Yet such was scarce like to a mere
Jungvrow."
It went sorely against Master Lambert's feelings, as well as somewhat
against his conscience, to encourage the notion of the death of his
guest as a hare, though it ensured her safety and prevented a search.
He replied that her skill certainly was uncommon in a Jungvrow,
beyond nature, no doubt, and if they were unholy, it was well that
the arblaster had made a riddance of her.
"By the same token," added Hannekin, "the elf lock came out of my
hair this very morn, I having, as you bade me, combed it each morn
with the horse's currycomb."
Proof positive, as Lambert was glad to allow him to believe. And the
next day all Sunderland and the two Wearmouths believed that the dead
hare had shrieked in a human voice on being thrown on a fire, and had
actually shown the hands and feet of a woman before it was consumed.
It was all the safer for Grisell as long as she was not recognised,
and of this there was little danger. She was scarcely known in
Wearmouth, and could go to mass at the Abbey Church in a deep black
hood and veil. Master Lambert sometimes received pilgrims from his
own country on their way to English shrines, and she could easily
pass for one of these if her presence were perceived, but except to
mass in very early morning, she never went beyond the garden, where
the spring beauty was enjoyment to her in the midst of her loneliness
and entire doubt as to her future.
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