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comfort and tranquillity。 The smoke which curled from its hospitable
chimney spoke of warmth and good fare。
To pass it was to spurn the last chance of a bottle for many a weary
mile； and the prudent traveller would always rest an hour by its ample
fireside； or gossip with its fantastic hostess。 Now； the hostess of the little
inn was Ellen Roach； friend and accomplice of Sixteen…String Jack； once
the most famous woman in England； and still after a weary stretch at
Botany Bay the strangest of companions； the most buxom of spinsters。
Her beauty was elusive even in her triumphant youth； and middle…age had
neither softened her traits nor refined her expression。 Her auburn hair；
once the glory of Covent Garden； was fading to a withered grey； she was
never tall enough to endure an encroaching stoutness with equanimity； her
dumpy figure made you marvel at her past success； and hardship had
furrowed her candid brow into wrinkles。 But when she opened her lips
she became instantly animated。 With a glass before her on the table； she
would prattle frankly and engagingly of the past。 Strange cities had she
seen； she had faced the dangers of an adventurous life with calmness and
good temper。 And yet Botany Bay； with its attendant horrors； was
already fading from her memory。 In imagination she was still with her
incomparable hero； and it was her solace； after fifteen years； to sing the
praise and echo the perfections of Sixteen…String Jack。
‘How well I remember；' she would murmur； as though unconscious of
her audience； ‘the unhappy day when Jack Rann was first arrested。 It
was May； and he came back travel…stained and weary in the brilliant dawn。
He had stopped a one…horse shay near the nine… mile stone on the
Hounslow Roadevery word of his confession is burnt into my brainand
had taken a watch and a handful of guineas。 I was glad enough of the
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money； for there was no penny in the house； and presently I sent the maid…
servant to make the best bargain she could with the watch。 But the silly
jade； by the saddest of mishaps； took the trinket straight to the very man
who made it； and he； suspecting a theft； had us both arrested。 Even then
Jack might have been safe； had not the devil prompted me to speak the
truth。 Dismayed by the magistrate； I owned； wretched woman that I was；
that I had received the watch from Rann； and in two hours Jack also was
under lock and key。 Yet； when we were sent for trial I made what
amends I could。 I declared on oath that I had never seen Sixteen…String
Jack in my life； his name came to my lips by accident； and； hector as they
would； the lawyers could not frighten me to an acknowledgment。
Meanwhile Jack's own behaviour was grand。 I was the proudest woman
in England as I stood by his side in the dock。 When you compared him
with Sir John Fielding； you did not doubt for an instant which was the
finer gentleman。 And what a dandy was my Jack！ Though he came
there to answer for his life； he was all ribbons and furbelows。 His irons
were tied up with the daintiest blue bows； and in the breast of his coat he
carried a bundle of flowers as large as a birch…broom。 His neck quivered
in the noose； yet he was never cowed to civility。 ‘I know no more of the
matter than you do；' he cried indignantly； ‘nor half so much neither；' and if
the magistrate had not been an ill…mannered oaf； he would not have dared
to disbelieve my true…hearted Jack。 That time we escaped with whole
skins； and off we went； after dinner； to Vauxhall； where Jack was more
noticed than the fiercest of the bloods； and where he filled the heart of
George Barrington with envy。 Nor was he idle； despite his recent escape：
he brought away two watches and three purses from the Garden； so that
our necessities were amply supplied。 Ah； I should have been happy in
those days if only Jack had been faithful。 But he had a roving eye and a
joyous temperament； and though he loved me better than any of the
baggages to whom he paid court； he would not visit me so often as he
should。 Why； once he was hustled off to Bow Street because the watch
caught him climbing in at Doll Frampton's window。 And she； the
shameless minx； got him off by declaring in open court that she would be
proud to receive him whenever he would deign to ring at her bell。 That is
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the penalty of loving a great man： you must needs share his affection with
a set of unworthy wenches。 Yet Jack was always kind to me； and I was
the chosen companion of his pranks。
‘Never can I forget the splendid figure he cut that day at Bagnigge
Wells。 We had driven down in our coach； and all the world marvelled at
our magnificence。 Jack was brave in a scarlet coat； a tambour waistcoat；
and white silk stockings。 From the knees of his breeches streamed the
strings （eight at each）； whence he got his name； and as he plucked off his
lace…hat the dinner…table rose at him。 That was a moment worth living
for； and when； after his first bottle； Jack rattled the glasses； and declared
himself a highwayman； the whole company shuddered。 ‘‘But； my
friends；'' quoth he； ‘‘to…day I am making holiday； so that you have naught
to fear。'' When the wine 's in； the wit 's out； and Jack could never stay his
hand from the bottle。 The more he drank； the more he bragged； until；
thoroughly fuddled； he lost a ring from his finger； and charged the
miscreants in the room with stealing it。 ‘‘However；'' hiccupped he； ‘‘'tis
a mere nothing； worth a paltry hundred poundsless than a lazy evening's
work。 So I'll let the trifling theft pass。'' But the cowards were not
content with Jack's generosity； and seizing upon him； they thrust him neck
and crop through the window。 They were seventeen to one； the craven…
hearted loons； and I could but leave the marks of my nails on the cheek of
the foremost； and follow my hero into the yard； where we took coach； and
drove sulkily back to Covent Garden。
‘And yet he was not always in a mad humour； in fact； Sixteen… String
Jack； for all his gaiety； was a proud； melancholy man。 The shadow of the
tree was always upon him； and he would make me miserable by talking of
his certain doom。 ‘‘I have a hundred pounds in my pocket；'' he would
say； ‘‘I shall spend that； and then I shan't last long。'' And though I never
thought him serious； his prophecy came true enough。 Only a few months
before the end we had visited Tyburn together。 With his usual
carelessness； he passed the line of constables who were on guard。
‘‘It is very proper；'' said he； in his jauntiest tone； ‘‘that I should be a
spectator on this melancholy occasion。'' And though none of the dullards
took his jest； they instantly made way for him。 For my Jack was always
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a gentleman； though he was bred to the stable； and his bitterest enemy
could not have denied that he was handsome。 His open countenance was
as honest as the day； and the brown curls over his forehead were more
elegant than the smartest wig。 Wherever he went the world did him
honour； and many a time my vanity was sorely wounded。 I was a pretty
girl； mind you； though my travels have not improved my beauty； and I had
many admirers before ever I picked up Jack Rann at a masquerade。 Why；
there was a Templar； with two thousand a year； who gave me a carriage
and servants while I still lived at the dressmaker's in Oxford Street； and I
was not out of my teens when the old Jew in St。 Mary Axe took me into
keeping。 But when Jack was by； I had no chance of admiration。 All the
eyes were glued upon him； and his poor doxy had to be content with a
furtive look thrown over a stranger's shoulder。 At Barnet races； the year
before they sent me across the sea； we were followed by a crowd the
livelong day； and truly Jack； in his blue satin waistcoat laced with silver；
might have been a peer。 At any rate； he had not his equal on the course；
and it is small wonder that never for a moment were we left to ourselves。
‘But happiness does not last for ever； only too often we were gravelled
for lack of money； and Jack； finding his purse empty； could do naught else
than hire a hackney and take to the road again； while I used to lie awake
listening to the watchman's raucous voice； and praying God to send back
my warrior rich and scatheless。 So times grew more and more difficult。
Jack would stay a whole night upon the heath； and come home with an
empty pocket or a beggarly half crown。 And there was nothing； after a
shabby coat that he hated half so much as a sheriff's officer。 ‘‘Learn a
lesson in politeness；'' he said to one of the wretches who dragged him off
to the Marshalsea。 ‘‘When Sir John Fielding's people come after me they
use me genteelly； they only hold up a finger； beckon me； and I follow as
qui