will have a glass of wine against your faintness," said I, quickly, "but I will have no speaking. Raise your voice and you shall learn the worst, and what it is to offend Dick Ryder."
She said nothing, but sat very still and pallid, watching me with fluttering eyes; nor would she take the wine I ordered.
"Drink, my little cockatrice," said I, with command, and on that she sipped at the liquor, making a pretence.
A little after comes the innkeeper, and, staring on us, beckons me forth with his finger. I stepped into the passage wondering what game this might be, when says he, suddenly,—
"I recognise you, Captain. Yonder are fine feathers. A precious morsel you ha' gotten somewhere," says he.
"Oh, damn your words," says I. "D'ye suppose I left my home to hear this muck?"
"No, Captain," says he, lowering his voice, "but there has been a pother on the heaths this past week, and the traps are about. There is one or more in the room behind you."
At that I whistled and thanked him. "I will put the wine in my gullet and mizzle," said I, not that I cared for the traps, but 'twas safer for the aim I was making. So I was not three minutes ere I was in the saddle with the girl as before, and we were riding amain for Godalming.
"You ride hard, sir," said she, presently; and when I made no answer, for to say the truth I wanted no more of her voice, and the job for the first time disaffected me, "I think I should say," she went on quietly, "that when you were with the taverner there was one looked in upon me from a further room."
"Why d'ye say this?" I asked abruptly.
"He was well armed," says she, "and there was another with him. I had but to raise my finger," she says quietly.
"Why did you not?" I asked in a surprise.
"I knew nought of them," she answered; "and I know this of you, that you are more honest than you seem, sir."
At that I laughed, though I will confess the wench took me by her talk, pretty parrot. "Well, you must know," I said, "that those were the officers of the law who watched you, and they would ha' been glad to lay hands on Dick Ryder."
"It may be," she replied thoughtfully. "But I regret not. There is that in your face I would rather trust."
At that I pulled in Calypso. "Look you!" said I, "who are you, and what do you here? I can get no ease of this puzzle. Are ye maid, saint or sinner?"
"Nay, but I am wife and maid, sir," says she, her face deepening with colour; "I am the Mistress Barbara Crawford, that was wed this day at Midhurst."
"What!" cried I, "you are wed this day!"
"Indeed," says she, "'tis so; and now am I stolen away and like to be no longer what I am."
"Where is your husband?" I asked sharply, fixing her with my eyes.
"He was called away almost ere the marriage was finished," she answered distressfully. "There was news brought of his father's illness, and he rode off. Yet was he to meet me this night at Guildford."
For a moment I was silent, for there leaped into my mind a notion of what that rogue, Sir Gilbert Avory, was about, and then—for the creature drew me compassionately, and she was but a chick for all her steady face,—
"By Heaven," says I, "but this is to go beyond me. I spoil no proper sport, not I; and you and your husband sup together to-night, I promise you, so shall ye."
She looked at me somewhat startled, but with a glow of colour on her face.
"I knew you were true, I knew you were true," said she, repeating it, and seizing of my hand.
"Oh, faugh," says I, "I am well enough," for it irked me to think for what I had taken her all along.
"Will you tell me," she asked in a hesitating voice, "who was it that put you to this?"
"You are welcome to that," I returned bluntly. "'Twas Sir Gilbert Avory himself."
She sighed. "So I had guessed," she said. "He has persecuted me a full year, and no doubt 'twas he that drew off my husband."
That, as I knew, was like enough, but there was no time to fall discussing of Mr Crawford nor Sir Gilbert neither. The hour was late and we must be pushing.
"You will take me back?" says she, softly.
I broke out laughing. "Lord no!" says I. "Bless your bobbing heart, d'ye think you will find the coach still a-sticking in the mud?"
"You will ride then to Guildford?" she asked with some diffidence, and regarding me beseechingly. "'Twould try your generosity to do this for me."
"Ay," said I, "we ride for Guildford, but by way of Godalming."
"What!" she cried, stricken with fear, "you would carry me where that man lies!"
"'Twas that very maggot was in my head, mistress," I said; for indeed I had taken a notion to have the laugh of this same smiling beau.
She clasped her hands, and would have appealed to me, but I broke in sharply on that silly pate. "Faith, you must render yourself to me, or I will none of it. I make my plans and so abide. You shall come off with a sound skin, and cry 'pap' to your husband. Have no fears."
To this soothing she said nothing, and presently we resumed our journey, and, getting into the town, pulled up afore the Angel. It was now close upon midnight, and there was but one light in the inn, which shone from a room above. Mrs Barbara looked on me in alarm when she saw this, but she still said nothing. As for me, I left the mare standing—a trick she was used to—and pressed up the stairway with the girl. It was not my design to seek Sir Gilbert Avory for the nonce, as I had other work to do; but, as it fell, the matter was taken out of my hands, for the man himself met us at the stair-head smiling and courteous.
"I give you welcome, madam," says he, bowing with ceremony. "There is a chamber all prepared for you, and a warming supper. You must ha' gotten a rare appetite with the winds."
She returned him no word, but shrank away towards me; and says he to me,—
"I fear my lady has lost her tongue i' the cold. You have had a rough journey; but 'tis well done. I swear the lady was never in more careful custody," and a little smile illumined his even features.
As we had come upon him there was nought to do save to make the best of the case, and though I will admit that at first I was put about I soon recovered my wits, and entered the chamber with him, whence the light shone, with some merry jest on my tongue.
Here was a table spread very generously, and some wine heating by the fire.
"By the Lord," said I, "I am fain of good liquor."
"You have earned it, Captain," says he, pouring forth a glass, but keeping his eyes on the girl.
I drained the glass. "And now," says I, "to business, Sir Gilbert."
"Ay, to business, sir," says he, and, with a gentle motion of his hands, he would have invited Mrs Barbara to an inner room. "These coarse facts are not for a lady, Ryder," says he.
"Seeing the lady is a main pawn in this business, by your leave she shall stay," said I, with a laugh.
"Why, yes," he says, controlling his lips into that little smile, "she is certainly of chief importance. But I would rather call her Queen, Captain."
"Call her what you will," said I, bluffly. "'Tis all you shall do with her, my master."
He turned slowly from considering her, and gazed on me quietly.
"Ha!" says he, without showing any perturbation, for he was a man of spirit, and he must have suspected that something was wrong. "Here we have a riddle for tobymen. What is the explanation, sirrah?"
"Very simple," said I, grinning at him. "I ha' made the lady's acquaintance, and ha' taken a fancy to her myself."
He raised his eyebrows, while he looked from one to the other of us, as though he would disentangle my real intention.
"I fear me you have been drinking, Ryder," said he, pleasantly.
"True,"