“Oh, and did anybody tell you, Mistress—about—poor Aunt Alice?” said Christie, with a sudden and total change of tone.
“No, Christie,” answered Pandora significantly. “But somebody told me touching thy rich Aunt Alice, that she was richer now and higher than even the Queen Elizabeth, and that she should never again lose her riches, nor come down from her throne any more.”
“We didn’t know, Mistress—Father and me, we never knew when it should be—we only heard when all was over!”
“Thou mightest well bless God for that, my dear heart. That hour would have been sore hard for thee to live through, hadst thou known it afore.”
The parlour door opened, and they saw Roger Hall standing in the doorway.
“Mistress Pandora!” he said. “Thanks be unto God for all His mercies!”
“Amen!” answered both the girls.
“Methinks, Mr Hall, under God, some thanks be due to you also,” remarked Pandora, with a smile. “Mine aunt and I had fared ill without your pots and pans that time you wot of, and mine uncle hath been ringing your praises in my Father’s ears touching your good management at the cloth-works.”
“I did but my duty, Mistress,” said Roger, modestly.
“I would we all did the same, Mr Hall, so well as you have done,” added Pandora. “Christie, my sister Gertrude saith she will come and see thee.”