'What! Wouldst thou rather have me? Canst thou bear starving?'
'Yes,' said she; 'with thee I can.'
So that was settled, and nothing remained but to arrange when and how Dolly could escape from the house.
'Thou must put a light in thy window when everyone is asleep to-night,' said Jack.
'A light!' cried Dolly; 'but what good is that to thee?'
'Ay, a light; and as for the "good," leave that to me,' answered Jack, who had already thought of a friend to help him. 'And now farewell, lest they should seek for thee.'
That evening he went to a trusty man, who was ostler at the inn of the World's End, and told him his story.
'Canst thou borrow thy master's mare for the night?' asked Jack anxiously. 'She is used to carry double, and my horse is not.'
'Ay, if she is in her stable before morning,' replied the ostler; and then Jack begged him to be at Raffle's shop at ten o'clock, and to whistle when he got there by way of a signal.
Ten o'clock found them both at the appointed place, but they had to wait some time before the ostler announced that the promised light was in the window. Leaving both horses tied up a little way off—for Metcalfe had brought his own—they stole up to the Bensons' house and gave a faint tap at the door. Dolly was expecting Jack and came out, shutting the door after her.