“Martha, where is Ben?”
“He stopp’d to t’ leaders’ meeting. He’ll be along in a little bit.”
“Can he bring a wool-comber’s suit and apron, and be at the gates, here, with-his tax-cart in a couple of hours?”
“Yes; I know he can.”
“Martha, can you get me some bread and meat, without any one knowing?”
“Ay; I can. Mary’ll be up stairs wi’ t’ baby, I’se warrant. I’ll be back wi’ it, i’ five minutes;” and she left Elizabeth walking restlessly just inside the gates. The five minutes looked an hour to her, but in reality Martha returned very speedily with a small basket of cold meat and bread.
“My brother, Martha, my brother, will be here in two hours. See that Ben is ready. He must be in Whitehaven as soon as possible to-morrow. Don’t forget the clothes.”
“I’ll forget nothing that’s needful. Ben’ll be waiting. God help, you, Miss Hallam!”
Elizabeth answered with a low cry, and Martha watched her a moment hastening through the rain and darkness, ere she turned back toward the chapel to wait for Ben.
A new terror seized Elizabeth as she returned. What if Jasper had locked the doors? How would it be possible for her to account for her strange absence from the house at that hour? But Antony had also thought of this, and after the main doors had been closed he had softly undone a side entrance, and watched near it for his sister’s return. His punishment begun when he saw her wretched condition; but there was no time then for either apologies or reproaches.