wert an
ass, but I did not think thee unfaithful. Why didst not give my
message?"

There were tears in Dorothy's eyes.

"Mistress," said she, "forgive me, but I will not help you to run into
trouble, though you're sore set to do it. It shall serve no good
purpose to keep your name for ever before the eyes of Master Commissary
and his fellows. Do, pray, let them forget you. You'll ne'er be safe,
an' you thrust yourself forward thus."

"Safe! Bless the woman! I leave the Lord to see to my safety. I've no
care but to get His work done."

"Well, then He's the more like to have a care of you; but, Mistress,
won't you let Dorothy Denny try to see to you a bit too?"

"Thou'rt a good maid, Doll, though I'm a bit sharp on thee at times; and
thou knows thou art mortal slow. Howbeit, tell me, what is come of
those children? If they be in good hands, I need not trouble."

"Ursula Felstede has them, Mistress, till the Black Nuns of Hedingham
shall fetch them away."

"Ursula Felstede! `Unstable as water.' That for Ursula Felstede.
Black Nuns shall not have 'em while Philippa Wade's above ground. I
tell thee, Dorothy, wherever those little ones go, the Lord's blessing
'll go with them. Dost mind what David saith? `I have been young, and
now am old; and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging their bread.' And I want them, maid,--part because I feel for
the little ones, and part because I want the blessing. Why, that poor
little Cicely 'll be crying her bits of eyes out to part with `Father.'
Doll, I'll go down this even, if I may find leisure, to Ursula Felstede,
and see if I cannot win her to give me the children. I shall tell her
my mind first, as like as not: and much good may it do her! But I'll
have a try for 'em--I will."

"Folks saith, Mistress, the prisoners be in as good case as may be:
always reading and strengthening one another, and praising God."

"I'm fain to hear it, Dorothy. Ah, they be not the worst off in this
town. If the Lord were to come to judge the earth this even, I'd a deal
liefer be one of them in the Moot Hall than be of them that have them in
charge. I marvel He comes not. If he had been a man and not God, He'd
have been down many a time afore now."

About six o'clock on a hot July evening, Ursula Felstede heard a tap at
her door.

"Come in! O Mistress Wade, how do you do? Will you sit? I'm sure
you're very welcome," said Ursula, in some confusion.