Daughter of Satan Read Online Free PDF Page B

fruits in vale and mountain.
    Philon the shepherd late forgot,
    Sitting beside a crystal fountain.’
    She taught the words to Luce and they sang them together.
    â€˜Sitting beside a crystal fountain
    In shadow of a green oak tree,
    Upon his pipe this song played he,
    Untrue love, untrue love,
    Untrue love, adieu, love.
    Your mind is light.’
    They danced round the kitchen, curtsying, dipping, touching hands, bowing.
    Charlie Hurly looked through the window and was watching for some minutes before they saw him. Then he clapped his hands, and Luce blushed, while Betsy went to the window and put her hands on her hips, pretending to scold him. But he just laughed and beckoned Betsy out to the shed, for he had something to tell her; she scolded still more and said she would not go, but Luce could not help noticing that she was soon making an excuse to go outside and that she stayed there for a full quarter of an hour.
    They had to take it in turns to go up to Mistress Alton’s room for instructions. She lay on her pallet, her face greenish yellow, her dry lips muttering prayers to ward off evil.
    In the courtyard Charlie Hurly was talking to Ned Swann about what was going on in the harbour; they were nodding their heads, looking grave, looking wise. Charlie would not have dared hang about like that if Mistress Alton had been about. Betsy would not have dared to stay chattering.
    And that night, of course, Mistress Alton was unable to lock the two girls in their room.
    The weeks of waiting were not yet done with. The fleet had set out only to be driven back by the gales. Every man and woman of Plymouth shared the impatience of the admirals,and railed against the Queen for her meanness in not sénding more of the desperately needed stores. Rations were short on board the ships, and although Drake and Howard were convinced that the winds which were tormenting them were also plaguing the Spaniards, when the opportunity arose to leave the shpres of Devon and go into the attack, ill-equipped as they were they were unable to do so. The caution of the Queen, and still more the stinginess of the lady, were preventing a quick victory. It was all very well to make fine speeches at Tilbury, but what folly to let her meanness set her throne and her country in danger!
    But in the first week of that July, Howard and Drake could no longer wait; in spite of sickness aboard and shortage of food, they set out for the attack. But before long, back they came dejected and disappointed. The storm-battered Spaniards lay off Corunna, where they would have been at the mercy of the English, but – like a miracle that had worked in the Spaniards’ favour – the north wind had suddenly dropped, and the English, in full sight of their enemy, lay becalmed until a south wind arose. They could return or wait – their food and water low, thanks to their Queen – on the pleasure of the winds.
    Mistress Alton, now recovered from her mysterious illness, was certain what this meant. It was witchcraft. She knew, if others did not, how the tempest and calm could be controlled by witches. She went about muttering prayers all day; the cane was not used so frequently since she had risen from her sickbed, but only because she had not the strength in her arms. She had never seen such an addle-pated pair as the two serving wenches had become. There was Betsy going out to get water without a bucket. As for Luce, you could speak to her and she would not seem to hear. These girls had been up to something, Mistress Alton was quick to note, for she was a woman who recognized sin the moment she saw it.
    She thought of getting Clem Swann to give them a good beating for her; but she did not trust Clem Swann. He would be gloating over their white shoulders or mayhap trying to get them to expose their bosoms. For modesty’s sake, she could not get Clem Swann to punish them; and as for getting him tobeat them through their petticoats, that would be