ut bitterness, in a level voice, leaning his cheek
on his hand.

It appeared that Mr. Thomas still passed for a Catholic among the
simpler folk; but with none else. All the great houses round about had
the truth as an open secret; and their doors were closed to him; neither
had any priest been near him, since the day when Mr. Simpson met him
alone on the moors and spoke to him of his soul. Even then Mr. Thomas
had blustered and declared that there was no truth in the tale; and had
so ridden away at last, saying that such pestering was enough to make a
man lose his religion altogether.

"As for me," said Mr. John, "he has not been near me, nor I near him. He
lives at Norbury for the most part. My brother is attempting to set
aside the disposition he had made in his favour; but they say that it
will be made to stand; and that my son will get it all yet. But he has
not troubled us at Padley; nor will he, I think."

"He is at Norbury, you say, sir?"

"Yes; but he goes here and there continually. He has been to London to
lay informations, I have no doubt, for I know that he hath been seen
there in Topcliffe's company.... It seems that we are to be in the thick
of the conflict. We have had above a dozen priests in this county alone
arraigned for treason, and the most of them executed."

His voice had gone lower, and trembled once or twice as he talked. It
was plain that he could not bear to speak much more against the son that
had turned against him and his Faith, for the sake of his own liberty
and the estates he had hoped to have. Robin made haste to turn the talk.

"And my father, sir?"

Mr. John looked at him tenderly.

"You must ask Mistress Marjorie of him," he said. "I have not seen him
these three years."

Robin turned to the girl.

"I have had no more news of him since what I wrote to you," she said
quietly. "After I had spoken with him, and he had given me the warning,
he held himself aloof."

"Hath he been at any of the trials at Derby?"

She bowed her head.

"He was at the trial of Mr. Garlick," she said; "last year; and was one
of those who spoke for his banishment."

* * * * *

And then, on a sudden, Mistress Alice moved in her corner, where she sat
with the widow of her brother.

"And what of her Grace?" she said. "Is it true what Dick told us before
supper, that Parliament hath sentenced her?"

Robin shook his head.

"I hear so much gossip," he said, "in t