we should get that."

"I see that you're off to bed this minute, and don't go maundering about
tents and axes. You cut down poles! you'd cut your fingers off, more
like. Now then, be off to the loft! Not another word! March!"

Just as Ursula was sweeping Will upstairs before her, a rap came on the
door.

"There! didn't I say a body never had a bit of peace?--Go on, Will, and
get to bed; and mind thou leaves them dirty clothes on the floor by
theirselves: don't go to dirt everything in the room with 'em.--Walk in,
Mistress Wade! So you found Cis?"

"Ay, I found her," said the landlady, as she and Cissy came in together.

"Cis, do thou go up, maid, and see to Will a bit. He's come in all o'er
mud and mire, and I sent him up to bed, but there's no trusting him to
go. See he does, prithee, and cast his clothes into the tub yonder,
there's a good maid."

Cissy knew very well that Ursula spoke so amiably because Mrs Wade was
there to hear her. She went up to look after her little brother, and
the landlady turned to Ursula.

"Now, Ursula Felstede, I want these children."

"Then you must ask leave from the Queen's Commissioners, Mistress Wade.
Eh, I couldn't give 'em up if it were ever so! I daren't, for the life
o' me!"

Mrs Wade begged, coaxed, lectured, and almost threatened her, but for
once Ursula was firm. She dared not give up the children, and she was
quite honest in saying so. Mrs Wade had to go home without them.

As she came up, very weary and unusually dispirited, to the archway of
the King's Head, she heard voices from within.

"I tell you she's not!" said Dorothy Denny's voice in a rather
frightened tone; "she went forth nigh four hours agone, and whither I
know not."

"That's an inquiry for me," said Mrs Wade to herself, as she sprang
down from her old black mare, and gave her a pat before dismissing her
to the care of the ostler, who ran up to take her. "Good Jenny! good
old lass!--Is there any company, Giles?" she asked of the ostler.

"Mistress, 'tis Master Maynard the Sheriff and he's making inquiration
for you. I would you could ha' kept away a bit longer!"

"Dost thou so, good Giles? Well, I would as God would. The Sheriff had
best have somebody else to deal with him than Doll and Bab." And she
went forward into the kitchen.

Barbara, her younger servant, who was only a girl, stood leaning against
a dresser, looking very white and frightened, with the rolling-pin in
her ha