human
This is the way,
gpt
Mine own dear boy! God be thanked that we see thee safe from harm!
human
Ah, who am I, that God hath saved Me from the doom I did desire, And crossed the lot myself had craved, To set me higher?
gpt
Eh, Parson, I declare it's you! How fares Mrs Agnes this cold even? Marry, I do believe we shall have snow ere the day break again. The White Bear'll be a bit whiter, I reckon, if he be well snowed o'er. Are you going in there? You'll have some work to peace Mrs Louvaine; she's lamenting and weeping, you never heard!--and all for her son as cometh not home, and she is fair sure he'll be hung, because she saith he was in with those rogues yonder.
human
He was nothing of the sort, said Mr Marshall, breaking in sternly on the flow of Silence's tide of words:
gpt
Eh deary, Parson, but you'd never go to tell on a poor woman, and as honest as any in Westminster, if I did pass the time o' day to a fellow, that I never guessed to be a villain? I do assure you, on my truth as--
human
I hope you are an honest woman, Mrs Abbott; and so is Mr Louvaine an honest man; and if you would have me keep my tongue off your doings, see that you keep yours off his. Now I have given you warning: that is a bargain.
gpt
Eh deary, deary! but I never heard Parson i' such a way afore! lamented Mrs Abbott to her daughter Mary, the only listener she had left, for Mr Marshall had walked straight into the White Bear.
human
I'll say the lad's a Prince of the Blood, or an angel, or anything he's a mind, if he'll but let me be. Me talk to Guy Fawkes, indeed! I never said no worser to him than `Fine morning,' or `Wet, isn't it?' as it might be: and to think o' me being had up afore the Lords of the Council for just passing a word like that--and the parson, too! Eh, deary me! whatever must I say to content him, now?
gpt
I fancy, Mother, said Mary, who took after her quiet father,
human
So unfeeling as you are, Temperance, to a poor widow! and my only child as good as lost, and never found again. And officers and third-boroughs and constables all going about, making all manner of inquirations, trying to bring folks to justice, and Aubrey in with those wicked people, and going to sup with them, and all--and nobody ever trying to prevent him, and not a soul to care but me whether he went right or wrong--I do believe you thought more of the price of herrings than you ever did of the dear boy--and now, he's completely lost and nobody knows what has become of him--
gpt
Mrs Louvaine, pardon me. Aubrey is at my house, safe and sound. There is no need for your trouble.
human
Of course! responded Temperance.
gpt
I told her so. Might as well talk to the fire-bricks, when she takes a fancy of this sort. If the lad had come to any harm, we should have heard it. Faith never will think that `no news is good news.'
human
I am glad Aubrey is with you, Mr Marshall,
gpt
I met with him, Madam, in a walk this afternoon, and brought him so far with me.
human
And why not a bit further, trow?
gpt
That am I come to say. Madam, --and he addressed himself to Lady Louvaine,--
human
Didn't I tell you? demanded Mrs Louvaine, in tones suited to Cassandra amid the ruins of Troy.
gpt
I said I was sure some harm had come to the boy, and you laughed me to scorn, and not one of you went to see--
human
Nobody laughed at you but me, my dear, said her sister:
gpt
Why, you never looked for _me_ to go? responded Mrs Louvaine, with a faint scream of horror.
human
Me, a poor widow, and with my feeble health! When I haven't been out of the door except to church for nigh a month!
gpt
More's the pity! If you knocked about a bit more, and went to market of a morrow, and such like, maybe your health would not be so feeble.
human
Temperance, you barbarous creature, how _can_ you?
gpt
Well, I know there are folks that can, Faith, and there are folks that can't. You never heard me ask my Lady Lettice why she didn't stir up and go a-marketing. She can't; she'd be only too glad if she could, and would want no asking. But you could if you would--it's true, my dear, and you don't need to stare, as if you'd never seen me before this evening. As for looking for you to go, I didn't indeed; I never look for aught but cumber, and so I'm not disappointed.--Mr Marshall, I ask your pardon; I'm staying you from speaking.
human
Well, the upshot of the matter is this. Mr Louvaine, though in truth, as I do verily believe, innocent of all ill, is in danger to fall in some suspicion through a certain jewel of his being found in the lodging of one of the caitiffs lately execute. He saith that he knew not where he had lost it: no doubt it dropped out of his apparel when he was there, as he allows he hath been divers times. He never heard, saith he, a word of any traitorous designs, nor did they tamper at all with his religion. But this jewel being carried to my Lady Oxford--truly, whether by some suspicion that it should be Mr Louvaine's, or how, I know not, nor am sure that he doth himself--she charged him withal, yet kindly, and made haste to have him forth of the house, warning him that he must in no wise tarry in the town, but must with all haste hie him down into the country, and there lie squat until all suspicion had passed. She would not even have him come hither, where she said he should be sought if any inquiry were made. The utmost she would suffer was that he should lie hid for a day or twain in my lodging, whither you might come as if to speak with Agnes, and so might agree whither he should go, and so forth. My Lady paid him his wage, well-nigh nine pound, and further counted ten pounds into his hand to help him on his journey. Truly, she gave him good counsel, and dealt well with him. But the poor lad is very downcast, and knows not what to do; and he tells me he hath debts that he cannot pay. So I carried him to my lodging, where he now lieth: and I wait your further wishes.
gpt
I thank you right truly for that your goodness,
human
There, now! didn't I say the boy was sure to run into debt?
gpt
How much be these debts, Mr Marshall?
human
Twenty pounds borrowed from Mr Thomas Rookwood; twenty lost at play; and about sixty owing to tailors, mercers, and the like.
gpt
Ay, I reckoned that velvet would be over a penny the yard.
human
I see, the lad hath disburdened himself to you, said Lady Louvaine, with a sad smile.
gpt
Truly, I am sorry to hear this, though little astonied. Mr Marshall, I have been much troubled at times, thinking whether, in suffering Aubrey to enter my Lord Oxford's service, I had done ill: and yet in very deed, at the time I could see nothing else to do. It seemed to be the way wherein God meant us to go--and yet--
human
Madam, the Lord's mercies are great enough to cover our mistakes along with our sins. And it may be you made none. I have never seen Mr Louvaine so softened and humbled as he now looks to be.
gpt
May the Lord lead him forth by the right way! What do you advise, true friend?
human
I see two courses, Madam, which under your good leave I will lay before you. Mr Louvaine can either lie hid in the country with some friend of yours,--or, what were maybe better, some friend of your friend: or, if he would be doing at once towards the discharging of his debts, he can take the part Mr Floriszoon hath chosen, and serve some tradesman in his shop.
gpt
Trade! Aubrey! shrieked Mrs Louvaine in horror.
human
He never will! My boy hath so delicate a soul--
gpt
He said he would, answered Mr Marshall quietly,
human
Nay, you never mean it! exclaimed Temperance.
gpt
Bless the lad! I ne'er gave him credit for half the sense.
human
If Aubrey be brought down to that, he must have learned a good lesson, said his grandmother.
gpt
Not that I could behold it myself entirely without a pang.
human
Our Charity is true as steel, she said.
gpt
Why not let Aubrey lie close with her kindred, where none should think to look for him?
human
In Pendle?--what, amid all the witches!
gpt
Edith, I'm amazed at you! I could never lie quiet in my bed! wailed Mrs Louvaine.
human
Only to think of the poor boy being bewitched by those wicked creatures! Why, they spend Sunday nights dancing round the churchyard with the devil.
gpt
And the place is choke-full of 'em, Charity says, added Temperance.
human
She once met Mother Demdike her own self, muttering under her breath, and she gave her the evillest look as she passed her that the maid ever saw.
gpt
Ay, saying the Lord's Prayer backwards, of course.
human
Well, I can't say, said Temperance, dubiously:
gpt
For mercy's sake, stop her! cried Mrs Louvaine.
human
She's going to say something wicked--I know she is! She'll say there are no witches, or no devil, or something horrible.
gpt
Nay, I'll say nought o' the sort, responded Temperance.
human
Whether there be witches or no, the Lord knows, and there I leave it; but that there is a devil I'm very sure, for he has tempted me over and over again. All I say is, if Charity could meet a witch, and get no ill, why should not Aubrey too?
gpt
I won't have it! cried Mrs Louvaine in an agony.
human
My poor darling boy! I won't have it! My fatherless child shall not go among snakes and witches and demons--
gpt
Now, Faith, do be quiet, or you'll have a fit of the mother [hysterics]. Nobody wants to send the lad amongst snakes--I don't know that there's so much as an adder there. As to devils, he'll find them where'er he goeth, and some of them in men's and women's bodies, or I mistake.
human
If your Ladyship liked better, suggested Mr Marshall, quietly,
gpt
My poor fatherless boy! sobbed Mrs Louvaine, with her handkerchief at her eyes.
human
Servant to a tradesfellow!
gpt
We are all servants, answered Mr Marshall:
human
I could not bear it! came in a stifled voice from behind the handkerchief.
gpt
To see my poor child in his misery--it would break mine heart outright. 'Tis enough to think of, and too-too [exceedingly] great to brook, even so.
human
Let her pass; she'll be ne'er a bit of good, said Temperance in a contemptuous whisper. Then raising her voice, she added,--
gpt
Now, Lady Lettice, don't you think thereof. There's no need, for Edith and I can settle everything, and you'd just go and lay yourself by, that you should have no good of your life for a month or more. Be ruled by me, and let Edith go back and talk matters o'er with Aubrey, and see whether in her judgment it were better he lay hid or went to the bookseller. She's as good a wit as any of us, yourself except. Said I well?
human
If your Ladyship would suffer me to add a word, said the clergyman,
gpt
I think Mrs Temperance has well spoken.