Audrey

But however slow in ebbing, the tide was really set toward home and

dinner. Darden, coming out of the vestry room, found the churchyard almost

cleared, and the road in a cloud of dust. The greater number of those who

came a-horseback were gone, and there had also departed both berlins, the

calash, and two chaises. Mr. Haward was handing the three Graces into the

coach with the chained coachman, Juba standing by, holding his master's

horse. Darden grew something purpler in the face, and, rumbling oaths,

went over to the three beneath the oak. "How many spoke to you to-day?" he

asked roughly of his wife. "Did he come and speak?"

"No, he didn't!" cried Mistress Deborah tartly. "And all the gentry went

by; only Mr. Bray stopped to say that everybody knew of your fight with

Mr. Bailey at the French ordinary, and that the Commissary had sent for

Bailey, and was going to suspend him. I wish to Heaven I knew why I

married you, to be looked down upon by every Jill, when I might have had

his Lordship's own man! Of all the fools"-"You were not the only one," answered her husband grimly. "Well, let's

home; there's dinner yet. What is it, Audrey?" This in answer to an

inarticulate sound from the girl.

The schoolmaster answered for her: "Mr. Marmaduke Haward has not gone with

the coach. Perhaps he only waited until the other gentlefolk should be

gone. Here he comes."

The sward without the gates was bare of all whose presence mattered, and

Haward had indeed reëntered the churchyard, and was walking toward them.

Darden went to meet him. "These be fine tales I hear of you, Mr. Darden,"

said his parishioner calmly. "I should judge you were near the end of your

rope. There's a vestry meeting Thursday. Shall I put in a good word for

your reverence? Egad, you need it!"

"I shall be your honor's most humble, most obliged servant," quoth the

minister. "The affair at the French ordinary was nothing. I mean to preach

next Sunday upon calumny,--calumny that spareth none, not even such as I.

You are for home, I see, and our road for a time is the same. Will you

ride with us?"

"Ay," said Haward briefly. "But you must send yonder fellow with the

scarred hands packing. I travel not with thieves."

He had not troubled to lower his voice, and as he and Darden were now

themselves within the shadow of the oak, the schoolmaster overheard him

and answered for himself. "Your honor need not fear my company," he said,

in his slow and lifeless tones. "I am walking, and I take the short cut

through the woods. Good-day, worthy Gideon. Madam Deborah and Audrey,

good-day."