"Ay, I understand!" said Mr. Batie, composedly. "I had wind of this before. Go home, my child, and give no hint of having been here. I know you can be discreet." Bessy went away looking greatly relieved, for she had unbounded faith in Mr. Batie's wisdom. "My life for hers!" I answered. "Bessy is not bright, but she is good all through." "Give me goodness before brightness, and faith before all things," said Mr. Batie. (N. B. He would have stopped to make a moral if he had seen a tiger just ready to spring on him.) "Curtis, how is your mistress?" "Well as one can expect, sir, all things considered," answered Mistress Curtis. "She went to her room, but I think it was but to avoid Mr. Giggs." "Ay, we must avoid him to purpose," said Mr. Batie. "The chattering magpie hath brought the bishop's confessor down upon us. His Grace being taken with a great zeal for the purity of religion in his diocese, is determined that all who will not conform must suffer the penalty, and all English fugitives are the special objects of his wrath, out of compliment to our gracious queen's consort, Philip of Spain, I presume." "Philip of Spain!" I exclaimed. "Hath she really married King Philip? Well, if the English bear that!" "I begin to think the English will bear any thing, so they have beer enow!" said Master Batie bitterly. "But we must waste no time talking politics; we must make our escape to Wesel this very night." "Impossible, sir!" exclaimed Mistress Curtis. "Think of my mistress and her condition. How would she bear the shaking of a litter or a horse?" "She will not have to bear them!" answered Mr. Batie, more curtly than was his wont. "I dare not risk the hiring of either. We must set out as soon as it is fairly dark, and make our way on foot to Wesel." Mrs. Curtis looked at him as if she thought him mad. "On foot and to-night!" she repeated. "My lady will perish in the snow." "Better the snow and the sky than the rack and flame!" answered Mr. Batie. "Loveday have you your wits about you?" "Yes, sir!" I answered. "Then listen, both of you. We must have our supper as usual, and keep up our fire and lights. Then at eight o'clock when all is still, we must steal out as quietly as possible by the back garden-gate and make the best of our way to Wesel. The gatekeeper is my friend and will allow us to go forth. I do not think our enemies will make any move before morning, and by that time we shall be out of their reach. Hasten and have all needful things ready, but make no bustle. Where is Annette?" "Gone to her sister's wedding, by good luck." "So much the better, though you should not call it luck," said Mr. Batie. I had much to do not to laugh. "I will myself prepare your mistress. Ah, here she comes. My sweet life, I have heavy news for you." My mistress took the news very coolly. Indeed, she was not half as much excited as Mistress Curtis, and laughed at her fears that the walk would hurt her. "But shall we be safe in Wesel?"