第70章 A piteous story(3)

"'Twas in church he saw me,your ladyship,"she was answered."He said 'twas his custom to go always when he came to a new place,and that often there he found the most heavenly faces,for 'twas piety and innocence that made a face like to an angel's;and 'twas innocence and virtue stirred his heart to love,and not mere beauty which so fades.""Go on,innocent thing,"my lady said;and she turned aside to Anne,flashing from her eyes unseen a great blaze,and speaking in a low and hurried voice."God's house,"she said--"God's prayers--God's songs of praise--he used them all to break a tender heart,and bring an innocent life to ruin--and yet was he not struck dead?"Anne hid her face and shuddered.

"He was a gentleman,"the poor young thing cried,sobbing--"and I no fit match for him,but that he loved me.'Tis said love makes all equal;and he said I was the sweetest,innocent young thing,and without me he could not live.And he told my mother that he was not rich or the fashion now,and had no modish friends or relations to flout any poor beauty he might choose to wed.""And he would marry you?"my lady's voice broke in."He said that he would marry you?""A thousand times,your ladyship,and so told my mother,but said Imust come to town and be married at his lodgings,or 'twould not be counted a marriage by law,he being a town gentleman,and I from the country.""And you came,"said Mistress Anne,down whose pale cheeks the tears were running--"you came at his command to follow him?""What day came you up to town?"demands my lady,breathless and leaning forward."Went you to his lodgings,and stayed you there with him,--even for an hour?"The poor child gazed at her,paling.

"He was not there!"she cried."I came alone because he said all must be secret at first;and my heart beat so with joy,my lady,that when the woman of the house whereat he lodges let me in Iscarce could speak.But she was a merry woman and good-natured,and only laughed and cheered me when she took me to his rooms,and Isate trembling."

"What said she to you?"my lady asks,her breast heaving with her breath.

"That he was not yet in,but that he would sure come to such a young and pretty thing as I,and I must wait for him,for he would not forgive her if she let me go.And the while I waited there came a man in bands and cassock,but he had not a holy look,and late in the afternoon I heard him making jokes with the woman outside,and they both laughed in such an evil way that I was affrighted,and waiting till they had gone to another part of the house,stole away.""But he came not back that night--thank God!"my lady said--"he came not back."The girl rose from her knees,trembling,her hands clasped on her breast.

"Why should your ladyship thank God?"she says,pure drops falling from her eyes."I am so humble,and had naught else but that great happiness,and it was taken away--and you thank God."Then drops fell from my lady's eyes also,and she came forward and caught the child's hand,and held it close and warm and strong,and yet with her full lip quivering.

"'Twas not that your joy was taken away that I thanked God,"said she."I am not cruel--God Himself knows that,and when He smites me 'twill not be for cruelty.I knew not what I said,and yet--tell me what did you then?Tell me?""I went to a poor house to lodge,having some little money he had given me,"the simple young thing answered."'Twas an honest house,though mean and comfortless.And the next day I went back to his lodgings to question,but he had not come,and I would not go in,though the woman tried to make me enter,saying,Sir John would surely return soon,as he had the day before rid with my Lady Dunstanwolde and been to her house;and 'twas plain he had meant to come to his lodgings,for her ladyship had sent her lacquey thrice with a message."The hand with which Mistress Anne sate covering her eyes began to shake.My lady's own hand would have shaken had she not been so strong a creature.

"And he has not yet returned,then?"she asked."You have not seen him?"The girl shook her fair locks,weeping with piteous little sobs.

"He has not,"she cried,"and I know not what to do--and the great town seems full of evil men and wicked women.I know not which way to turn,for all plot wrong against me,and would drag me down to shamefulness--and back to my poor mother I cannot go.""Wherefore not,poor child?"my lady asked her.