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"Did I not prophesy that it would be so yonder at Cranwell burning?" asked Emlyn, with a fierce laugh. "Follow me!" shouted Bolle. "Be swift now ere the roof falls and traps us." On they went desperately, leaving the hall on their left, and well for them was it that Thomas knew the way.
But Emlyn would not hear of this place, where she was sure they would be robbed, for the wealth that they carried secretly in jewels bore heavily on her mind. Remembering a cousin of her mother's of the name of Smith, a goldsmith, who till within a year or two before was alive and dwelling in Cheapside, she said that they would seek him out.
"May be," answered Cicely in her quiet fashion, "perhaps because they did not trust enough or rightly. At least there lies my path and I will walk in it to the fire if need be." "There is some seed of greatness in you; to what will it grow, I wonder?" replied Emlyn, with a shrug of her shoulders. On the morrow this faith of Cicely's was put to a sharp test.
"Emlyn," exclaimed Cicely at last, "in past days you were wont to be full of comfortable words; have you never a one in this extreme?" for all the while Emlyn had sat silent. "Thomas," said Emlyn, looking up, "do you remember when we were children where we used to catch the big carp in the Abbey moat?" "Aye, woman," he answered; "but what time is this for fishing stories of many years ago?
To tell the facts would be to condemn Thomas to some fearful fate which even then they would be called upon to share, although possibly they might be cleared of the charge of witchcraft. Emlyn set the matter before Cicely, urging neither one side nor the other, and waited her judgment. It was swift and decisive. "This is a coil that we cannot untangle," said Cicely.
At length, however, he swept the thing away, remarking brutally that if half he had heard were true, soon the name by which she had last been called in life would not concern her, and bade the clerks write her down as Cicely Harflete or Foterell. Then Emlyn gave her name, and Sister Bridget's was written without question. Next the charge against them was read.
When it was finished they were commanded to answer, and pleaded Not Guilty, or rather Cicely and Emlyn did, for Bridget broke into a long tale that could not be followed. She was ordered to be silent, after which no one took any more heed of what she said.
But since I have become intimate with Charles Emlyn I think there is a great deal to be said in favour of Worth-whileism, old idea though it be. I see a man who, with very commonplace materials for interest or amusement at his command, continues to be always interested or generally amused; I ask myself why and how?
On hearing these words the fellow burst into tears, cast down his tools and fled away, cursing the Abbot. His apprentice would have followed, but him they caught and forced to complete the task. Then Emlyn was chained up also, so that at length all was ready for the last terrible act of the drama.
Now, is that all? I weary of so much talk." "But one thing more, your Grace," put in Cromwell hastily, for Henry was already rising from his chair. "Dame Cicely Harflete, her servant, Emlyn Stower, and a certain crazed old nun were condemned of sorcery by a Court Ecclesiastic whereof the Abbot Maldon was a member, the said Abbot alleging that they had bewitched him and his goods."
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