The gaoler of West Gate was no brutal, selfish Perkins, but a man who used his prisoners humanely. Here Alice once again slept on a bed, was furnished with decent clean clothing and sufficient food. But such was the effect of her previous suffering, that after a short time, we are told, her skin peeled off as if she had been poisoned. One trouble Alice had in her new prison--that she must now be deprived of Roger's visits. She was not even able to let him know of the change. But Roger speedily discovered it, and it was only thanks to the indolence of Mr Perkins, who was warm in bed, and greatly indisposed to turn out of it, that he was not found out and seized on that occasion. Once more he had to search for his sister. No secret was made of the matter this time; and by a few cautious inquiries Roger discovered that she had been removed to West Gate. His hopes sprang up on hearing it, not only because, as he knew, she would suffer much less in the present, but also because he fondly trusted that it hinted at a possibility of release in the future. It was with a joyful heart that he carried the news home to Christabel, and found her Aunt Tabitha sitting with her. "O Father, how delightsome!" cried Christie, clapping her hands. "Now if those ill men will only let dear Aunt Alice come home--" "When the sky falleth, we may catch many larks," said Tabitha, in her usual grim fashion. "Have you told him?" "Whom?--Edward Benden? No, I'm in no haste to go near him." "I would, if I knew it should vex him." "Tabitha!" said Roger, with gentle reproval. "Roger Hall, if you'd had to stand up to King Ahab, you'd have made a downright poor Elijah!" "Very like, Tabitha. I dare say you'd have done better." "Father," said Christie, "did you hear what should come of Master White, and Mistress Final, and all the rest." "No, my dear heart: I could hear nought, save only that they were had up afore my Lord of Dover, and that he was very round with them, but all they stood firm." "What, Sens Bradbridge and all?" said Tabitha. "I'd have gone bail that poor sely hare should have cried off at the first shot of Dick o' Dover's arrow. Stood _she_ firm, trow?" "All of them, I heard. Why, Tabitha, the Lord's grace could hold up Sens Bradbridge as well as Tabitha Hall." "There'd be a vast sight more wanted, I promise you!" said Tabitha self-righteously. "There isn't a poorer creature in all this 'varsal world, nor one with fewer wits in her head than Sens Bradbridge. I marvel how Benedick stood her; but, dear heart! men are that stupid! Christie, don't you never go to marry a man. I'll cut you off with a shilling an' you do." "Cut me off what, Aunt Tabitha?" inquired Christie, with some alarm in her tone. "Off my good-will and favour, child." "Thank you, Aunt Tabitha, for telling me I didn't know I was on," said Christie simply.