“Nay, I know not what to think,” he answered.  “It is a strange thing, and men often say it betides ill; but I have no knowledge of mine own.  I never saw the like before.”

“They spoke of it at my Lady Scrope’s today,” said Dorcas.  “I was behind her chair, with her fan and essence bottles, and the lap dogs, when in comes one and another of the old beaux who beguile their leisure with my lady’s sharp speeches; and they spoke of this thing, and she laughed them to scorn, and called them fools for listening to old wives’ fables.  It is her way thus to revile all who come anigh her.  She said she had lived through a score of such scares, and would snap her fingers at all the comets of the heavens at once.  Sometimes it makes me tremble to hear her talk; but methinks she loveth to raise a shudder in the hearts of those who hear her.  She is a strange being.  Sometimes I almost fear to go to and fro there, albeit she treats me well, and seldom speaks harshly to me.  But men say she is above a hundred years old, and she leads so strange a life in her lonely house.  Fancy being there alone of a night, with only that deaf old man and his aged wife within doors!  It would scare me to death.  But she will not let one other of her servants abide there with her!”

“Ay, it is her whimsie.  Women folks are given to such,” answered Reuben, tolerantly.  “She is a strange creature, albeit I doubt not that men make her out stranger than she is.  Well, well, the comet at least will do us no hurt of itself; and if it be God’s way of warning us of peril to come, we need not fear it, but only set ourselves to be ready for what He may send us.”

Below stairs there was a comfortable meal spread upon the table, simple and homely, but sufficient for the appetites of all.  The three rosy-faced apprentices, of whom a son of the house made one, formed a link at table between the family and the shopmen and serving wenches.  All sat down together, and Rebecca, the daughter who lived at home, served up the hot broth and puddings.  The eldest daughter was a serving maid in the household of my Lady Howe, and was seldom able to get home for more than a few hours occasionally, even when that fashionable dame was in London.  Dorcas spent each night under the shelter of her father’s roof, and went daily to the quaint old house close beside Allhallowes the Less, where lived the eccentric Lady Scrope, her mistress, of whom mention has been made.  The youngest son was also from home, being apprenticed to a carpenter in the service of the Master Builder next door, and he lived, as was usual, in the house of his employer.  Thus four out of Harmer’s seven children lived always at home, and Dan the sailor was with them whenever his ship put into the river after a voyage.