tly side-long way.

"I know what you are thinking," said Ralph, his tone a mixture of
amusement and pride. She looked up silently.

"Yes I knew it was so," he went on, smiling straight at her. "You are
wondering what in the world I know about Religious Houses. But I have a
brother--"

A shadow went over her face; Ralph saw she did not like the allusion.

"Besides," he went on again, "they need intelligent men, not
ecclesiastics, for this business."

"But Dr. Layton?" questioned Beatrice.

"Well, you might call him an ecclesiastic; but you would scarcely guess
it from himself. And no man could call him a partisan on that side."

"He would do better in one of his rectories, I should think," said
Beatrice.

"Well, that is not my business," observed Ralph.

"And what is your business?"

"Well, to ride round the country; examine the Religious, and make
enquiries of the country folk."

Beatrice began to tap her foot very softly. Ralph glanced down at the
bright buckle and smiled in spite of himself.

The girl went on.

"And by whose authority?"

"By his Grace's authority."

"And Dr. Cranmer's?"

"Well, yes; so far as he has any."

"I see," said Beatrice; and cast her eyes down again.

There was silence for a moment or two.

"You see too that I cannot withdraw," explained Ralph, a little
distressed at her air. "It is part of my duty."

"Oh! I understand that," said Beatrice.

"And so long as I act justly, there is no harm done."

The girl was silent.

"You understand that?" he asked.

"I suppose I do," said Beatrice slowly.

Ralph made a slight impatient movement.

"No--wait," said the girl, "I do understand. If I cannot trust you, I
had better never have known you. I do understand that I can trust you;
though I cannot understand how you can do such work."

She raised her eyes slowly to his; and Ralph as he looked into them saw
that she was perfectly sincere, and speaking without bitterness.

"Sweetheart," he said. "I could not have taken that from any but you;
but I know that you are true, and mean no more nor less than your words.
You do trust me?"

"Why, yes," said the girl; and smiled at him as he took her in his arms.

* * * * *

When she had gone again Ralph had a difficult quarter of an hour.

He knew that she trusted him, but was it not simply because she did not
know? He sat and pondered the talk he had had with Cromwell and the
Archbishop. Neit