And with this rather uncomplimentary remark, Amy left the room, with the blue ear-rings in her ears and the yellow ones in her hand. Elizabeth waited till her piece of work was finished. Then folding it up and putting it away in a drawer, she ran down to prepare supper,—a task wherein Amy did not offer to help her, though it was usual then for the mistress of the house and her daughters to assist in the cooking.
About two o’clock on the afternoon of the following Wednesday, a tap on the door of the Blue Bell called Rose to open it, and she greeted her friend Elizabeth with much pleasure. Rose had finished her share of the household work (until supper), and she took her lace pillow and sat down in the window. Elizabeth drew from her pocket a couple of nightcaps, and both girls set to work. Mrs Mount was sewing also in the chimney-corner.
“And how be matters in Colchester, Bess, at this present?”
“The clouds be gathering for rain, or I mistake,” said Elizabeth gravely. “You know the thing I mean?”
Alice Mount had put down her work, and she looked grave too.
“Bess! you never mean we shall have last August’s doings o’er again?”
“That do I, Alice, and more. I was last night at the King’s Head, where you know they of our doctrine be wont to meet, and Master Pulleyne was there, that good man that was sometime chaplain to my Lady’s Grace of Suffolk: he mostly puts up at the King’s Head when he cometh to town. And quoth he, ‘There shall shortly be another search made for Gospel books,—ay, and Gospellers belike: and they be not like to ’scape so well as they did last year.’ And John Love saith—he was there, John Love of the Heath; you know him?—well, he saith he heard Master Simnel the bailiff to swear that the great Doctors of Colchester should find it warm work ere long. There’s an ill time coming, friends. Take you heed.”
“The good Lord be our aid, if so be!” said Alice.
“But what shall Master Clere do, Bessy?” asked Rose. “He hath ever been a Gospeller.”
“He hath borne the name of one, Rose. God knoweth if he be true. I’m ’feared—”