The Armourer's PrenticesYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
History
The Armourer's Prentices
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Great Britain -- History -- Henry VIII, 1509-1547 -- Fiction
Cold water was not much affected by the citizens of London, but smiths'
and armourers' work entailed a freer use of it than less grimy trades;
and a bath and Sunday garments made Stephen more like himself, though
still he felt so weary and depressed that he missed the buoyant joy of
release to which he had been looking forward.
He was sitting on the steps, leaning against the rail, so much tired
that he hoped none of his comrades would notice that he had come out,
when Ambrose hurried into the court, having just heard tidings of his
freedom, and was at his side at once. The two brothers sat together,
leaning against one another as if they had all that they could wish or
long for. They had not met for more than a week, for Ambrose's finances
had not availed to fee the turnkeys to give him entrance.
"And what art thou doing, Ambrose?" asked Stephen, rousing a little from
his lethargy. "Methought I heard mine uncle say thine occupation was
gone?"
"Even so," replied Ambrose. "Master Lucas will sail in a week's time to
join his brother at Rotterdam, bearing with him what he hath been able
to save out of the havoc. I wot not if I shall ever see the good man
more."
"I am glad thou dost not go with him," said Stephen, with a hand on his
brother's leather-covered knee.
"I would not put seas between us," returned Ambrose. "Moreover, though
I grieve to lose my good master, who hath been so scurvily entreated
here, yet, Stephen, this trouble and turmoil hath brought me that which
I longed for above all, even to have speech with the Dean of Saint
Paul's."
He then told Stephen how he had brought Dean Colet to administer the
last rites to Abenali, and how that good man had bidden Lucas to take
shelter at the Deanery, in the desolation of his own abode. This had
led to conversation between the Dean and the printer; Lucas, who
distrusted all ecclesiastics, would accept no patronage. He had a
little hoard, buried in the corner of his stall, which would suffice to
carry him to his native home and he wanted no more; but he had spoken of
Ambrose, and the Dean was quite ready to be interested in the youth who
had led him to Abenali.
"He had me to his privy chamber," said Ambrose, "and spake to me as no
man hath yet spoken--no, not even Tibble. He let me utter all my mind,
nay, I never wist before even what mine own thoughts were till he set
them before me--as it were in a mirror."
"Thou wast ever in a harl," said Stephen, drowsily, using the Hampshire
word for whirl or entanglement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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