ll have no whisperings betwixt you
and those brethren of yours--always tuting in your ear, and setting you
up to all manner of mischief. You'd not be so troublesome if you hadn't
Roger Hall at your back--that's my belief. You may just keep away from
them; and if they keep not away from you, they'll maybe get what they
shall love little."

Alice was silent for a moment. Then she said very quietly, "As you
will, Edward. I would only ask of you one favour--that I may speak once
with Roger, to tell him your pleasure."

"I'll tell him fast enough when I see him. Nay, my mistress: you come
not round me o' that fashion. I'll not have him and you plotting to win
you away ere the catchpoll [constable] come to carry you hence. You'll
tarry here, without you make up your mind to be conformable, and go to
church."

The idea of escape from the toils drawing close around her had never
entered Alice's brain till then. Now, for one moment, it surged in wild
excitement through her mind. The next moment it was gone. A voice
seemed to whisper to her--

"The cup which thy Father hath given thee, wilt thou not drink it?"

Then she said tranquilly, "Be it as you will. Because I cannot rightly
obey you in one matter, I will be the more careful in all other to order
me as you desire."

Mr Benden answered only by a sneer. He did not believe in meekness.
In his estimation, women who pretended to be meek and submissive were
only trying to beguile a man. In his heart he knew that this gentle
obedience was not natural to Alice, who had a high spirit and plenty of
fortitude; and instead of attributing it to the grace of God, which was
its real source, he set it down to a desire to cheat him in some
unrevealed fashion.

He went to church, and Alice stayed at home as she was bidden. Finding
that she had done so, Mr Benden tried hard to discover that one of her
brothers had been to see her, sharply and minutely questioning Mary on
the subject.

"I told him nought," said Mary afterwards to Mistress Tabitha: "and good
reason why--there was nought to tell. But if every man Jack of you had
been here, do you think I'd ha' let on to the likes o' him?"

A very uncomfortable fortnight followed. Mr Benden was in the
exasperating position of the Persian satraps, when they could find no
occasion against this Daniel. He was angry with the Bishop for
releasing Alice at his own request, angry with the neighbouring squires,
who had promot