Only I was glad he hinted that I might presently come back to see them.
And now, what was to become of me?
My master was in the White Lion, my mistress was at Kingston, the house without Temple Bar was in the custody of Timothy Ryder; there was warrant against me for assaulting a Queen's officer; if I went to Richmond there was a dungeon for me there; if I went home my mother could ill afford to keep me; if I went to the Stationers' Company I was too old now to apprentice to anybody.

I was in a bad plight, and what was worst of all, it seemed as if no one cared much what I did or what became of me.
"At any rate," said I to myself as I jogged Londonwards, "I can go to the wars and fight for my Queen--Heaven bless her!" It was a sore temptation as I passed near Richmond to climb the hill and see what was going forward at the Hall.

That house harboured the two people I held dearest in the world, and the one I hated most.

Yet I was afraid to go, not because of Captain Merriman or the cellar, but lest I should not read a welcome on Ludar's brow, or should be scorned by that fair lady.

No; I must wait till Ludar came to me in London.