'I was so much relieved to see them disappear, and to hear the ponderous door close after them, that my spirits rose again considerably; and in spite of the presence of the governor I ventured to whisper, "Oh Bessie, I am so hungry; couldn't you ask if we might have some breakfast?"
'The governor did not make any objection, though he looked as if Bessie was asking a great favour when she made the request in rather a trembling voice. I thought him what I called "cross," but I really believe now he was as kind to us as he dared to be, and kinder than prison rule permitted. He took us to his wife, who made us very comfortable, gave us plenty to eat, and petted me so much that I began to cry when the turnkey arrived to take us away from her. All my fright came back at the sight of his face and the sound of his jingling keys. "Why can't we stay here, madam?" I sobbed, taking fast hold of my new friend's gown. "I shouldn't mind being in prison, if we might. We would promise not to run away; and you might lock the door whenever you went out of the room. I don't want to see any more strange people; let me stay with you."
'"My poor little maid, I wish I could keep you," she said, kissing me. "But it is impossible. I should only be bringing you and all of us into trouble. I have kept you over long as it is, I am afraid." So saying, she thrust a cake into my hand, patted me on the shoulder, and pushed me gently towards Bessie, who put her arm round me, and led me from the room. I went on crying all the time we were following the turnkey through many long, dark stone passages, up steps and down steps, round corners and past closed doors, from behind which echoed noises, which caused us to quicken our steps to a run till we were safe out of hearing. At last our guide stopped before one of these, and began turning over his bunch to find the right key.
'"Oh, not there!" exclaimed Bessie in dismay; for the sounds of loud talking, shrill laughter, quarrelling, and swearing came to our ears so plainly, that even Henrietta looked frightened, and Bessie covered her ears with her hands to shut out the noise.
'"This is the women's ward," said the turnkey as he fitted one of his keys into the lock. "And here you will have to stay until your case comes on for trial."
'"If we could have a room to ourselves!" began Henrietta imploringly, pulling out her purse as she spoke. (She was the only one of us who had been sensible enough to bring one.)
'"'Tis impossible, mistress," said the jailer—"for to-night, at least. Well," as she put some money into his hand, "perhaps to-morrow there may be a room vacant. Folk don't stay very long here in these days." He gave a kind of ghastly grin as he spoke; and Henrietta turned suddenly away from him, looking quite white and sick. Then the heavy door began to creak on its hinges, and presently we found ourselves face to face with our fellow-prisoners. The noisy tongues stopped the moment the door was opened, and all heads were turned to look at us. Very confusing we found it to be stared at by so many pairs of eager eyes at once. The room, large as it was, seemed to me, at the first glance, to be quite full of people. There were women of all ages there—from eighteen to eighty—and of all ranks, too, apparently; for though most of them were rough, hard-featured, and bold-looking, there were some who were evidently ladies, and who seemed nearly as ill at ease as we felt ourselves to be. But there were no children, and a murmur of compassion ran through the crowd when they saw me. I suppose I did look very dismal; for my face was covered with tears, and I held Bessie with a sort of desperate clutch, as if she was my only protection, and our new abode a den of wild beasts. When the turnkey had shut the door behind us and gone away, a chorus of exclamations and questions was showered down upon us, which had the effect of frightening me more than ever, until I discovered that they were all of a friendly nature; and, in fact, that every one seemed to pity me nearly as much as I pitied myself. "Poor child! What a babe to be here! What has she done?" "One of my Lord Jeffrey's arrests, of course." "'Tis a cruel shame. She can't be more than ten years old."
'"What's your name, my little mistress?" asked several voices; and in spite of my fright I managed to sob out: "Frances Dalrymple—I mean Cary; and I was eleven last birthday."
'This piece of information was received with a burst of laughter, which quite checked my desire for making any more confidences; and I left Henrietta and Bessie to answer all the numerous questions which followed. Quite a little crowd collected round us to hear our story; and every one was loud in expressing indignation at the injustice of our arrest. But their sympathy alarmed me almost as much as everything else about them. They called the Lord Jeffreys such dreadful names. One woman swore, and clenched her fist whenever she mentioned him; and they became so excited and talked so loud when they began telling their own misfortunes, that I was glad when they got tired of talking to us, and one by one sauntered off to join other groups, and we were left in our corner unmolested. What a long, dreary morning that was! The only break in its monotony was the arrival of dinner, when we sat amidst a long row of our companions at the great deal table, and were served with bowls of greasy, watery broth, in which little bits of mutton were floating about. I was not at all hungry, but I was nevertheless both surprised and horrified when my next neighbour plunged her spoon into my bowl, and carried off the greater part of my meat. What remained looked less inviting than ever; so I begged her to take it all if she liked, and I ate the cake the governor's wife had given me instead. The girl looked slightly ashamed of herself when she saw Henrietta's eyes fixed upon her from the other side of the table, and turning to me, asked if I had had enough to eat. I said, "Yes, thank you," very politely. I was so afraid of her, that I think I should have said "yes" at any rate. But when I looked at her thin, pale face, I did not grudge her my dinner in the least, she looked so starved and miserable.
'"I thought you looked as if you did not care for it," she said. "When you have been here as long as I have, you will learn to take what is put before you the minute you get it, and be glad enough of it too."