“Then I hope the good day is coming,” saith Mother. “For methinks, neighbour, we have heard somewhat.”
Mistress Lewthwaite left her pastry of the board, and come up to Mother.
“Eh, Lady Lettice, what have you heard? Tell me quick, now!”
“My poor heart, I saw her last night.”
“Where is the child?”
“With us, at Selwick Hall. Joyce found her, wandering about, and hiding in copses, and she brought her in.”
“And what hath happed, Lady Lettice?”
“We have not asked her.”
“Not asked her!” saith Mistress Lewthwaite, in manifest amazement; and Alice looked up with the like.
“We know,” saith Mother, “but such matter as it hath liked her to tell us: the which is, that she was wed to this gentleman of a Popish priest, which as you know is not good in law: and that after she had bidden with him but a fortnight, they quarrelled, and he left her.”