"I marvel how soon I shall hear of Tom," the Justice's meditations went on. "I cannot let him know anything, for I don't know where he is; I rather guess at Shardeford, with his wife's folks, but I had a care not to find out. He'll hear, fast enough, that it is safe to come home. I shouldn't wonder--" The Justice wheeled round suddenly, and spoke aloud this time. "Saints alive! what's that?" Nothing either audible or visible appeared for a moment. "What was that black thing?" said the Justice to himself. He was answered suddenly in loud tones of great gratification. "Bow-wow! Bow-wow-wow! Bow-ow-ow-ow-ow!" "Whatever!" said the Justice to the "black thing" which was careering about him, apparently on every side of him at once, leaping into the air as high as his head, trying to lick his face, wagging not only a feathery tail, but a whole body, laughing all over a delighted face, and generally behaving itself in a rapturously ecstatic manner. "Art thou rejoicing for Queen Elizabeth too? and whose dog art thou? Didst come-- tarry, I do think--nay--ay, it is--I verily believe 'tis old Jack himself!" "Of course it is!" said Jack's eyes and tail, and every bit of Jack, executing a fresh caper of intense satisfaction. "Why, then they must be come!" exclaimed the Justice, and set off for the front door, pursued by Jack. It is needless to say that Jack won the race by considerable lengths. "Oh, here's Uncle Anthony!" cried Pandora's voice, as he came in sight. "Jack, you've been and told him--good Jack!" There is no need to describe the confused, heart-warm greetings on all sides--how kisses were exchanged, and hands were clasped, and sentences were begun that were never finished, and Jack assisted at all in turn. But when the first welcomes were over, and the travellers had changed their dress, and they sat down to supper, hastily got up by Margery's willing hands, there was opportunity to exchange real information on both sides. "And where have you been, now, all this while?" asked the Justice. "I never knew, and rather wished not to guess." "At Shardeford, for the first part; then some months with Frances, and lately in a farm-house under Ingleborough--folks that Frances knew, good Gospellers, but far from any priest. And how have matters gone here?" "There's nought, methinks, you'll be sorry to hear of, save only the burnings at Canterbury. Seven from this part--Mistress Benden, and Mistress Final, Fishcock, White, Pardue, Emmet Wilson, and Sens Bradbridge. They all suffered a few weeks after your departing." All held their breath till the list was over. Pandora was the first to speak. "Oh, my poor little Christie!"