'I cannot conceive, my dear friend, how I can have more weight with Wolsey's mother than thou hast. She has been very kind and attentive to me in a thousand ways; but she is no kind of debtor to me. I am rather under obligation to her. Is it not so, my father?' 'She has always shown herself very partial to thee, Ellen, and, I must say, has taken a most motherly interest in thy behalf; for, as soon as I lost thy mother, she was incessant in her kindness towards thee, and recommended that good old faithful nurse, Dorothea, whom thou didst lose last year. Thou art indebted to her likewise for thy present maid, Fanny; and she has worked with her own hand, and sent thee by this young scholar many a little comfort for the furnishing of thy tower. These certainly are indications, as Master Daundy says, of strong predilection; and if those who love us are in any way to be influenced by us, I see here a very proper occasion for the exercise of that influence which thou mayest possess.' 'And I can tell thee,' added Daundy, 'more than this. It was but last evening I was speaking to her upon the very subject which we now discuss, when she said: "If anything could induce me to let Thomas go to Oxford, it would be Ellen De Freston expressing a wish that he should go."' A blush mantled upon the cheek of Ellen, as she looked innocently enough at Wolsey, and caught his glance of intercession. The boy's whole soul was wrapt up in the interest he then excited. His own heart told him at once the cause of his mother's favor towards Ellen, and though he dare not, even to his heart, breathe the hope that she would see it--nay, indeed, hoped that she would not--yet he entertained a sort of indefinite idea, that she might one day perceive that, for her sake, he would do anything. The youth's animated countenance must have quickened her perception, or she was struck with the possibility of doing him service, for she replied-- 'Could I but think I could persuade her, the effort would be nothing for me to make. I have strong arguments to back me, have I not, cousin Latimer?' 'Indeed you have, Ellen! I will say it before my young friend, that, in your letters, you only did him justice. I did not expect to find your descriptive power of character so just as I have found it in the talents of this youth. Thomas Wolsey, you are little aware what an advocate you have had.' If ever Wolsey felt abashed, it was at that moment, yet he found words to reply--.