She hesitated a few seconds, and then, still holding my arm, she walked by my side along the road.
"There be many reasons which lead a woman to call a man husband," she said. "Not every woman loves the man whose name she bears, and—" here she stopped again like one who seemed to fear she had said too much. "Besides," she went on, "certain subjects are painful. I can go faster if you wish."
"I am sorry if I have said aught to make you angry with me, Lady——"
"Constance," she said; "call me Mistress Constance. Nay, you have done nought to make me angry. Hark! what is that?"
We were now outside the town, and houses were not so plentiful; nevertheless, here and there cottages were scattered, and from some of the windows I saw flickering lights. What we heard was the sound of footsteps and the shout of men's voices.
"They come towards us, not after us," I heard her murmur.
"Perchance there is an alehouse on the road," I suggested, "and these are men who have been drinking there."
"There is an alehouse; but listen——"
We stopped and listened, and I felt sure I was right in my conjecture.
"Am I a constable," I heard one say, "and shall I see such goings on? I tell you, you are drunk!"