"Come and see!" she answered, pulling him after her into the room. Mr Rose followed more quietly. John, come into the room, stood gazing at Robin as though he knew not what to make of it. Mr Rose passed him and came forward. "Robin Tremayne!" said he. "I scarce dared to hope it." So when all the glad greetings were over, they sat down, and drew their chairs round the fire. Barbara came in with the supper-board, and stared when Robin said, "Good even, Barbara." "Sir!" queried she, looking at him in amazement. "Nay, sure! 'tis never Master Robin come back? Well, I be cruel glad!" "And now, Robin," said John, "we want thine history, writ fair in a great book." "Then, Father," he answered, and smiled, "you must tarry the writing. But I count I take you. Mine history is not very long, for there was but little change in it." "But, Robin," said Isoult, "where hast thou been, dear lad? Austin Bernher hath searched all the prisons for thee, yea, over and over, for months past, and asked at many prisoners; yet could never bring us tidings." "I trow, Mother," answered Robin, again smiling, "he searched every whither but the right. And few prisoners should have known anything of me, seeing I was kept alone." "Did they count thee a prisoner of import?" said John, in an astonished tone. "From what I heard them say," answered Robin, looking at Mr Rose, "I may thank you for that. Taking me with you, and standing close by you, they counted me a very pestilent heretic, and treated me as such." "Ah! see what it is to fall into bad company!" said Mr Rose, smiling. "Well, Robin," said Isoult, "thou shalt tell us all after supper, an' thou wilt. But now all is ready, an't please you." So they gathered round the supper-table, and Mr Rose had only just said grace, when the latch was lifted, and Mr Underhill's cheery voice cried-- "May an heretic come in?" "Come forward, Ned!" shouted John in return. And forward he came. "I am weary as a dog!" said he. "And I see yonder some eggs and butter [`Buttered eggs' survive north of the Trent] that doth make my mouth water; and a warden-pie [the warden was a very late pear, used chiefly for pies], if mine eyes bewray me not. Mrs Avery--" but here, his eye catching Robin, he broke off short. "Do you bid ghosts to supper? If those be not Robin Tremayne's eyes, they are the fairest copies ever mine saw!" "Robin Tremayne's eyes are very glad to see you, Mr Underhill," said he, laughingly: and Mr Underhill wrung his hand till Robin's fingers must have tingled no little. "Draw a chair and fall to, man," said John. "Go to!" replied Mr Underhill; and did so with much apparent gusto. "Well, so your work is over," said John. "How passed all? and where is the Queen?"