HOW CHARLES FOUND A FAITHFUL ADHERENT AT ABBOTS LEIGH.
Jane was in her room—a large old-fashioned bedchamber, with a transom-window looking upon the lawn, and commanding a splendid view of the Severn's mouth and the distant Welsh hills—when a tap was heard at the door, and a maid-servant came in.
"You have something to say to me, I perceive, Margaret?" observed Jane.
"Yes, madam," was the reply. "My mistress has ordered me to attend upon your groom, Will Jones, and to be very careful of him. So I prepared a nice carduus posset, knowing it to be good for the ague, but when I took it to him, he wouldn't drink it, but said he should prefer some mulled sack."
"Well, Margaret, you had better indulge him in his whim. Let him have some mulled sack, since he fancies the brewage."
"But that's not all," pursued Margaret Rider. "Mulled sack won't content him. He declares he is very hungry, and must have a good supper."
"Poor young man!" exclaimed Jane, in a commiserating tone. "He has had a long day's journey. Let him have some supper."
"It strikes me, madam, that he is not so ill as he pretends to be. I don't see why he shouldn't sup in the servants' hall."
"Indulge him, Margaret—pray indulge him. He is worse than he looks. Ague is very obstinate."