Groot was made to promise to say not a word of her presence in his
family. He was out all day, while Clemence worked hard at her
demenagement, and only with scruples accepted the assistance of her
guest, who was glad to work away her anxiety in the folding of
curtains and stuffing of mails.
At last Lambert returned, having been backwards and forwards many
times between the Vrow Gudule and the Abbey, for Skipper Vrowst drove
a hard bargain, and made the most of the inconvenience and danger of
getting into ill odour with the authorities; and, however anxious
Father Copeland might be to save his nephew, Abbot and bursar
demurred at gratifying extortion, above all when the King might at
any time be squeezing them for contributions hard to come by.
However, it had been finally fixed that a boat should put in to the
Abbey steps to receive the fleeces of the sheep-shearing of the home
grange, and that, rolled in one of these fleeces, the wounded knight
should be brought on board the Vrow Gudule, where Groot and the women
would await him, their freight being already embarked, and all ready
to weigh anchor.
The chief danger was in a King's officer coming on board to weigh the
fleeces, and obtaining the toll on them. But Sunderland either had
no King, or had two just at that time, and Father Copeland handed
Master Groot a sum which might bribe one or both; while it was to the
interest of the captain to make off without being overhauled by
either.
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