necessity for immediate action; and when he had spoken a little of
himself, his kinsfolk, and the visits he had paid during his
wanderings in the forest (keeping the real object of those
wanderings quite out of the talk), he turned his conversation to
other matters, and asked what was passing in London, and what was
chiefly stirring men's minds.

"Marry it is the opening of Parliament that is the chiefest thing,"
said Martin Holt. "It is said in the city that his Majesty loves
not his good Parliament; and truly it looks like it, since he has
put off its opening so many a time. First it was to have been last
February, then not till the third of this present month. Now it is
again prolongued till the fifth of November next; but I trow his
Majesty will scarce dare to postpone again. His people like not
those rulers who fear to meet those who are chosen by them to
debate on matters of the state. It looks not well for the sovereign
to fear to meet his people."

Cuthbert, who knew little about such matters, asked many questions
about Parliament and its assemblies. His uncle answered him freely
and fully, and explained to him exactly the site of the building
where the great body assembled.

"Thou canst take the wherry thou used to love so well, and row
thyself to Westminster one of these days, and look well at the
Parliament Houses," said Martin Holt. "It is a grand spectacle to
see the King come in state to open the assembly. Thou mayest see
that sight, too, an thou purposest to stay with us so long."

"I would gladly do so," answered Cuthbert, who remembered that he
was bidden not to return to the forest too quickly. He knew that,
now he was safely away, Joanna would allow all search to be made
after him there, and that it would soon be ascertained that he had
fled. But whilst that search was going on, he was safest in London,
and was glad enough of the opportunity of seeing any gay pageant.

As he lay in his narrow bed that night, enjoying the comfort of it
after his chilly nook in the tree, which had been his best shelter
of late, and somewhat disturbed by the noises that from time to
time arose from the street below, he recalled to mind the strange
greeting he had received from Anthony Cole, and wondered anew at
his mysterious words.

And then his fancy somehow strayed to the great Parliament Houses
of which his uncle had spoken. He remembered that strange dark
journey across the river from Lambeth and the lonely