rs are used to such jobs, and if they
be paid they know how to hold their peace and ask no questions. In
Holland the brother will be safer than in any other land. The spite
of the Prior of Chadwater is not like to pursue him there. But here
his life is not safe from hour to hour."

"And how if it comes to be known that thou hast planned this
escape?" asked the lady, a little anxiously.

"I have thought of that too, dame," replied the knight, smiling.
"Let but the good brother be safely out of the country, and whilst
the hue and cry is still going on here after him I will to the king
and tell him all the story. Our pious Dean Colet, who knows Brother
Emmanuel, and knows, too, that it is meet the corrupt practices
that have crept within the pale of Holy Church should be made
known, that they may be swept away and reformed, will stand my
friend, and together we can so persuade his Majesty that even if
the prior and Mortimer both combine to accuse me before him he will
not allow their spite to touch me. The king knows right well that
there is need of amendment within the Church herself. We have heard
words spoken in the Cathedral of London which would be accounted
rank heresy here. There is light abroad which must one day reach to
the ends of the earth, and truly it sometimes seemeth to me that if
the priests, the abbots, and the monks set their faces steadfastly
against this light, they will fall into some terrible pitfall, but
they will never quench the light with their united strength."

The lady gave one quick glance round, as though afraid that even
the walls might have ears, and such sentiments were not those that
it was safe to blazon abroad. But Sir Oliver, strong in the
consciousness of his own deep and abiding love for the Church and
for all the doctrines which she upheld, was bold to speak his mind
in private when the subject broached was the one of corruptions and
abuses which some of the sturdiest and noblest sons of the Church
were now engaged in examining and denouncing, none dreaming of
charging them with heresy on that account.

But the mother had noted the presence of Edred, who had come in
quietly whilst the discussion was going on, and was now standing
listening to his father's words with kindling eyes; and she made a
sign to her husband which caused him to turn round, and then the
boy spoke.

"The horses are ready at the door, father, and Bertram prays that
he may accompany thee. He is donning hi