CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
POTS AND PANS.
Mrs Collenwood unlocked the little wicket, and let herself and Pandoraout into the public road. Then she relocked the gate, and after amoment's thought, feeling in the darkness, she hung the key on a bushclose to the gate, where it could not be seen from the road. Bothladies carried lanterns, for the omission of this custom would haveraised more suspicion than its observance, had they been met by any one,and there were no public street lamps in those days. They were boundfirst for the little hostelry, called the Nun's Head, in the village ofLamberhurst, where Mrs Collenwood had desired her servant to await her;the landlady of which was known to those in the secret to be one of "thebrethren," and was therefore sure to befriend and not betray them, ifshe guessed the truth. Slowly and painfully they made their way by acircuitous route, to avoid passing through Goudhurst, and Pandora, whowas not much accustomed to walking, began to be very tired before halfthe way was traversed. They had just reached the road again, and weremaking their way slowly through the ruts and puddles--for English roadsat that date were in a state which happily we can do little more thanimagine--when they heard the sound of hoofs a little way behind them.Mrs Collenwood laid her hand on Pandora's arm.
"Hide the lantern under thy cloak," she whispered; "and we will creepinto this field and 'bide quat under the hedge, till the party shallhave passed by."
The advice was put into practice. The hoofs drew near, accompanied by ajingling sound which seemed to come from pottery. It was now near oneo'clock. The ladies kept as still as mice. They were not reassuredwhen the sound came to a stand-still, just before the gate of the fieldwhere they were hidden, and a man's voice, strange to them, said--
"It was just here I lost the sight of the lanterns. They cannot be faroff."
Mrs Collenwood felt Pandora's hand clasp her wrist tight in thedarkness.
"Bide a moment, Tom, and I will search in the field," said anothervoice.
Mrs Collenwood gave all up for lost.
"Mistress Pandora, are you there?" said the voice which had last spoken.
"Aunt Frances, 'tis Mr Hall!" cried Pandora joyfully.
"Ah! I am right glad I have found you," said Roger, as he came up tothem. "I have been searching you this hour, being confident, from whatI heard, that you would attempt to get away to-night. I pray you toallow of my company."
"In good sooth, Mr Hall, we be right thankful of your good company,"answered Mrs Collenwood. "'Tis ill work for two weak women such as webe."
"Truly, my mistress, methinks you must both have lion-like hearts, somuch as to think of essaying your escape after this fashion. You willbe the safer for my presence. I have here an ass laden with pots andpans, and driven by a good man and true, a Gospeller to boot--one ofyour own men from the cloth-works, that is ready to guard his master'sdaughter at the hazard of his life if need be. If you be willing, goodmy mistress, to sell tins and pitchers in this present need--"
"Use me as you judge best, Master Hall," said Mrs Collenwood heartily."I am willing to sell tins, or scour them, or anything, the better toelude suspicion."
"Well said. Then my counsel is that we turn right about, and passstraight through Goudhurst, so soon as the dawn shall break. Theboldest way is at times the safest."
"But is not that to lose time?"
"To lose time is likewise sometimes to gun it," said Roger, with asmile. "There is one danger, my mistresses, whereof you have notthought. To all that see you as you are, your garb speaks yougentlewomen, and gentlewomen be not wont to be about, in especialunattended, at this hour of the night. If it please you to accept of mypoor provision, I have here, bound on the ass, two women's cloaks andhoods of the common sort, such as shall better comport with the sellingof pots than silken raiment; and if I may be suffered to roll up thecloaks you bear in like manner, you can shift you back to them when meetis so to do."
"Verily, 'tis passing strange that had never come to my mind!" repliedMrs Collenwood. "Mr Hall, we owe you more thanks than we may lightlyspeak."
They changed their cloaks, rolling up those they took off, and tyingthem securely on the donkey, covered by a piece of canvas, with whichRoger was provided. The hoods were changed in like manner. The donkeywas driven into the field in charge of Tom Hartley, who pulled hisforelock to his ladies; and the trio sat down to await daylight.
"And if it like you, my mistresses," added Roger, "if it should pleaseMistress Collenwood to speak to me by the name of Hodge, and MistressPandora by that of father or uncle, methinks we should do well."
"Nay, Mr Hall; but I will call you brother," said Pandora, smiling;"for that is what you truly are, both in the Gospel and in descent fromAdam."
In perfect quiet they passed the five hours which elapsed ere the sunrose. As soon as ever the light began to break, Roger led forth thedonkey; Tom trudging behind with a stick, and the ladies walkedalongside.
Rather to their surprise, Roger took his stand openly in the marketplace of Goudhurst, where he drove a brisk trade with his pots and pans;Mrs Collenwood taking up the business as if she had been to the mannerborn, and much to Pandora's admiration.
"Brown pitchers, my mistress? The best have we, be sure. Twopence thedozen, these; but we have cheaper if your honour wish them."
Another time it was, "What lack you, sweet sir? Chafing-dishes,shaving-basins, bowls, goblets, salts? All good and sound--none of yourtrumpery rubbish!"
And Roger and Tom both lifted up sonorous voices in the cry of--
"Pots and pans! Pots and pa-ans! Chargers, dishes, plates, cups,bowls, por-ring-ers! Come buy, come buy, come buy!"
The articles were good--Roger had seen to that--and they went offquickly. Ladies, country housewives, farmers, substantial yeomen, withtheir wives and daughters, came up to buy, until the donkey's load wasconsiderably diminished. At length a priest appeared as a customer.Pandora's heart leaped into her mouth; and Mrs Collenwood, as sheproduced yellow basins for his inspection, was not entirely without hermisgivings. But the reverend gentleman's attention seemed concentratedon the yellow basins, of which he bought half-a-dozen for a penny, anddesired them to be delivered at the Vicarage. Roger bowed extra low ashe assured the priest that the basins should be there, without fail, inan hour, and having now reduced his goods to a load of much smallerdimensions, he intimated that they "might as well be moving forward."The goods having been duly delivered, Roger took the road toLamberhurst, and they arrived without further misadventure at the Nun'sHead, where Mrs Collenwood's servant, Zachary, was on the look-out forthem.
To Mrs Collenwood's amusement, Zachary did not recognise her until sheaddressed him by name; a satisfactory proof that her disguise wassufficient for the purpose. They breakfasted at the Nun's Head, onCanterbury brawn (for which that city was famous) and a chicken pie, andresumed their own attire, but carrying the cloaks of Roger's providingwith them, as a resource if necessity should arise.
"Aunt Frances," said Pandora, as they sat at breakfast, "I never thoughtyou could have made so good a tradeswoman. Pray you, how knew you whatto say to the folks?"
"Why, child!" answered Mrs Collenwood, laughing, "dost reckon I havenever bought a brown pitcher nor a yellow basin, that I should not knowwhat price to ask?"
"Oh, I signified not that so much, Aunt; but--all the talk, and thefashion wherein you addressed you to the work."
"My mother--your grandmother, Dorrie--was used to say to me, `Whateverthou hast ado with, Frank, put thine heart and thy wits therein.' 'Tisa good rule, and will stand a woman in stead for better things thanselling pots."
Zachary had made full provision for his mistress's journey. The horseswere ready, and the baggage-mules also. He rode himself before MrsCollenwood, and an old trustworthy man-servant was to sit in front ofPandora. All was ready for proceeding at half-an-hour's notice, andMrs Collenwood determined to go on at once.
When it came to the leave-taking, she drew a gold ring from her finger,and gave i
t to Tom Hartley, with a promise that his master should hearthrough Roger Hall, so soon as the latter deemed it safe, of the veryessential service which he had rendered her. Then she turned to Rogerhimself.
"But to you, Mr Hall," she said, "how can I give thanks, or in whatwords clothe them? Verily, I am bankrupt therein, and can only thankyou to say I know not how."
"Dear mistress," answered Roger, "have you forgot that 'tis I owe thanksto you, that you seek to magnify my simple act into so great deserving?They that of their kindness cheer my little suffering Christie's lonelylife, deserve all the good that I can render them. My little maidprayed me to say unto you both that she sent you her right lovingcommendations, and that she would pray for your safe journey every daythe whilst it should last, and for your safety and good weal afterward.She should miss you both sorely, quoth she; but she would pray God tobless you, and would strive to her utmost to abide by all your good andkindly counsel given unto her."
"Dear little Christie!" said Pandora affectionately. "I pray you,Master Hall, tell her I shall never forget her, and I trust God maygrant us to meet again in peace."
"I cast no doubt of that, Mistress Pandora," was the grave answer,"though 'twill be, very like, in a better land than this."
"And I do hope," added she, "that Mistress Benden may ere long be setfree."
Roger shook his head.
"I have given up that hope," he said; "yea, well-nigh all hopes, forthis lower world."
"There is alway hope where God is," said Mrs Collenwood.
"Truth, my mistress," he replied; "but God is in Heaven, and hope issafest there."
It was nearly eleven o'clock in the morning when the travellers set outfrom the Nun's Head. Roger Hall stood in the doorway, looking afterthem, until the last glimpse could no longer be perceived. Then, with asigh, he turned to Tom Hartley, who stood beside him.
"Come, Tom!" he said, "let us, thou and I, go home and do God's will."
"Ay, master, and let God do His will with us," was the cheery answer.
Then the two men and the donkey set out for Cranbrook.
All's Well Page 22
