ee!"

The parlour of the White Bear was free in another moment.

"There's a deliverance!" said Mr Lewthwaite. "Blessed be the pedlar!--
Have you been much pestered by that gadfly?"

"There's been a bit of buzzing by times," replied Temperance.

"Now, Mother, darling," said Milisent, "how are we to carry you down
home?"

"My dear child!" was the response. "Methinks, if you would do that, it
should be only in my coffin. I have one journey to go soon, and it is
like to be the next."

"Mother, sweet heart, I won't have it! You shall yet win to Selwick, if
I carry you every foot of the way."

"Nay, nay, my dear heart, I cannot hope that at fourscore."

"Fourscore! ay, or forty score!" cried Milisent. "Why, old Mistress
Outhwaite journeyed right to the Border but just ere we came, and she's
four years over the fourscore--and on horseback belike. Sure, you might
go in a waggon or a caroche!"

"Where is the caroche, Milly?"

"Well! but at any rate we might find a waggon."

"There is a travelling waggon," said Hans, "leaves the Chequers in
Holborn for York, once in the month--methinks 'tis the first Thursday in
every month."

"That is three weeks hence. Why not? Sure, your landlord would suffer
you to let this house, and you might leave some behind till it were off
your hands. What saith Temperance?--or Hans?"

"That where my Lady goeth, I go," was the answer from Hans.

"Is it needful, Milly, to settle all our futures ere the clock strike?"
humorously inquired Mr Lewthwaite. "Methinks we might leave that for
the morrow."

Milisent laughed, and let the subject drop.

Mr Lewthwaite and Temperance happened to be the last up that night.
When all the rest had departed, and Charity came with the turf to bank
up the parlour fire for the night, Temperance was saying--

"One thing can I promise you,--which is, if Aubrey return to Selwick as
lord and master, you may trust Faith to go withal. As for me, I live
but in other lives, and where I am most needed, there will I be, if God
be served: but truly, I see not how we shall move my Lady Lettice. I
would fain with all my heart have her back yonder, and so she would
herself,--of that am I right sure. But to ride so far on an horse, at
her years, and with her often pains--how could she? And though the
waggon were safer, it were too long and weary a journey. Think you not
so?"

Charity, having now settled her peat-sod to her satisfaction, left the
room,