"
"How do you know of it?"
"Have not I eyes, though some folk have not? Could not I look out at
a chink on a fine summer morning, when you thought the children
asleep? Could not I climb up to your precious cave as well as
yourself; and hear the iron clink under the stone. Ha, ha! and you
and Patience thought no one knew but yourselves."
"I trust no one else does."
"No, no, I'm no gad-about, whatever you may be pleased to think me.
They say everything comes of use in seven years, and it must be over
that now."
"Ten since 'twas hidden, nigh seven since that Whitsuntide. There's
never a parson who could come out, is there? Besides, with Peter
Woodward nigh, 'tis not safe to meet."
"That's what your head is running on. No, no. They will never have
it out again that fashion. The old Prayer-book is banished for ever
and a day! I heard master and the Captain say that now old Noll has
got his will, he will soon call himself king, and there's no hope of
churches or parsons coming back; and old madam sat and cried.
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