"Your brother-in-law, madam, Dr. Hall," said he, seeing that she did not wish him to leave on the instant, "is well esteemed by the Catholic gentry, as I hear."
Judith did not answer that; she had been rapidly considering what she could do for one in distress.
"By your leave, sir, I would not have you go away without making further inquiry," said she. "I will myself get to know how my father is inclined, for indeed he never speaks of such matters to us; and sure I am that, whatever be his opinion, no harm could come to you through seeking his friendship. That I am sure of. If you are in distress, that is enough; he will not ask you whence you come; nor has he censure for any one; and that is a marvel in one that is so good a man himself, that he hath never a word of blame for any one, neither for the highwayman that was taken red-handed, as it were, last Sunday near to Oxford--'Why,' says my father, 'if he take not life, and be a civil gentleman, I grudge him not a purse or two'--nor for a lesser criminal, my cousin Willie Hart, that but yesterday let the Portuguese singing-bird escape from its cage. 'Well, well,' says my father, 'so much the better, if only it can find food for itself.' Indeed, you need fear naught but kindness and gentleness; and sure I am that he would be but ill pleased to know that one coming from his friend Benjamin Jonson had been in the neighborhood and gone away without having speech of him."
"But this is no matter of courtesy, sweet lady," said he. "It is of a more dangerous cast; and I must be wary. If, now, you were inclined to do as you say--to make some discreet inquiry as to your good father's sentiments----"
"Not from himself," said she, quickly, and with some color mounting to her cheeks--"for he would but laugh at my speaking of such things--but from my gossip and neighbor I think I could gain sufficient assurance that would set your fears at rest."
"And how should I come to know?" he said, with some hesitation--for this looked much like asking for another meeting.
But Judith was frank enough. If she meant to confer a kindness, she did not stay to be too scrupulous about the manner of doing it.
"If it were convenient that you could be here this evening," said she, after a moment's thought, "Willie Hart and myself often walk over to Shottery after supper. Then could I let you know."