en me money
to carry you thither without delay, and that will I with a very good
will."

"Given you money!"

Through six years of unhappy married life Alice Benden had experienced
enough of her husband's constant caprice and frequent brutality; but
this new development of it astonished her. She had not supposed that he
would descend so far as to take the price of innocent blood. The tone
of her voice, not indignant, but simply astonished, increased Mr
Benden's anger. The more gently she spoke, the harsher his voice grew.
This is not unusual, when a man is engaged in wilfully doing what he
knows to be wrong.

"Verily, your hearing must be evil this morrow, Mistress!" he said, with
some wicked words to emphasise his remark. "The constable hath paid me
a royal farthing, and here it is"--patting his pocket as he spoke--"and
I have yet to earn it. Come, step out; we have no time to lose."

Alice came to a sudden stand-still.

"No, Edward," she said firmly. "You shall not carry me to gaol. I will
have a care of your character, though you little regard mine. I pray
you, unhand me, and I will go mine own self to the constable, and
entreat him to take me, as his office and duty are." [This part of the
story, however extraordinary, is pure fact.]

In sheer amazement, Mr Benden's hand unloosed from Alice's arm; and
seizing her opportunity, she walked rapidly back to the Court House.
For a moment he stood considering what to do. He had little more
concern for his own reputation than for hers; but he felt that if he
followed her to the constable, he could scarcely avoid refunding that
half-crown, a thing he by no means desired to do. This reflection
decided him. He went quickly to the inn where he had left his horse,
mounted, and rode home, leaving Alice to her own devices, to walk home
or get taken to Canterbury in any way she could.

The constable was not less astonished than Mr Benden. He was not
accustomed to receive visits from people begging to be taken to gaol.
He scratched his head, put it on one side and looked at Alice as if she
were a curiosity in an exhibition, then took off his cap again, and
scratched his head on the other side.

"Well, to be sure!" he said at last. "To tell truth, my mistress, I
know not what to do with you. I cannot mine own self win this day to
Canterbury, and I have no place to tarry you here; nor have I any to
send withal save yon lad."

He pointed as he spoke to his son