t it?"

"You!" cried Avery, in a voice of astonishment, which Mr Holland
understood to imply the reverse of flattery.

"Upon my word, you are no losenger!" [flatterer] saith he. "Have I two
heads, or four legs, that you think no maid should have me? or is my
temper so hot that you count I shall lead her a dog's life? or what see
you in me, body or soul, to make you cry out in that fashion?"

"Nay, man," replied John, laughing, "thou art a proper man enough, and
as tall of thy hands as any in Aldersgate; and for thy temper, a dove
were crabbed in comparison. I did but think thou wert wedded to thy
cloths and thy napery."

"You thought I took counsel of velvet, and solaced myself with
broidery!" laughed Mr Holland. "Nay, friend; when I take a wife, I will
not wed a piece of Lincoln green."

"And who, pray you, is the bride?"

"Why, Avery, I had thought you should have guessed that without asking.
Who should it be, but mine old and true friend, Bessy Lake?"

"Then I give you joy," said John, "for you have chosen well."

Mr Holland's wedding took place at the Church of Saint Giles
Cripplegate, in August [it was in the first year of Queen Mary; exact
date unknown]. Bessy Lake, the bride, proved a very gentle,
amiable-looking woman, not pretty, but not unpleasing, and by at least
ten years the senior of her bridegroom. After the ceremony, the wedding
party repaired to Mr Holland's house. Mr Rose was present, with his
wife and Thekla; and Mr Ferris; and Mr Ive and Helen, who brought Mrs
Underhill's three elder little girls, Anne, Christian, and Eleanor.
Augustine Bernher did not appear until after dinner. Mrs Rose and
Isoult had a little quiet conversation; the former was still looking
forward to further troubles, and plainly thought Mr Holland was courting
sorrow.

"But thank God he is not a priest!" she said; and the tears rose to her
eyes.

Meanwhile, John and Mr Rose were engaged in their private discourse. It
was settled between them that the same day, two years later--August
20th, 1555--should be the date fixed, before which, if Robin should not
have been ordained, he should give up the expectation of it, and marry
Thekla. Mr Holland, being taken into confidence, not only expressed his
sense of the wisdom of this arrangement, but at once offered, if Robin
wished it, to receive him without premium. This part of the subject,
however, was left for future decision.

Helen Ive brought word from Mrs Un