coif. If I can scrimp enough money out of this, I'll have some
carnation ribbon to guard my hat--see if I don't!"

"Oh, Friswith! It isn't your money, 'tis Aunt Tabitha's."

"I'll have it, though; I hate to go shabby. And I can tell you, I met
Beatrice Pardue last night, with a fresh ribbon on hers. I'll not have
her finer than me. She's stuck-up enough without it. You look out on
Sunday as I go by the window, and see if my hat isn't new guarded with
carnation. I'll get round Mother somehow; and if she do give me a
whipping, I'm not so soft as you. Good-morrow!"

"Friswith, don't!"

Friswith only laughed as she closed the door on Christabel, and ran off
lightly down the Cranbrook road.

CHAPTER THREE.

THE COMFORTABLE JUSTICE.

Mr Justice Roberts sat in his dining-room after supper, with a tankard
of ale at his elbow. Had the "pernicious weed" been discovered at that
date, he would probably also have had a pipe in his hand; but tobacco
being yet a calamity of the future, the Justice was not smoking.

He was, however, very comfortable. He sat in a big leather chair, which
rested his portly figure; he had just had a good supper, consisting of a
partridge pie and a dish of juicy pears; he had sold a horse that
morning at considerable profit; his mind was as easy as his body.

There was only one thing the occurrence of which Mr Roberts would have
thought it worth his while to deprecate at that moment. This was,
anybody coming to bother him. The worthy Justice did not like to be
bothered. A good many people are of the same opinion. He had that
evening but one enemy in the world, and that was the man who should next
rap at his house door.

"Rap-a-tap-tap-tap!"

"Go to Jericho!" said the Justice to the unseen individual who was thus
about to disturb his rest. "I want none of you. Why on earth can't you
let a man alone?--What is it, Martha?"

"Please you, Master, 'tis Master Benden would have a word with you."

"What can the companion want?" mildly growled the Justice. "Well! let
him in, and bring another tankard. Good evening, Master Benden. A fine
autumn eve, trow."

Mr Benden's face said that he had come to talk about something of more
moment than autumn evenings. He sat down opposite the Justice, buttoned
his long gown up to the neck, as if to gird himself for action, and
cleared his throat with an air of importance.

"Master Roberts, I am come on a grave matter and a sad."

"Can'