"I will say no such thing," he answered. "It should seem that Robin's orders can now scarce be had; and if it were so, I tell you the truth, mine heart were the lighter. Thekla must choose for herself. She is now of ripe age to _know_ what is for and against the same; and if she would have rather Robin and what may hap than to leave both, I will not gainsay her choice. But if she seeketh mine avisement--" "You will say her nay?" asked Isoult, fearfully, as he hesitated. "Can I say any thing else?" answered Mr Rose in a low voice. "Were it worse for Thekla to be let from wedding him, or to be roughly parted from him ere they had been wed a year--perchance a month? If Robin should choose not to endeavour himself for the priesthood, then of force is there no such difficulty. But can I look forward to the parting that must ere long come between my Marguerite and me, and lightly choose the same doom for our child?" Mr Rose's voice fell, and his face changed so painfully that the listener could scarcely bear to see it. "Think you that must come?" she said in a voice hardly above a whisper. "It must come, if the Queen continue as she hath begun," answered he, in a low voice. "It may not be for long, if the Lord only try us, to humble us, and to prove us, whether we will keep His commandments or no: it may be for all this life. Beyond this life, it cannot be. The keys of Heaven and earth are in the hands of Jesus Christ, not in those of Mary Tudor!" No more was said for that time. The friends clasped hands and parted. But when Isoult and John had their quiet talk together, she found that he had already been thinking on the subject; and had conversed with Robin. "I did somewhat marvel," she admitted, "seeing the three years for the which Mr Rose did covenant were run out in June, that Robin made no motion thereunto. But verily I did think he should speak the first." "He hath spoken, dear heart," said John, "and I did entreat him to await a season the upshot of this matter, till we should see who should succeed the King, and what manner of government we were like to fall under. And I pressed him with much of the same reasoning that (as I hear) Mr Rose hath given thee." "And what saith he touching his priesthood?" "I think he hardly knew what to say." When all else had gone to bed, John and Isoult took Robin aside, and John told him what Mr Rose had said. Robin's eyes filled with tears. "Then," said he, "it comes to this; I must either give up mine orders, or give up--" He uttered not, nor did they need, the name of Thekla Rose. "But one other point, Robin, leave not out of thine account," said John. "It may be thou canst not receive orders." "Why, then," replied he, "if I cannot, I cannot. But when shall I know that I cannot?" "When all the Protestant Bishops are in prison, I take it," said John, smiling.