"Nay then! I ask thy pardon, Blossom," cried the girl, laughing, and holding out a crown piece she had discovered in a pocket of the doublet, "thou art a friend I have no will to offend. Now send thy good Dame."
Shortly Mistress Blossom came bustling in, rosy in the face from bending over an open fire. She carried high in one hand a platter from which drifted a savoury smell, and a steaming flagon was in the other.
Setting these down she smoothed her voluminous skirt and stood waiting, an expression of severe displeasure hardening her face.
"A goodly day to you, and a fresh morning, mistress," Deb said shortly--"I pray thee shut the door--an" see it be latched."
The woman did so without speaking.
"Now look at me well. Come"--smiling--"did"st ever see me more like myself?"
"Nay," replied the Dame, after a slow scrutiny of the charming figure.
"In looks thou art well enow. An" thy manners matched, "twere cause for rejoicing. Thou wer"t a disgrace yestere"en to thy sister, ay! an"
to the hamlet o" Shottery that saw thee raised."
"Make a finish, good Dame," answered Deb, mockingly; "say a disgrace to myself an" the company o" players I have the honour of belonging to."
"Hoity-toity! Play actors!" quoth the other. "Little care I for what disgrace thou be"st to them! But what o" thy broken head, lad? Hath it sore pained thee? Why, my faith, the swelling be quite gone!"
The girl gave way to a short peal of laughter.
"Marry! I laugh," she said, struggling for composure, "yet feel little like it. Look well again, Mistress Blossom. Look well. Surely there be small triumph in befooling thee, for thou art too easy hoodwinked withal. Gaze steady now. Dost still say "tis Darby Thornbury?"
The woman stared while her complexion went from peony red to pale pink.
"Thou giv"st me a turn, an" I be like to swoon," she gasped. "What prank has"t afoot, lad?"
"Thou wilt go a bit farther before thou dost faint. Hark then, an"
prythee hold by the table an" thou turn"st giddy. Now doth it come.
See then, this handsome, well-favoured youth thou art breakfasting,"
rising and making a pretty bow, "is--is none other than _Deb Thornbury_!"
"Ods pitikins!" cried the woman.
"Sit down," answered Deb, growing sober. "I would talk with thee, for I need thy good-will and, peradventure, thy help. Things with my brother are in a very coil. He will not be able to take his part i"
the new play on the morrow. His face is too sorely marred. Beshrew me, he looks not one half as much like himself as I look like him. Now there be no understudy i" the cast for the character Darby hath taken--further, "tis an all important one. To have him away would mean confusion and trouble to Blackfriars and I gainsay nothing rejoicing to the Admiral"s Company and Lord Pembroke"s men. "Tis not to be contemplated. By the Saints! I would not have trouble come to Master Will Shakespeare through my brother, no, not for the crown jewels!
Dost follow me?"
"Nay, that I do not nor what thou"rt coming at," was the dazed response.
Debora shrugged her shoulders. "I hoped "t would have dawned on thee.
Why, "tis just this, I will play the part myself."
"Thou?" cried Dame Blossom, agape. "Thou, Mistress Debora?"
"Yes! yes! Nay, ply me not with questions. My mind is set. There be not one in London who will discover me, an" thou dost not break faith, or let thy good man scent aught on the wind. But I wanted to tell thee, dear Mistress Blossom, and have thy good word. Pray thee say I am not doing wrong, or making any error. I have been so bewildered."
"I will not say thou art i" the right, for I know not. Has"t asked Master Darby"s consent?"
The girl turned impatiently. "Heart o" me! but thou art able to provoke one. His consent!" with a short laugh. "Nay then--but I will show him his face i" the mirror, an" on sight of it he will leave things for me to settle."
"Ay!" the dame returned, blankly, "I warrant he will. But art not afeared o" the people? What if they should discover thou art a _woman_!"
"I"ll say they are of quicker wit than one I could name," returned Debora. "As for the play--well, I know the play by heart. Now one thing more. I would have thee go with me to Blackfriars. The theatre opens at four o"clock. Say thou wilt bear me company dear, dear Mistress Blossom. Say thou wilt."
"Nay then, I will _not_. Ods fish! Thou hast gotten thyself in this an" thou can"st get out alone. I will keep a quiet tongue, but ask me to do naught beside."
"Well-a-day! "Tis as I thought. Now I will go and dress in maidenly clothes. These fearsome things be not needed till the morrow."
CHAPTER VII
VII
By Monday noon Darby Thornbury was unable to lift his head from the pillow by reason of its aching. He remembered nothing about receiving the blow over his eye, and talked little. Dame Blossom and Debora tended him faithfully, keeping Master Blossom away from a true knowledge of affairs. Debora would have had a physician, but Darby would not listen to it.
"I will have no leeching, blood-letting nor evil-smelling draughts," he cried, irritably; "no poultices nor plasters neither! I have misery enough without adding to it, Egad!"
Being brought to this pa.s.s and having seen his face in the mirror, he bade Debora find the Master-player of the Company and make what excuse she could for him.
"I be a thrice-dyed fool, Deb," he said with a groan. "Work is over for me in London. I"ll ship to the Indies, or America, an" make an ending." Then starting up--"Oh! Deb, could naught be done with me so that I could play this evening?"
"I know not, dear heart," she answered gently, "perchance thy looks might not count an" thou wer"t able to act. Art better?"
"Nay, worse!" he said, falling back. "My head maddens me! An" not a word o" the lines sticks i" my memory." So he raved on, fiercely upbraiding himself and wearying Debora. After a time she slipped on her hooded cloak, bade him good-bye, and went out. Returning, she told Darby that he could take courage, for a subst.i.tute had been found in his place.
"Ask no questions, dear heart. Nay--an" trouble no more, but rest.
Thou wilt be on the boards by Wednesday, an" thy luck is good."
"Dost think so, sweet?" he asked, weakly. "An" will the mark be gone?"
"Why, nearly," she answered; "an" if it still be a little blue, we will paint it. In any case, thine eye will be open, which it is not now."
"Thou art a very angel, Deb, an" I am a brute. I know not where they got one to take my part--an" Marry! I seem not to care. Never will I drink aught but water. Nay, then, thou shalt not go. Stay by me till I sleep, for there be queer lights before my eyes, an" I see thee through them. Thou art so beautiful, Deb, so beautiful."
She waited till he slept, sometimes smiling to herself in a wise way.
What children men were when they were ill, she thought. Even Dad would not let her out of his sight when the rheumatism crippled him all last winter. Why, once Nick Berwick came in with a sprained wrist, and naught would be but Deb must bathe and bind it. Nick Berwick! he was so strong and tall and straight. A sigh broke over her lips as she rose and went away to her room.
Half an hour later Debora came down the stairs dressed in the suit of Kendal green. Dame Blossom met her in the hallway.
"Dost keep to thy mad plan, Mistress Deb?"
"Truly," answered the girl. "See, I will be back by sundown. Have no fear for me, the tiring-room hath a latch, an" none know me for myself.
Keep thy counsel an" take care o" Darby."
Blackfriars was filled that March afternoon. The narrow windows in the upper gallery had all been darkened, and the house was lit by a thousand lights that twinkled down on eager faces turned towards the stage. Even then at the edge of the rush-strewn boards was a line of stools, which had been taken at a rose-n.o.ble apiece by some score of young gallants.