This was tender ground to touch upon, at such a moment, and in a first visit too. Ellen had lain too long under the ban of being called and cursed as a heretic, to mind what kings or courtiers might say or do. Her faith was fixed, pure, simple-minded, solid, and steady, and no man could make her waver any more in her faith than they could in her principles of life. They conversed long on their favorite topic--the Cardinal and his fortunes, his boyhood and his youth--and Cavendish was then enlightened upon many points which he might most fairly have revealed, and would have done, but for fear of his royal master. 'Tempora mutanta, et nos mutamur in illis.' We are not, in the nineteenth century, afraid to speak truth upon any subject, and equally scorn the imputation of rebellion in so doing, as we do the idea of vapid popularity, merely for the sake of bread. We do not now-a-days worship great men for the sake of what we can get out of them; for there is little to be had, even by the humblest, since patronage, and learning, and talent, and literature, are all brought now to Mammon's hammer. He is a bold man who speaks the truth, and he is but a coward, be he whom he will, who is afraid to do so. The man who loves another, is afraid of no man, for he can do injury to no one, and is ready to lay down his life for his brother. Such was Lord De Freston, such was William Latimer, and such was Ellen, as the sequel will show, in the end of this tale of Freston Tower. 'Alice De Clinton,' said Cavendish, 'lives somewhere in this part of Suffolk. Have you seen her?' 'Is it likely, Master Cavendish, after our interview at York Place? She does live at her ancestral residence, Goldwell Hall; but she looks down with utter contempt upon us heretics, and I verily believe would burn us all, house, home, and Bible, provided only she could immortalise her pride.' 'Oh, Mistress Latimer! surely thou art uncharitable in thy judgment.' 'If thou art not perverted in thine own, thou wilt thyself soon perceive it. We will direct thee to her dwelling, and leave thee to the candor of thine own mind. If thou dost pronounce her more humbled in her present dwelling than when she abode in thy master's palace, then say that we are bigots, and Alice De Clinton is liberal.' The visit was projected for the morrow. Meanwhile, with hearts of pity, Latimer and Ellen sincerely mourned over the death of Cardinal Wolsey. They mourn'd to think a man should die In sorrow for his loyalty; But more they mourned the fall of friend, Deserted in his latter end; They felt correction 'neath the rod, And thus were true to man and God.' CHAPTER XLVI. GOLDWELL HALL.