s girl as a Catholic, and thence infers that we are
all of us Christians in this house! For, if her Majesty asks her what
she has learned during the eight years she has been with us, what
answer can she give with all her discretion, poor timid girl, that will
not condemn us?"

"Be under no fear on that account, dear lady," said Isabella; "for I
trust in the divine goodness and mercy of Heaven, that it will put such
words into my mouth as will not only not condemn you, but redound to
your advantage."

Richard trembled as if he foreboded some calamity. Clotald cast about
for some encouragement to allay his grievous fears, and found none but
in his great trust in God and in the prudence of Isabella, whom he
earnestly entreated to try in every possible way to avoid convicting
them of being Catholics; for, though their spirits were willing to
encounter martyrdom, yet their flesh was weak and recoiled from the
bitter trial. Isabella assured them over and over again that they might
set their minds at rest; what they apprehended should not befal them
through her instrumentality; for though she knew not then what answer
she should make to the questions that should be put to her on the
morrow, she had a lively and confident hope that she would reply in such
a manner as would be for their good.

Many were the comments and surmises they made that night on this
unwelcome incident, and especially it occurred to them that, if the
Queen knew they were Catholics, she would not have sent them so mild a
message; it seemed reasonable to infer from it, that she only desired to
see Isabella, the fame of whose incomparable beauty and accomplishments,
known to every one in the capital, must have reached her Majesty's ears.
Clotald and his wife confessed to themselves, however, that they had
done wrong in not presenting her at court, and they thought the best
excuse they could make for this, was to say that ever since she had come
into their hands, they had destined her to be the wife of their son. But
even this would be acknowledging themselves culpable, since it would
appear that they arranged the marriage without the Queen's leave; but
such an offence would probably not incur any severe punishment. In this
way, they comforted themselves, and they resolved that Isabella should
not be dressed humbly like a prisoner, but in rich bridal attire, such
as became the betrothed of a gentleman of importance Ike their son.
Next day accordingly they