us expenses I
must incur on your behalf?"

Now it was Cicely's turn to think.

"Surely," she answered at length, "if you will add a condition--that
these good sisters shall be left undisturbed in their Nunnery."

He shook his fat head.

"It is not possible now. The thing is too public. Why, the Lord Cromwell
would say I had been bribed, and I might lose my office."

"Well, then," went on Cicely, "if you will promise that one year of
grace shall be given to them to make arrangements for their future."

"That I can do," he answered, nodding, "on the ground that they are of
blameless life, and have protected you from the King's enemy. But this
is an uncertain world; I must ask you to sign an indenture, and its form
will be that you acknowledge to have received from me a loan of L300 to
be repaid with interest when you recover your estates."

"Draw it up and I will sign, Sir."

"Good, Madam; and now that we may get this business through, you will
accompany me to London, where you will be safe from harm. We'll not ride
to-day, but to-morrow morning at the light."

"Then my servant Emlyn must come also, Sir, to help me with the babe,
and Thomas Bolle too, for he can prove that the witchcraft upon which we
were condemned was but his trickery."

"Yes, yes; but the costs of travel for so many will be great. Have you,
perchance, any money?"

"Yes, Sir, about L50 in gold that is sewn up in one of Emlyn's robes."

"Ah! A sufficient sum. Too much indeed to be risked upon your persons in
these rough times. You will let me take charge of half of it for you?"

"With pleasure, Sir, trusting you as I do. Keep to your bargain and I
will keep to mine."

"Good. When Thomas Legh is fairly dealt with, Thomas Legh deals fairly,
no man can say otherwise. This afternoon I will bring the deed, and
you'll give me that L25 in charge."

Then, followed by Cicely, he returned to where the Prioress sat, and
said--

"Mother Matilda, for so I understand you are called in religion, the
Lady Harflete has been pleading with me for you, and because you have
dealt so well by her I have promised in the King's name that you and
your nuns shall live on here undisturbed for one year from this day,
after which you must yield up peaceable possession to his Majesty, whom
I will beg that you shall be pensioned."

"I thank you, Sir," the Prioress answered. "When one is old a year of
grace is much, and in a year many things may happen--for instance