uncomfortable end, Mr
Benden went to church in a towering passion. He informed such of his
friends as dared to approach him after mass, that the perversity and
obduracy of his wife were beyond all endurance on his part. Stay
another week in his house she should not! He would be incalculably
indebted to any friend visiting Cranbrook, if he would inform the
Justices of her wicked ways, so that she might be safely lodged again in
gaol. An idle young man, more out of thoughtless mischief than from any
worse motive, undertook the task.

When Alice Benden appeared the second time before the Bench, it was not
with ease-loving, good-natured Justice Roberts that she had to do. Sir
John Guildford was now the sitting magistrate, and he committed her to
prison with short examination. But the constable, whether from pity or
for some consideration of his own convenience, did not wish to take her;
and the administration of justice being somewhat lax, she was ordered by
that official to go home until he came for her.

"Go home, forsooth!" cried Mr Benden in angry tones. "I'll not have
her at home!"

"Then you may carry her yourself to Canterbury," returned the constable.
"I cannot go this week, and I have nobody to send."

"Give me a royal farthing, and I will!" was the savage answer.

The constable looked in his face to see if he meant it. Then he shook
his head, dipped his hand into his purse, and pulled out half-a-crown,
which he passed to Mr Benden, who pocketed this price of blood. Alice
had walked on down the Market Place, and was out of hearing. Mr Benden
strode after her, with the half-crown in his pocket.

CHAPTER NINE.

ALICE DECIDES FOR HERSELF.

"Not that road, Mistress!"

Alice had nearly reached the end of the Market Place, when her husband's
harsh call arrested her. She had been walking slowly on, so that he
might overtake her. On hearing this, she paused and waited for him to
come up.

"That's not the way to Canterbury!" said Mr Benden, seizing her by the
wrist, and turning her round.

"I thought we were going home," said Alice quietly.

"Methinks, Mistress, there's somewhat wrong with your hearing this
morrow. Heard you not the Justice commit you to gaol?"

"Truly I so did, Edward; but I heard also the constable to say that he
would come for me when it should stand with his conveniency, and I
reckoned it was thus settled."

"Then you reckoned without your host. The constable hath giv