him Alegar--down at Thorpe."

"Call him Alegar! what on earth for?" asked Rose indignantly.

Elizabeth laughed. "Well, they say he's so sour. He'll not dance, nor
sing idle songs, nor play quoits and bowls, but loveth better to sit at
home and read; so they call him Alegar."

Alegar is malt vinegar; the word vinegar was then used only of white
wine vinegar.

"He's not a bit sour!" cried Rose. "I've seen him with his little lad
and lass; and right good to them he was. It's a shame to call folks
names that don't fit them!"

"Nay, I don't call him no names, but other folks do. Did you know his
wife, that died six months gone?"

"No, but I've heard her well spoken of."

"Then you've heard truth. Those children lost a deal when they lost
her, and so did poor Johnson. Well, he'll never see her burn: that's
one good thing!"

"Ay," said Alice, "and that's what he said himself when she died. Well,
God help us to stand firm! Have you been asked any questions, Bess?"

"Not yet," said Elizabeth quietly, "but I look for it every day. Have
you?"

"Not I; but our Rose here foregathered with the priest one even of late,
and he was set to know why we came not to church these eight weeks past.
She parried his darts right well; but I look to hear more thereabout."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

NOT A BIT AFEARD.

Alice Mount had only just spoken when the latch was lifted by Margaret
Thurston.

"Pray you, let me come in and get my breath!" said she; "I'm that
frighted I can scarce stand."

"Come in, neighbour, and welcome," replied Alice; and Rose set a chair
for Margaret. "What ails you? is there a mad bull about, or what?"

"Mad bull, indeed! A mad bull's no great shakes. Not to him, any way."

"Well, I'd as soon not meet one in our lane," said Alice; "but who's
_him_?"

"_Him's_ the priest, be sure! Met me up at top o' the lane, he did, and
he must needs turn him round and walk by me. I well-nigh cracked my
skull trying to think of some excuse to be rid of him; but no such luck
for me! On he came till we reached hither, and then I could bear no
more, and I said I had to see you. He said he went about to see you
afore long, but he wouldn't come in to-day; so on he marched, and right
thankful was I, be sure. Eh, the things he asked me! I've not been so
hauled o'er the coals this year out."

"But what about, marry?"

"Gramercy! wherefore I came not to mass, and why Master didn't: and what
I believed and