Lucrece glided away as softly as the serpent which she resembled in her heart. In half-an-hour Sir Thomas came back into the house, and sent Jennet to tell his sister that he wished to speak with her in the library. It was characteristic, not of himself, but of his wife, that in his sorrows and perplexities he turned instinctively to Rachel, not to her. When Lucrece's intelligence was laid before Rachel, though perhaps she grieved less, she was even more shocked than her brother. That Blanche should think of quitting the happy and honourable estate of maidenhood, for the slavery of marriage, was in itself a misdemeanour of the first magnitude: but that she should have made her own choice, have received secret gifts, and held clandestine interviews--this was an awful instance of what human depravity could reach. "Now, what is to be done?" asked Sir Thomas wearily. "First with Don John, and next with Blanche." "Him?--the viper! Pack him out of the house, bag and baggage!" cried the wrathful spinster. "The crocodile, to conspire against the peace of the house which hath received him in his need! Yet what better might you look for in a man and a Papist?" "Nay, Rachel; I cannot pack him out: he is my prisoner, think thou. I am set in charge of him until released by the Queen's Majesty's mandate. All the greater need is there to keep him and Blanche apart. In good sooth, I wis not what to do for the best--with Blanche, most of all." "Blanche hath had too much leisure time allowed her, and too much of her own way," said Rachel oracularly. "Hand her o'er to me--I will set her a-work. She shall not have an idle hour. 'Tis the only means to keep silly heads in order." "Maybe, Rachel,--maybe," said Sir Thomas with a sigh. "Yet I fear sorely that we must have Blanche hence. It were constant temptation, were she and Don John left in the same house; and though she might not break charge--would not, I trust--yet he might. I can rest no faith on him well! I must first speak to Blanche, methinks, and then--" "Speak to her!--whip her well! By my troth, but I would mark her!" cried Rachel, in a passion. "Nay, Rachel, that wouldst thou not," answered her brother, smiling sadly. "Did the child but whimper, thy fingers would leave go the rod. Thy bark is right fearful, good Sister; but some men's sweet words be no softer than thy bite." "There is charity in all things, of course," said Rachel, cooling down. "There is a deal in thee," returned Sir Thomas, "for them that know where to seek it. Well, come with me to Orige; she must be told, I reckon: and then we will send for Blanche." Rachel opened her lips, but suddenly shut them without speaking, and kept them drawn close. Perhaps, had she not thought better of it, what might have been spoken was not altogether complimentary to Lady Enville.