The King's Daughters

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

  ROSE HEARS THE NEWS.

  While Elizabeth Foulkes was passing through these experiences, theMounts, Rose Allen, and the children, had gone back to Much Bentley assoon as morning broke. Rose took the little ones home to Thorpe, andthey met Johnson just at the door of his own cottage.

  "Truly, friend, I am much beholden to you," said he to Rose, "for yourkindly care of my little ones. But, I pray you, is it true what Iheard, that Mistress Silverside is arrest for heresy?"

  Rose looked up in horrified astonishment.

  "Why, we left them right well," she said, "but five hours gone. Ibrought the children o'er to you so soon as they had had their dinner.Is it true, think you?"

  "Nay, that would I fain know of you, that were in town twelve hourslater than I," answered Johnson.

  "Then, in very deed, we heard nought," said Rose. "I do trust it shallprove but an ill rumour."

  "May it be so! yet I cannot but fear it be true. Robin Purcas came tome last night, and I could not but think he should have told me somewhatan' he might: but he found Father Tye in mine house, and might notspeak. They both tarried so long," added Johnson, with a laugh, "that Iwas fain to marvel if each were essaying to outsit the other; but if so,Father Tye won, for Love of the Heath came for Robin and took him awayere the priest were wearied out. If any straitness do arise against theGospellers, Love had best look out."

  "Ay, they know him too well to leave him slip through their fingersagain," replied Rose.

  "That do they, verily. Well, dear hearts, and have ye been goodchildren?"

  "We've tried," said Cissy.

  "They've been as good as could be," answered Rose.

  "Father, did anybody come and see to you? I asked the Lord to see toit, because I knew you'd miss me sore," said Cissy anxiously, "and Iwant to know if He did."

  "Ay, my dear heart," replied Johnson, smiling as he looked down on her."Ursula Felstede came in and dressed dinner for me, and MargaretThurston looked in after, and she washed some matters and did a bit ofmending; and at after I had company--Father Tye, and Robin Purcas, andJack Love. So thou seest I was not right lonesome."

  "He took good care of you. Father," said Cissy, looking happy. It wasevident that Cissy lived for and in her father. Whatever he was, forgood or evil, that she was likewise.

  "Well, I've got to look in on Margaret Thurston," said Rose, "for I dida bit of marketing for her this morrow in the town, and I have a fardelto leave. She was not at home when we passed, coming. But now, I thinkI'd better be on my way, so I'll wish you good den, Johnson. God blessyou, little ones!"

  "Good den, Rose!" said Cissy. "And you'll learn me to weave lace withthose pretty bobbins?"

  "That will I, with a very good will, sweet heart," said Rose, stoopingto kiss Cissy.

  "Weave lace!" commented her father. "What, what is the child thinking,that she would fain learn to weave lace?"

  "Oh, Father, please, you won't say nay!" pleaded Cissy, embracing herfather's arm with both her own. "I want to bring you in some money."Cissy spoke with a most important air. "You know, of an even, I alwayhave a bit of time, after Will and Baby be abed, and at times too in theday, when Will's out with George Felstede, and I'm minding Baby; I canrock her with my feet while I make lace with my hands. And you know,Father, Will and Baby 'll be growing big by and bye, and you won't haveenough for us all without we do something. And Rose says she'll learnme how, and that if I have a lace pillow--and it won't cost very much,Father!--I can alway take it up for a few minutes by nows and thens,when I have a bit of time, and then, don't you see, Father? I can makea little money for you. Please, _please_ don't say I mustn't!" criedCissy, growing quite talkative in her eagerness.

  Johnson and Rose looked at each other, and Rose laughed; but thoughCissy's father smiled too, he soon grew grave, and laid his hand on hislittle girl's head, as she stood looking up earnestly.

  "Nay, my little maid, I'll never say nought of the sort. If Rose herewill be so good as to learn thee aught that is good, whether for body orsoul, I will be truly thankful to her, and bid thee do the like and bediligent to learn. Good little maid! God bless thee!"

  Then, as Cissy trotted into the cottage, well pleased, Johnson added,"Bless the little maid's heart! she grows more like her mother in Heavenevery day. I'll never stay the little fingers from doing what they can.It'll not bring much in, I reckon, but it'll be a pleasure to thechild, and good for her to be ever busy at something, that she mayn'tfall into idle ways. Think you not so, Rose?"

  "Indeed, and it so will, Johnson," answered Rose; "not that I thinkCissy and idle ways 'll ever have much to do one with the other. She'snot one of that sort. But I shouldn't wonder if lace-weaving brings inmore than you think. I've made a pretty penny of it, and I wasn't soyoung as Cissy when I learned the work, and it's like everything else--them that begin young have the best chance to make good workers. She'llbe a rare comfort to you, Cissy, if she goes on as she's begun."

  Johnson did not reply for a moment. When he did, it was to say, "Well,God keep us all! I'm right thankful to you, Rose, for all your goodnessto my little maid. Good den!"

  When she had returned the "good evening," Rose set off home, and walkedrather fast till she came to Margaret Thurston's cottage. After thelittle business was transacted between her and Margaret, Rose inquiredif they had heard of Mistress Silverside's arrest. Both Margaret andher husband seemed thunderstruck.

  "Nay, we know nought thereof," answered Thurston, "Pray God it be nottrue! There'll be more an' it so be."

  "I fear so much," said Rose.

  She did not tell her mother, for Alice had not been well lately, andRose wished to spare her an apprehension which might turn out to bequite unfounded, or at least exaggerated. But she told her step-father,and old Mount looked very grave.

  "God grant it be not so!" said he. "But if it be, Rose, thou wist theyhave our names in their black list of heretics."

  "Ay, Father, I know they have."

  "God keep us all!" said William Mount, looking earnestly into the fire.And Rose knew that while he might intend to include being kept safe, yethe meant, far more than that, being kept true.

  When John Love called at Johnson's cottage to fetch Robert Purcas, thetwo walked about a hundred yards on the way to Bentley without eitherspeaking a word. Then Robert suddenly stopped. "Look you, Love! whatwould you with me? I cannot go far from Thorpe to-night. I was sentwith a message to Johnson, and I have not found a chance to deliver ityet."

  "Must it be to-night? and what chance look you for?"

  "Ay, it must!" answered Robert earnestly. "What I look for is yon blacksnake coming out of his hole, and then slip I in and deliver mymessage."

  Love nodded. He knew well enough who the black snake was. "Then maybeyou came with the like word I did. Was it to warn Johnson to 'scape erethe Bailiff should be on him?"

  "Ay, it was. And you?"

  "I came to the same end, but not alone for Johnson. Robin, thou hadstbest see to thyself. Dost know thou art on the black list."

  "I've looked for that, this many a day. But so art thou, Love; and thouhast a wife to care for, and I've none."

  "I'm in danger anyway, Rob, but there's a chance for thee. Think of thyold father, and haste thee, lad."

  Robert shook his head. "I promised to warn Johnson," he said; "and Igave my word for it to one that I love right dearly. I'll not break myword. No, Love; I tarry here till I've seen him. The Lord must have acare of my old father if they take me."

  Love found it impossible to move Robert from his resolution. He badehim good-night and turned away.