ices, and even Mistress Headley wore
an air of amazement.

"Mother," said the head of the family, speaking loud enough for all to
hear, "you will permit our young kinsman to be placed as our guest this
evening. To-morrow he will act as an apprentice, as we all have done in
our time."

"I never did so at home!" cried Giles, in his loud, hasty voice.

"I trow not," dryly observed one of the guests.

Giles, however, went on muttering while the priest was pronouncing a
Latin grace, and thereupon the same burgess observed, "never did I see
it better proved that folk in the country give their sons no good
breeding."

"Have patience with him, good Master Pepper," returned Mr Headley. "He
hath been an only son, greatly cockered by father, mother, and sisters,
but ere long he will learn what is befitting."

Giles glared round, but he met nothing encouraging. Little Dennet sat
with open mouth of astonishment, her grandmother looked shocked, the
household which had been aggrieved by his presumption laughed at his
rebuke, for there was not much delicacy in those days; but something
generous in the gentle blood of Ambrose moved him to some amount of pity
for the lad, who thus suddenly became conscious that the tie he had
thought nominal at Salisbury, a mere preliminary to municipal rank, was
here absolute subjection, and a bondage whence there was no escape. His
was the only face that Giles met which had any friendliness in it, but
no one spoke, for manners imposed silence upon youth at table, except
when spoken to; and there was general hunger enough prevailing to make
Mistress Headley's fat capon the most interesting contemplation for the
present.

The elders conversed, for there was much for Master Headley to hear of
civic affairs that had passed in his absence of two months, also of all
the comings and goings, and it was ascertained that my Lord Archbishop
of York was at his suburban abode, York House, now Whitehall.

It was a very late supper for the times, not beginning till seven
o'clock, on account of the travellers; and as soon as it was finished,
and the priest and burghers had taken their leave, Master Headley
dismissed the household to their beds, although daylight was scarcely
departed.

CHAPTER SIX.

A SUNDAY IN THE CITY.

"The rod of Heaven has touched them all,
The word from Heaven is spoken
Rise, shine and sing, thou captive thrall,
Are not thy fetters broken!"
Keble.

On Sunday