"I will carry madam's bundle," said a voice behind us.
It was the minister who had spoken, and he now stood beside us.
There was a moment's silence, then I said, with a laugh: "We are
not going upon a summer jaunt, friend Sparrow. There is a warm
fire in the great room, to which your reverence had best betake
yourself out of this windy night."
As he made no movement to depart, but instead possessed himself
of Mistress Percy's bundle, I spoke again, with some impatience:
"We are no longer of your fold, reverend sir, but are bound for
another parish. We give you hearty thanks for your hospitality, and
wish you a very good night."
As I spoke I would have taken the bundle from him, but he tucked
it under his arm, and, passing us, opened the garden gate. "Did I
forget to tell you," he said, "that worthy Master Bucke is well of
the fever, and returns to his own to-morrow? His house and church
are no longer mine. I have no charge anywhere. I am free and
footloose. May I not go with you, madam? There may be dragons
to slay, and two can guard a distressed princess better than one.
Will you take me for your squire, Captain Percy?"
He held out his great hand, and after a moment I put my own in it.
We left the garden and struck into a lane. "The river, then, instead
of the forest?" he asked in a low voice.
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