then brushing away a stray tear as it stole down under her
long eyelashes.

Meantime Ambrose, hoping to raise her spirits, talked to his aunt of the
friendly ease and kindliness of the new home, where he was evidently as
thoroughly happy as it was in his nature to be. He was much, in the
position of a barrister's clerk, superior to that of the mere servants,
but inferior to the young gentlemen of larger means, though not perhaps
of better birth, who had studied law regularly, and aspired to offices
or to legal practice.

But though Ambrose was ranked with the three or four other clerks, his
functions had more relation to Sir Thomas's literary and diplomatic
avocations than his legal ones. From Lucas Hansen he had learnt Dutch
and French, and he was thus available for copying and translating
foreign correspondence. His knowledge of Latin and smattering of Greek
enabled him to be employed in copying into a book some of the
inestimable letters of Erasmus which arrived from time to time, and Sir
Thomas promoted his desire to improve himself, and had requested Mr
Clements, the tutor of the children of the house, to give him weekly
lessons in Latin and Greek.

Sir Thomas had himself pointed out to him books calculated to settle his
mind on the truth and catholicity of the Church, and had warned him
against meddling with the fiery controversial tracts which, smuggled in
often through Lucas's means, had set his mind in commotion. And for the
present at least beneath the shadow of the great man's intelligent
devotion, Ambrose's restless spirit was tranquil.

Of course, he did not explain his state of mind to his aunt, but she
gathered enough to be well content, and tried to encourage Aldonza, when
at length they landed near Chelsea Church, and Ambrose led the way to an
extensive pleasaunce or park, full of elms and oaks, whose yellow leaves
were floating like golden rain in the sunshine.

Presently children's voices guided them to a large chestnut tree. "Lo
you now, I hear Mistress Meg's voice, and where she is, his honour will
ever be," said Ambrose.

And sure enough, among a group of five girls and one boy, all between
fourteen and nine years old, was the great lawyer, knocking down the
chestnuts with a long pole, while the young ones flew about picking up
the burrs from the grass, exclaiming joyously when they found a full
one.

Ambrose explained that of the young ladies, one was Mistress Middleton,
Lady More's