It was plain that others
besides the Catholics understood the taking of Mr. Thomas FitzHerbert to
be a very significant matter.
Babington House stood on the further side of the market-place from that
on which they entered, and Alice was for going there through side
streets.
"They will take notice if we go straight through," she said. "It is
cheese-market to-day."
"They will take notice in any case," said Marjorie. "It will be over the
town to-morrow that Mistress Babington is here, and it is best,
therefore, to come openly, as if without fear."
And she turned to beckon the servants to draw up closer behind.
* * * * *
The square was indeed crowded as they came in. From all the country
round, and especially from Dovedale, the farmers came in on this day, or
sent their wives, for the selling of cheeses; and the small oblong of
the market--the smaller from its great Conduit and Cross--was full with
rows of stalls and carts, with four lanes only left along the edges by
which the traffic might pass; and even here the streams of passengers
forced the horses to go in single file. Groups of men--farmers' servants
who had driven in the carts, or walked with the pack-beasts--to whom
this day was a kind of feast, stood along the edges of the booths eyeing
all who went by. The inns, too, were doing a roaring trade, and it was
from one of these that the only offensive comment was made.
Mistress Babington rode first, as suited her dignity, preceded by one of
the Dethick men whom they had taken up on their way, and who had pushed
forward when they came into the town to clear the road; and Mistress
Manners rode after her.
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