d stood there silently with a very queer expression
watching him eat it, until Carew's groom led up a stout hackney and a
small roan palfrey to the block, and the master-player, crying
impatiently, "Up with thee, Nick; we must be ambling!" sprang into the
saddle of the gray.

The sleepy inn-folk roused a bit to send a cheery volley of, "Fare ye
well, sirs; come again," after the departing players, and the long
cavalcade cantered briskly out of the inn-yard, in double rank, with a
great clinking of bridle-chains and a drifting odor of wet leather and
heavy perfume.

Nick sat very erect and rode his best, feeling like some errant knight
of the great Round Table, ready to right the whole world's wrongs. "But
what about the horse?" said he. "We can na keep him in Stratford, sir."

"Oh, that's all seen to," said the master-player. "'Tis to be sent back
by the weekly carrier."

"And where do I turn into the Stratford road, sir?" asked Nick, as the
players clattered down the cobbled street in a cloud of mist that
steamed up so thickly from the stones that the horses seemed to have no
legs, but to float like boats.

"Some distance further on," replied Carew, carelessly. "'Tis not the
way we came that thou shalt ride to-day; that is t' other end of town,
and the gate not open yet. But the longest way round is the shortest way
home, so let's be spurring on."

At the corner of the street a cross and sleepy cobbler was strapping a
dirty urchin, who bellowed lustily. Nick winced.

"Hollo!" cried Carew. "What's to do?"

"Why, sir," said Nick, ruefully, "father will thresh me well this
night."

"Nay," said Carew, in a quite decided tone; "that he'll not, I promise
thee!"--and as he spoke he chuckled softly to himself.

The man before them turned suddenly around and grinned queerly; but,
catching the master-player's eye, whipped his head about like a
weather-vane in a gale, and cantered on.

As they came down the narrow street the watchmen were just swinging wide
the city gates, and gave a cheer to speed the parting guests, who gave a
rouse in turn, and were soon lost to sight in the mist which hid the
valley in a great gray sea.

"How shall I know where to turn off, sir?" asked Nick, a little
anxiously. "'Tis all alike."

"I'll tell thee," said the master-player; "rest thee easy on that score.
I know the road thou art to ride much better than thou dost thyself."

He smiled quite frankly as he spoke, and Nick could no