s an old room looking on to the garden, scantily furnished, with a
patch of carpet by the window and a table and chair set upon it. More
turned round from the window-seat on which he was kneeling to look out,
and smiled genially as Ralph heard the servant close the door.

"Why, Mr. Torridon, are you in trouble too? This is the detention-room
whither I am sent to consider myself."

He led Ralph, still holding his hand, to the window-seat, where he
leaned again looking eagerly into the garden.

"There go the good boys," he said, "to and fro in the playground; and
here sit I. I suppose I have nothing but the rod to look for."

Ralph felt a little awkward in the presence of this gaiety; and for a
minute or two leaned out beside More, staring mechanically at the
figures that passed up and down. He had expected almost to find him at
his prayers, or at least thoughtfully considering himself.

More commented agreeably on the passers-by.

"Dr. Wilson was here a moment ago; but he is off now, with a man on
either side. He too is a naughty fellow like myself, and will not listen
to reason. There is the Vicar of Croydon, good man, coming out of the
buttery wiping his mouth."

Ralph looked down at the priest's flushed excited face; he was talking
with a kind of reckless gaiety to a friend who walked beside him.

"He was sad enough just now," went on the other, "while he was still
obstinate; but his master hath patted him on the head now and given him
cake and wine. He was calling out for a drink just now (which he hath
got, I see) either for gladness or for dryness, or else that we might
know _quod ille notus erat pontifici_."

Dr. Latimer passed presently, his arms on either side flung round a
priest's neck; he too was talking volubly and laughing; and the skirts
of his habit wagged behind him.

"He is in high feather," said More, "and I have no doubt that his
conscience is as clear as his eyes. Come, Mr. Torridon; sit you down.
What have you come for?"

Ralph sat back on the window-seat with his back to the light, and his
hat between his knees.

"I came to see you, sir; I have not been to the Commissioners. I heard
you were here."

"Why, yes," said More, "here I am."

"I came to see if I could be of any use to you, Master More; I know a
friend's face is a good councillor sometimes, even though that friend be
a fool."

More patted him softly on the knee.

"No fool," he said, "far from it."

He looked at him so