CHAPTER IV
OFF FOR COVENTRY

T the Bridge street crossing Nick paused irresolute.
Around the public pump a chattering throng of
housewives were washing out their towels and hanging
them upon the market-cross to dry. Along the stalls in
Middle Row the grumbling shopmen were casting up their
sales from tallies chalked upon their window-ledges, or
euffing their tardy apprentices with no light hand.

John Gibson’s cart was hauling gravel from the pits in
Henley street to mend the causeway at the bridge, which
had been badly washed by the late spring floods, and the
fine sand dribbled from the cart-tail like the sand in av
hour-glass.

Here and there loutish farm-hands waited for work;
and at the corner two or three stout cudgel-men leaned
upon their long staves, although the market was two
days closed, and there was not a Coventry merchant in
sight to be driven away from Stratford trade.

Goody Baker with her shovel and broom of twigs was

sweeping up the market litter in the square. Nick won:
25