CHAPTER IV
Noteworthy Deed of a Boy taught of a Woman
I am now coming, Hew, to what hindered me of seeing the Shew in Clerkenwell on St. Bartholomew's Day. Man proposes, but God disposes: all Things are overruled for Good to them that love him—I'm sure I found it so in this Case.
The Weather was now excessive hot: Miles and I used to take Boat whenever we had a spare Evening, and practice Swimming off Battersea. Also, we sometimes bathed in Perilous Pond, wherein many 'Prentices are yearly drowned; hard by the Well of Dame Annis the Clear.
As for Tomkins, his whole Soul was in the making of the queerest Watch that ever was seen; howbeit, clumsy as it was, he at last made it go; though it never could keep up with St. Magnus' Clock.
Master Hewet was anxious, one Forenoon, to communicate by Letter with an Agent on the Point of embarquing for Callice. I had a Race against Time to the Quay, sped my Errand, and returned beneath a broiling Noon-day Sun. When I got back, I was overheated and very thirsty, and thought I would step into the Kitchen for a Drink of cold Water. I had pulled off my warm blue Gown to cool myself, and went into the Kitchen with it hanging on my Arm. Leaning forth of the Lattice, according unto her Wont, was Tib, a parleying with the next Door Servant; and with her left Arm cast about the Waist of Mistress Anne, who sate on the Window-sill with her Back to the River. On seeing me come in, the little Maiden clapped her Hands, which startling Tib, who supposed herself caught by Mistress Fraunces, she maketh no more Ado, but turns short round in a Flurry, giving a Lurch with her left Arm that cast the pretty Innocent headlong into the River. I remember Tib squealed; but without a second Thought, I dropped my Gown that so luckily was off, and took a Leap that was clean sixty Feet into the River, without so much as a Thought what I should do when I got there. I remember the Blow the Water gave my Head, and what a Way I went down, and how I bobbed up again, as Providence would have it, with the dear little Fondling within Arm's-length of me, drifting towards the Fall beyond the Arch. I clutched at her by the pretty Waist, just as the Eddy was going to suck her in, and, striking out once or twice with the other Arm, though the Rapids were bearing me down horribly, found myself the next Minute a clinging on to the Sterling, without Power to climb up it, so spent was I, and feeling as if I must lose Hold of little Anne after all! I wot not how much of the Noise I then seemed to hear was the Water singing in mine Ears, and the Uproar of the Falls; howbeit, there were People hallooing above and around, and my Master's Voice a-top of all, from the Parlour Window, overhead, crying, "Hold on, Ned, for thy Life! we'll save you, my brave Boy! Cling to him, Anne, if he can't cling to thee!"
"And took a leap"
And, before this, there had been a Roar, as if through a Speaking-trumpet, of "Boat a-hoy!" and I heard Oars plashing fast, though I could not spare Strength to turn my Head to see how near Help was. Then a rough, kindly Hand laid hold of me from behind; and, finding I had no Power to help myself, the Waterman took me under the Arms, and lifted me clean into the Boat, with the dear little Girl hanging about my Neck. Oh! what a Cheer there was! I heard it then, I hear it now: it came from around and from above, as if God's Angels were hovering over us. We were rowed swiftly to the Landing, where there was a Press of People that mutely fell back to make Way for Master Hewet, as he ran down the Stairs. For he was greatly loved along the Bridge. He would have caught little Anne from me; but I could neither speak nor let her go; and he sayth, "So best!" and burst forth into Tears. That sett off all the rest; and when some one afterwards said, "Wherefore cheered ye him not when he came a-land?" another made Answer, "How could we? all were in Tears." So I went along, carrying little Anne, still fast to my Neck, with her Cheek close pressed to mine, and they said, "It's all right, it's his Triumph." But I thought not so much of any Triumph, just then, as how thankful I was to God. When we got to the House, Mistress Fraunces took the poor, drenched Innocent from mine Arms; and Master Hewet, taking me round the Neck, absolutely kissed me. Which was a memorable Thing for a Master to do by his 'Prentice. Only, you see, I had saved his Daughter.