She lifted her hand and made the sign of the cross betwixt his brow and his breast. “Good-night, my son,” said she.
CHAPTER IX
The Adventure in Kent
ALOTE was in Kent what time word came that the Parliament of Northampton had passed a new poll-tax. It happened on this wise: Wat Tyler went down into Kent to have speech of John Ball, who was not in prison at that time, albeit hunted by the Archbishop's men,—and he brought Calote with him. And in a little village midway twixt Canterbury and Maidstone the priest met them. They went into the tavern and the alewife set her best brew before them, and presently slipped out to seek her gossips.
“This is the maid,” said Wat.
John Ball's eyes, kindly, keen, smiling, drew her to him, also he held out his hand. She came and stood beside his knee as he sat withdrawn from the table a little way. So they looked each on other, she most solemn, he tenderly amused.
“Long Will's daughter,” he said; and after a little, “So thou hast journeyed in England, south and north, to bring the message of fellowship to the poor?”
“Yea, brother,” she answered him.
“And thou sayest this people is not ready to rise up?”