two of His angels with me."

Mine own eyes were full, no less than Hilda's.

"May the good Lord guard thee ever, poor maid!" said I. "But in very
sooth, I am far off enough from an angel. Here cometh one something
nearer thereto"--for I heard Jack's voice without. "But tell me, dost
thou know who it was of whom thou wert afraid?"

"I only know," she said, "that his squire bare a blue and white livery,
guarded in gold. I heard not his name."

"Verily!" said I to myself, "such gentlemen be fair company for Dame
Isabel the Queen!"

For I could have no doubt that poor Hilda's enemy was that bad man, Sir
Roger de Mortimer. Howbeit, I said no more, for then oped the door, and
in came Jack, with a lad behind, bearing a great basket. Jack's own
arms were full of fardels [parcels], which he set down in a corner of
the chamber, and bade the lad empty the basket beside, which was charged
with firewood, "There!" saith he, "they be not like to want for a day or
twain, poor souls! Come away, Sissot; we have earned a night's rest."

"Messire!" cried the faint voice of the poor woman. "Messire is good as
an angel from Heaven! But surely Messire has not demeaned himself to
carry burdens--and for us!"

She seemed nearhand frightened at the thought.

"Nay, good woman," saith Jack, merrily--"no more than the angel that
carried the cruse of water for the Prophet Elias. Well-a-day! securely
I can carry a fardel without tarnishing my spurs? I would I might never
do a worse deed."

"Amen!" said I, "for both of us."

We bade the woman and Hilda good even, and went forth, followed by
blessings till we were in the very street: and not till then would I
say--

"Jack, thou art the best man ever lived, but I would thou hadst a little
more care for appearances. Suppose Sir Edmund or Master de Oxendon had
seen thee!"

"Well?" saith Jack, as calm as a pool in a hollow. "Suppose they had."

"Why, then should they have laughed thee to scorn."

"Suppose they did?"

"Jack! Dost thou nothing regard folks' thoughts of thee?"

"Certes. I regard thine full diligently."

"But other folks, that be nought to thee, I would say."

"If the folks be nought to me, wherefore should the thoughts be of
import? Securely, good wife, but very little. I shall sleep the
sweeter for those fardels: and I count I should sleep none the worser if
man laughed at me. The blessing of the poor and the blessing of the
Lord be full apt to go toge