to see thee; 'tis more than I expected. But, child, thou
shouldst have set the porridge on half an hour ago; go down and look to
it.--Any body else? Come, I had best see for myself."

And Licorice pushed past her husband, and walked into the room where
Bruno was standing. He came forward to meet her, with far more apparent
calmness than Abraham seemed to feel.

"Good even, my mother," he said courteously.

"If I were thy mother, I would hang myself from the first gable," hissed
Licorice between her closed teeth. "I know thee, Bruno de Malpas, thou
vile grandson of a locust! Nay, locust is too good for thee: they are
clean beasts, and thou art an unclean. Thou hare, camel, coney,
night-hawk, raven, lobster, earwig, hog! I spit on thee seven times,"--
and she did it--"I deliver thee over to Satan thy master--"

"That thou canst not," quietly said Bruno.

"I sweep thee out of my house!" And suiting the action to the word,
Licorice caught up a broom which stood in the corner, and proceeded to
apply it with good will. Bruno retreated, as was but natural he should.

"Licorice, my dear wife!"

"I'll sweep _thee_ out next!" cried Licorice, brandishing her broom in
the very face of her lord and master. "I'll have no Christians, nor
Christian blood, nor Christian faith, in my house, as I am a living
daughter of Abraham! Get you all out hence, ye loathsome creeping
things, which whosoever toucheth shall be unclean! Get ye out, I say!--
Belasez, bring me soap and water. I'll not sleep till I've washed the
floor. I'd wash the air if I could."

"Your pardon, Mother, but if you will have no Christian blood in your
house, you must sweep me out," answered Belasez, with a mixture of
dignity and irrepressible amusement.

Licorice turned round to Abraham.

"Thou hast told her?"

"It was better she should know, wife."

"I'll chop thy head off, if I hear thee say that again!--And dost thou
mean to be a Christian, thou wicked girl?"

"I do, Mother. And I mean to go with my father."

"Go, then--like to like!--and all the angels of Satan go with thee!"

And the broom came flying after Belasez.

"Nay, wife, give the child her raiment and jewels."

"I'll give her what belongs to her, and that's a hot iron, if she does
not get out of that door this minute!"

"Wife!"

"I'll spoil her pretty face for her!" shrieked Licorice. "I never liked
the vain chit overmuch, nor Anegay neither: but if she does not go, I'l