With such feelings in her heart--for was she not a part of England?-- Isoult Avery stood at her door about six o'clock that evening, waiting for John's return from the trial which was the one occurrence of the day. Robin had gone with him; but Dr Thorpe remained at home. For a time there was nothing but silence. The usual hum of the City was stilled: everybody was at Westminster. From Goodman's Fields the cows came lowing home; now and then a single person, intent on business with which nothing might interfere, passed quickly up the Minories; the soft chime of the bells of Saint Katherine floated past the Tower wall, for the ringers were practising after evensong; and one great gun rang out sharply from the Tower, to inform the world that it was six o'clock. Five minutes afterwards, a low sound, like the roll of distant thunder, came from the City side of Aldgate. It grew louder every moment. It became first a noise, then a roar. At last the sound was articulate and distinguishable. "A Somerset! a Somerset!" [Note 5.] But what had happened? Were they voices of Papists, or of Gospellers? All at once they came pouring out of Aldgate. In front colours were flying and fifes screaming, and behind ran the crowd, their voices drowning the fifes. Isoult began to think of retreating and closing her door, when she caught sight of Gillian Brent [a fictitious person], her neighbour's daughter, who was struggling frantically to reach her mother's house, being nearly carried off her feet by the press of people. Gillian, with much difficulty, fought her way through, and reached Isoult, who had beckoned her to take refuge with her. She came in almost breathless, and sank upon the settle, completely worn out, before she had strength to speak. When she was a little recovered, Gillian said-- "My Lord Protector is quit [acquitted] of all ill, Mistress; and therefore the folk be thus glad." "In very deed!" said Isoult, "and therefore am I right glad. But, Gillian, are you certain thereof?" "Nay," said she; "I do know no more than that all the folk say so much." Two hours more passed before John came home. "Well, Jack!" said Dr Thorpe, so soon as he heard his foot on the threshold, "so my Lord of Somerset is quit of all charges?" "Who told you so much?" inquired John. "All the folk say so," answered Isoult. "All the folk mistake, then," answered he, sadly. "He is quit of high treason, but that only; and is cast for death [Note 6] of felony, and remitted again unto the Tower." "Cast for death!" cried Dr Thorpe and Isoult together. Avery sat down with a weary air. "I have been all this day in Westminster Hall," said he, "for I saw there Mr Bertie, of my Lady of Suffolk's house, and he gat space for me so soon as he saw me; and we stood together all the day to listen. My Lord of Somerset pleaded his own cause like a gentleman and a Christian, as he is: verily, I never heard man speak better."