Cromwell was there to back up
the woman Boleyn and poison his Grace's ear."

"As if a man must not have a spirit to be angered by such treatment."

"Thou forgettest, good wife. No man, but a fool, and to be entreated as
such! Be that as it may, to York I must. I have eaten of my lord's
bread too many years, and had too much kindness from him in the days of
his glory, to seek mine own ease now in his adversity. Thou wouldst
have a poor bargain of me when my heart is away."

Perronel saw that thus it would be, and that this was one of the points
on which, to her mind, her husband was more than half a veritable fool
after all.

There had long been a promise that Stephen should, in some time of slack
employment make a visit to his old comrade, Edmund Burgess, at York; and
as some new tools and patterns had to be conveyed thither, a sudden
resolution was come to, in family conclave, that Stephen himself should
convey them, taking his uncle with him as a serving-man, to attend to
the horses. The alderman gave full consent, he had always wished
Stephen to see York, while he himself with Tibble Steelman, was able to
attend to the business; and while he pronounced Randall to have a heart
of gold, well worth guarding, he still was glad when the risk was over
of the King's hearing that the runaway jester was harboured at the
Dragon. Dennet did not like the journey for her husband, for to her
mind it was perilous, but she had had a warm affection for his uncle
ever since their expedition to Richmond together, and she did her best
to reconcile the murmuring and wounded Perronel by praises of Randall, a
true and noble heart; and that as to setting her aside for the Cardinal,
who had heeded him so little, such faithfulness only made her more
secure of his true-heartedness towards her. Perronel was moreover to
break up her business, dispose of her house, and await her husband's
return at the Dragon.

Stephen came back after a happy month with his friend, stored with
wondrous tales and descriptions which would last the children for a
month. He had seen his uncle present himself to the Cardinal at Cawood
Castle. It had been a touching meeting. Hal could hardly restrain his
tears when he saw how Wolsey's sturdy form had wasted, and his round
ruddy cheeks had fallen away, while the attitude in which he sat in his
chair was listless and weary, though he fitfully exerted himself with
his old vigour.

Hal on his side, in the