Part 53 (1/2)
After, the squire pushed him in for that he stood as one in amaze, and shut the door on all that sorrow. But himself remained without, and presently crossed the street to the tavern to give Richard's message to the roisterers.
”Will,” said Kitte, ”do not grieve. Thou 'rt--the more--free--to serve thy--lady--Saint Truth.”
”Did that grieve thee?” he groaned. ”In the Vision 't is a man, Truth.”
”Calote hath--her--love--and thou--freedom.--Better so!”
”Hush, mother, oh, hus.h.!.+” sobbed Calote. ”Dost thou not love us that thou canst leave us lone so willing? Say thou 'rt sorrowing to leave us! Ah, mother, say 't!”
Kitte looked in Long Will's eyes.
”Love us!” he cried. And then, ”Kitte,--Kitte, is this likewise failure? What have I done?--Stay,--and learn me to love! Oh, thou true loving wife!--What have I done,--what have I done?--Forgive me!”
”Draw forth--knife,--the more ease,” she said.
The blood came in a great gush very swift.
”Kiss me,” she whispered.
And when he had done this, she was dead.
CHAPTER IX
Smithfield
In the dawn of Sat.u.r.day London streets were all astir. On all the streets and amid the lanes close by Thames the Flemish widows bewailed their dead. On Cheapside and along Cornhill men were met together; some there were in bands with banners, and some singly. Also there ran up and down certain fellows that cried:--
”Go ye to Smithfield, good folk, 't is the King's will to meet with you in that place.”
Others shouted: ”Wat Tyler biddeth you to Smithfield, all the Fellows.h.i.+p.”
Whereat there were a-many laughed; and they said: ”Do we the bidding of Wat Tyler, or is the King our liege and lord?”
But there were others frowned.
”Heard ye Wat in Dame Emma's tavern last night?” they said, and their brows bent dark.
”In Norfolk do we dub so proud speech treason.”
Then looked every man over his shoulder hastily.
”Wat was drunk,” quoth one after a little.
”When a man 's drunk he spills more than his victual,” other answered him.
”Wat Tyler biddeth you to Smithfield, all the Fellows.h.i.+p!” bawled the crier.
”Wat Tyler's leader of the Fellows.h.i.+p, what harm?”