u are the best sword-cutler in London. You could make a living
without service."

"I am bound by too many years of faithful kindness to quit my master or
my home at the Dragon," said Tibble. "Nay, that will not serve, good
friend."

"Then what can be done?" asked Perronel, somewhat in despair. "There
are the young sparks at the Temple. One or two of them are already
beginning to cast eyes at her, so that I dare not let her help me carry
home my basket, far less go alone. 'Tis not the wench's fault. She
shrinks from men's eyes more than any maid I ever saw, but if she bide
long with me, I wot not what may come of it. There be rufflers there
who would not stick to carry her off!"

Tibble stood considering, and presently said, "Mayhap the Dean might aid
thee in this matter. He is free of hand and kind of heart, and belike
he would dower the maid, and find an honest man to wed her."

Perronel thought well of the suggestion, and decided that after the mass
on All Soul's Day, and the general visiting of the graves of kindred,
she would send Aldonza home with Dennet, whom they were sure to meet in
the Pardon Churchyard, since her mother, as well as Abenali and Martin
Fulford lay there; and herself endeavour to see Dean Colet, who was sure
to be at home, as he was hardly recovered from an attack of the
prevalent disorder.

Then Tibble escaped, and Perronel drew near to the party round the fire,
where the divination of the burning of nuts was going on, but not
successfully, since no pair hitherto put in would keep together.
However, the next contribution was a snail, which had been captured on
the wall, and was solemnly set to crawl on the hearth by Dennet, "to see
whether it would trace a G or an H."

However, the creature proved sullen or sleepy, and no jogging of hands,
no enticing, would induce it to crawl an inch, and the alderman, taking
his daughter on his knee, declared that it was a wise beast, who knew
her hap was fixed. Moreover, it was time for the rere supper, for the
serving-men with the lanterns would be coming for the young folk.

London entertainments for women or young people had to finish very early
unless they had a strong escort to go home with, for the streets were
far from safe after dark. Giles's great desire to convoy her home,
added to Perronel's determination, and on All Souls' Day, while knells
were ringing from every church in London, she roused Aldonza from her
weeping devotions at