he peasantry, but little cuffs of crape
show how, in all her poverty, she had endeavoured to maintain some
semblance to a garb of mourning. The man, whose age might be fifty-seven
or eight, is tall, powerfully built, and although encumbered by the long
dress of a friar, shows in every motion that he is still possessed
of considerable strength and activity. The closely cut hair over his
forehead and temples gives something of coarseness to the character of
his round full head; but his eyes are mild and gentle-looking, and there
is an unmistakable good-nature in his large and thick-lipped mouth.

If there is an air of deference to his companion in the way he seats
himself a little distance from the 'brazier,' there is, more markedly
still, a degree of tender pity in the look that he bestows on her.

'I want to read you the petition, Mrs. Mary,' said he, drawing a small
scroll of paper from his pocket, and unfolding it before the light.
''Tis right you'd hear it, and see if there's anything you 'd like
different--anything mispleasing you, or that you 'd wish left out.' She
sighed heavily, but made no answer. He waited for a second or two,
and then resumed: ''Tisn't the like of me--a poor friar, ignorant as I
am--knows well how to write a thing of the kind, and, moreover, to one
like _him_; but maybe the time's coming when you 'll have grander and
better friends.'

'Oh, no! no!' cried she passionately; 'not better, Fra Luke--not better;
that they can never be.'

'Well, well, better able to serve you,' said he, as though ashamed that
any question of himself should have intruded into the discussion; 'and
that they may easily be. But here's the writing; and listen to it now,
for it must be all copied out to-night, and ready for to-morrow morning.
The cardinal goes to him at eleven. There's to be some grandees from
Spain, and maybe Portugal, at twelve. The Scottish lords come after
that; and then Kelly tells me he 'll see any that likes, and that has
letters or petitions to give him. That's the time for us, then; for ye
see, Kelly doesn't like to give it himself: he doesn't know what the
Prince would say, and how he 'd take it; and, natural enough, he 'd not
wish to lose the favour he's in by any mistake. That's the word he said,
and sure enough it sounded a strange one for helping a friend and a
countrywoman; so that I must contrive to go myself, and God's my judge,
if I wouldn't rather face a drove of the wild cattle out t