ears they were, I mind them, a-hanging of their heads to see a
stranger, an' a finger in mouth--they falling sick, the woman of
Brentford come again, an' this time all afraid to say her nay. An'
layin' off her cloak, she took the youngest from the mother's breast,
dandling an' chucking it like an honest woman, whereupon it fell
a-sudden in a swoon.

"An' Goodwife Gosling seizing it, an' mindful of her being a
witch-woman, calling on the name of God, straightway there fell out of
the child's blanket a great toad which exploded in the fire like any
gunpowder, an' the room that full o' smoke an' brimstone as none
could--Save us! What's that!" cried Gammer.

[Illustration: "'Save us! What's that!' cried Gammer"]

What, indeed! That cry--this rush along the passageway! Will
Shakespeare, with heart a-still, clutches at Gammer's gown as there
follows a crash against the oaken panels.

But as the door bursts open, it is Hamnet, head-first, sprawling into
the room, the pippins preceding him over the floor.

"It were ahind me, breathin' hoarse, on the cellar stairs," whimpers
Hamnet, gathering himself to his knees, his fist burrowing into his
eyes.

Nor does he know why at this moment the laughter rises loud. For
Hamnet cannot see what the others can--the white nose of Clowder, the
asthmatic old house-dog, coming inquiringly over his shoulder, her tail
wagging inquiry as to the wherefore of the uproar.

But somehow, little Will Shakespeare did not laugh. Instead his cheeks
and his ears burned hot for Hamnet. Judith did not laugh either. Judith
was ten, and Hamnet's sister, and her black eyes flashed around on them
all for laughing, and her cheeks were hot. Judith flung a look at
Gammer, too, her own Gammer. And Will's heart warmed to Judith, and he
went too when she sprang to help Hamnet.

Hamnet's face was scarlet yet as he fumbled around among the rushes and
the greens for the pippins, and this done he retired hastily to his
stool. But three-legged stools are uncertain, and he sat him heavily
down on the rushes instead.

Whereupon they laughed the louder, the girls and the women too--laughed
until the candle flames flickered and flared, and Gammer, choking over
her bowl, for cates and cider were being handed round, spilled the drink
all down her withered neck and over her gown, wheezing and gasping until
her daughter snatched the bowl from her and shook the breath back into
her with no gentle hand.

IV

M