"Dear heart, Master Benden!" cried Collet, in consternation. "Sure you can never have the heart to turn us adrift--us as has always paid you every farthing up to the hour it was due!" "Ay, and I'll have this, every farthing up to the hour 'tis due! I'll have no canting hypocrites in my houses, nor no such as be notorious traitors to God and the Queen's Majesty! I'll--" "O Master, we're no such, nor never was--" began the sobbing Collet. But both speeches were cut across by a third voice, which made the landlord turn a shade paler and stop his diatribe suddenly; for it was the voice of the only mortal creature whom Edward Benden feared. "Then you'd best turn yourself out, Edward Benden, and that pretty sharp, before I come and make you!" said the unexpected voice of the invisible Tabitha. "I haven't forgot, if you have, what a loyal subject you were in King Edward's days, nor how you essayed to make your court to my Lord of Northumberland that was, by proclaiming my Lady Jane at Cranbrook, and then, as soon as ever you saw how the game was going, you turned coat and threw up your cap for Queen Mary. If all the canting hypocrites be bundled forth of Staplehurst, you'll be amongst the first half-dozen, I'll be bound! Get you gone, if you've any shame left, and forbear to torture an honest woman that hath troubles enow." "He's gone, Mistress Hall," said little Beatrice. "I count he scarce heard what you last spake." "O Mistress Hall, you are a good friend, and I'm for ever bounden to you!" said poor Collet, when she was able to speak for tears. "And if it please you, I'm main sorry I lost my temper, and if I said any word to you as I shouldn't, I'll take 'em back every one, and may God bless you!" "Well said, old friend!" answered Tabitha, in high good-humour. "And, O Mistress, do you think, an' it like you, that Master Benden will turn us forth on Saint Austin's morrow?--that's when our rent's due." "What is your rent, neighbour?" "'Tis thirteen-and-fourpence, the house, Mistress--but then we've the bit o' pasture land behind, for our horse and cow--that's eight shillings more by the year. And I've only"--Collet went to a chest, and lifted out an old black stocking--"I haven't but sixteen shillings laid by towards it, and look you, there'll be no wages coming in save Toby's and Esdras' and Aphabell's, and we've to live. With 'leven of us to eat and be clad, we can't save many pence for rent, and I did hope Master Benden 'd be pleased to wait a while. Of course he must have his own, like any other; but if he would ha' waited--" "He'll wait," said Tabitha, and shut her mouth with a snap. "But lest he should not, Collet, come by Seven Roads as you go to pay your rent, and whatso you may be short for the full amount, I'll find you."