"There be many reasons which lead a woman to call a man husband," she said. "Not every woman loves the man whose name she bears, and--" here she stopped again like one who seemed to fear she had said too much. "Besides," she went on, "certain subjects are painful. I can go faster if you wish." "I am sorry if I have said aught to make you angry with me, Lady----" "Constance," she said; "call me Mistress Constance. Nay, you have done nought to make me angry. Hark! what is that?" We were now outside the town, and houses were not so plentiful; nevertheless, here and there cottages were scattered, and from some of the windows I saw flickering lights. What we heard was the sound of footsteps and the shout of men's voices. "They come towards us, not after us," I heard her murmur. "Perchance there is an alehouse on the road," I suggested, "and these are men who have been drinking there." "There is an alehouse; but listen----" We stopped and listened, and I felt sure I was right in my conjecture. "Am I a constable," I heard one say, "and shall I see such goings on? I tell you, you are drunk!" "Ay, I am, and so are you, Master Blewitt. The man who is not drunk to-day is not worthy to be called an Englishman. It is only Puritans and women who are not drunk. Ah, we had not been so drunk if Master Leslie's daughter had not been safely in gaol. Had Master Leslie been able to hold up his head he would have done much to keep the town sober, king or no king." "Ay, that is the worst of these Puritans, and that is why I am glad the king hath come back. There will be no sin in getting drunk now, nay, nor no sin in kissing a pretty girl. Down with the Puritans, I say, and to the gallows with Master Leslie's pretty daughter." "Nay, 'twould be a pity to put a piece of rope around such a pretty neck." "What, man! You never saw her neck." "Ay, but I did, and her face too. I never saw it till she was brought to the river's bank. But I saw it then, and I shall never forget it. Ay, I would know it among ten thousand." I felt Mistress Constance grasp my arm more tightly with her right hand, while with her left she drew her mantle more closely around her face. "Shall we go back?" she asked. "What, towards the prison?" "Oh no--let us go on." Indeed we could do nought else, for the men had caught sight of us by this time, and I heard one man exclaim, "Ay, here is a man and a wench coming!" "Do not fear," I whispered: "there be but three, and they are wellnigh drunk. If the worst comes to the worst I will fight them all--and meanwhile you can escape." I felt her shiver, even while her fingers gripped my arm still more tightly. Brave as she was, she was still a woman, who shrank from being brought into contact with brutal and profane men. "Do not leave me if you can help it," she whispered, and then she seemed to master herself, and we walked boldly towards them. "Good morrow," said one of the men. "Good morrow," I replied. "And whither go you?"