It was in one of these excursions he chanced to en-> counter Sibil; and struck by the alteration in her counte nance, as well as softened by his own misfortunes, he for the first time since her marriage forgot his offended dignity, even condescending so far as to inquire after Hubert.. But one object alone engrossed her attention-the fate of Alice, of whom no tidings had been heard; and it was not long ere she poured the whole tale into the ear of her not unwilling listener. Now, as Alice Sherwin, from the time when a child he had placed her on the neck of the cardinal's mule, had ever been a favourite with the poor jester, he took the greatest interest in Sibil's recital, though his tongue was padlocked by more than one weighty reason. Amongst his other peculiarities, there never was fire or riot, of which he could obtain an inkling, but he would thrust himself into the very midst; hence his appearance at the Green Gate on Evil May-day, and hence it chanced that he had not only witnessed the destruction of Dame Sherwin's house, but, with the restless inquisitiveness of his nature, had actually tracked the depredatorsi to their destination, though without a suspicion as to the nature of the burden they had appeared so anxious to conceal, But the scene at Greenwich, and the king's threats, still haunted him like a nightmare; and Patch, between his wish to relieve Sibil's mind and his dread of the consequences of his indiscretion, screwed his lips together, put up his finger, stood first on one foot, then on another, in short, presented so grotesque a figure of indecision, that his companion, convinced he knew more than he was willing to disclose, endeavoured by coaxing, and even by tears, to obtain his confidence. "It may not be, sweetheart," he exclaimed with dig-, nity; "thou mayst reserve thy persuasions for Hubert Betts; content thee, I have some knowledge of this matter, and give me but the end of a thread, and it will go hard but I unravel the whole tangle. Yet," he continued,, with a sigh, "having been lately preferred to the king's. service, I have the usual favour which wise men ever accord to novelties; therefore myself and playfellow Sommers will so beset his grace, that doubt not every chamber of that thieves' den shall be ransacked and spoiled, an Meautys-" "Then she is in the Green Gate!" shrieked Sibil, whilst Patch stood aghast at having betrayed himself, though how he could not very readily discover. "This will be better than all the craft of the leech to perfect Sir Aubrey's cure. Hie thee to the king, good Patch, and stir his highness in our behalf; though, as the movements of the great are somewhat slow, it were better have out the trainbands at once." "Well," said the jester, bitterly, "methinks wisdom will outstrip folly in the race. Sir John Meautys is too old a fox to be caught sleeping; he must be trapped, girl; an if thou art prudent, and wilt trust this matter to me, I can obtain speech of pretty Alice before two days are well passed, and will so represent the affair to his highness, through the medium of Mistress Boleyn, as will cause him to throw no hindrance in our way." As Sibil had nothing better to propose, she hastened to impart the intelligence to Dame Agnes, who was, for the present, her guest; whilst the jester, by the advice of his colleague, lost no time in placing before Anne Boleyn the prospect of so fair a rival, though even from her they carefully concealed the place of Alice's confinement. The jealousy of the haughty favourite was aroused. It was Henry's custom to while away an occasional hour at chess, and on the present occasion she took care to dismiss all her attendants save Margaret. "How like you the fashion of that board, Nan?" inquired the king, laying his hand on the cheques of gold and crystal. "It was amongst the treasures of York House, and the pieces are said to be Cellini's masterstrokes." Anne pouted, and turned her eyes disdainfully from a queen whose crown of small diamonds constituted her least value; then sweeping all the men into a case of green velvet, rose from the table, and declared her intention of playing no more. "Why, what ails thee, wench?" inquired the king. "We thought the baubles would pleasure thee; they are toys fit for an empress, and were given to my lord cardinal by the French king's sister." "When I have lost your grace's affection your gifts avail but little," she replied, holding her handkerchief to her eyes. "Nay," said the monarch good-humouredly, "I never affected you more than now, as Katherine and my lord of York can testify to their cost. What crotchet hast got into thy head, sweetheart?" "Ask her," exclaimed Anne, pointing to Margaret; "ask that girl, whose eyes are red with weeping the loss of a sister carried off by your highness's commands." 66 By the mass, it is a lie!" vociferated the king; then suddenly recollecting his conversation with Sir Miles Partridge, he inquired, in a somewhat lower tone, "Art thou the sister of Alice Sherwin ?" The trembling Margaret sank on her knees, and sobbed forth an affirmative; whilst Henry, wroth with the knight for his imprudence, and vexed that the fancy he had sought to gratify should come to the ears of his termagant mistress, indulged in a string of invectives against Sir Miles, the unoffending Alice, and even Margaret herself, who, pale as death, remained prostrate in the centre of the apartment, until Sommers, who, at the sound of Henry's voice, had entered unannounced, exclaimed with his usual air of indifference, "Nay, gossip Henry, even I had not thus chafed about a trifle, and so near the serving of the evening meal, too; there will be work for Dr. Butts tomorrow." "I am in no mood for thy quips, knave,” said the king sternly; "thou shalt to the whipping-post and learn manners, Master Will." "By your leave," said the jester, "that were neither kingly nor wise; let me crack this nut, since it seems overhard for your grinders." "Crack what thou wilt," answered his master, secretly hoping to be extricated from the difficulty. "Then if the damsel wants none of you, it is plain you want none of her; so scrawl me an order to her jailer, gossip, and we'll set the matter right in an inkling." "Thou shalt have it," said the king, though the remembrance of the promise he had made Sir Miles regarding Edith la Warre recurred not very pleasingly to his mind. "God's death! should harm befall the wench, I should have my sister Mary's tongue outwag thine, sweetheart, and that is saying much." "Her grace arrived yesterday at Suffolk House," interposed Sommers, following up his advantage. Anne coloured, for Mary's influence over her brother she knew it was vain to hope to undermine; but although she endeavoured to recover her temper, a cloud was thrown over the party which was not dispelled for the remainder of the evening. 239 CHAPTER XX. "Hope not, though all that captivates the wise, At fairest worth still point their deadly rays." Beattie. NOTWITHSTANDING their habitual resignation to the divine will, there was a universal gloom throughout the community of Our Lady of the Salutation; for Prior Batmore was sick,-Brother Peter said, sick unto death, and Brother Peter was no mean authority. None, probably, felt this more acutely than Father John Houghton; for the fervent zeal and unaffected piety of his superior had endeared him to one who, possessing the same qualities, was capable of appreciating them in others. With a sad countenance and sinking heart he now stood beside the hard pallet of the Carthusian, vainly endeavouring to persuade him to allow himself some addition to the single blanket permitted by the rule. But although the teeth of the aged monk chattered, and his whole frame shook with ague, he paid little attention to the remonstrances of the anxious procurator, his eyes being so eagerly fixed on his companion, that he almost seemed to watch every word that fell from his mouth. "Nay, holy father," said Sir Thomas More, for it was no other, "believe me, this chancellorship, which I neither 'sought after nor wished for, is a heavy burden laid upon my back, the more grievous, as I know the magnitude of the charge, and the few means I have to make it good; the weight is unsuitable to my weak shoulders, the honour befitteth not my poor deserts; it is a labour, not a glorya care, not a dignity; but since it is my duty diligently to correspond with the munificence of his highness, I must |