e went with him as quietly as if she had no such intention.
Almost in a line with them was Tabitha Hall, and she was pouring out a
torrent of words.

"And you'll rue it, Edward Benden, you take my word for it! You savage
barbarian, to deal thus with a decent woman that never shamed you nor
gave you an ill word! Lack-a-day, but I thank all the saints on my
bended knees I'm not your wife! I'd--"

"So do I, Mistress!" was Mr Benden's grim answer.

"I'd make your life a burden to you, if I were! I'd learn you to
ill-use a woman! I'd give it you, you white-livered dotipole [cowardly
simpleton] of a Pharisee! Never since the world began--"

"Go to!" shrieked the boys behind, in great glee. "Scratch him, Tabby,
do!"

Alice never uttered a word, either to her husband or her sister-in-law.
She heard it all as though she heard not. Catching the eye of her
brother Esdras, Penuel beckoned to him, and that promising youth
somewhat reluctantly left the interesting group, and shambled up to his
eldest sister at the stile.

"Esdras, what is all this? Do tell me."

"'Tis Master Benden, a-carrying of his mistress afore the Justices, and
Mistress Hall's a-showing him the good love she bears him for it."

"Afore the Justices! Mistress Benden! Dear saints, but wherefore?"

"Oh, I wis nought of the inwards thereof," said Esdras, pulling a switch
from the hedge. "Some saith one thing, and some another. But they
saith she'll go to prison, safe sure."

"Oh, Esdras, I am sorry!" said Penuel, in a tone of great distress.
"Mother will be sore troubled. Everybody loves Mistress Benden, and few
loveth her master. There's some sorry blunder, be thou sure."

"Very like," said Esdras, turning to run off after the disappearing
company.

"Esdras," said little Patience suddenly, "you've got a big hole in you."

"Oh, let be! my gear's alway in holes," was the careless answer. "It'll
hold together till I get back, I reckon. Here goes!"

And away went Esdras, with two enormous holes in his stockings, and a
long strip of his jacket flying behind him like a tail.

"Oh dear, this world!" sighed Penuel. "I'm afraid 'tis a bad place.
Come, little Patience, let us go home."

When the girls reached Mrs Pardue's cottage, they found there the
mother of Patience, Mrs Bradbridge. She sat talking earnestly to Mrs
Pardue, who was busy washing, and said little in answer beyond such
replies, compatible with business, as "Ay," "I reckon