“I knew not that he ailed!”
“Ay, he is dead. And there comes to me warning that Father Edmund will preach against me in Saint Ethelred and at town cross.”
“Can there arrive great harm? Middle Forest likes thee pretty well!”
“Oh, once, I know, I might have sailed out of storm—”
“Why not again?”
“With the miracles—with Saint Leofric blazing there? Middle Forest is become good! I tell you I see before me stoning and misery!”
He studied the fire. He was inclined to agree with her that her hour had struck. “Well! You have had years of down-lined nest—of merry life!”
“So wind will blow less cold and stones bruise less? Merry life? Oh, aye, sometimes!”
“What will you do to escape?”
“Marry, tell me! Tell me, Rob!”