And all this was mixed with
sudden wails from his wife, sudden graspings of his hands by hers. It
all seemed to the quiet girl, who sat ill-at-ease on the little
three-legged stool, that this was not the way to meet adversity. Then
she drove down her criticism; and told herself that she ought rather to
admire one of Christ's confessors.
"And you bring me no hope, then, Mistress Manners?" he said presently
(for she had told him that there was no talk yet of any formal
trial)--"no hope that I may meet my accusers face to face? I had thought
perhaps--"
He lifted his eyes swiftly to hers, and dropped them again.
She shook her head.
"And yet that is all that I ask now--only to meet my accusers. They can
prove nothing against me--except, indeed, my recusancy; and that they
have known this long time back. They can prove nothing as to the
harbouring of any priests--not within the last year, at any rate, for I
have not done so. It seemed to me--"
He stopped again, and passed his shaking hand over his mouth, eyeing the
two women with momentary glances, and then looking down once more.
"Yes?" said Marjorie.
He slipped off from the table, and began to move about restlessly.
"I have done nothing--nothing at all," he said. "Indeed, I thought--"
And once more he was silent.
* * * * *
He began to talk presently of the Derbyshire hills of Padley and of
Norbury. He asked his wife of news from home, and she gave it him,
interrupting herself with laments.
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