Next day Mother Goodhugh returned to her cottage from one of her many absences in the forest, full of bitterness against Mistress Anne. "Does she think she be going to play with me?" muttered the old woman. "Not she. I be not frightened of her threats now. Let her speak if she dares. I could tell strange tales against her if I liked, and I'll be paid. One hundred golden pounds she shall give me, or she shall not marry him; nay, that she shall not. Mother Goodhugh is stronger than they think." She chuckled, as she walked sharply up and down the little room, shaking her stick and then thumping the end upon the floor. "Nice tales could I tell. Mistress Anne Beckley would look well as my companion, and ha-ha-ha! ho-ho-ho! What would the fine, gay, gallant Sir Mark say to his sweet if he knew of the tricks and plans she had carried out. There would be an end to the wedding, and she dare not speak. What do you want here?" "I came to see thee, Mother Goodhugh," said the founder, who had just raised the latch, and stood in the doorway. "To see me," cried the old woman, fiercely. "What! hast come to be cursed again? But no, no, no; go away, man, go away, away," she said hurriedly, as she fell a trembling. "I don't want thee here." "Mother Goodhugh," said the founder, sadly, "thou hast always looked upon me as an enemy." "Yes, a bitter, cruel enemy," she cried, flinching from him. Then, with a malignant grin, she added, "But thou hast had to suffer too, Master Cobbe, and to know what it is to gnaw thy heart with pain." "Yes, yes, woman, I know all that," said the founder, hastily; "but let us not talk of the by-gone, but of the future." "What is my future to thee, Mas' Jeremiah Cobbe?" cried the old woman, suspiciously. "Go thy ways, and let me go mine." "I came to tell thee that there is danger for thee, Mother Goodhugh. They say that thou'rt a witch, and I came to bid thee go hence to some place where thou art not known." "Who will harm me?" cried the old woman. "Maybe Sir Thomas will have thee put in prison." "She daren't do it--she daren't do it," cried the old woman, fiercely. "I defy her--I defy her." "The law dare do a good deal, Mother Goodhugh," said the founder, sadly. "But take my advice: go from hence. I have ready for thee twenty gold pounds; they will keep thee for some time, and when they are gone I will give thee more. But go, and go at once, before it is too late." The old woman's fingers were held out crooked and trembling to grasp the money, her eyes twinkling with eagerness; but ere the founder could place the coins therein she seemed to make a tremendous effort over herself, and snatched back her hands. "Nay," she cried, "I will not go. Thou for one would'st get rid of me, and Mistress Anne hath sent thee, but I'll not be baulked of my revenge." "I came not from Mistress Anne, good mother. It was from a talk with Master Peasegood that I came to-day."