hinks, our Kate," observed Isoult to Robin,
when the child had left the room.

Robin assented with a smile; but Dr Thorpe was so rude as to say, "All
mothers' geese be swans."

The smile on Robin's lips developed into laughter; Isoult answered, with
as much indignant emphasis as her gentle nature could indulge in, "Were
you no swan to yours, Dr Thorpe?"

Dr Thorpe's reply disarmed all the enemy's forces.

"Ah, child, I never knew her," the old man said, sadly. "Maybe I had
been a better man had I known a mother."

It was not in Isoult Avery, at least, to respond angrily to such a
speech as that.

Before mid-winter was reached, the swans were increased by one in the
house in the Minories. On the 29th of November, a baby daughter was
born to John and Isoult Avery; and on the 4th of December the child was
christened at Saint Botolph's, Mr Rose officiating. The name given her
was Frances. The sponsors were the Duchess of Suffolk, for whom Mrs
Rose stood proxy; and Lady Frances Monke, whose deputy was Mrs
Underhill; and, last and greatest, the young King, by Sir Humphrey
Ratcliffe, Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners, and a Gospeller. The
mania for asking persons of distinction to stand as sponsors was at its
height during the reigns of the Tudor sovereigns. Every one of them was
godfather or godmother to countless multitudes of his or her subjects,
though they rarely, if ever, acted in person. We shall find on a later
page, that even "the nine days' queen," Lady Jane Grey, was not without
this distinction during her momentary reign.

During the illness of Isoult--for she was so ill that for some days Dr
Thorpe considered her life in danger--the breach, if it may be called
so, with West Ham was made up. Both Mr and Mrs Rose were in constant
attendance at the Minories, and Thekla came with them several times, her
charge being the children, so that Esther might be entirely free to wait
on her sick mistress. The subject was not discussed again, but from
this date, on both sides, it appeared to be quietly taken for granted
that Robin and Thekla henceforward belonged to each other. The
Underhills, too, were very kind, Mrs Underhill undertaking to sit up
with her invalid friend for several nights.

On the 13th of February 1551, Dr Gardiner was fully deprived of his
bishopric. The Gospellers hoped it was for ever, but it will shortly be
seen how deceived they were.

And at Easter the holy table in Saint Paul's