hey take him over seas?"

"In your ear, then," said he. "To Calais, to Mr Stevens, whence he
shall be passed again through France, until he reach Geneva."

"Then I go thither," answered she.

"Softly, Mrs Rose!" said Austin, doubtfully. "You must not, methinks,
stir out of the realm; a great mischief might ensue. They should guess
presently that whither you went would he go."

"But what can I do?" she said plaintively.

"`Wait on the Lord,'" softly answered Isoult.

July brought a little respite to the horrible slaughter. In the
beginning of August, came Austin, and with him Mr Underhill.

"There is somewhat merry news from Norwich," cried Mr Underhill. "My
Lord the Bishop, returned thither, summons Rose afore his saintly
presence: who is no whither to be found. Whereupon my Lord sendeth for
a wizard, and in his holiness biddeth him consult with the infernal
powers touching the whereabout of the prisoner. Who answereth that Rose
is gone over the water, and is in keeping of a woman. Wherein he spake
sooth, though maybe he knew it not; for Rose at that very minute lay
hidden in the mean cottage of a certain godly woman, and had to ford
more rivers than one to win thither. So my Lord the Bishop, when he
gets his answer of the Devil, flieth at the conclusion that Rose is gone
over seas, and is safe in Germany, and giveth up all looking for him.
Wherefore, for once in our lives, we may thank the Devil."

"Nay, good Ned," said Jack; "we will thank the living God [this phrase
was another _symbolum hereticorum_], that did overrule both the Bishop
and the Devil."

"And what of Robin?" said Isoult.

"Mrs Avery, I am puzzled and bewildered as I never was before," replied
Austin. "I cannot find him."

A week later, when the dusk had fallen, but John had not yet come home,
and Dr Thorpe and Isoult sat alone in the chamber, a quick footstep
approached the door.

"What he! is the door locked?" cried Mr Underhill's voice outside.

Barbara ran and let him in.

"Where is Mrs Rose?" was his first question.

"Above," said Isoult. "Is there news for her?"

"Good," said he, without replying: "and Mrs Thekla?"

"Above likewise."

"Let her stay there a moment. But tell her (whenas you can without her
mother's ears) that her father is in London again, in the keeping of
Speryn, my wife's brother; and there she may see him. Tell her to come
to my house, and I or my wife shall go with her to the other. But she