Might she be allowed in the meantime to sit with Master
Blane's good housewife?
Master Blane was only too happy, and Mistress Jane Lane was
accordingly introduced to the pleasant kitchen, with sanded floor,
and big oak table, open hearth, and beaupots in the oriel window
where the spinning-wheel stood, and where the neat and hospitable
Dame Blane made her kindly welcome.
Steadfast, marvelling at her facility of speech, and glad the king's
safety did not depend on his uttering such a story, told Blane that
he must go after his cattle and should look after the groom on the
way.
As he walked through the wood, and drew near the glade, he was
dismayed to hear voices, and to see Peter Pierce leaning against the
wall of the house, but Rusha came running up to him exclaiming, "Oh!
Stead, here is this good stranger that you met, telling us all about
brother Jeph."
"Yes, my kind host," said the grey-coated guest, with a slight nasal
intonation, rising as Stead came near, "I find that you are the very
lad my friend and brother Jephthah Kenton, that singular Christian
man, bade me search out.
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