A clear, white moon, not long risen, was beginning to shine on the old pile, and to cast long lines of bright light and black shade between the old arches. To Freda the beautiful sight gave a fresh horror. How dared these men ply their wicked trade in the very shelter of these holy walls? She crept out, feeling more secure while she stood on this sacred ground, and treading with noiseless footsteps down the grass-grown nave, peeped through the broken window through which Robert Heritage had come to speak to her. She could trace in the moonlight the foot-path through the meadow outside to the outer wall, and beyond that she could just see a horse’s ears, and a whip standing up in such a fashion as to convince her that it was in a cart. She waited without a sound while she heard the soft whistling nearer and nearer, and then, peeping through the loose stones, she saw stolid Josiah Kemm, walking slowly to and fro under the church walls, with his hands behind him. He saw her immediately, and started forward to find out who was watching him.
Freda was ready for him, however; the risks and excitement of the adventure had made her quick-witted. She drew herself from a crouching attitude to her full height, and said, in a clear voice:
“Is it you, Josiah Kemm?”
The man did not answer; he made a step back, taken by surprise. She continued:
“I think you must have heard of me. I am Captain Mulgrave’s daughter.”
He touched his hat rather surlily, and seemed restless, as if uncertain what she knew, or how he ought to treat her.
“Why are you not waiting in the court-yard?” she asked with an inspiration. “You take your cart in there generally, don’t you?”
She thought that if she could persuade him that she knew all about his business, she could perhaps learn from him by what way she could get down to the scaur. Her confident tone had the desired effect. After a few minutes’ hesitation, during which Freda pretended to be unconcerned, but felt sick with anxiety, he answered:
“Well, noa; generally is a big word. Ah do soometoimes go into t’ yard, but more often Ah weait here.” He paused, but as his hearer took care to show no deep interest, he presently went on: “Ye see, it depends whether Ah teake t’ stuff streight from t’ boat, or whether Ah have to teake what’s stored in t’ Abbey.”
“I see. If you take what is stored up, the cart waits under the gallery window in the courtyard.”