s
to my little maid. Good den!"

When she had returned the "good evening," Rose set off home, and walked
rather fast till she came to Margaret Thurston's cottage. After the
little business was transacted between her and Margaret, Rose inquired
if they had heard of Mistress Silverside's arrest. Both Margaret and
her husband seemed thunderstruck.

"Nay, we know nought thereof," answered Thurston, "Pray God it be not
true! There'll be more an' it so be."

"I fear so much," said Rose.

She did not tell her mother, for Alice had not been well lately, and
Rose wished to spare her an apprehension which might turn out to be
quite unfounded, or at least exaggerated. But she told her step-father,
and old Mount looked very grave.

"God grant it be not so!" said he. "But if it be, Rose, thou wist they
have our names in their black list of heretics."

"Ay, Father, I know they have."

"God keep us all!" said William Mount, looking earnestly into the fire.
And Rose knew that while he might intend to include being kept safe, yet
he meant, far more than that, being kept true.

When John Love called at Johnson's cottage to fetch Robert Purcas, the
two walked about a hundred yards on the way to Bentley without either
speaking a word. Then Robert suddenly stopped. "Look you, Love! what
would you with me? I cannot go far from Thorpe to-night. I was sent
with a message to Johnson, and I have not found a chance to deliver it
yet."

"Must it be to-night? and what chance look you for?"

"Ay, it must!" answered Robert earnestly. "What I look for is yon black
snake coming out of his hole, and then slip I in and deliver my
message."

Love nodded. He knew well enough who the black snake was. "Then maybe
you came with the like word I did. Was it to warn Johnson to 'scape ere
the Bailiff should be on him?"

"Ay, it was. And you?"

"I came to the same end, but not alone for Johnson. Robin, thou hadst
best see to thyself. Dost know thou art on the black list."

"I've looked for that, this many a day. But so art thou, Love; and thou
hast a wife to care for, and I've none."

"I'm in danger anyway, Rob, but there's a chance for thee. Think of thy
old father, and haste thee, lad."

Robert shook his head. "I promised to warn Johnson," he said; "and I
gave my word for it to one that I love right dearly. I'll not break my
word. No, Love; I tarry here till I've seen him. The Lord must have a
care of my old father if