“Nay, not to find our tongues,” answered Rose, smiling.
“Ah, but to put yon children abed. Look you in the closet, Rose, as you go into the loft, and you’ll see a mattress and a roll of blankets, with a canvas coverlet that shall serve them. You’ll turn in with me.”
“All right, Doll; I thank you.”
“You look weary, Doll,” said Elizabeth.
“Weary? Eh, but if you dwelt with our mistress, you’d look weary, be sure. She’s as good a woman as ever trod shoe-leather, only she’s so monstrous sharp. She thinks you can be there and back before you’ve fair got it inside your head that you’re to go. I marvel many a time whether the angels ’ll fly fast enough to serve her when she gets to Heaven. Marry come up but they’ll have to step out if they do.”
Rose laughed, and led the way upstairs, where she had been several times before.
Inns at that time were built like Continental country inns are now, round a square space, with a garden inside, and a high archway for the entrance, so high that a load of hay could pass underneath. There were no inside stairs, but a flight led up to the second storey from the courtyard, and a balcony running all round the house gave access to the bedrooms. Rose, however, went into none of the rooms, but made her way to one corner, where a second steep flight of stairs ran straight up between the walls. These the girls mounted, and at the top entered a low door, which led into a large, low room, lighted by a skylight, and occupied by little furniture. At the further end was a good-sized bed covered with a patchwork quilt, but without any hangings—the absence of these indicating either great poverty or extremely low rank. There was neither drawers, dressing-table, nor washstand. A large chest beside the bed held all Dorothy’s possessions, and a leaf-table which would let down was fixed to the wall under a mirror. A form in one corner, and two stools, made up the rest of the furniture. In a corner close to the entrance stood another door, which Rose opened after she had set up the leaf-table and put the candle upon it. Then, with Elizabeth’s help, she dragged out a large, thick straw mattress, and the blankets and coverlet of which Dorothy had spoken, and made up the bed in one of the unoccupied corners. A further search revealed a bolster, but no pillows were forthcoming. That did not matter, for they expected none.
“Now then, children, we’ll get you into bed,” said Rose.
“Will must say his prayers first,” said Cissy anxiously.
“Of course. Now, Will, come and say thy prayers, like a good lad.”