seeing how many must have been fetched within the last two
years."

"I could believe any thing of Don Carlos," answered Marguerite Rose.
"He that so ill used his aunt, that had been a mother unto him, the Lady
Marguerite of Savoy, that was Governess of Flanders,--he should not have
much love for his own mother."

And Thekla said,--"I think the crown of the Queen Dona Juana must have
been a very bright one. It is so hard to watch and wait."

"My poor Thekla!" murmured Isoult, "thou hast had much thereof."

"I!" she answered, with a smile. "I have done nothing. I have not been
forsaken and ill dealt withal, as she was, of my best beloved,
throughout many years. Compare me not with her! If I may sit down some
whither in Heaven where I can but see her on the heights, that would be
too good for me."

"But art thou willing to see Christ only on the heights, Thekla?" said
John.

"No," she said, again with her sweet smile. "I should want to be close
to Him. No, I could not be content to look on Him afar off."

"In that case," said John, "there is no fear that He shall ask it of
thee."

No, there is no fear of His keeping us afar off. It is we who follow
afar off. "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be
with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given
Me." With our dear Master, it is never "_Go_, and do this hard thing,
go and suffer this heavy sorrow, go and bear this weary waiting." It is
always "_Come_ and do it;" or at least, "Let _us_ go."

And now there came another martyrdom: the highest, and in some sense,
the sorest of them all; yet, by many, not the last. There was room for
many souls under the Altar: ay, and on the Throne.

On the 22nd of March, with great pomp and splendour, "The Lord Raynald
Pole, Cardinal Legate," was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury. It
was therefore apparent that Dr Cranmer had been degraded. Isoult said
so to Mr Underhill, whom she met at the service at Mr Ferris' lodging,
and his answer troubled her no little.

"Nay, Mrs Avery," he replied; "'tis a sign that my Lord Archbishop is
dead, for I do know by letter from Bernher, which is now at Oxford, that
yesterday was appointed for his burning."

And they had never heard one word after his recantation. Dead, without
recanting it! Dead, denying Christ at his end, after confessing Him in
his life! This was worse than many martyrdoms, for it was martyrdom of
the soul. Wa