mself.

"When this day comes," touching the paper in his hand, "it is very
true that I am no longer accountable for him as a member of my
house hold. He has received his recall from his superior. It is for
him to answer to it or not as he thinks best."

A sense of excitement and uneasiness pervaded the whole of the
house during the two following days. In all men's mouths was talk
of this solemn abjuration which was about to be forced upon all
those suspected of heresy; and many persons who had tampered
slightly and privately with doubtful matters went about looking
uneasy and troubled, fearful lest they might find themselves
accused of illicit practices, and be summoned forth to do penance
in a more or less severe form before they could hope to receive
absolution.

Sir Oliver Chadgrove's household was strictly orthodox in all
outward matters; but the leaven of Lollardism was wonderfully
penetrating, and he himself had suspected and feared that some of
his servants might be tainted therewith. He awaited the day with
almost as much anxiety as any of his dependants, for he well knew
that the Lord of Mortimer would lose no opportunity of dealing him
a heavy blow; and if he could be proved guilty of harbouring
heretics or even suspected persons in his house, it would give his
enemy a handle against him that he would not be slow to use.

As for the boys, it was plain that something of unwonted excitement
was agitating their minds; but in the general anxiety pervading the
whole household little account was taken of this.

The day came at last, dawning fair and clear. Sir Oliver assembled
his household early in the courtyard, and every retainer was clad
in his best and mounted upon his best charger. It was well to make
a goodly display of strength and wealth on an occasion like the
present. Doubtless the Lord of Mortimer would be there with all his
train, and Chad must not cut a much poorer figure in the eyes of
the beholders.

None knew better than Sir Oliver how far a goodly seeming went in
condoning offences and allaying suspicion, especially in the eyes
of such a worldly-wise man as the Prior of Chadwater. A proud
bearing, a goodly following, a gorgeous retinue, would be a far
better proof of orthodoxy in his eyes than any saintliness of life
and conduct. Mortimer would know that right well, though, as he had
been elected as the secular agent to assist the prior in his work
today, plainly no stigma of any kind was