He was silent awhile, and smiled a little. "Well," quod he, "thou knowest I have crawled out a little lately, before Breakfast; and I thought it as well to turn into the Church for a Rest; and found that a Spell of Reading helped to pass the Time.... I go there o' Sundays, now: have done so ever since _that Night_." "Then," quod I softly, as I leaned over him, "GOD _hath_ been merciful to you a Sinner." And spake never a Word moe. CHAPTER VI _Tib's Malpractyzes_ As about this Time, it being stark Winter, _Tib Pyebaker_ went near to burn the House down after the Manner following. She took some red-hot Coals between two Saucepan-lids to warm her Bed therewith; and, whenas she deemed it heated enow, she would needs not be at the Pains of carrying the Coals down again, but hid them under the Stairs in a Broom-cupboard. And by Reason of the undermost Lid-handle making the Lid to lose its Balance, it fell Topside-t'otherway, and the lighted Coals were spilled, whereof I passing the Cupboard, was made ware by the strong Smell of burning. And, looking therein and moving sundry Rags that were already Tinder, I found the Boards beneath them just ready to burst into a Flame. Whereupon, without running for Water, I cast my Gown thereon and crushed it out with my Hands. Now, could I have hidden my Burns, I might have saved _Tib's_ Credit; whereas the Thing could not be hid, seeing I could not so much as cut my Meat; and Mistress _Fraunces_ bruiting it abroad, it came to the Ears of the Bridge Wardens, who, because of the imperilling of the whole Bridge, would not be hindered of setting _Tib_ in the Cage, as a Warning to other careless Servants. I was grievous for her, the Place was so publique; and a Lot of 'Prentice Boys were staring at her all Day, and offering her Eatables and then plucking them away. Also _Miles_ made no end of Pretences for going of Errands past that End of the Bridge, and always feigned to look away from _Tib_, yet took Care to spy her in her Trouble, out of the Corner of his Eye, all the Time. I never knew one Woman treat another with more silent Contempt than _Damaris_ expressed for _Tib_, after this Affair of the Cage. It was a long Time afore the 'Prentices (who now called me _Fire-and-Water_,) left off asking of _Tib_ where she now kept her Warming-pan, and whether she cast her hot Ashes out on the Boats that shot the Bridge. For this, she would sometimes catch them by the Ears and pull them well; but then they would cry "Clubs!" and a Score of Lads were over their Counters in a Minute, and she had to run for it and dart breathless into the House, whither they dared not follow her. Howbeit, when the pleasant Month of May came, and the Damsels danced before their Masters' Doors to the Timbrels, _Tib_, who well loved to pound away with the Rest, was so cross that she would not come forth.