It did not need more to set wings to Althea’s feet; so we made haste and gathered up all our belongings, and came down again with our bundles packed and our travelling suits donned, long ere the hour was passed.

Yet for all our haste, we found they had made better speed than we.  There stood a coach waiting, into which they had already lifted Andrew; he was muffled in a long cloak that I had flung off the night before.  The two Gileses had him in their care, and Will was again acting as driver (I believe ’twas the very coach of the previous night); he was taking Harry’s orders as to driving at a very soft pace to the nearest stairs, ‘where,’ said Harry, ’we will meet you; these ladies will walk with me.’

We saw them drive off; then I made fast the outer door, and Harry took the key from me, and flung it over the wall into the garden.

‘Let any find it who list,’ said he.  ’I thank God we are quit of the hideous place.  How you have endured to dwell there day and night passes my comprehension.’

‘Why,’ said I, ‘is it not a glorious rich house?’

‘A house of sin and pride and death,’ said he, ‘I grant you.’

‘You are of Will’s mind,’ says Althea; ’he never would eat or sleep in it.’

‘If that be Will’s mind,’ said he, ’I approve his wisdom.  And now, hey for Father Thames and his silver streams, and the sweet salt air of the sea!  Here, take my arm, fair lady,’ he said to Althea as we went along; ’I have my doubts of your obedience—­Lucy I can trust to come with me of free will.’  So she took his arm, and said, smiling faintly,—­

‘At least indulge me so far as to tell us whither we are bound?’

‘You heard me say,’ he answered, stepping on briskly, ’to the nearest stairs; I have a boat ready there, and we will slip down the river to a ship I wot of that lies near Woolwich.  I own,’ he went on, ’it’s a mighty risk to run, with Andrew in such a feeble case; yet I see no better way.’  And in hasty words he told us how poor was our chance of getting clear away from the plague-stricken city by land.

‘London is something of a mouse-trap now,’ said he, ’or a lion’s den, if you like a statelier image; the way in is easy enough, but the way out is more difficult than the steep and thorny path to heaven.  Every town and village we should come to would rise against us with hue and cry, and drive us back to the city, to perish there; so cruel are men become through fear of the contagion.’

Althea’s pale cheek grew paler as she listened; and she said, ’Alas, my Lucy! into what a snare have I brought you! and all through pride and self-will.’

‘Nay, sweet sister,’ said I, ’do not miscall your compassion, and the daring of your spirit, which led you here.’

‘There was pride and wilfulness in it too,’ said she; ’and look what a rebuke Heaven gives me! it is not I that rescue Andrew; it is Harry and poor Giles.’