John's Wood, and to carry home their spoil to the lasses of their
acquaintance.

Tibble Steelman had completed the figure in bronze, with a silver collar
and chain, not quite without protest that the sum had better have been
bestowed in alms. But from his master's point of view this would have
been giving to a pack of lying beggars and thieves what was due to the
holy saint; no one save Tibble, who could do and say what he chose,
could have ventured on a word of remonstrance on such a subject; and as
the full tide of iconoclasm, consequent on the discovery of the original
wording of the second commandment, had not yet set in, Tibble had no
more conscientious scruple against making the figure, than in moulding a
little straight-tailed lion for Lord Harry Percy's helmet.

So the party in early morning heard their mass, and then, repairing to
Saint Julian's pillar, while the rising sun came peeping through the low
eastern window of the vaulted Church of Saint Faith, Master Headley on
his knees gave thanks for his preservation, and then put forward his
little daughter, holding on her joined hands the figure of poor Spring,
couchant, and beautifully modelled in bronze with all Tibble's best
skill.

Hal Randall and Ambrose had both come up from the little home where
Perronel presided, for the hour was too early for the jester's absence
to be remarked in the luxurious household of the Cardinal elect, and he
even came to break his fast afterwards at the Dragon court, and held
such interesting discourse with old Dame Headley on the farthingales and
coifs of Queen Katharine and her ladies, that she pronounced him a man
wondrous wise and understanding, and declared Stephen happy in the
possession of such a kinsman.

"And whither away now, youngsters?" he said, as he rose from table.

"To Saint John's Wood! The good greenwood, uncle," said Ambrose.

"Thou too, Ambrose?" said Stephen joyfully. "For once away from thine
ink and thy books!"

"Ay," said Ambrose, "mine heart warms to the woodlands once more.
Uncle, would that thou couldst come."

"Would that I could, boy! We three would show these lads of Cockayne
what three foresters know of wood-craft! But it may not be. Were I
once there, the old blood might stir again and I might bring you into
trouble, and ye have not two faces under one hood as I have! So fare ye
well, I wish you many a bagful of nuts!"

The four months of city life, albeit the City was little big