woman's face on a night like this, nor does he need payment for such small
hospitality. Come hither, Madge!" he shouted; and at his voice a woman
came down from the upper chamber. "Sister," he said; "this is a wayfarer
who needs shelter for the night; she is wet and weary. Do you take her up
to your room and lend her some dry clothing; then make her a cup of warm
posset, which she needs sorely. I will fetch an armful of fresh rushes from
the shed and strew them here: I will sleep in the smithy. Quick, girl," he
said sharply; "she is fainting with cold and fatigue." And as he spoke he
caught the woman as she was about to fall, and laid her gently on the
ground. "She is of better station than she seems," he said to his sister;
"like enough some poor lady whose husband has taken part in the troubles;
but that is no business of ours. Quick, Madge, and get these wet things off
her; she is soaked to the skin. I will go round to the Green Dragon and
will fetch a cup of warm cordial, which I warrant me will put fresh life
into her."

So saying, he took down his flat cap from its peg on the wall and went out,
while his sister at once proceeded to remove the drenched garments and to
rub the cold hands of the guest until she recovered consciousness. When
Geoffrey Ward returned, the woman was sitting in a settle by the fireside,
dressed in a warm woolen garment belonging to his sister.

Madge had thrown fresh wood on the fire, which was blazing brightly now.
The woman drank the steaming beverage which her host brought with him. The
colour came faintly again into her cheeks.

"I thank you, indeed," she said, "for your kindness. Had you not taken me
in I think I would have died at your door, for indeed I could go no
further; and though I hold not to life, yet would I fain live until I have
delivered my boy into the hands of those who will be kind to him, and this