"I would fain hear thy thought hereon, Jack," said his wife, "for methinks I do see in Robin his manner that this is no lad's fantasy only, as Dr Thorpe did suppose, but a set purpose, that must be fairly faced, and said yea or nay to."

"We must not forget, dear heart," was John's answer, "that though we are unto him in place of elders [parents], Robin is truly his own master, even afore he be of full age. He is not our ward in law, neither in articles nor apprenticeship; and he hath but himself to please. And even were we to let [hinder] him now (when I doubt not his natural kindly and obedient feeling for us should cause him to a.s.sent thereto), yet bethink thee that in a year and an half, when he cometh to his mature age, he shall be at liberty in every way. There be many husbands in the realm younger than he; and truly, I see no way but leaving him to his will, so soon only as we can be satisfied that it is no mere pa.s.sing fantasy that swayeth him, but that his heart and mind are verily set and engaged therein. Remember, we have no right over him; and think yet again, that his choice (so far as I am able to judge) is a thorough good one. I see not what else may be done."

"But he did refer him unto our judgment by asking me thereon," said Isoult.

"Truth," he answered; "wherein he showed his own judgment and wisdom, and himself to be a good and gentle lad, as he is alway. The more reason, sweet heart, that our judgment should be gracious, and should lean unto his wishes, so far as we may in right dealing and love unto himself consent thereto. And in good sooth, I see no cause for dissent."

"Then," said Isoult, somewhat surprised, though she scarcely knew why she should have expected any other decision, "thou wilt speak unto Mr Rose?"

"Certainly," said he, "if Robin desire it."

"And we really shall have a wedding!" said Isoult.

"I said not that, dear heart," answered John, smiling.

"Mr Rose may refuse consent; or were he to give it, methinks I should allgates [at all events] move (wherein I would look for Rose to agree with me) that it should not be by and bye [immediately]; but to wait until Robin be fairly settled in his calling."

The calling which Robin had chosen was holy orders. He was studying divinity, and Bishop Ridley had already promised to ordain him when he should arrive at the proper age, if he were satisfied as to his fitness on examination. Mr Rose directed his reading--a fact which had caused him to be thrown rather more into Thekla's society than he might otherwise have been, in his frequent visits to West Ham, and occasional waiting required when the Vicar happened to be absent. "But, Jack!"

cried Isoult, with a sudden pang of fear, "supposing that the King were to die issueless (as G.o.d defend!) and the Lady Mary to come in, and set up again the ma.s.s, and--"

"And the b.l.o.o.d.y Statute," he answered, reading her thought. "Then we should have a second Walter Mallet."

"And Thekla to be Grace!" murmured Isoult, her voice faltering. "O Jack, that were dreadful! Could we do nought to let it?"

"Yes," he said in a constrained tone. "We might do two things to let it. Either to hinder their marriage, or to let Robin from receiving orders."

"But thinkest thou we ought so?"

"I think, sweet wife," answered he, tenderly, "that we ought to follow G.o.d's leading. He can let either; and if He see it best, whether for Robin or for Thekla, that will He. But for myself, I do confess I am afeard of handling His rod. I dare not walk unless I see Him going afore. And here, beloved, I see not myself that He goeth afore, except to bid us leave things take their course. Dost thou?"

"I see nothing," she answered; "I feel blind and in a maze touching it all."

"Then," said he, "let us 'tarry the Lord's leisure.'"

It was finally settled between John and Isoult that the former should see Mr Rose after the evening service on the following Sunday, when he was to preach at Bow Church, and speak to him on the subject of Robin and Thekla. So after the service they all returned home but John; and though no one told Robin why he stayed behind, Isoult fancied from the lad's face that he guessed the cause. It was a long time before John's return. Isoult dismissed Esther to bed, determining to wait herself; and with some indistinct observation about "young folk that could turn night into day," Dr Thorpe took up his candle and trudged up-stairs also. Robin sat on; and Isoult had not the heart to say anything to him; for she saw that his thoughts were at Bow Church, not occupied with the copy of Latimer's sermon on the Plough, which lay open before him.

At last John came, with a slow, even step, from which his wife augured ill before he entered the room. He smiled when he saw Robin still there.

"Ill news, Father!" said Robin. "You need not to tell me."

"Thou art a sely prophet, lad," answered John, kindly. "At this time I have no news at all for thee, neither good nor ill, only that Mr Rose giveth no absolute nay, and doth but undertake to think upon the matter, and discourse with Mrs Rose. Is that such ill news, trow?"

"Thank you," answered Robin in a low voice. "You did your best, I know.

Good-night."

And he lifted his candle and departed. But Isoult thought the lad looked sad and disappointed; and she was sorry for him.

"Well, Jack, how spedst thou?" said she, when Robin was gone.

"Ah, grandmother Eva!" replied Jack, smiling. "Wouldst know all?"

"Now, Jack!" said she, "flout me not for my womanly curiosity, but tell me. I am but a woman."

"Pure truth, dear heart," answered he, yet smiling. "Well, I had to await a short s.p.a.ce, for I found Thekla with her father, and I could not open the matter afore her. So at last I prayed her of leave [asked her to go] (seeing no other way to be rid of her), for I would speak with Mr Rose privily. Then went she presently away, and I brake Robin's matter."

"And what said he?"

"He looked more amazed than thou; and trust me that was no little."

"But what said he?" repeated Isoult.

"He said he had never thought touching the marriage of Thekla, for he looked thereon until now as a thing afar off, like as we of Robin. But (quoth he) he did suppose in all likelihood she should leave him sometime, if G.o.d willed it thus; but it should be sore when it came.

And the water stood in his eyes."

"Looked he thereon kindly or no, thinkest?"

"I am somewhat doubtful," and John dropped his voice, "though I would not say so much to Robin, whether or no he looketh kindly on her marrying at all. Thou wist, sweet heart, for thou heardst him to say so much,--that he hath some thought that there shall yet be great persecution in this land, and that Gospellers shall (in a worldly and temporal sense) come but ill off. And to have Thekla wife unto a priest--I might see it liked him very evil for her sake. Yet he dimitted it not lightly, but pa.s.sed word to talk it over with his wife: but he said he would never urge Thekla to wed any, contrariwise unto her own fantasy."

The Monday morning brought Mrs Rose. Isoult felt glad, when she saw her, that John had taken Robin with him to Westminster. The two ladies had a long private conference in Isoult's closet or boudoir. Mrs Rose evidently was not going to stand in the way; she rather liked the proposed match. She had strongly urged her husband to tell Thekla, which, against his own judgment, he had at last consented to do. For Thekla's mother regarded her as a marvel of wisdom and discretion, while her father, being himself a little wiser, thought less of her wonderful powers, though he admitted that she was very sensible--for her years.

"She is a good child--Thekla," said Mrs Rose, in her foreign manner; "a good child--but she dreameth too much. She is not for the life, rather a dreamer. She would read a great book each day sooner than to spin.

But she doth the right; she knoweth that she must to spin, and she spin.

But she carrieth her thoughts up a great way off, into strange gear whither I cannot follow. See you, Mistress Avery, how I would say? I, I am a plain woman: I make the puddings, I work the spinning--and I love the work. Thekla, she only work the spinning and make the puddings, because she must to do it. She will do the right, alway, but she will not love the work."

Isoult quite understood her, and so she told her.

"She do not come after me in her liking," pursued she, "rather it is her father. And it is very good, very good to read the great books, and look at the stars, and to talk always of what the great people do, and of what mean the prophet by this, and the saint by that: but for me it is too much. I do not know what the great people should do. I make my puddings. The great people must go their own way. They not want my pudding, and I not want their great things. But Thekla and Mr Rose are both so good! Only, when they talk together, they sit both of them on the top of my head; I am down beneath, doing my spinning."

Nothing more was heard until Wednesday. Then, before Isoult was down in the morning, having apparently risen at some unearthly hour, Mr Rose presented himself, and asked for John. The two went out of doors together, to Robin's deep concern, and not much less to Isoult's, for she had her full share of womanly curiosity in an innocent way.

At last she saw them come up the street, in earnest conversation. And as John turned in at the door (for Mr Rose would not follow) she heard him say almost mournfully, "Alack! then there is no likelihood thereof.

Good morrow!"

"Not the least," Mr Rose replied; and then away he went down the street.

"An augury of evil!" murmured Robin, under his breath.

"What dost thou with evil this morrow, Robin?" asked John, cheerily, coming into the room. "Be of good cheer, dear lad; the Lord sitteth above all auguries, and hath granted thee the desire of thine heart."

Robin rose, and the light sprang to his eyes.

"Thekla Rose," pursued John, "seeth no good cause why she should not change her name to Tremayne. But bide a minute, Robin, man; thou art not to be wed to-morrow morning. Mr Rose addeth a condition which I doubt not shall stick in thy throat."

"What?" said Robin, turning round, for he was on his way to leave the room.

"But this," said John, lightly, "that will soon be over. Ye are not to wed for three years."

Robin's face fell with a look as blank as though it had been thirty years.