with her big basket took the lead,
and conducted him in a few minutes to the door of the gaol.

"Good den, Master Porter! We be some'at late for visitors, but needs
must. Pray you, may we have speech of Mistress Benden, within here?"

The porter opened the wicket, and they stepped inside.

"You're nigh on closing time," said he. "Only half-an-hour to spare."

"I can do my business in half-an-hour, I thank you," replied Tabitha,
marching across the courtyard.

The porter, following them, unlocked the outer door, and locked it again
after them. To the gaoler who now received them they repeated their
errand, and he produced another key, wherewith he let them into the
women's prison. Alice and Rachel were talking together in the corner of
the room, and Tabitha set down herself and her basket by the side of her
sister-in-law.

"Good even, Alice!" she said, leaving her husband to see after himself,
as she generally did. "We're a bit late, but better late than never, in
especial when the ship carrieth a good cargo. Here have I brought you a
couple of capons, a roll of butter, a jar of honey, and another of
marmalade, a piece of a cheese, a goose-pie baken with lard, a pot o'
green ginger, and nutmegs. I filled up with biscuits and reasons."

By which last word Mistress Tabitha meant to say that she had filled the
interstices of her basket, not with intelligent motives, but with dried
grapes.

"I con you right hearty thanks, Sister Tabitha," said Alice warmly, "for
so rich provision! Verily, but it shall make a full pleasant change in
our meagre diet; for my friend here, that hath been a mighty comfort
unto me, must share in all my goods. 'Tis marvellous kindly in you to
have thus laden yourself for our comforts. Good even, Tom! I am fain
to behold thee. I trust you and all yours be well?"

"Maids lazy, Father 'plaining of pains in his bones, Christabel as is
common, Roger well, Mary making o' candles," replied Tabitha rapidly.
"As for yon ill-doing loon of a husband of yours, he's eating cakes and
supping ale at the Chequers Inn."

"Edward here!" repeated Alice in surprised tones.

"Was when we came forth," said Tabitha, who while she talked was busy
unlading her basket. "Hope your lockers 'll hold 'em. Time to close--
good even! No room for chatter, Thomas Hall--say farewell, and march!"

And almost without allowing poor Thomas a moment to kiss his imprisoned
sister, and beg her to "keep her hear