"The friends of my Lord Protector say 'tis a Princess of France; and his foes will have it that had he not fallen too soon, it should have been-- the Lady Jane Seymour." "What, my Lord Protector his daughter?" inquired Isoult. "She," said Mr Underhill. "That hath an ill look, an' it were so," remarked John, thoughtfully. "`Less like than Paul's steeple to a dagger sheath,'" quoted Dr Thorpe, who was rather fond of proverbs. "Go to, Jack! we are all for ourselves in this world," responded Mr Underhill philosophically. "As to like, it may be no more like than chalk to cheese, and yet be in every man's mouth from Aldgate to the Barbican. My Lord Protector is neither better nor worse than other men. If you or I were in his shoes, we should do the like." "I trust not, friend," said John, smiling. "A rush for your trust!" laughed Mr Underhill. "I would not trust either of us." "But I would so!" said Isoult warmly. "Mr Underhill, you surely think not that if Jack were Lord Protector, he should strive and plot for the King to espouse our Kate?" "Of course he would," said Underhill coolly. "And so would you." "Never!" she cried. "Well, I am sure I should. Think you I would not by my good will see my Nan a queen?" answered he. "With a reasonable chance of Tower Hill?" suggested Avery. "You and I have seen queens come to _that_, Ned Underhill." "Well, there is better air at the Lime Hurst," replied Underhill sententiously. A long conference was held concerning the repairs at Bradmond. The resolution finally adopted was that John should ride home and ascertain what the state of affairs really was. Hitherto the family had been living on their rents, with little need for professional work on John's part unless it pleased him. Slight repairs, however, would entail saving; and serious ones might keep them in London for years, until he had laid up sufficient money to defray them. "'Tis all in the day's work," he said lightly, to cheer his wife. "I must have a factor to see unto the place, and for that Simon Pendexter shall serve, if he affright not the poor tenants with his long words; and I myself must needs set to work hard. 'Twill do me good, dear heart; (for he saw Isoult look sad) I have hitherto been lazy, and only have played at working." So John left London on the first of November, along with a convoy of travellers bound for Exeter; charging Isoult to make acquaintance in his absence with Mrs Rose and Mrs Underhill, with the object of giving her something to do.