Gil stopped short, his eyes fixed, and a sense of the awkwardness of his position coming fully upon him, as at the distance of some twenty or thirty yards there passed Mace Cobbe, leading Sir Mark by the hand.
He saw her only for a few moments, but he knew that Mace had seen him too, and that Anne Beckley had followed the direction of his eyes, for he had felt her start, and a red glow had come upon her cheeks.
In his angry excitement he felt ready to dash her from him, but his better feelings prevailed, and he stood with knitted brow thinking, while Anne felt careless of having been seen by Sir Mark, since Mace had seen her too, and reclining in her lovers arms.
How Mother Goodhugh played the Part of Shimei of Old
Thats well, said the bluff founder. Take a good long walk every day, my lad, and that will soon give you strength.
I will, Master Cobbe, and relieve you of so untoward a visitor as quickly as I can.
See here, my brave lad, said the founder, hastily; no more of that. I am a hot-tempered, hasty man, ready to strike with staff or sword, but I am no niggard. You are my guest a honoured, welcome guest and when you go from the shelter of my roof it will be at your own wish, not mine. For look here, Sir Mark, I am a rough man, but pretty well to do.
But I impose upon you, Master Cobbe.
My dear lad, go on then, impose away. Tut, tut, what folly! Did you eat and drink at my table for ten years, I should never know or feel the cost. Come along with me, and see in my shed here we are going to cast a big culverin. The furnace is ready Mr tapping. You, being a man of war, will like to see.
Sir Mark gave his assent, and, being to all appearances still very weak, he leaned heavily upon his stick, and they together crossed the interval between them and the large stone shed, from out of whose unglazed windows a vivid glow of light made itself plain, even in the afternoon sun.
Ah, Mother Goodhugh, you here? said the founder, quietly, as the owner of the name came along using a crutch-stick in good old witch-like fashion; and, thumping it down upon the ground, she stood leaning upon it with both hands, or raising it and pointing with it viciously as she began gesticulating and talking vehemently.
Yes, she cried, I be here; and I keep coming, and watching, and waiting for the day when the curse shall work. It is planted and growing, for I water it with my widows tears, and, in due time, it will blossom and shower down seed upon you and your accursed house. Ha! ha! ha! You think to escape it, she cried, with her voice increasing in shrillness, to attract the attention of the workpeople; but mark my words mark it all of you at the windows there the great curse will overshadow him and his, and he will feel it sore, though he hopes to escape it all.
Nay, good mother, said the founder mildly, and speaking in a sad, pitying voice, to the surprise of Sir Mark, who expected to see him burst into a passion. Nay, nay, I think to scape no share of my troubles, such as the good Lord shall
put upon me and mine.
The good Lord! cried Mother Goodhugh, shrilly; the good devil you mean, who watches over thee and thy Satanic plots and plans.
Well, there, there, mother, said the founder, go your way. I have company here to-day. You can come another time when I am alone, and curse me till you are hoarse, he added, with a twinkle of the eye.
Nay, but Ill curse thee now, said the old woman excitedly, as her eyes glistened, her wrinkled cheeks flushed, and her grey hair seemed to stand right away from her temples. Let him hear me curse thee for an ungodly man with all his trade, a maker of devilish engines, and hellish thunder and lightning in barrels, in which he shall some day pass away in a storm of fire and smoke and brimstone fumes.
Is she mad? whispered Sir Mark, plucking the founder by the sleeve.
No, said the founder sadly. Poor soul; but she has had troubles enough to make her.
How dare you pity me, wretch, demon, hellhound? cried the old woman. Murderer that you are, you shall yet suffer for your crimes.
Let us walk on, whispered Sir Mark, as a group of smoke-begrimed workmen came out and gathered at the windows to listen.
Nay, Ill let her say her say, replied the founder, grimly. If I go, she will follow me, and cast cinders at me, like a she Shimei, and Ive got a big founding to make, my lad, which might come out badly if she stood in the window cursing me all in heaps.
What! cried Mother Goodhugh, turning on Sir Mark. You, do you think me mad? Nay, though I might have been, through his sins. Hear, young man, and judge between us. I was a prosperous, happy woman, with a loving husband and a dear son, who led a peaceful life till yon demon deluded both into coming and helping him in his devilish trade. I knew how it would be and prophesied to them that ill would come; but he fought against me, and gained them over. First my poor boy was brought home to me stiff and cold stiff and cold, alas! drowned in the Pool, and swept beneath yon devils engine of a wheel. A year later, and, with a rush and a whirlwind of fire, the great powder-barn was swept into the air with a roar of thunder. I heard it, and came running, for I knew ill had come, and I was in time to fall on my knees by the blackened corpse of my dead husband scarred, torn, shocking to behold; and in my widowed agony I raised my hands to Heaven to call down vengeance, and cursed his destroyer as I curse him now.