CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
MR. BENDEN'S DESSERT.
"Taken her away from the gaol! and you wot not whither? Well, RogerHall, you're as pretty a man of your hands as ever I did behold!"
"How signify you, Sister Tabitha?"
"Would I ever have turned back from Canterbury till I'd found out?Marry, not I! I'd have known all about it in half a twink."
"Please, Aunt Tabitha, if you have half a twink to spare--I know notwhat it is, but I suppose you do--won't you go and find out Aunt Alice?"
This practical suggestion from Christie was quietly ignored.
"'Tis right like a man as ever I did see! Catch a woman turning back inthat fashion afore she'd half done her work!"
"But, Aunt Tabitha," urged Christie, for her father sat in silence, andshe felt herself bound to defend him, "have you forgotten what theporter said to Father? If they--"
"Pack o' nonsense!" snorted Aunt Tabitha. "He would fain keep him fromcontinual coming, and he spake out the first thing that came in hishead, that's all. None but a babe like thee should take any note ofsuch rubbish. Can't you speak up, Roger Hall? or did you drop yourtongue where you left your wits?"
"Methinks you have a sufficiency for us both, Tabitha," said Rogerquietly, leaving it uncertain whether he alluded to the tongue or thewits.
"Mean you to go again to-morrow?"
"That cannot I yet say. I lack time to think--and to pray likewise."
"Lack time to _think_! Gramercy me! How long doth a man want to gatherup his wits together? I should have thought of fifty things whilst Irode back from Canterbury."
"So I did, Tabitha; but I wis not yet which was the right."
"Ay, you're a brave hand at thinking, but I want to _do_."
"That will I likewise, so soon as I have thought out what is best to do.I see it not as yet."
"Lack-a-daisy me! Well, my fine master, I'll leave you to yourthinking, and I'll get to my doing. As to second and third, I'll tarrytill I reach 'em; but I know what comes first."
"What mean you to do, Tabitha?"
"I mean to walk up to Briton's Mead, and give Edward Benden a sweet-sopto his supper. I've had a rod in pickle any day this three months, andI reckon 'tis in good conditions by now. I'll give him some'at he'llenjoy. If he skrike not afore I've done with him--!"
Leaving her sentence the more expressive for its incompleteness,Mistress Tabitha stalked out of the room and the house, not pausing forany farewells.
"Father," said Christie, a little fearfully, "aren't you 'feared AuntTabitha shall get into prison, the way she talks and runs right atthings?"
"Nay, Christie, I scarce am," said Roger.
He knew that Faithful is brought to the stake in Vanity Fair morefrequently than Talkative.
In the dining-room at Briton's Mead Mr Benden was sitting down to hissolitary supper. Of the result of his application to the Bishop he hadnot yet heard. He really imagined that if Roger Hall could be kept outof her way, Alice would yield and do all that he wished. He gave hercredit for no principle; indeed, like many in his day, he would havelaughed at the bare idea of a woman having any principle, or being ableto stand calmly and firmly without being instigated and supported by aman. Roger, therefore, in his eyes, was the obstacle in the way ofAlice's submission. He did not in the least realise that the realobstacle against which he was striving was the Holy Spirit of God.
To a man in Mr Benden's position, who, moreover, had always been anepicure, his meals were a relief and an enjoyment. He was then lesstroubled by noxious thoughts than at any other time. It was with a sighof something like satisfaction that he sat down to supper, unfolded hisnapkin, and tucked it into his doublet, muttered a hurried grace, andhelped himself to the buttered eggs which Mary had sent up light andhot. He was just putting down the pepper-cruet, when he became aware ofsomething on the settle in the corner, which he could not fairly see,and did not understand. Mr Benden was rather short-sighted. He peeredwith eyes half shut at the unknown object.
"What's that?" he said, half aloud.
_That_ responded by neither sound nor motion. It looked very like ahuman being; but who could possibly be seated on his settle at this latehour without his knowing it? Mr Benden came to the conclusion that itwould be foolish to disturb himself, and spoil an excellent supper, forthe sake of ascertaining that Mary had forgotten to put away hisfur-lined cloak, which was most likely the thing in the corner. Hewould look at it after supper. He took up his spoon, and was in the actof conveying it to his mouth, when the uncanny object suddenly changedits attitude.
"Saints bless us and love us!" ejaculated Mr Benden, dropping thespoon.
He really was not at all concerned about the saints loving him,otherwise he would have behaved differently to his wife; but the wordswere the first to occur to him. The unknown thing was still again, andafter another long stare, which brought him no information, Mr Bendenpicked up the spoon, and this time succeeded in conveying it to hislips.
At that moment the apparition spoke.
"Edward Benden!" it said, "do you call yourself a Christian?"
Mr Benden's first gasp of horror that the hobgoblin should address himby name, was succeeded by a second of relief as he recognised the voice.
"Bless the saints!" he said to himself; "it's only Tabby."
His next sensation was one of resentment. What business had Tabitha tosteal into his house in this way, startling him half out of his wits ashe began his supper? These mixed sentiments lent a sulky tone to hisvoice as he answered that he was under the impression he had some claimto that character.
"Because," said the apparition coolly, "I don't."
"Never thought you were," said Mr Benden grimly, turning the tables onthe enemy, who had left him a chance to do it.
Tabitha rose and advanced to the table.
"Where is Alice?" she demanded.
"How should I know?" answered Mr Benden, hastily shovelling into hismouth another spoonful of eggs, without a notion what they tasted like."In the gaol, I reckon. You are best to go and see, if you'd fain know.I'm not her keeper."
"You're not? Did I not hear you swear an oath to God Almighty, to `keepher in sickness and in health?' That's how you keep your vows, is it?I've kept mine better than so. But being thus ignorant of what youshould know better than other folks, may be it shall serve you to hearthat she is not in the gaol, nor none wist where she is, saving, as Iguess, yon dotipole men call Dick o' Dover. He and Satan know, verylike, for I count they took counsel about it."
Mr Benden laid down his spoon, and looked up at Tabitha. "Tabitha, Iwist nought of this, I ensure you, neither heard I of it aforetime.I--"
He took another mouthful to stop the words that were coming. It wouldhardly be wise to let Tabitha know what he had said to the Bishop.
"Sit you down, and give me leave to help you to these eggs," he said,hospitably in appearance, politically in fact.
"I'll not eat nor drink in your house," was the stern reply. "Must I,then, take it that Dick o' Dover hath acted of his own head, and withoutany incitement from you?"
Poor Mr Benden! He felt himself fairly caught. He did not quite wantto tell a point blank falsehood.
"They be good eggs, Tabitha, and Mall wist well how to dress them," heurged. "You were best--"
"You were best answer my question, Edward Benden: Did you in any wiseexcite yon mitred scoundrel to this act?"
"Your language, Tabitha, doth verily 'shame me. `Mitred scoundrel,' ingood sooth! Fear you not to be brought afore the justices for--"
"I fear nought so much as I fear you are a slippery snake, as well as aroaring lion," said Tabitha, in grim defiance of natural history."Answer my question, or I'll make you!"
Until that moment Mr Benden had not noticed that Tabitha kept one handbehind her. It suddenly struck him now, in disagreeable combinationwith the threat she uttered.
"What have you behind your back?" he said uneasily.
"A
succade to follow your eggs, which you shall have if you demerit it."
"What mean you, Sister Tabitha?"
"Let be your slimy coaxing ways. Answer my question."
Like all bullies, Mr Benden was a coward. With a woman of Tabitha'stype he had never before had to deal at such close quarters. Aliceeither yielded to his wishes, or stood quietly firm, and generallysilent. He began to feel considerable alarm. Tabitha was a powerfulwoman, and he was a man of only moderate strength. Briton's Mead wasnot within call of any other house, and its master had an unpleasantconviction that to summon Mary to his aid would not improve his case.It was desirable to compromise with Tabitha. The only way that he couldsee to do it was to deny his action. If he did commit a sin in speakingfalsely, he said to himself, it was Tabitha's fault for forcing him toit, and Father Bastian would absolve him easily, considering thecircumstances.
"No, Tabitha; I did not say a word to the Bishop."
"You expect me to believe you, after all that fencing and skulking underhedges? Then I don't. If you'd said it fair out at first, well--may beI might, may be I mightn't. But I don't now, never a whit. And I thinkyou'd best eat the succade I brought you. I believe you demerit it; andif you don't, you soon will, or I'm a mistaken woman, and I'm not apt tobe that," concluded Mistress Tabitha, with serene consciousness ofvirtue.
"Tabitha, my dear sister, I do ensure you--"
"You'd best ensure me of nothing, my right undear brother. Out on yoursnaky speeches and beguiling ways! You'll have your succade, and I'llleave you to digest it, and much good may it do you!"
And he had it. After which transaction Mistress Tabitha went home, andslept all the better for the pleasing remembrance that she hadhorsewhipped Mr Edward Benden.
All's Well Page 15