It was an intense relief to Master Drayton when he heard that his wife was not to be sent to prison. He could bear the hardship of this far better if he knew that she was safe at home, though how they were to live through the winter while he was in prison he did not know. Three others besides himself had been sentenced to the same punishment, and they would be a helpless burden on the hands of their friends all the time they were in prison; for, although the authorities provided a building in which they should be detained, prisoners had to pay gaolers' fees and maintain themselves, or they had to be kept out of the contributions of the charitable. At every prison door in those days was a box fixed with this notice above it, "Pity the prisoners"; and upon the pence dropped into this the destitute among them had to depend for their daily bread. If the weather was bad and the passengers few, the prisoners often grew savage with hunger, and stole from those whose friends could afford to provide them with victuals. Of course the Quaker community never allowed any of its members who were imprisoned for conscience sake to become chargeable to the charity fund of the prison, though being for the most part poor themselves, they felt the increasing burden thrown upon them by the imprisonment of their brethren with great severity. Dame Drayton knew this, and she resolved to try and supply her husband's needs herself, though how it was to be accomplished she did not know; but she trusted that her Father in heaven would supply the want somehow. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VI. A DESOLATE HOUSEHOLD. THE news of the raid on the Quaker meeting-house, and the arrest of several members, had been carried to Soper Lane by some of the Friends who had been present, but who, after giving their names and addresses, had been allowed to go home. Many of these were present at the Lord Mayor's court on Monday morning; and when Dame Drayton was released, one or two Friends came forward to comfort her with words of hope and promises of help. After a few parting words had been spoken to her husband she hastened home, feeling sure the whole household was disorganised, for Deborah would be overwhelmed, and give herself up to moaning and lamenting, and the children could but share her grief and dismay. But, to her surprise, when she got home she found that Bessie had so far succeeded in reassuring the faithful soul, that she had managed to begin her duties; while Bessie herself had assumed the leadership in the workshop, and she with two of the apprentices were labouring harder than ever to make up for the absence of the master. Simon Tompkins had gone home to tell his mother the disastrous news; but the others did not mean to be outdone by a girl, and so had resolved to stay and help their master over his misfortune, if it was possible.