for ever. And "because He liveth, we shall
live also." If He could die again, then might we. But He dieth no
more, having died once for us; and we that believe in Him, He having
died in our stead, can never die the second death. He hath abolished
death, as well for His Church as for Himself: He that is the Living One
for evermore holdeth the keys of Hell and of death. And for this cause,
even the natural death, not one can suffer except by His permission. Mr
Rose bade his hearers not to fall into the blunder that evil men held
their lives in their hands. "Christ hath the keys, not they. If they
be suffered to take our lives away, it is because we have ended our
work, and He calleth us home to Him. And what child ever went home from
school that went not gladly, except indeed he had an ill home? Let us
not bring up an evil report of that good Land, by unwillingness to go
Home." Coming back, they found Dr Thorpe returned, and talking with
Thekla.

"She is the manliest woman ever I saw in all my life!" cried he.

Thekla made no answer, except a smile; but it disappeared as soon as she
saw her friends, and coming forward, she began to talk in a low tone
with Robin.

"There is small praise for somebody," said John. "Who is it--my Lady
Elizabeth's Grace?"

"Even so," replied Dr Thorpe.

"Well, and how went the matter?" said he.

"Why," he answered, "they took her in at the drawbridge by the Traitor's
Gate. And, the barge arrived there, my Lord Treasurer sent my Lord of
Sussex to desire her Grace to land. `Nay, that will I not,' quo' she.
Nor could she, in very deed, unless she had gone into the water over her
shoe. My Lord of Sussex then went back from her to my Lord Treasurer,
and brought word that she would not come. Then said my Lord Treasurer
roughly, `She shall not choose.' And all this while sat she in the
rain. So my Lord Treasurer stepped forward and did proffer his cloak
for her to tread on. Then up rose my Lady Elizabeth, and put back my
Lord Treasurer's cloak with her hand, with a good dash. And setting her
foot upon the stair, she saith stoutly, `Here landeth the truest
subject, being a prisoner, that ever landed at these stairs.' To whom
my Lord Treasurer--`So much the better for you, Madam.' So in went she,
as manly as ever did man; and Sir John Gage shut up the gates upon her.
She hath the stoutest stomach ever I saw. If all the men were hanged
through England, there should be yet