do you mean by getting up like this? I
thought, forsooth, you were so sick you had need of a nurse, to take a few
more shillings out of my pocket, and here you are at five o'clock, up and
spry. Well-a-day, I never did come to the bottom of you. Deep waters, they
say, make no noise.'

Mary had braced herself to bear anything and everything, and was strangely
unmoved by her stepmother's innuendoes, of which she took no notice, and
only said, in a gentle voice,--

'Is Ned astir yet?'

'I don't know. He came hobbling in after his goose-chase to London on your
account, losing a couple of days' work; and I warrant he will have to be
shaken before he gets about his business.'

'I can get downstairs,' Mary said, 'if Ned will help to carry me. I fear I
cannot put my leg to the ground yet.'

'No; and you may give up the notion. If you come down, you may as lief do
without a nurse, and take to your lawful business. It is a pretty
thing!--one of you gadding off to town and thinking herself a fine lady,
and t'other laming herself and wanting to be tended by a paid woman.'

At this juncture Goody Pearse awoke, bewildered and much alarmed by the
presence of Mistress Forrester. She expected a sharp reprimand, but
Mistress Forrester left the room without another word either to nurse or
patient.

'Dear heart! what made you get up afore I was ready? You'll have raging
pain in your foot again, sure as fate.'

'I must get downstairs to-day to see Master Humphrey Ratcliffe. Ned will
help me.'

Mary's resolution did not falter. Her humble and faithful admirer, Ned,
appeared at the attic door, when summoned by Goody Pearse, to help her
downstairs. Ned made short work of it; he lifted Mary in his arms, and
trudged down the creaking steps with her without a single halt, and placed
her by her desire on the settle, where her leg could rest. Mary's smile was
a sufficient reward for Ned. But when Mary held out her hand, and said she
owed him more than tongue could tell for going to London, Ned was
speechless with emotion. At last he blurted out,--

'I'd walk a hundred miles to serve you, Mistress; I'd even ride 'em for
your sake. But, oh, Lord! I am sore to-day with the cramp I got
a-horseback. Here is a letter from Master Ratcliffe; he bid me put into
your hands and into none other, and I have kept to the order. Take it,
Mistress.'

Mary held out her hand, and took the much crumpled and soiled letter from
Ned's large, brown fingers. B