Alls Well | Page 9

of her brother
Esdras, Penuel beckoned to him, and that promising youth somewhat
reluctantly left the interesting group, and shambled up to his eldest
sister at the stile.
"Esdras, what is all this? Do tell me."
"'Tis Master Benden, a-carrying of his mistress afore the Justices, and
Mistress Hall's a-showing him the good love she bears him for it."
"Afore the Justices! Mistress Benden! Dear saints, but wherefore?"
"Oh, I wis nought of the inwards thereof," said Esdras, pulling a switch
from the hedge. "Some saith one thing, and some another. But they
saith she'll go to prison, safe sure."
"Oh, Esdras, I am sorry!" said Penuel, in a tone of great distress.
"Mother will be sore troubled. Everybody loves Mistress Benden, and
few loveth her master. There's some sorry blunder, be thou sure."
"Very like," said Esdras, turning to run off after the disappearing
company.
"Esdras," said little Patience suddenly, "you've got a big hole in you."
"Oh, let be! my gear's alway in holes," was the careless answer. "It'll
hold together till I get back, I reckon. Here goes!"
And away went Esdras, with two enormous holes in his stockings, and
a long strip of his jacket flying behind him like a tail.
"Oh dear, this world!" sighed Penuel. "I'm afraid 'tis a bad place. Come,

little Patience, let us go home."
When the girls reached Mrs Pardue's cottage, they found there the
mother of Patience, Mrs Bradbridge. She sat talking earnestly to Mrs
Pardue, who was busy washing, and said little in answer beyond such
replies, compatible with business, as "Ay," "I reckon so," or "To be
sure!"
"Mother!" said Penuel, as she led Patience in, "have you heard of this
matter of Mistress Benden's?"
"Nay, child," replied Collet, stopping in the process of hanging up a
skirt to dry. "Why, whatso? Naught ill, I do hope and trust, to Mistress
Benden. I'd nigh as soon have aught hap evil to one of my own as her."
"Eh, neighbour, 'tis all a body need look for," sighed poor Widow
Bradbridge, lifting Patience on her knee. "This world's naught save
trouble and sorrow--never was sin' the Flood, more especially for
women."
"She's had up to the Justices, Mother, but I couldn't hear for why; and
her own husband is he that taketh her."
"He'll get his demerits, be sure," said Mrs Bradbridge.
"Well, and I wouldn't so much mind if he did," was Mrs Pardue's
energetic comment. "He never was fit to black her shoes, he wasn't.
Alice Benden afore the Justices! why, I'd as soon believe I ought to be
there. If I'd ha' knowed, it should ha' cost me hot water but I'd ha' been
with her, to cheer up and stand by the poor soul. Why, it should abhor
any Christian man to hear of such doings!"
"Mistress Hall's withal, Mother: and I guess Master Benden 'll have his
water served not much off the boil."
"I'm fain to hear it!" said Collet.
"Eh, she was at him, I can tell you! and she handled the matter

shrewdly too. So was Esdras and Silas, and a sort more lads, a-crying,
`Scratch him, Tabby!' and she scraught him right well."
"The naughty caitiffs!" exclaimed their mother. "Howbeit, when they
come home we shall maybe know the inwards of the matter."
The boys did not come home for some hours. When they did, Esdras
slunk up the ladder, his garments being in a state which, as Silas had
just kindly informed him, "smelt of the birch," and not desiring the
application of that remedy sooner than could be helped. Silas flung his
cap into the furthest corner, with a shout of "Hooray!" which sent his
mother's hands to her ears.
"Bless the lad!--he'll deafen a body, sure enough! Now then, speak,
caitiff, and tell us what's ado with Mistress Benden. Is she let off?"
"She's sent a-prison," shouted Silas, in tones which seemed likely to
carry that information down the row. "Justice axed her why she went
not to church, and quoth she, `That can I not do, with a good
conscience, since there is much idolatry committed against the glory of
God.' And then she was committed. Justice didn't love his work o'er
well, and Master Benden, as he was a-coming away, looked as sour as
crabs. And old Tabby--Oh, lack-a-daisy-me! didn't she have at him!
She's a good un, and no mistake! She stuck to his heels all the way
along, and she beat him black and blue with her tongue, and he looked
like a butt of alegar with a hogshead o' mustard in it. Hooray for old
Tabby!"--and Silas announced that sentiment to the neighbourhood at
the top of his very unsubdued voice.
CHAPTER FIVE.
REPENTANCE.
"Sil-van-us Par-due!" Five very distinct syllables from his mother