"I wish never to see her, Judith," said he, simply.
However, there was to be no further discussion of this matter, nor yet greensward rehearsals of dancing; for they now descried coming to them the little maid who waited on Judith's grandmother. She seemed in a hurry, and had a basket over her arm.
"How now, little Cicely?" Judith said, as she drew near.
"I have sought you everywhere, so please you, Mistress Judith," the little maid said, breathlessly, "for I was coming in to the town--on some errands--and--and I met the stranger gentleman that came once or twice to the house--and--and he would have me carry a message to you----"
"Prithee, good lass," said Judith, instantly, and with much composure, "go thy way back home. I wish for no message."
"He seemed in sore distress," the little maid said, diffidently.
"How, then? Did a gentleman of his tall inches seek help from such a mite as thou?"
"He would fain see you, sweet mistress, and but for a moment," the girl answered, being evidently desirous of getting the burden of the message off her mind. "He bid me say he would be in the lane going to Bidford, or thereabout, for the next hour or two, and would crave a word with you--out of charity, the gentleman said, or something of the like--and that it might be the last chance of seeing you ere he goes, and that I was to give his message to you very secretly."
Well, she scarcely knew what to do. At their last interview he had pleaded for another opportunity of saying farewell to her, and she had not definitely refused; but, on the other hand, she would much rather have seen nothing further of him in these present circumstances. His half-reckless references to Prince Ferdinand undergoing any kind of hardship for the sake of winning the fair Miranda were of a dangerous cast. She did not wish to meet him on that ground at all, even to have her suspicions removed. But if he were really in distress? And this his last day in the neighborhood? It seemed a small matter to grant.
"What say you, Cousin Willie?" said she, good-naturedly. "Shall we go and see what the gentleman would have of us? I cannot, unless with thee as my shield and champion."
"If you wish it, Cousin Judith," said he: what would he not do that she wished?