e house of Isabel de
Fulshaw, where we had usually met before. I went, and found her weeping
as though her heart would break. She told me that Licorice had been--
not very gentle with her, and had threatened to turn her out of the
house the next morning unless she would trample on the cross, as a sign
that she abjured all her Christian friends and Christ. That, she said,
she could not do. `I could tread on the piece of wood,' she said, `and
that would be nothing: but my mother means it for a sign of abjuring
Christ.' And she earnestly implored me to get her into some nunnery,
where she might be safe. Perhaps I ought to have done that. But I
offered her another choice of safety. And the next morning, as soon as
the canonical hours had dawned, Anegay was my wife."

Abraham spoke here, but without lifting his head. "I was on a journey,
Belasez," he said. "I never persecuted my darling--never!"

"No, Belasez," echoed Bruno; "he never did. I believe he was bitterly
grieved at her becoming a Christian, but he had no hand in her
sufferings at that time. A year or more went on, and the Lord gave us a
baby daughter. I baptised her by the name of Beatrice, which was also
the name that her mother had received in baptism. She was nearly a
month old, when a message came to me from the Bishop, requiring me to
come to him, which involved a journey, there and back, of about a week.
I went: and I returned--to find my home desolate. Wife, child--even the
maid-servant,--all were gone. An old woman, who dwelt in my parish, was
in the house, but she could tell me nothing save that a message had come
to her from Frethesind the maid, begging her to come and take charge of
the house until my return, but not giving a word of explanation. I
could think of no place to which my wife would be likely to go, unless
her mother had been there, and had either forced or over-persuaded her
to return with her. I hurried to Norwich with as much speed as
possible. To my surprise, Licorice received me with apparent
kindliness, and inquired after Anegay as though no quarrel had ever
existed."

Belasez thought, with momentary amusement, that Bruno was not so well
acquainted with Licorice as herself.

"I asked in great distress if Anegay were not with her. Licorice
assured me she knew nothing of her. `Then you did not fetch her away?'
said I. `How could I?' she answered. `I have a baby in the cradle only
five weeks old.' Well, I could