“Go thy ways, Mall. I said not, news it concerned thee to hear.”
“Ay, but it doth! Jack, it is touching Mistress?”
“It is not ill news for her,” replied Banks quietly.
“Then I know what you mean,” said Mary, with a sob. “Oh, Jack, Jack! that we should have lived to see this day!”
She threw her apron over her face, and disappeared into the house. Banks waited a few minutes, till Mary returned with a disgusted face.
“You may go in, Jack; but ’tis a stone you’ll find there.”
Banks made his way to the dining-room, where Mr Benden was seated with a dish of cherries before him.
“’Day!” was all the greeting he vouchsafed.
“Good-day, Master. I am but now returned from Canterbury, where I have been in the Bishop’s Court.”
“Humph!” was the only expression of Mr Benden’s interest. He had grown harder, colder, and stonier, since those days when he missed Alice’s presence. He did not miss her now.