his quiet way.

"Which?" replied Mr Underhill. "Why, my Lord had but one son of his own
name."

"No had?" said John. "I thought he had two."

"What mean you, Jack Avery?" said Mr Underhill.

"I know well what he meaneth," answered Mr Rose. "It was the worst blot
on my Lord of Somerset's life. I trust he did repent thereof ere God
called him."

"I was thinking," said John, in a low voice, "of one Katherine Folliott,
an humble violet plucked from her mossy bed, and after, flung withering
away to reach a peony."

"A black-thorn rather, if you would picture her complexion," suggested
Dr Thorpe.

"What, the Duke's first wife?" answered Mr Underhill. "Why, man! the
whole world hath forgot her!"

"So did himself," responded John.

"I see," said Mr Underhill. "You think, all, that my Lord did wickedly
in divorcing of her, in order to wed the great heir of the Stanhopes.
Well, it may be so: but, my word for it! he had leisure for repentance.
I would not lightly have been my Lady Duchess her lackey, much less her
lord."

"Well!" answered John, "I meant not to speak ill of the dead; surely not
of one whom I do hope and believe that God hath pardoned and taken to
Himself. I did but signify the very thing I did ask--to wit, which of
the Edwards had been create Earl of Herts."

"The son of the Lady Anne Stanhope, of course!" said Mr Underhill.

"It might have been more just and righteous," pursued John, "had it been
the son of Katherine Folliott. It may be that his last thought in this
world, just ere the axe slid down, was of that woeful wrong he never
could right more. Alas for men's hearts in this wicked world! and yet
rather, alas for men's consciences! Well, God forgive us all!"

At two o'clock on the morning of the 14th, forth sallied all, and
trudged amongst a moving crush of men and women to Annis' lodging, where
she and Don Juan willingly gave them standing-room with themselves at
their two windows. John lifted Frances on his shoulder, where, said he,
she should have the best sight of all; and Walter was perched upon a
high chair in the window. Kate stood below, in front of her father.
Her Majesty sat in a rich chariot, covered with crimson velvet,
splendidly attired, and a canopy was borne over her head by knights.
Many pageants and gifts were offered to her; but one must not be left
untold, which is that a copy of the English Bible was given to her at
the Little Conduit in Cheapside, and she, r