Part 32 (2/2)

Cicely slowly took up the mutton-pie once more, but did not eat. ”Is na the pasty good?” asked Nick.

”Not now,” said she.

Nick turned away again.

The Dutchman was not in the gate. He had crossed the inn-yard suddenly, and was sitting close within the shadow of the wall, though the sunny side was pleasanter by far. His wig was hanging down about his face, and he was talking with the tapster's knave, a hungry-looking fellow clad in rusty black as if some one were dead, although it was a holiday and he had neither kith nor kin. The knave was biting his under lip and staring straight at Nick.

”And will I never see thee more?” asked Cicely.

”Oh, yes,” said Nick; ”oh, yes.”

But he did not know whether she ever would or no.

”Gee-wup, Dobbin! Yoicks, Ned! Tschk--tschk!” The leading cart rolled slowly through the gate. A second followed it. The drivers made a cracking with their whips, and all the guests came out to see them off.

But the Dutchman, as the rest came out, arose, and with the tapster's knave went in at a narrow entrance beyond the tap-room steps.

”And when will Master Shakspere come for thee?” asked Cicely once more, the cold pie lying in her lap.

”I do na know. How can I tell? Do na bother me so!” cried Nick, and dug his heels into the cracks between the paving-stones; for after all that had come to pa.s.s the starting of the baggage-train had made him sick for home.

Cicely looked up at him; she thought she had not heard aright. He was staring after the last cart as it rolled through the inn-yard gate; his throat was working, and his eyes were full of tears.

”Why, Nick!” said she, ”art crying?”

”Nay,” said he, ”but very near,” and dashed his hand across his face.

”Everything doth happen so all-at-once--and I am na big enough, Cicely.

Oh, Cicely, I would I were a mighty king--I'd make it all up different somehow!”

”Perhaps thou wilt be some day, Nick,” she answered quietly. ”Thou'ldst make a very lovely king. I could be queen; and daddy should be Lord Admiral, and own the finest play-house in the town.”

But Nick was staring at the tap-room door. A voice somewhere had startled him. The guests were gone, and none was left but the tapster's knave leaning against the inner wall.

”Thy mother should come to live with us, and thy father, and all thy kin,” said Cicely, dreamily smiling; ”and the people would love us, there would be no more war, and we should be happy forevermore.”

But Nick was listening,--not to her,--and his face was a little pale. He felt a strange, uneasy sense of some one staring at his back. He whirled about--looked in at the tap-room window. For an instant a peering face was there; then it was gone--there was only the Dutchman's frowzy wig and striped woolen cap. But the voice he had heard and the face he had seen were the voice and the face of Gregory Goole.

”I should love to see thy mother, Nick,” said Cicely.

He got up steadily, though his heart was jolting his very ribs. ”Thou shalt right speedily!” said he.

The carts were standing in a line. The carrier came down the steps with his stirrup-cup in hand. Nick's heart gave a sudden, wild, resolute leap, and he touched the carrier on the arm. ”What will ye charge to carry two as far as Stratford town?” he asked. His mouth was dry as a dusty road, for the Dutchman had risen from his seat and was coming toward the door.

”I do na haul past Oxford,” said the man.

<script>