human
Good morrow, Mr. Metcalf, she said, after the first start of surprise.
gpt
One of your clan always comes when I’m most in need of you. My husband—does he lie dead on Marston Moor?
human
He was alive when we broke Cromwell’s Ironsides, for I heard his cheery shout. After that Leslie routed us, and—I do not know.
gpt
He may be alive, you think?
human
Why not? I shared the trouble with him, and I’m here.
gpt
My thanks—oh, indeed, my thanks. Only to fancy him alive is peace to me. I need you, she added briskly.
human
You will take charge of my women-folk here, until I return from—from an errand of mercy.
gpt
Let me take the errand.
human
Ah, but you could not. Only I can do it. Sir, is it no welcome change for you to tend helpless women? You have had your holiday at Marston.
gpt
It was a queer merry-making.
human
But your wounds show to the public eye—wounds of honour. You carry the red badge of knighthood, sir, while I have only a few more grey hairs to show for all these months of waiting.
gpt
You cannot go alone, he protested.
human
The roads will be full of raffish men.
gpt
The roads must be as they will. For my part, I have to take a journey. Come, saddle me a horse, sir, by your leave. My grooms were all out with the King’s party yesterday.
human
Why, ’tis Elizabeth, the good ass that helped Michael into York! We thought to have lost her somewhere between this and Lathom House.