"God save your worship!" said he to the captain. "We come late; but first our affairs hindered us, and then we mistook the way. By good chance, we find you awake; else had we passed the night under some penthouse or such, hereabouts, and come to drink your health in the morning."
Ravenshaw having mechanically stepped back, the old beggar hobbled in, followed by several other maimed ragamuffins, with whom came the two women Ravenshaw had seen in the afternoon, and a pair of handsome frowsy young hussies who had not appeared in the road. The legless dwarf still rode upon a comrade's shoulders. As the motley gang trooped in, there was a great clatter and thud of crutches, wooden legs, and staves.
"God's death! who are these?" cried Jerningham, in petulant astonishment.
"Some poor friends of mine I met on the way hither," said Ravenshaw, apologetically. "I asked them to sup with me here. I had well-nigh forgot."
"Sup with you! By what right—well, no matter for that. Where did you think to find provender for all those mouths?"
"I was to find drink only; they were to find meat."
"Ay," said the chief beggar, "chickens; and here they be, young and plump." He thrust his hand into a sack another fellow carried, and drew out a cold roast pullet. The captain gazed at this specimen with admiring eyes, and unconsciously licked his lips.
"By your leave," said he to Jerningham, "I'll tarry but a half-hour to play the host to my invited guests; and then away. I can make up the time; a half-hour, more or less—"
"'Tis not to be thought of!" cried Jerningham. "There has been too much time lost already."
"Nay, I'll make it up, I tell you. I am bound to these people by my invitation; they have come far out of their way."