Stead shook the ash stem he was leaning against, the men looked up,
he saw the well-known face, and called out "Jeph! Jeph!" But some of
the others laughed, Jeph frowned and shook his head, and marched on.
Stead was disappointed, but at any rate he could carry back the
assurance to Patience that Jeph was alive and well, though he seemed
to have lost all care for his brothers and sisters. Yet, perhaps, as
a soldier he could not help it, and it might not be safe to straggle
from the ranks.
There was no more fighting for the present in the neighbourhood. The
princes and their army departed, only leaving a garrison to keep the
city, and it was soon known in the village that the town was in its
usual state, and that it was safe to go in to market as in former
times. Stead accordingly carried in a basket of eggs, which was all
he could yet sell. He was ferried across the river, and made his way
in. It was strange to find the streets looking exactly as usual, and
the citizens' wives coming out with their baskets just as if nothing
had happened.
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