CHAPTER I: THE WAR OF THE SUCCESSION


"He is an idle vagabond!" the mayor of the good town of Southampton
said, in high wrath--"a ne'er do well, and an insolent puppy;
and as to you, Mistress Alice, if I catch you exchanging words with
him again, ay, or nodding to him, or looking as if in any way you
were conscious of his presence, I will put you on bread and water,
and will send you away for six months to the care of my sister
Deborah, who will, I warrant me, bring you to your senses."

The Mayor of Southampton must have been very angry indeed when he
spoke in this way to his daughter Alice, who in most matters had
her own way. Especially did it show that he was angry, since he
so spoke in the presence of Mistress Anthony, his wife, who was
accustomed to have a by no means unimportant share in any decision
arrived at respecting family matters.

She was too wise a woman, however, to attempt to arrest the torrent
in full flood, especially as it was a matter on which her husband
had already shown a very unusual determination to have his own way.
She therefore continued to work in silence, and paid no attention
to the appealing glance which her daughter, a girl of fourteen, cast
toward her. But although she said nothing, her husband understood
in her silence an unuttered protest.

"It is no use your taking that scamp's part, Mary, in this matter.
I am determined to have my own way, and the townspeople know well
that when Richard Anthony makes up his mind, nothing will move