yet may. This may be
the last chance to get away hence that you shall have afore--" Mr
Roberts hesitated; but his meaning was clear enough. "It doth seem me,
now we have this opportunity through Master Laxton's journey, it were
well-nigh a sin to miss it. He is a sober, worthy man, and kindly
belike; he should take good care of you; and going so nigh to
Shardeford, he could drop you well-nigh at your mother's gates. Now I
pray you, Grena, be ruled by me, and settle it that you shall go without
delay. He cannot wait beyond to-morrow to set forth."

"I grant it all, Tom, and I thank you truly for your brotherly care.
But it alway comes to the same end, whensoever I meditate thereon: I
cannot leave you and Gertrude."

"But wherefore no, Grena? Surely we should miss your good company,
right truly: but to know that you were safe were compensation enough for
that. True should be old enough to keep the house--there be many
housewives younger--or if no; surely the old servants can go on as they
are used, without your oversight. Margery and Osmund, at least--"

"They lack not my oversight, and assuredly not Gertrude's. But you
would miss me, Tom: and I could not be happy touching True."

"Wherefore? Why, Grena, you said yourself they should lay no hand on
her."

"Nor will they. But Gertrude is one that lacks a woman about her that
loveth her, and will yet be firm with her. I cannot leave the child--
Paulina's child--to go maybe to an ill end, for the lack of my care and
love. She sees not the snares about her heedless feet, and would most
likely be tangled in them ere you saw them. Maids lack mothers more
than even fathers; and True hath none save me."

"Granted. But for all that, Grena, I would not sacrifice you."

"Tom, if the Lord would have me here, be sure He shall not shut me up in
Canterbury Castle. And if He lacks me there, I am ready to go. He will
see to you and True in that case."

"But if He lack you at Shardeford, Grena? How if this journey of Mr
Laxton be His provision for you, so being?"

There was silence for a moment.

"Ay," said Grena Holland then, "if you and Gertrude go with me. If not,
I shall know it is not the Lord's bidding."

"I! I never dreamed thereof."

"Suppose, then, you dream thereof now."

"Were it not running away from duty?"

"Methinks not. `When they persecute you in one city, flee ye into
another,' said our Lord. I see no duty that you have to leave. Wer