still continued very weak, and I knew that such a wound as I had
received was not likely to be cured in a hurry. For my own sake, I was
very glad, therefore, when the shores of Essex on one side, and those of
Kent on the other, appeared in sight, and we glided slowly up over the
bosom of old Father Thames. The same breeze carried us along which had
brought us across from Flanders, and at length we cast anchor close to
the Tower.

Here Master Elliot, Sir Thomas Gresham's factor, came on board, and we
delivered over to him the goods we had brought. They were at once
carefully transferred into boats, and carried into the Tower, where Sir
William Cecil had ordered them to be stored. Here, under the
superintendence of Master Elliot, the coin was taken out; neither A'Dale
nor I, however, saw anything of that. Master Elliot, when he heard that
I was wounded, sent a litter, and had me conveyed to Master Gresham's
new house in Bishopsgate Street, which had been built during my absence
from England. Lady Anne had just come up to London, and received me
with especial kindness. She had many inquiries to make, not only about
Sir Thomas, but about her son and Aveline. I was sorry that with a good
conscience I could not give a better account of Richard. She sighed as
she heard my report.

"And my sweet Aveline, how is she?" she asked.

She watched me, I thought, as I replied; and I was afraid of blushing,
and betraying certain feelings which had long been agitating my bosom.
I was soon sufficiently recovered to attend the dinner-table, at which
Master Elliot, in his employer's absence, presided. Among the guests,
much to my satisfaction, I found Captain Rover, as well as Captain Davis
who had brought us over. The latter told me that, after a few slight
repairs, he should be ready again to sail, and to convey A'Dale and me
back to Antwerp. I learnt also from Captain Rover somewhat about the
numerous countries he had visited. He had been, I found, many years
from England in command of his ship, which belonged to a company of
merchant adventurers, in which company Sir Thomas Gresham had a share.
He had been acquainted with Sir Thomas from his youth, having always
sailed in ships either belonging to him, or to those with whom he was
connected.

On parting from Lady Anne, she gave me many charges with regard to her
son Richard.

"And above all things," she said, "remember you bring him and Aveline
ere long back to me in