst. I know it, though +he would not say it. And she is so weak! Even if this sleep calm her +brain, or if she come out of it in her right mind--one never knows, she +is so worn away--she might waken only to slip away from us." + +But he would not hear of that. No, no; this happy slumber was but the +beginning of her recovery. Now that she was on the turn, Judith's brave +constitution would fight through the rest. He knew it; he was sure of +it; had there ever been a healthier, a happier wench--or one with such +gallant spirits and cheerfulness? + +"You have not seen her these last two days," Prudence said, sadly. + +"Nay, I fear not now--I know she will fight through," said he, +confidently (even with an excess of confidence, so as to cheer this +patient and gentle nurse). "And what a spite it is that I can do +nothing? Did you ask the doctor, Prudence? Is there nothing that I can +fetch him from Harwich? ay, or from London, for that matter? 'Tis well +for you that can do so much for your friend: what can I do but hang +about the lanes? I would take a message anywhere, for any of you, if you +would but tell me; 'tis all that I can do. But when she is getting +better, that will be different--that will be all different then; I shall +be able to get her many things, to please her and amuse her; +and--and--think of this, Prudence," said he, his fancies running away +with him in his eagerness, "do you not think, now, that when she is well +enough to be carried into the garden--do you not think that Pleydell and +I could devise some kind of couch, to be put on wheels, see you, and +slung on leather bands, so that it would go easily? Why, I swear it +could be made--and might be in readiness for her. What think you, +Prudence? No one could object if we prepared it. Ay, and we should get +it to go as smooth as velvet, so that she could be taken along the lanes +or through the meadows." + +"I would there were need of it," Prudence said, wistfully. "You go too +fast. Nay, but if she come well out of this deep sleep, who knows? Pray +Heaven there be need for all that you can do for her." + +The chirping of a small bird close by startled them--it was the first +sound of the coming day. And then she said, regarding him, + +"Would you like to see Judith--for a moment? 'Twould not disturb her." + +He stepped back, with a sudden look of dismay on his face. + +"What mean you, Prudence?" he said, quickly. "You do not think +that--that--there is fear--that I should look at her now?" + +"Nay, not so; I trust not," she said simply. "But if you wished, you +might slip up the stair; 'twould do no harm." + +He stooped and took off his shoes and threw them aside; then she led the +way into the house, and they went stealthily up the short wooden stair. +The door was open an inch or two; Prudence opened it still farther, but +did not go into the room. Nor did he; he remained at the threshold, for +Judith's mother, who was sitting by the bedside, and who had noticed the +slight opening of the door, had raised her hand quietly, as if in +warning. And was this Judith, then, that the cold morning light, +entering by the small casement, showed him--worn and wasted, the natural +radiance of her face all fled, and in place of that a dull, hectic tone +that in nowise concealed the ravages the fever had made? But she slept +sound. The bent arm, that she had raised to her head ere she fell +asleep, lay absolutely still. No, it was not the Judith he had known--so +gay and radiant and laughing in the summer meadows; but the wasted form +still held a precious life, and he had no mistrust--he would not doubt; +there was there still what would win back for him the Judith that he had +known--ay, if they had to wait all through the winter for the first +silver-white days of spring. + +They stole down-stairs again and went to the front door. All the world +was awaking now; the light was clear around them; the small birds were +twittering in the bushes. + +"And will you not go and get some sleep now, Prudence?" said he. "Surely +you have earned it; and now there is the chance." + +"I could not," she said simply. "There will be time for sleep by-and-by. +But now, if you would do us a service, will you go over to the town, and +tell Susan that Judith is sleeping peacefully, and that she need not +hurry back, for there be plenty of us to watch and wait? And Julius +would like to hear the good news, that I know. Then you yourself--do you +not need rest? Why----" + +"Heed not for me, dear Prudence," said he quickly, as if it were not +worth while wasting time on that topic. "But is there naught else I can +do for you? Naught that I can bring for you--against her getting well +again?" + +"Nay, 'tis all too soon for that," was Prudence's answer. "I would the +occasion were here, and sure." + +Well, he went away over to the town, and told his tale to those that +were astir, leaving a message for those who were not; and then he passed +on to his own house, and threw himself on his bed. But he could not +rest. It was too far away, while all his thoughts were concentrated on +the small cottage over there. So he wandered back thither, and again had +assurance that Judith was doing well; and then he went quietly up to +the summer-house and sat down there; and scarcely had he folded his arms +on the little table, and bent forward his head, than he was in a deep +sleep, nature claiming her due at last. + +The hours passed; he knew nothing of them. He was awakened by Judith's +father, and he looked around him strangely, for he saw by the light that +it was now afternoon. + +"Good lad," said he, "I make no scruple of rousing you. There is better +news. She is awake, and quite calm and peaceable, and in her right +mind--though sadly weak and listless, poor wench." + +"Have you seen her--have you spoken with her?" he said, eagerly. + +"Nay, not yet," Judith's father said. "I am doubtful. She is so faint +and weak. I would not disturb her----" + +"I pray you, sir, go and speak with her!" Quiney entreated. "Nay, I know +that will give her more peace of mind than anything. And if she begin to +recall what happened ere she fell ill--I pray you, sir, of your +kindness, go and speak with her." + +Judith's father went away to the house slowly, and with his head bent in +meditation. He spoke to the doctor for a few minutes. But when, after +some deliberation, he went up-stairs and into the room, it was his own +advice, his own plan, he was acting on. + +He went forward to the bedside and took the chair that the old +grandmother had instantly vacated, and sat down just as if nothing had +occurred. + +"Well, lass, how goes it with thee?" he said, with an air of easy +unconcern. "Bravely well, I hear. Thou must haste thee now, for soon we +shall be busy with the brewing." + +She regarded him in a strange way, perhaps wondering whether this was +another vision. And then she said, faintly, + +"Why are you come back to Stratford, father?" + +"Oh, I have many affairs on hand," said he; "and yet I like not the +garden to be so empty. I cannot spare thee over here much longer. 'Tis +better when thou art in the garden, and little Bess with thee--nay, I +swear to thee thou disturbest me not--and so must thou get quickly well +and home again." + +He took her hand--the thin, worn, white hand--and patted it. + +"Why," said he, "I hear they told thee some foolish story about me. +Believe them not, lass. Thou and I are old friends, despite thy saucy +ways, and thy laughing at the young lads about, and thy lecturing of +little Bess Hall--oh, thou hast thy faults--a many of them too--but heed +no idle stories, good lass, that come between me and thee. Nay, I will +have a sharp word for thee an thou do not as the doctor bids; and thou +must rest thee still and quiet, and trouble not thy head, for we want +thee back to us at New Place. Why, I tell thee I cannot have the garden +left so empty; wouldst have me with none to talk with but goodman +Matthew? So now farewell for the moment, good wench; get what sleep thou +canst, and take what the doctor bids thee; why, knowest thou not of the +ribbons and gloves I have brought thee all the way from London? I +warrant me they will please thee!" + +He patted her hand again, and rose and left, as if it were all a matter +of course. For a minute or two after the girl looked dazed and +bewildered, as if she were trying to recall many things; but always she +kept looking at the hand that he had held, and there was a pleased light +in her sad and tired eyes. She lay still and silent--for so she had been +enjoined. + +But by-and-by she said, in a way that was like the ghost of Judith's +voice of old, + +"Grandmother--I can scarce hold up my hand--will you help me? What is +this that is on my head?" + +"Why, 'tis a pretty lace cap that Susan brought thee," the grandmother +said, "and we would have thee smart and neat ere thy father came in." + +But she had got her hand to her head now, and then the truth became +known to her. She began to cry bitterly. + +"Oh, grandmother, grandmother," she said, or sobbed, "they have cut off +my hair, and my father will never look with favor on me again. 'Twas all +he ever praised!" + +"Dearie, dearie, thy hair will grow again as fair as ever--ay, and who +ever had prettier?" the old grandmother said. "Why, surely; and the +roses will come to thy cheeks, too, that were ever the brightest of any +in the town. Thy father--heardst thou not what he said a moment +ago--that he could not bear to be without thee? Nay, nay, fret not, good +lass, there be plenty that will right gladly wait for the growing of thy +hair again--ay, ay, there be plenty and to spare that will hold thee in +high favor and think well of thee--and thy father most of all of +them--have no fear!" + +And so the grandmother got her soothed and hushed, and at last she lay +still and silent. But she had been thinking. + +"Grandmother," said she, regarding her thin, wasted hand, "is my face +like that?" + +"Hush thee, child; thou must not speak more now, or the doctor will be +scolding me." + +"But tell me, grandmother," she pleaded. + +"Why, then," she answered, evasively, "it be none so plump as it +were--but all that will mend--ay, ay, good lass, 'twill mend, surely." + +Again she lay silent for a while, but her mind was busy with its own +fears. + +"Grandmother," she said, "will you promise me this--to keep Quiney away? +You will not let him come into the room, good grandmother, should he +ever come over to the cottage?" + +"Ay, and be this thy thanks, then, to him that rode all the way to +London town to bring thy father to thee?" said the old dame, with some +affectation of reproach. "Were I at thy age I would have a fairer +message for him." + +"A message, grandmother?" the girl said, turning her languid eyes to her +with some faint eagerness. "Ay, that I would send him willingly. He went +to London for me, that I know; Prudence said so. But perchance he would +not care to have it, would he, think you?" + +The old dame listened, to make sure that the doctor was not within +hearing, for this talking was forbidden; but she was anxious to have the +girl's mind pleased and at rest, and so she took Judith's hand and +whispered to her. + +"A message? Ay, I warrant me the lad would think more of it than of +aught else in the world. Why, sweetheart, he hath been never away from +the house all this time--watching to be of service to any one--night and +day it hath been so--and that he be not done to death passes my +understanding. Ay, and the riding to London, and the bringing of thy +father, and all--is't not worth a word of thanks? Nay, the youth hath +won to my favor, I declare to thee; if none else will speak for him I +will; a right good honest youth, I warrant. But there now, sweeting, +hush thee; I may not speak more to thee, else the doctor will be for +driving me forth." + +There was silence for some time; then Judith said, wistfully, + +"What flowers are in the garden now, grandmother?" + +The old dame went to the window slowly; it was an excuse for not having +too much talking going on. + +"The garden be far past its best now," said she, "but there be marigolds +and Michaelmas daisies----" + +"Could you get me a bit of rosemary, grandmother?" the girl asked. + +"Rosemary!" she cried in affright, for the mention of the plant seemed +to strike a funeral note. "Foolish wench, thou knowest I can never get +the rosemary bushes through the spring frosts. Rosemary, truly! What +wantest thou with rosemary?" + +"Or a pansy, then?" + +"A pansy, doubtless--ay, ay, that be better now--we may find thee a +pansy somewhere--and a plenty of other things, so thou lie still and get +well." + +"Nay, I want but the one, grandmother," she said slowly. "You know I +cannot write a message to him, and yet I would send him some token of +thanks for all that he hath done. And would not that do, grandmother? +Could you but find me a pansy--if there be one left anywhere--and a +small leaf or two; and if 'twere put in a folded paper, and you could +give it him from me, and no one knowing? I would rest the happier, +grandmother, for I would not have him think me ungrateful--no, no, he +must not think me that. And then, good grandmother, you will tell him +that I wish him not to see me; only--only, the little flower will show +him that I am not ungrateful; for I would not have him think me that." + +"Rest you still now, then, sweeting," the old dame said. "I warrant me +we will have the message conveyed to him; but rest you still--rest you +still--and ere long you will not be ashamed to show him the roses coming +again into your cheeks." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +TOWARD THE LIGHT. + + +This fresh and clear morning, with a south wind blowing and a blue sky +overhead, made even the back yard of Quiney's premises look cheerful, +though the surroundings were mostly empty barrels and boxes. And he was +singing, too, as he went on with his task; sometimes-- + + "Play on, minstrel, play on, minstrel, + My lady is mine only girl;" + +and sometimes-- + + "I bought thee petticoats of the best, + The cloth so fine as fine might be; + I gave thee jewels for thy chest, + And all this cost I spent on thee;" + +or, again, he would practise his part in the new catch-- + + "Merrily sang the Ely monks, + When rowed thereby Canute the King." + +And yet this that he was so busy about seemed to have nothing to do with +his own proper trade. He had chalked up on the wall a space about the +size of an ordinary cottage-window; at each of the upper corners he had +hammered in a nail, and now he was endeavoring to suspend from these +supports, so that it should stand parallel with the bottom line, an +oblong basket roughly made of wire, and pretty obviously of his own +construction. His dinner of bread and cheese and ale stood untouched and +unheeded on a bench hard by. Sometimes he whistled, sometimes he sang, +for the morning air was fresh and pleasant, and the sunlight all about +was enlivening. + +Presently Judith's father made his appearance, and the twisting and +shaping of the wire hooks instantly ceased. + +"She is still going on well?" the lad said, with a rapid and anxious +glance. + +"But slowly--slowly," her father answered. "Nay, we must not demand too +much. If she but hold her own now, time is on our side, and the doctor +is more than ever hopeful that the fever hath left no serious harm +behind it. When that she is a little stronger, they talk of having her +carried down-stairs--the room is larger--and the window hath a pleasant +outlook." + +"I heard of that," said Quiney, glancing at the oblong basket of wire. + +"I have brought you other news this morning," Judith's father said, +taking out a letter and handing it to Quiney. "But I pray you say +nothing of it to the wench; her mind is at rest now; we will let the +past go." + +"Nay, I can do no harm in that way," said the younger man, in something +of a hurt tone, "for they will not let me see her." + +"No, truly? Why, that is strange, now," her father said, affecting to be +surprised, but having a shrewd guess that this was some fancy of the +girl's own. "But they would have her kept quiet, I know." + +Quiney was now reading the letter. It was from one of Judith's father's +companions in London, and the beginning of it was devoted to the +imparting of certain information that had apparently been asked from him +touching negotiations for the purchase of a house in Blackfriars. Quiney +rightly judged that this part had naught to do with him, and scanned it +briefly; and as he went on he came to that which had a closer interest +for him. + +The writer's style was ornate and cumbrous and confused, but his story, +in plainer terms, was this: The matter of the purloined play was now all +satisfactorily ascertained and settled, except as regarded Jack Orridge +himself, whom a dire mischance had befallen. It appeared that, having +married a lady possessed of considerable wealth, his first step was to +ransom--at what cost the writer knew not--the play that had been sold to +the booksellers, not by himself but by one Francis Lloyd. It was said +that this Lloyd had received but a trifle for it, and had, in truth, +parted with it in the course of a drunken frolic; but that "Gentleman +Jack," as they called him, had to disburse a goodly sum ere he could get +the manuscript back into his own hands. That forthwith he had come to +the theatre and delivered up the play, with such expressions of +penitence and shame that they could not forbear to give him full +quittance for his fault. But this was not all; for, having heard that +Francis Lloyd had in many quarters been making a jest of the matter, and +telling of Orridge's adventures in Warwickshire, and naming names, the +young man had determined to visit him with personal chastisement, but +had been defeated in this by Lloyd being thrust into prison for debt. +That thereafter Lloyd, being liberated from jail, was sitting in a +tavern with certain companions; and there "Gentleman Jack" found him, +and dealt him a blow on the face with the back of his hand, with a mind +to force the duello upon him. But that here again Orridge had +ill-fortune; for Lloyd, being in his cups, would fight then and there, +and flung himself on him, without sword or anything, as they thought; +but that presently, in the struggle, Orridge uttered a cry, "I am +stabbed," and fell headlong, and they found him with a dagger-wound in +his side, bleeding so that they thought he would have died ere help +came. And that in truth he had been nigh within death's door, and was +not yet out of the leech's hands; while as for Lloyd, he had succeeded +in making good his escape, and was now in Flanders, as some reported. +This was the gist of the story, as far as Quiney was interested; +thereafter came chiefly details about the theatre, and the writer +concluded with wishing his correspondent all health and happiness, and +bidding him ever remember "his true loving friend, Henry Condell." + +Quiney handed back the letter. + +"I wish the dagger had struck the worser villain of the two," said he. + +"'Tis no concern of ours," Judith's father said. "And I would have the +wench hear never a word more of the matter. Nay, I have already answered +her that 'twas all well and settled in London, and no harm done; and the +sooner 'tis quite forgotten the better. The young man hath made what +amends he could; I trust he may soon be well of his wound again. And +married, is he? Perchance his hurt may teach him to be more of a +stay-at-home." + +Judith's father put the letter in his pocket, and was for leaving, when +Quiney suggested that if he were going to the cottage he would accompany +him, as some business called him to Bidford. And so they set out +together--the younger man having first of all made a bundle of the wire +basket and the nails and hooks and what not, so that he could the more +easily carry them. + +It was a clear and mild October day; the wide country very silent; the +woods turning to yellow and russet now and here and there golden leaves +fluttering down from the elms. So quiet and peaceful it all was in the +gracious sunlight; the steady ploughing going on; groups of people +gleaning in the bean-field, but not a sound of any kind reaching them, +save the cawing of some distant rooks. And when they drew near to +Shottery, Quiney had an eye for the cottage-gardens, to see what flowers +or shrubs were still available; for of course the long wire basket, when +it was hung outside Judith's window, must be filled--ay, and filled +freshly at frequent intervals. If the gardens or the fields or the +hedge-rows would furnish sufficient store, there would be no lack of +willing hands for the gathering. + +They went first to the front door (the room that Judith was to be moved +into looked to the back), and here, ere they had crossed the threshold, +they beheld a strange thing. The old grandmother was standing at the +foot of the wooden stair, with a small looking-glass in her hand; she +had not heard them approach, so it was with some amazement they saw her +deliberately let fall the glass on to the stone passage, where naturally +it was smashed into a hundred fragments. And forthwith she began to +scold and rate the little Cicely, and that in so loud a voice that her +anger must have been plainly heard in the sick-room above. + +"Ah, thou mischief, thou imp, thou idle brat, thou must needs go break +the only looking-glass in the house! A handy wench, truly; thou can hold +nothing with thy silly fingers, but must break cup and platter and pane, +and now the looking-glass--'twere well done to box thine ears, thou +mischief!" + +And with that she patted the little girl on the shoulder, and shrewdly +winked and smiled and nodded her head; and then she went up the stair, +again and loudly bewailing her misfortune. + +"What a spite be this now!" they could hear her say, at the door of +Judith's room. "The only looking-glass in the house and just as thou +wouldst have it sent for! That mischievous, idle little wench--heard you +the crash, sweetheart? Well, well, no matter; I must still have the +tiring of thee--against any one coming to see thee; ay, and I would have +thee brave and smart, when thou art able to sit up a bit--ay, and thy +hair will soon be grown again, sweeting--and then the trinkets that thy +father brought--and the lace cuffs that Quiney gave thee--these and all +thou must wear. Was ever such a spite, now?--our only looking-glass to +be broken so; but thou shalt not want it, sweetheart--nay, nay, thou +must rest in my hands--I will have thee smart enough; when any would +come to see thee----" + +That was all they heard, for now she shut the door; but both of them +guessed readily enough why the good dame had thrown down and smashed the +solitary mirror of the house. + +Then they went within, and heard from Prudence that Judith was going on +well but very slowly, and that her mind was in perfect calm and content, +only that at times she seemed anxious that her father should return to +London, lest his affairs should be hindered. + +"And truly I must go ere long," said he, "but not yet. Not until she is +more fairly on the highway." + +They were now in the room that was to be given up to Judith, because of +its larger size. + +"Prudence," said Quiney, "if the bed were placed so--by the window--she +might be propped up, so that when she chose she could look abroad. Were +not that a simple thing--and cheerful for her? And I have arranged a +small matter so that every morning she may find some fresh blossoms +awaiting her--and yet not disturbing her with any one wishing to enter +the room. Methinks one might better fix it now, ere she be brought down, +so that the knocking may not harm her." + +"I would she were in a fit state to be brought down," Prudence said, +rather sadly; "for never saw I any one so weak and helpless." + +All the same he went away to see whether the oblong basket of wire and +the fastenings would fit; and although (being a tall youth) he could +easily reach the foot of the window with his hands, he had to take a +chair with him in order to gain the proper height for the nails. +Prudence from within saw what he was after, and when it was all fixed up +she opened one of the casements to speak to him, and her face was well +pleased. + +"Truly, now, that was kindly thought of," said she. "And shall I tell +her of this that you have contrived for her?" + +"Why, 'tis in this way, Prudence," said he, rather shamefacedly, "she +need not know whether 'tis this one or that that puts a few blossoms in +the basket--'twill do for any one--any one that is passing along the +road or through the meadows, and picks up a pretty thing here or there. +'Twill soon be hard to get such things--save some red berries or the +like--but when any can stop in passing and add their mite, 'twill be all +the easier, for who that knows her but hath good-will toward her?" + +"And her thanks to whom?" said Prudence, smiling. + +"Why, to all of them," said he, evasively. "Nay, I would not have her +even know that I nailed up the little basket--perchance she might think +I was too officious." + +"And can you undo it?" she asked. "Can you take it down?" + +"Surely," he answered, and he lifted the basket off the hooks to show +her. + +"For," said she, "if you would bring it round, might we not put a few +flowers in it, and have them carried up to Judith, to show her what you +have designed for her? In truth it would please her." + +He was not proof against this temptation. He carried the basket round, and +they fell to gathering such blossoms as the garden afforded--marigolds, +monthly roses, Michaelmas daisies, and the like, with some scarlet hips +from the neighboring hedges, and some broad green leaves to serve as a +cushion for all of these. But he did not stay to hear how his present +was received. He was on his way to Bidford, and on foot, for he had kept +his promise with the Galloway nag. So he bade Prudence farewell, and +said he would call in again on his way back in the evening. + +The wan, sad face lit up with something like pleasure when Judith saw +this little present brought before her; it was not the first by many of +similar small attentions that he had paid her--tokens of a continual +thoughtfulness and affection--though he was not even permitted to see +her, much less to speak with her. How his business managed to thrive +during this period they could hardly guess, only that he seemed to find +time for everything. Apparently, he was content with the most hap-hazard +meals, and seemed able to get along with scarcely any sleep at all; and +always he was the most hopeful one in the house, and would not admit +that Judith's recovery seemed strangely slow, but regarded everything as +happening for the best, and tending toward a certain and happy issue. +One result of his being continually in or about the cottage was +this--that Master Walter Blaise had not looked near them since the night +on which the fever reached its crisis. The women-folk surmised that, now +there was a fair hope of Judith's recovery, he perchance imagined his +ministrations to be no longer necessary, and was considerately keeping +out of the way, seeing that he could be of no use. At all events, they +did not discuss the subject much, for more than one of them had +perceived that, whenever the parson's name was mentioned, Judith's +father became reticent and reserved--which was about his only way of +showing displeasure--so that they got into the habit of omitting all +mention of Master Blaise, for the better preserving and maintaining the +serenity of the domestic atmosphere. + +And yet Master Blaise came to be talked of--and to Judith herself--this +very morning. When Prudence went into the room, carrying Quiney's +flowers, the old grandmother said she would go down and see how dinner +was getting forward (she having more mouths to feed than usual), and +Prudence was left in her place, with strict injunctions to see that +Judith took the small portions of food that had been ordered her at the +proper time. Prudence sat down by the bedside. These two had not had +much confidential chatting of late, for Judith had been forbidden to +talk much, and was, indeed, far too weak and languid for that, while +generally there was some third person about in attendance. But now they +were alone; and Prudence had a long tale to tell of Quiney's constant +watchfulness and care, and of all the little things he had thought of +and arranged for her, up to the construction of the wire flower-basket. + +"But what he hath done, Judith, to anger Parson Blaise, I cannot make +out," she continued--"ay, and to anger him sorely; for yesternight, when +I went over to see how my brother did, I met Master Blaise, and he +stayed me and talked with me for a space. Nay, he spoke too harshly of +Quiney, so that I had to defend him, and say what I had seen of +him--truly, I was coming near to speaking with warmth--and then he went +away from that. And think you what he came to next, Judith?" + +The pale, quiet face of the speaker was overspread with a blush, and she +looked timidly at her friend. + +"What then, sweetheart?" + +"Perchance I should not tell you," she said, with some hesitation; and +then she said, more frankly, "Nay, why should there be any concealment +between us, Judith? And he laid no charge of secrecy on me--in truth, I +said that I would think of it, and might even ask for counsel and +guidance. He would have made me his wife, Judith." + +Judith betrayed no atom of surprise, nay, she almost instantly smiled +her approval--it was a kind of friendly congratulation, as it were--and +she would have reached out her hand only that she was so weak. + +"I am glad of that, dear mouse," said she, as pleasantly as she could. +"There would you be in your proper place; is't not so? And what said +you? what said you, sweetheart? Ah, they all would welcome you, be sure; +and a parson's wife--a parson's wife, Prudence--would not that be your +proper place? would you not be happy so?" + +"I know not," the girl said, and she spoke wistfully, and as if she were +regarding distant things. "He had nearly persuaded me, good heart, for +indeed there is such power and clearness in all he says; and it was +almost put before me as a duty, and something incumbent on me, for the +pleasing of all of them, and the being useful and serviceable to so +many; and then--and then----" + +There was another timid glance, and she took Judith's hand; and her eyes +were downcast as she made the confession: + +"Nay, I will tell thee the truth, sweetheart. Had he spoken to me +earlier--I--I might not have said him nay--so good a man and earnest +withal, and not fearing to give offence if he can do true service to the +Master of us all. Judith, if it be unmaidenly, blame me not, but at one +time I had thoughts of him; and sometimes, ashamed, I would not go to +your house when he was there in the afternoon, though Julius wondered, +seeing that there was worship and profitable expounding. But +now--now--now 'tis different." + +"Why, dear mouse, why?" Judith said, with some astonishment; "you must +not flout the good man. 'Tis an honorable offer." + +Prudence was looking back on that past time. + +"If he had spoken then," she said, absently, "my heart would have +rejoiced; and well I knew 'twould have been no harm to you, dear Judith, +for who could doubt how you were inclined--ay, through all your quarrels +and misunderstandings? And if 'twas you the good parson wished for in +those days----" + +"Prudence," her friend said, reproachfully, "you do ill to go back over +a by-gone story. If you had thoughts of him then, when as yet he had not +spoken, why not now, when he would have you be his wife? 'Tis an +honorable offer, as I say; and you--were you not meant for a parson's +wife, sweetheart?" + +Then Prudence regarded her with her honest eyes. + +"I should be afraid, Judith. Perchance I have listened overmuch to your +grandmother's talking and to Quiney's; they are both of them angered +against him. They say he wrought you ill, and was cruel when he should +have been gentle with you, and was overproud of his office. Nay, I +marked that your father had scarce ever a word for him when he was +coming over to the cottage, but would get away somehow and leave him. +And--and methinks I should be afraid, Judith; 'tis no longer as it used +to be in former days; and then, without perfect confidence, how should +one dare to venture on such a step? No, no, Judith, I should be afraid." + +"In truth I cannot advise thee, then, dear heart," her friend said, +looking at her curiously. "For more than any I know should you marry one +that would be gentle with you and kind. And think you that the parson +would overlord it?" + +"I know not--I know not," she said, in the same absent way. "But with +doubt, with hesitation, without perfect confidence--how could one take +such a step?" + +And then she bethought her. + +"Why, now, all this talking over my poor affairs?" she said, more +cheerfully. "A goodly nurse I am proving myself! 'Tis thy affairs are of +greater moment, and thou must push forward, sweetheart, and get well +more rapidly, else they will say we are careless and foolish, that +cannot bring thee into firmer health." + +"But I am well content," said Judith, with a perfectly placid smile. + +"Content! But you must not be content," Prudence exclaimed. "Would you +remain within-doors until your hair be grown? Vanity is it, then? Ah, +for shame--you that always professed to be so proud, and careless of +what they thought! Content, truly! Look at so thin a hand--are you +content to remain so?" + +"I am none so ill," Judith said, pleasantly. "The days pass well enough, +and every one is kind." + +"But I say you must not be content!" Prudence again remonstrated. "Did +ever any one see such a poor, weak, white hand as that? Look at the +thin, thin veins." + +"Ah, but you know not, sweetheart," Judith said, and she herself looked +at those thin blue veins in the white hand; "they seem to me to be +running full of music and happiness ever since I came out of the fever +and found my father talking to me in the old way." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +"WESTERN WIND, WHEN WILL YOU BLOW?" + + +There was much laughing among the good folk of Stratford town--or rather +among those of them allowed to visit Quiney's back yard--over the +nondescript vehicle that he and his friend Pleydell were constructing +there. But that was chiefly at the first, when the neighbors would call +it a coffin on wheels or a grown-up cradle; afterward, when it grew +into shape and began to exhibit traces of decoration (the little canopy +at the head, for example, was covered, over with blue taffeta that made +a shelter from the sun), they moderated their ridicule, and at last +declared it a most ingenious and useful contrivance, and one that went +as easily on its leather bands as any king's coach that ever was built. +And they said they hoped it would do good service, for they knew it was +meant for Judith; and she had won the favor and good-will of many in +that town, in so far as an unmarried young woman was deemed worthy of +consideration. + +But that was an anxious morning when Quiney set forth with this strange +vehicle for the cottage. Little Willie Hart was there, and Quiney had +flung him inside, saying he would give him a ride as far as Shottery, +but thereafter he did not speak a word to the boy. For this was the +morning on which he was to see Judith for the first time since the fever +had left her, and not only that, but he had been appointed to carry her +down-stairs to the larger room below. This was by the direct +instructions of the doctor. Judith's father was now in London again, the +doctor was not a very powerful man, the staircase was over-narrow to let +two of the women try it between them; who, therefore, was there but this +young athlete to gather up that precious charge and bear her gently +forth? But when he thought of that first meeting with Judith he +trembled, and dismay and apprehension filled his heart lest he should +show himself in the smallest way shocked by her appearance. Careless as +she might have been of other things, she had always put a value on that; +she knew she had good looks, and she liked to look pretty and dainty, +and to wear becoming and pretty things. And again and again he schooled +himself and argued with himself. He must be prepared to find her +changed--nay, had he not already had one glimpse of her, as she lay +asleep, in the cold light of the dawn?--he must be prepared to find the +happy and radiant face no longer that, but all faded and white and worn, +the clear shining eyes no longer laughing, but sunken and sad, and the +beautiful sun-brown hair--that was her chiefest pride of all--no longer +clustering round her neck. Not that he himself cared--Judith was for him +always and ever Judith, whatever she might be like, but his terror was +lest he should betray, in the smallest fashion, some pained surprise. He +knew how sensitive she was, and as an invalid she would be even more so, +and what a fine thing it would be if her eyes were suddenly to fill +with tears on witnessing his disappointment! And so he argued and +argued, and strove to think of Judith as a ghost--as anything rather +than her former self; and when he reached the cottage, he asked whether +Judith was ready to be brought down, in so matter-of-fact a way that he +seemed perfectly unconcerned. + +Well, she was not ready, for her grandmother had the tiring of her, and +the old dame was determined that (if she had her way) her grandchild +should look none too like an invalid. If the sun-brown curls were gone, +at least the cap that she wore should have pretty blue ribbons where it +met under the chin. And she would have her wear the lace cuffs, too, +that Quiney had brought her from Warwick--did not she owe it to him to +do service for the gift? And when all that was done, she made Judith +take a little wine-and-water, to strengthen her for the being carried +down-stairs, and then she sent word that Quiney might come up. + +He made his appearance forthwith, a little pale, perhaps, and hesitating +and apprehensive as he crossed the threshold. And then he came quickly +forward, and there was a sudden wonder of joy and gladness in his eyes. + +"Judith," he exclaimed, quite involuntarily, and forgetting everything, +"why, how well you are looking!--indeed, indeed you are!--sweetheart, +you are not changed at all!" + +For this was Judith; not any of the spectral phantoms he had been +conjuring up, but Judith herself, regarding him with friendly (if yet +timid) eyes, and her face, as he looked at her in this glad way, was no +longer pale, but had grown rose-red as the face of a bride. Her anxiety +and nervousness had been far greater than she dared to tell any of them; +but now his surprise and delight were surely real, and then--for she was +very weak, and she had been anxious and full of fear, and this joy of +seeing him--of seeing a strange face, that belonged to the former happy +time--was too much for her. Her lips were tremulous, tears rose to her +eyes, and she would have turned away to hide her crying--but that all at +once he recalled his scattered senses, and inwardly cursed himself for a +fool, and forthwith addressed her in the most cheerful and simple way. + +"Why, now, what stories they have been telling me, Judith! I should +scarce know you had been ill. You are thinner--oh, yes, you are a little +thinner; and if you went to the woods to gather nuts I reckon you would +not bring home a heavy bag; but that will all mend in time. In honest +truth, dear Judith, I am glad to see you looking none so ill; now I +marvel not at your father going away to see after his affairs--so sure +he must have been." + +"I am glad that he went, I was fretting so," she said (and it was so +strange to hear Judith's voice, that always stirred his heart as if with +the vibration of Susan's singing), and then she added, timidly regarding +him--"and you--I have caused you much trouble also." + +He laughed; in truth he was so bewildered with the delight of seeing +this real living Judith before him that he scarce knew what he said. + +"Trouble! yes, trouble, indeed, that I could do nothing for you, and all +the others waiting with you and cheering you. But now, dear Judith, I +have something for you--oh, you shall see it presently; and you may +laugh, but I warrant me you will find it easy and comfortable when that +you are allowed to go forth into the garden. 'Tis a kind of couch, as it +were, but on wheels--nay, you may call it your chariot, Judith, if you +would be in state; and if you may not go farther than the garden at +first, why, then you may lie in it, and have some one read to you; and +there is a small curtain if you would shut them all out and go to sleep; +ay, and when the time comes for you to go along the lanes, then you may +sit up somewhat, for there are pillows for your head and for your back. +As for the drawing of it, why, little Willie Hart can pull me when I am +in it, and surely he can do the same for you, that are scarce so heavy +as I, as I take it. Oh, I warrant you, you will soon get used to it; and +'twill be so much pleasanter for you than being always within-doors--and +the fresher air--the fresher air will soon bring back your color, +Judith." + +For now that the first flush of embarrassment was gone he could not but +see (though still he talked in that cheerful strain) how pale and worn +was her face; and her hands, that lay listlessly on the coverlet, with +the pretty lace cuffs going back from the wrists, were spectral hands, +so thin and white were they. + +"Master Quiney," said the old dame, coming to the door, "it be all ready +now below, if you can carry the wench down. And take time--take +time--there be no hurry." + +"You must come and help me, good grandmother," said he, "to get her well +into my arms." + +In truth he was trembling with very nervousness as he set about this +task. Should some mischance occur--some stumble! And then he found +himself all too strong and uncouth and clumsy, with her so frail and +delicate and weak. But her grandmother lifted the girl's hand to his +shoulder, or rather to his neck, and bade her hold on so, as well as she +might; and then he got his arms better round her, and with slow and +careful steps made his way down to the room below. There the bed was +near the window, and when he had gently placed her on it, and propped up +her head and shoulders, so that she was almost sitting, the first thing +that she saw before her was the slung box of flowers and leaves outside +the little casement. She turned to him and smiled, and looked her thanks +with grateful eyes: he sought for no more than that. + +Of course they were all greatly pleased at this new state of affairs--it +seemed a step on the forward way, a hopeful thing. Moreover, there was a +brighter animation in the girl's look--whether that was owing to the +excitement of the change or the pleasure at seeing the face of an old +friend. + +And as the others seemed busy among themselves, suggesting small +arrangements, and the like, Quiney judged it was time for him to go; his +services were no longer needed. + +He went forward to her. + +"Judith," said he, "I will bid you good-day now. If you but knew how +glad I am to have seen you--ay, and to find you going on so well! I will +take away a lighter heart with me." + +She looked up at him hesitating and timid, and then she gathered +courage. + +"But why must you go?" said she, with some touch of color in the pale +face. + +He glanced at the others. + +"Perchance they may not wish me to stay; they may fear your being tired +with talking." + +"But if I wish you to stay--for a little while?" she said, gently. "If +your business call you not----" + +"My business!" he said. "My business must shift for itself on such a day +as this; think you 'tis nothing for me to speak with you again, Judith, +after so long a time?" + +"And my chariot," she said, brightly--"may not I see my chariot?" + +"Why, truly!" he cried. "Willie Hart is in charge of it without. We will +bring it along the passage, and you will see it at the door; and you +must not laugh, dear Judith--'tis a rude-made thing, I know--but +serviceable--you shall have comfort from it, I warrant you." + +They wheeled it along the passage, but could not get it within the +apartment; however, through the open door she could see very easily the +meaning and construction of it. And when she observed with what care and +pretty taste it had been adorned for her, even to the putting ribbons at +the front corners of the little canopy (but this was not the work of +men's fingers; it was Prudence who had contributed these), she was not +in the least inclined to laugh at the efforts of these good friends to +be of use to her and to gratify her. She beckoned him to come to her. + +"'Tis but a patchwork thing to look at," said he, rather shamefacedly, +"but I hope you will find it right comfortable when you use it. I hope +soon to hear of you trying it, Judith." + +"Give me your hand," said she. + +She took his hand and kissed it. + +"I cannot speak my thanks to you," she said, in a low voice, "for not +only this but all that you have done for me." + +There were tears in her eyes, and he was so bewildered, and his heart so +wildly aflame, that he could only touch her shoulder and say, + +"Be still now, Judith. Be still and quiet, and perchance they may let me +remain with you a little space further." + + * * * * * + +Well, it was a long and a weary waiting. She seemed, too, content with +her feeble state; there were so many who were kind to her; and her +father sending her messages from London; and Quiney coming every morning +to put some little things--branches of evergreens, or the like, when +flowers were no longer to be had--in the little basket outside the +window. He could reach to that easily; and when she happened to hear his +footsteps coming near, even when she could not see him, she would tap +with her white fingers on the window-panes--that was her thanks to him, +and morning greeting. + +It was a bitter winter, and ever they were looking forward to the milder +weather, to see when they might risk taking her out-of-doors, swathed up +in her chariot, as she called it; but the weeks and weeks went by, hard +and obdurate, and at last they found themselves in the new year. But she +could get about the house a little now, in a quiet way; and so it was +that, one morning, she and Quiney were together standing at the front +window, looking abroad over the wide white landscape. Snow lay +everywhere, thick and silent; the bushes were heavy with it; and far +beyond those ghostly meadows, though they could not see it they knew +that the Avon was fixed and hard in its winter sleep, under the hanging +banks of the Wier Brake. + +"'_Western wind, when will you blow?_'" she said, and yet not sadly, for +there was a placid look in her eyes: she was rather complaining, with a +touch of the petulance of the Judith of old. + +The arm of her lover was resting lightly on her shoulder--she was strong +enough to bear that now, and she did not resent the burden; and she had +got her soft sunny-brown curls again, though still they were rather +short; and her face had got back something of its beautiful curves; and +her eyes, if they were not so cruelly audacious as of old, were yet +clear-shining and gentle, and with abundance of kind messages for all +the world, but with tenderer looks for only one. + +"'_Western wind_,'" she repeated, with that not over-sad complaint of +injury, "'_when will you blow--when will you blow?_'" + +"All in good time, sweetheart, all in good time," said he; and his hand +lay kindly on her shoulder, as if she were one to whom some measure of +gentle tending and cheering words were somewhat due. "And guess you now +what they mean to do for you when the milder weather comes? I mean the +lads at the school. Why, then, 'tis a secret league and compact--I doubt +not that your cousin Willie may have been at the suggesting of it--but +'twas some of the bigger lads who came to me. And 'tis all arranged now, +and all for the sake of you, dear heart. For when the milder weather +comes, and the year begins to wake again, why, they are all of them to +keep a sharp and eager eye here and there--in the lanes or in the +woods--for the early peeping up of the primroses; and then 'tis to be a +grand whole holiday that I am to get for them, as it appears; and all +the school is to go forth to search the hedge-rows and the woods and the +banks--all the country-side is to be searched and searched--and for +what, think you? why, to bring you a spacious basketful of the very +first primroses of the spring! See you, now, what it is to be the +general favorite. Nay, I swear to you, dear Judith, you are the +sweetheart of all of them; and what a shame it is that I must take you +away from them all!" + + +THE END. + + + + +List of Corrections: + + p. 11: "and a semicicle on the crumbling earth" was changed to + "and a semicircle on the crumbling earth." + + p. 78: "She did not not seem" was changed to + "She did not seem." + + p. 81: "from you own people" was changed to + "from your own people." + + p. 123: "chance of the the same" was changed to + "chance of the same." + + p. 131: "we sat in the litttle bower" was changed to + "we sat in the little bower." + + p. 166: "she had heard vaguely of from time time" was changed to + "she had heard vaguely of from time to time." + + p. 169: "this acquaintence the moment she chose." was changed to + "this acquaintance the moment she chose." + + p. 171: "the deliberare purpose" was changed to + "the deliberate purpose." + + p. 191: "letters of red and biack;" was changed to + "letters of red and black;" + + p. 203: "as he slowy sharpened" was changed to + "as he slowly sharpened." + + p. 233: "For how long?--a fornight!" was changed to + "For how long?--a fortnight!" + + p. 307: "her contritition" was changed to + "her contrition." + + p. 322: "lead her delirous wanderings" was changed to + "lead her delirious wanderings." + + p. 349: "so sure be must have been" was changed to + "so sure he must have been." + + +Errata: + + p. 176: "Nay, but this time you have hit the mark," complacently. + should be "Nay, but this time you have hit the mark," said Judith, + complacently. + + p. 185: "'twas a bold demand to made of England!" should be "'twas a + bold demand to make of England!" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Judith Shakespeare, by William Black + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JUDITH SHAKESPEARE *** + +***** This file should be named 37788.txt or 37788.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/8/37788/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Eleni Christofaki and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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