Experiment 3

In time, letter came back from Gloucester and with it large packet; and there were more evening talks in library at Hall. At end of one evening, mother said: ‘Well, if you are sure, do it tonight. Go round by fields where no one will see you. Oh and here’s cloth you can use.’
‘What cloth is it, Mother?’ asked Joseph.
‘Just cloth,’ was answer.
Joseph went out by garden door, and his mother stood in doorway, thinking, with her hand over her mouth. Then she said quietly, ‘It was cloth to cover his face. Oh, I wish I had not been in such hurry!’

night was very dark and strong wind blew loud over black fields; loud enough to drown all sounds of calling or answering — if anyone did call or answer.
next morning Joseph’s mother hurried to his bedroom.
‘Give me cloth,’ she said. ‘ servants must not find it. And tell me, tell me, quick!’
Her son, sitting on edge of bed with his head in his hands, looked up at her with wild, red eyes.
‘We have opened his mouth,’ he said. ‘Why, oh why, Mother, did you leave his face uncovered?’
‘You know how hurried I was that day,’ she replied. ‘I had no time. But do you mean that you have seen it?’

Joseph hid his face in his hands. ‘Yes, Mother, and he said you would see it, too.’
His mother gave awful cry and caught hold of bedpost.
‘He’s angry,’ Joseph went on. ‘He was waiting for me to call him, I’m sure. I had only just finished saying words when I heard him – like dog growling under earth.’
He jumped to his feet and walked up and down room. ‘And now he’s free! What can we do? I cannot meet him again. I cannot take drink he drank and go where he is! And I’m afraid to lie here another night! Oh, why did you do it, Mother? We had enough as it was.’
‘Be quiet!’ said his mother through dry lips. ‘It was you as much as I. But why spend time talking? Listen to me. It’s only six o’clock. Yarmouth’s not far, and we’ve enough money to cross sea — things like him can’t follow us over water. We’ll take night boat to Holland. You see to horses while I pack our bags.’

Joseph stared at her. ‘What will people say here?’
‘You must tell priest that we’ve learnt of some of Squire’s money in Amsterdam and we must go to collect it. Go, go! Or if you’re not brave enough to do that, lie here and wait for him again tonight.’
Joseph trembled and left room.
That evening after dark, boatman entered inn at Yarmouth, where man and woman were waiting, with their bags on floor beside them.
‘Are you ready, sir and madam?’ he asked. ‘We sail in less than hour. My other passenger is waiting by boat. Is this all your luggage?’ He picked up bags.
‘Yes, we are travelling light,’ said Joseph. ‘Did you say you have other passengers for Holland?’

Just one,’ replied boatman, ‘and he seems to travel even lighter than you.’
‘Do you know him?’ asked Mrs Bowles. She put her hand on her son’s arm, and they both paused in doorway.
‘No,’ said boatman. ‘He keeps his face hidden, but I’d know him again by his voice — he’s got strange way of speaking, like dog growling. But you’ll find that he knows you. “Go and fetch them out,” he said to me, “and I’ll wait for them here.” And sure enough, he’s coming this way now.’

In those days, women who poisoned their husbands were burnt to death. records for certain year at Norwich tell of woman who was punished in this way, and whose son was hanged afterwards. No one had accused them of their crime, but they told priest of their village what they had done. name of village must remain secret, because people say there is money still hidden there.

The End