So, when the hatter reached the house of his friend, he found him in great perplexity over this matter, for each of those to whom the Westland children had been assigned had some special reason for asking to be excused the service; and when he saw Drayton, he made up his mind that he had come to him on a similar errand.
"I know what thou past come to say to me, friend, for thou art not the first visitor I have had concerning this business. Of course, Dame Drayton is fearful for her own children, and hath sent thee to say she cannot take these, though—"
"Nay, nay; the word of the Lord to my wife is, that these little ones should not be separated the one from the other, and she desires me to say to thee that she would prefer to have them all, an it so please thee."
"She will take all these children!" exclaimed the Quaker in a tone of astonishment.
"Even so, friend; for she deems it but adding to their burden of sorrow at this time to be parted the one from the other."
"And what sayest thou to this?" asked the other, looking keenly at the hatter; for he was not a wealthy man, but had to work hard for the maintenance of his family, and to add thus to his burden was no light matter.
"I can but follow the word of the Lord in me, and that is that I take these little ones until their parents can claim them at my hand."
"Be it so, then; and the Lord bless thee in thy work, for thou hast lifted a heavy burden of care from my mind anent this matter. I have chosen a discreet messenger to bring them from their home, lest one of us being known should draw the attention of the authorities to what we were doing, and that might end in our being lodged in gaol with our brother Westland."
"But how shall I know this messenger?" asked the hatter. "I can go at once to Triggs' Stairs and meet him."
"Nay, it is a woman who hath chosen this difficult service; and if thou art in doubt concerning who it is, by reason of other passengers being near, ask her the way to the Dyers' Garden; for by that signal was she to know to whom she might deliver the children."