That was Grisell's second victory, when she was actually asked to
compound a warm, relishing, hot bowl for her father when be was
caught in a storm and came in drenched and weary.
She wanted to try on her little brother the effect of one of Sister
Avice's ointments, which she thought more likely to be efficacious
than melted mutton fat, mixed with pounded worms, scrapings from the
church bells, and boiled seaweed, but some of her ingredients were
out of reach, unless they were attainable at Sunderland, and she
obtained permission to ride thither under the escort of Cuthbert
Ridley, and was provided with a small purse--the proceeds of the
Baron's dues out of the fishermen's sales of herrings.
She was also to purchase a warm gown and mantle for her mother, and
enough of cloth to afford winter garments for Bernard; and a steady
old pack-horse carried the bundles of yarn to be exchanged for these
commodities, since the Whitburn household possessed no member
dexterous with the old disused loom, and the itinerant weavers did
not come that way--it was whispered because they were afraid of the
fisher folk, and got but sorry cheer from the lady.
The commissions were important, and Grisell enjoyed the two miles'
ride along the cliffs of Roker Bay, looking up at the curious caverns
in the rock, and seeking for the very strangely-formed stones
supposed to have magic power, which fell from the rock.
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