Prudence was charmed. ’Twas so romantic, so venturesome, so brave. She listened eagerly to Cicely’s description of her lover, of his reckless daring and his tenderness. With all the ready passion of an emotional nature she worshipped the heroine of so distressful a love-story and with the eagerness of a romantic child espoused her cause. Cicely was grateful for this ready sympathy and the mutual confidence thus inspired induced her companion to tell her story too. "Yes—’tis true, Robert saith he loves me, and though he be but a ’prentice, he is brave and—and splendid, and methinks I care for him also, though ’twould not do to let him know how dearly. He is not as the others. You marked him, perchance, at supper yester e’en. How he spake his mind! He would be a soldier, an he had his way, he but bides here to please my father, and and——" "Perchance to see thee at times?" questioned Cicely, smiling. "It may be so," was the demure answer. "But he will not be a wool-merchant all his days, Lady Cicely. He means to be a great man, perchance to be in the Parliament; think on’t, to rule the kingdom, and he could do it well, though I would not tell him so. But, indeed, I care not what he be, so that he love me truly," she added naïvely. "And what saith Master Lane to this?" "Oh, dad likes him well, I doubt not. But we have not thought fit to trouble him with the matter yet." Cicely shook her head, but could not find it in her heart to be severe with such an outspoken admirer of Rupert. She won Prue’s heart more completely still by her kindly wishes for the future, and a few commendatory remarks concerning Master Wilcox’s appearance, and the younger girl’s tongue once loosened on the subject she chattered busily until they were joined by Mistress Lane, who cast a severe glance at her daughter’s neglected work. The morning passed slowly away, but noon brought a visitor for Cicely in the person of Peter Drew, the smith. He had ridden that morning from Durford to offer his services to his ladies, and Cicely could not but rejoice to see his honest, friendly face, though she was conscious of the dangers of so sturdy a supporter of her family wandering unrestrained in the streets of Taunton, and doubtless speaking his mind to whomsoever he met. Indeed, a large bruise on his forehead and a certain dishevelled appearance about his garments, betokened that he had already met with a dissentient acquaintance. Cicely questioned him closely on the subject and he reluctantly confessed that such had indeed been the case.