The Child of the Moat

the drawbridge was raised and that everything was safe for the night. Audry soon wondered what had become of Aline and after

he has not been do

s she spoke. “Why? canno

in the hall and

old Elspe

s face brightened up. “I will run and find her.”

hers. So she came back to the great hall and t

at has happened to her; call

such a fuss as that! And I do not see that it would be so very great a matter if she were lost. Why, you make as much a to-d

no result. “She must have gone out before the gate was shut,” suggested Audry, “but that is a very unusual thing. She might have gone to speak with one of the servants and crossed the

n the Hall knew full well, and many a servant had rather run the risk of staying

rribly dark night. Come this way,” he added in a husky voice. In his rough way he was fonder of

owered. They then crossed the bridge and divided into tw

1

en piece of the moat-wall, half in and half out of the water. It was easy to get down to the water in many places on the outer sid

choke herself. Every one stood aghast. Even Mistress Mowbray felt something of the atmosphere of grief; she was the only one sufficiently unmoved to speak

ine, do not leave me, I cannot bear it,” and she flung herself on to the s

eping, even the men-servants

o her face, she suddenly cried out, “She is not dead. I a

etest, wake up once more.” Suddenly Aline opened her eyes and looked round for a moment, and then closed them again. She gave no more sign that night and it was an anxious time; but hope was strong. Hardly any one went to bed but Mistress Mowbray. Even the servants for the most part wandered about, coming every now and then to ask if there was any news. The child was a favourite with nearly all of them, as much on account of her gentle thoughtful ways as on account of her ex

aused Mistress Mowbray to exclaim,—“Drat the bairn for frightening us al

d them of what she had seen119 and how Andrew had thrown her into the water. “As I fell,” she went on, “I felt my head strike violently against something. I luckily did not become

in blank astonishment, as it was not c

powers in this direction; as after the River Tees incident she felt i

er cup and other things,” she said, “but I am glad that I have not had my wet

ildren, not even Audry, as his was not a demonstrative nature. “Poo

e library again,”

o something better than that; but for the present I must see

t a long rod and feel all around that moat-side. She120 could never have got out on the inner side. But who would have known that the skelpie could swim?

s known of him. News, however, soon leaked out of what had happened and soon the whole country-side was on his track, with the consequence that,

h opposition from a very unexpected quarter. He went and told Aline the next morning after the successful capture and added th

dry, who was there, said, “Oh, I am glad they h

puzzled. “Isn’t that

e had succeeded! Oh!” and Audry

not sure that peop

ould be hanged,” s

seem to be a particularly helpful road to repentance.” Her head ached and she could not think ve

ff if he would confess all that he had taken and restore it as far as possible, and promise to make all the amends that lay in his power. Master Mowbra

re, yesterday,” she began, “that you would like to do something better for me than just let Audry and me use the library again,

r cowardly sort of fellow whom Andrew used as a tool. I might let him stay on in the house if you greatly wish it, but I really cannot, even if we pardon Andrew, have him any longer at the Hall. I think that the man is too violent to be122 trusted. He does not really belong to this neighbourhood at all and it mi

y would like

peak to the men,” said

would be good for them. I have told them what you asked and at first they hardly seemed

if you wish it, b

him and yet somehow he felt that it was the right thi

her had for the moment recovered its usual brilliancy. Andrew was led in with his hands tied behind his back; he looked sullen and

h to express my abhorrence. If I were doing what my real judgment tells me I should do, you, Thomas, for your part, would spend a long time in York Gaol, and as for you,” he continued, turning to Andrew, “the world would soon be rid of you altogether. However, Mistress A

alise what he was demanding from the sensitive highly strung little maiden. But she nerv

n I was a very little girl and it is a fine town, much bigger than Appleby. You should easily find work there and you will not forget, will you, to send Master Mowbray something every month to replace the things that have gone? Master Mowbray’s

2

mazed and then untied the rope. “You will pr

bled Andre

re to her and how sorry you

you, I’

d not wish him hanged he utterly failed to grasp. What was the use of having one’s enemy in one’s hands if one did not crush him? “Certainly,” he thought, “there were some foolish people who

u are going to stay with us, Thomas; I wonder whether you would be kind

have done. We are all of us sinners and may God have mercy upon me.” He kneeled as he spoke and pressed her hand to his lips and added,

covered his senses. She must be a fool, he thought, and yet she made him look a pretty fool, too; he was not sure for the moment that he did not hate her more than ever. But, as he came to think it over in afte