"Well, Richard?"

"May I have the same, good mistress, for a season?"

"Where wouldst go, lad? Dost want to see thy father? I meant not to
let thee from going home at times, so thou leave me not wholly." [Let
means hinder. The modern signification of this word is exactly the
opposite of its original meaning.]

"You do misconceive me, mistress. I trust soothly, to go but for a
season, though mayhap a long one; but not home. An' you will give me
leave, and I have my father's goodwill to it, I shall go abroad."

"Go _where_, Richard?" asked Dame Lovell, in some alarm and no little
astonishment.

"Anywhere," he answered, listlessly, "that is far enough away. I shall
wend unto the East Country."

"Eh, Richard! thou wilt be slain of robbers!" cried Friar Andrew. "All
yon country is full filled of Saracens and heathens, who think no more
of shedding Christian blood than of cooking a capon."

"I shall be slain, good father, I trow, if I stay here. There is no
peace heraway in England for them who read God's Word, and I have read
it. I should quickly be indicted, I ween; for a Lollard, an' I stayed.
Master Carew told me yestre'en, that there were spies hereabouts, and he
did trow he was suspected. And if they take him, they will come next to
me."

"Richard! Richard!" cried Dame Lovell. "Thou frightest me, lad! But
wilt thou go, soothly? I wis not how to leave thee do so."

"Dear mistress," said Richard, in a low tone, "I pray God and you to
pardon me, but I fear I am only a poor caitiff coward. I could not bear
the fiery ordeal which Margery has borne. I will confess to you, good
lady, that night and day I do pray God to spare me the same. I had
better go, ere I am tired, and perchance fail and deny my Master. I
will give you to wit of my welfare, in case I should meet any Palmers on
their way home, and may be I can come back, an' there should rise a king
who shall give us leave to live."

"Well, my lad! I trow I must not let thee!" said Dame Lovell, in a
grieved tone. "I wis not how to do without thee, Richard; but I ween I
should sorrow more to keep thee and bring thee to grief, than in leaving
thee go away from me."

The following day brought a servant in Lord Marnell's livery, with a
letter to Richard.

"_To the hands of Master Richard Pynson, at Lovell Tower, give these_.

"Good Master Pynson,--I pray you for to look warily unto your ways; for
I hear by messengers from London that you b