Then, as Cissy trotted into the cottage, well pleased, Johnson added, “Bless the little maid’s heart! she grows more like her mother in Heaven every day. I’ll never stay the little fingers from doing what they can. It’ll not bring much in, I reckon, but it’ll be a pleasure to the child, and good for her to be ever busy at something, that she mayn’t fall into idle ways. Think you not so, Rose?”
“Indeed, and it so will, Johnson,” answered Rose; “not that I think Cissy and idle ways ’ll ever have much to do one with the other. She’s not one of that sort. But I shouldn’t wonder if lace-weaving brings in more than you think. I’ve made a pretty penny of it, and I wasn’t so young as Cissy when I learned the work, and it’s like everything else—them that begin young have the best chance to make good workers. She’ll be a rare comfort to you, Cissy, if she goes on as she’s begun.”
Johnson did not reply for a moment. When he did, it was to say, “Well, God keep us all! I’m right thankful to you, Rose, for all your goodness to my little maid. Good den!”
When she had returned the “good evening,” Rose set off home, and walked rather fast till she came to Margaret Thurston’s cottage. After the little business was transacted between her and Margaret, Rose inquired if they had heard of Mistress Silverside’s arrest. Both Margaret and her husband seemed thunderstruck.
“Nay, we know nought thereof,” answered Thurston, “Pray God it be not true! There’ll be more an’ it so be.”
“I fear so much,” said Rose.
She did not tell her mother, for Alice had not been well lately, and Rose wished to spare her an apprehension which might turn out to be quite unfounded, or at least exaggerated. But she told her step-father, and old Mount looked very grave.
“God grant it be not so!” said he. “But if it be, Rose, thou wist they have our names in their black list of heretics.”
“Ay, Father, I know they have.”
“God keep us all!” said William Mount, looking earnestly into the fire. And Rose knew that while he might intend to include being kept safe, yet he meant, far more than that, being kept true.