e cutting clothes-pegs; Margaret was ironing
clothes. Thurston rose when he saw the priest, and both received him
reverently.

Feeling that her best chance of escaping the priest was to proceed
immediately, Rose drew Margaret aside, and told her what her mother had
said; but Margaret, who was rather fond of talking, had something to say
too, and the precious minutes slid by. Meanwhile the priest and
Thurston went on with their conversation: and at last Rose, saying she
really could not stay any longer, bade them good-bye, and went out. But
just as Margaret was opening the door to let her out, Sir Thomas said a
few words in reply to Thurston, which Rose could not but overhear.

"Oh, Master Clere is a worthy man enough. If he hath gone somewhat
astray in times past, that shall now be amended. Mistress Cicely, too,
is an honest woman that wist how to do her duty. All shall be well
there. I trust, John Thurston, that thou shalt show thyself as wise and
well ruled as he."

Rose heard no more. She passed out into the night, and ran nearly all
the way home.

"Why, Rose, how breathless art thou, maid!" said the other when she came
in.

"Well I may, Mother!" cried Rose. "There is evil ahead for us, and that
not a little. Father Tye overtook me as I came back, and would know of
me why we had not been to mass these eight Sundays; and I staved him
off, and prayed him to ask of you. And, Mother, he saith Master Clere
the draper, though he have gone somewhat astray, is now returned to his
duty, and you wot what that meaneth. And I am feared for us, and Bessy
too."

"The good Lord have mercy on us!" said Alice Mount.

"Amen!" responded William Mount gravely. "But it had best be such mercy
as He will, Alice, not such as we would. On one matter I am resolved--I
will sign no more submissions. I fear we have done it once too often."

"O Father, I'm so fain to hear you say it!" cried Rose.

"Art thou so, daughter?" he answered a little sadly. "Have a care thy
quick tongue bring thee not into more trouble than need be. Child, to
refuse that submission may mean a fiery death. And we may not--we must
not--shrink from facing death for Him who passed through death for us.
Lord, grant us Thy grace to stand true!"

And William Mount stood up with uncovered head, and looked up, as we all
do instinctively when we speak to Him who dwelleth in the heavens.

"Who hath abolished death!" was the soft response of Alice.