atter.

Babington House stood on the further side of the market-place from that
on which they entered, and Alice was for going there through side
streets.

"They will take notice if we go straight through," she said. "It is
cheese-market to-day."

"They will take notice in any case," said Marjorie. "It will be over the
town to-morrow that Mistress Babington is here, and it is best,
therefore, to come openly, as if without fear."

And she turned to beckon the servants to draw up closer behind.

* * * * *

The square was indeed crowded as they came in. From all the country
round, and especially from Dovedale, the farmers came in on this day, or
sent their wives, for the selling of cheeses; and the small oblong of
the market--the smaller from its great Conduit and Cross--was full with
rows of stalls and carts, with four lanes only left along the edges by
which the traffic might pass; and even here the streams of passengers
forced the horses to go in single file. Groups of men--farmers' servants
who had driven in the carts, or walked with the pack-beasts--to whom
this day was a kind of feast, stood along the edges of the booths eyeing
all who went by. The inns, too, were doing a roaring trade, and it was
from one of these that the only offensive comment was made.

Mistress Babington rode first, as suited her dignity, preceded by one of
the Dethick men whom they had taken up on their way, and who had pushed
forward when they came into the town to clear the road; and Mistress
Manners rode after her. The men stood aside as the cavalcade began to
go between the booths, and the most of them saluted Mistress Babington.
But as they were almost out of the market they came abreast one of the
inns from whose wide-open doors came a roar of voices from those that
were drinking within, and a group that was gathered on the step stopped
talking as the party came up. Marjorie glanced at them, and noticed
there was an air about two or three of the men that was plainly
town-bred; there was a certain difference in the cut of their clothes
and the way they wore them. Then she saw two or three whispering
together, and the next moment came a brutal shout. She could not catch
the sentence, but she heard the word "Papist" with an adjective, and
caught the unmistakable bullying tone of the man. The next instant there
broke out a confusion: a man dashed up the step from the crowd beneath,
and she caught a glimp