All faces then were grave, but that of the Master Builder wore a
look of fear as well.

"I must to my wife," he said. "If she sees this comet, she will be
vastly put about. I must to her side to reassure her. Pray Heaven
that no calamity be near to us!"

"Amen!" replied Harmer, gravely; and then the Master Builder
retreated down the staircase, whilst from a room below a cheerful
voice was heard announcing that supper was ready.

The party therefore all moved downstairs towards the kitchen, where
all the meals were taken in company with the apprentices, shopmen,
and serving wenches.

Dorcas, the maiden who had brought news of the comet, slipped her.
hand within Reuben's arm, and asked him in a whisper:

"Thinkest thou, Reuben, that it betides evil to the city?"

"Nay, I know not what to think," he answered. "It is a strange
thing, and men often say it betides ill; but I have no knowledge of
mine own. I never saw the like before."

"They spoke of it at my Lady Scrope's today," said Dorcas. "I was
behind her chair, with her fan and essence bottles, and the lap
dogs, when in comes one and another of the old beaux who beguile
their leisure with my lady's sharp speeches; and they spoke of this
thing, and she laughed them to scorn, and called them fools for
listening to old wives' fables. It is her way thus to revile all
who come anigh her. She said she had lived through a score of such
scares, and would snap her fingers at all the comets of the heavens
at once. Sometimes it makes me tremble to hear her talk; but
methinks she loveth to raise a shudder in the hearts of those who
hear her. She is a strange being. Sometimes I almost fear to go to
and fro there, albeit she treats me well, and seldom speaks harshly
to me. But men say she is above a hundred years old, and she leads
so strange a life in her lonely house. Fancy being there alone of a
night, with only that deaf old man and his aged wife within doors!
It would scare me to death. But she will not let one other of her
servants abide there with her!"

"Ay, it is her whimsie. Women folks are given to such," answered
Reuben, tolerantly. "She is a strange creature, albeit I doubt not
that men make her out stranger than she is. Well, well, the comet
at least will do us no hurt of itself; and if it be God's way of
warning us of peril to come, we need not fear it, but only set
ourselves to be ready for what He may send us."

Below stairs there was a comfortable meal