When Alice Benden appeared the second time before the Bench, it was not with ease-loving, good-natured Justice Roberts that she had to do. Sir John Guildford was now the sitting magistrate, and he committed her to prison with short examination. But the constable, whether from pity or for some consideration of his own convenience, did not wish to take her; and the administration of justice being somewhat lax, she was ordered by that official to go home until he came for her. "Go home, forsooth!" cried Mr Benden in angry tones. "I'll not have her at home!" "Then you may carry her yourself to Canterbury," returned the constable. "I cannot go this week, and I have nobody to send." "Give me a royal farthing, and I will!" was the savage answer. The constable looked in his face to see if he meant it. Then he shook his head, dipped his hand into his purse, and pulled out half-a-crown, which he passed to Mr Benden, who pocketed this price of blood. Alice had walked on down the Market Place, and was out of hearing. Mr Benden strode after her, with the half-crown in his pocket. CHAPTER NINE. ALICE DECIDES FOR HERSELF. "Not that road, Mistress!" Alice had nearly reached the end of the Market Place, when her husband's harsh call arrested her. She had been walking slowly on, so that he might overtake her. On hearing this, she paused and waited for him to come up. "That's not the way to Canterbury!" said Mr Benden, seizing her by the wrist, and turning her round. "I thought we were going home," said Alice quietly. "Methinks, Mistress, there's somewhat wrong with your hearing this morrow. Heard you not the Justice commit you to gaol?" "Truly I so did, Edward; but I heard also the constable to say that he would come for me when it should stand with his conveniency, and I reckoned it was thus settled." "Then you reckoned without your host. The constable hath given me money to carry you thither without delay, and that will I with a very good will." "Given you money!" Through six years of unhappy married life Alice Benden had experienced enough of her husband's constant caprice and frequent brutality; but this new development of it astonished her. She had not supposed that he would descend so far as to take the price of innocent blood. The tone of her voice, not indignant, but simply astonished, increased Mr Benden's anger. The more gently she spoke, the harsher his voice grew. This is not unusual, when a man is engaged in wilfully doing what he knows to be wrong. "Verily, your hearing must be evil this morrow, Mistress!" he said, with some wicked words to emphasise his remark. "The constable hath paid me a royal farthing, and here it is"--patting his pocket as he spoke--"and I have yet to earn it. Come, step out; we have no time to lose." Alice came to a sudden stand-still.