'No, he was out at his ship for the night, and I hurried home to tell
you, knowing your fears.'

'It were surer if you had seen him, husband. He may well have taken
another name.'

'I never thought of that, sweet,' my father answered; 'but have no
fear. Should it be he, and should he dare to set foot in the parish of
Ditchingham, there are those who will know how to deal with him. But I
am sure that it is not he.'

'Thanks be to Jesu then!' she said, and they began talking in a low
voice.

Now, seeing that I was not wanted, I took my cudgel and started down
the bridle-path towards the common footbridge, when suddenly my mother
called me back.

'Kiss me before you go, Thomas,' she said. 'You must wonder what all
this may mean. One day your father will tell you. It has to do with a
shadow which has hung over my life for many years, but that is, I trust,
gone for ever.'

'If it be a man who flings it, he had best keep out of reach of this,' I
said, laughing, and shaking my thick stick.

'It is a man,' she answered, 'but one to be dealt with otherwise than by
blows, Thomas, should you ever chance to meet him.'