seas, notwithstanding his fever, but good-will would not
serve him, so little is he skilled in such matters. Our other friends are
over old, or forced to stay in Nuremberg. Thus do matters stand. What
then is left to us--to Ann and me, Grandmother? I ask you--what, save to
act on our first and only wise intent? And that which it is our part to
do, which we may not put off one day longer than we need, is to take
ship, under the grace of the Blessed Virgin, and ourselves to carry fresh
courage to those who are nearest and dearest to us. Of a truth I am but
an orphaned maid; my lover and my guardian are both dead; and yet do I
not fear to depart for a land beyond seas; true and faithful love is the
guiding-star which shall lead us, and we have seen in Ann how true is the
Apostle's saying that love conquereth all things. Any creature who stands
straight on a pair of strong legs, and who is sound in soul and body, and
who looks up to Heaven and trusts in God's grace with joyful assurance,
even if it be but a weak maiden, may rescue a fellow-creature in need;
and I, thank God, am sound and whole. Nay, and I will even pledge my word
that I will tear asunder the subtlest web which Ursula may spin, in
especial if I have Ann's keen wit to aid me. So I will go forth, and
away, through frost and snow, to find my brethren; and if his pains keep
Kubbeling at home in spite of his catskins, and if Master Ulsenius should
forbid Eppelein to ride so far, yet will we find some other to be our
faithful squire."

And with this I drew a deep breath; and when I turned to seek Ann, with a
lighter heart, to the end that she should signify her consent, on a
sudden me seemed as though the floor of the chamber rose up beneath my
feet, and I was nigh falling, by reason that the fine hangings which hid
the Cardinal's chamber from my eyes were drawn asunder, and a tall man,
tanned brown by the sun, came forth, and said in a deep voice: "Wilt thou
trust these hands, Margery? They are ready and willing to serve thee
faithfully."

Hereupon a cry of joy broke from me: "Gotz," and again "Gotz!"

And albeit meseemed as though the walls, and tables, and chairs were
whirling round me, and as though the ceiling, nay and the blue sky above
it had yawned above me, yet I fell not, but hastened to meet this
new-comer, and grasped his kind, strong hand.

Yet was not this all; or ever I was rightly aware how it befell, he had
clasped me in his arms, and I was lea