"Afraid!" said I. "Whereof, my maid? Was it the porter's great dog? He is a gentle beast as may be, and would never touch thee. What could harm thee in the Queen's Palace?" The wave of colour came again. "Madame does not know," she said, in a low voice. "There are men worse than brutes: but such great ladies do not see it. One stayed me and spoke to me the night afore. I was afraid he might come again, and there was no one to help me but the good Lord. So I called to Him to be my guard, for there was none else; and I think He sent two of His angels with me." Mine own eyes were full, no less than Hilda's. "May the good Lord guard thee ever, poor maid!" said I. "But in very sooth, I am far off enough from an angel. Here cometh one something nearer thereto"--for I heard Jack's voice without. "But tell me, dost thou know who it was of whom thou wert afraid?" "I only know," she said, "that his squire bare a blue and white livery, guarded in gold. I heard not his name." "Verily!" said I to myself, "such gentlemen be fair company for Dame Isabel the Queen!" For I could have no doubt that poor Hilda's enemy was that bad man, Sir Roger de Mortimer. Howbeit, I said no more, for then oped the door, and in came Jack, with a lad behind, bearing a great basket. Jack's own arms were full of fardels [parcels], which he set down in a corner of the chamber, and bade the lad empty the basket beside, which was charged with firewood, "There!" saith he, "they be not like to want for a day or twain, poor souls! Come away, Sissot; we have earned a night's rest." "Messire!" cried the faint voice of the poor woman. "Messire is good as an angel from Heaven! But surely Messire has not demeaned himself to carry burdens--and for us!" She seemed nearhand frightened at the thought. "Nay, good woman," saith Jack, merrily--"no more than the angel that carried the cruse of water for the Prophet Elias. Well-a-day! securely I can carry a fardel without tarnishing my spurs? I would I might never do a worse deed." "Amen!" said I, "for both of us." We bade the woman and Hilda good even, and went forth, followed by blessings till we were in the very street: and not till then would I say-- "Jack, thou art the best man ever lived, but I would thou hadst a little more care for appearances. Suppose Sir Edmund or Master de Oxendon had seen thee!" "Well?" saith Jack, as calm as a pool in a hollow. "Suppose they had." "Why, then should they have laughed thee to scorn." "Suppose they did?" "Jack! Dost thou nothing regard folks' thoughts of thee?" "Certes. I regard thine full diligently." "But other folks, that be nought to thee, I would say."