“Nay, but she is a white witch! she does no evil.”
“What! Going back on what thou saidst of her brother and her mother. Take thou heed, or they will take order with thee.”
“Thou wilt take care of me, good Ralph. Oh! I have done it for thee.”
“Never fear, little one; only shut thy pretty little mouth;” and there was a sound of kissing.
“What will they do to her?” in a lower voice.
“Thou wilt see! Sink or swim thou knowst. Ha! ha! She will have enough of the draught that is so free to us.”
Grisell, trembling and horror-stricken, could only lean against the wall hoping that her beating heart did not sound loud enough to betray her, till a call from the hall put an end to the terrible whispers.
She hurried upwards lest Thora should come up and perceive how near she had been, then descended and took her seat at supper, trying to converse with Pierce as usual, but noting with terror the absence of the two soldiers.
How her evasion was to be effected she knew not. The castle keys were never delivered to her, but always to Hardcastle, and she saw him take them; but she received from Ridley a look and sign which meant that she was to be ready, and when she left the hall she made up a bundle of needments, and in it her precious books and all the jewels she had inherited. That Thora did not follow her was a boon.