"Kiss me, father," said Margaret, and the printer, turning, put his
arms about her, and kissed her almost passionately. He had always
loved his daughter, but here was an even closer bond; something that
was linking them to other things; things that were sacred, and beyond
the matters that came in the common round of daily life.
Margaret went back to her mother, singing softly as she went from
place to place in the bedroom, putting things right, and making the
chamber look more cosy. When she moved it was with a tender grace.
When she spoke it was with a gladness and a smile that were restful
to the sick mother on the bed.
Who could wonder? That string of visions was passed at all events
for the present. Her father, so far, was safe. But at odd times,
when she moved about the house, she stopped to say a prayer, pleading
that the dear Lord would keep the secret from that ignoble Cochlaeus,
and all others who were scenting heresy, and striving to find Master
Tyndale and all who had dealings with him. Their success meant so
much. Ruin for her father! Ah!--and she went pale at the
thought--ruin for Herman!
As the day went on the relief gave place to anxiety.
Her heart grew more and more heavy, for after the first revulsion
from that deadly fear her memory served her with a cruelty that was
hard to bear. It brought back all that happened the night before.
That coming of the man on the stairs of Cropper's home; the enforced
but unintentioned eavesdropping outside the door on the landing, and
hearing what Cochlaeus knew; and, later still, the watchers in the
street just opposite her father's house. It was terrible to
contemplate the possibilities, for who could tell whether that paper
from the Burgomaster was a blind--something to throw her father off
his guard? She shivered at the thought; then she went so hot that
she drew her dainty kerchief from her bosom to wipe the dampness from
her face.
A change came over her father which greatly puzzled her. She could
not understand how he could move among the workmen, and be so
cheerful, and smile so comfortably at the customers who bought things
over the counter of the shop. Not one among them would have
suspected that he had been faced with death, and even now might see
the Captain of the Guard enter, and take him away.
She did what under other circumstances she would have despised
herself for, but she could not help it now. She felt she must do it,
or she would die of anxiety. She stood where she could hear what was
said when all the workmen had gone save Gropper, who closed the
street door, so that no one should enter the shop, and break in on
their conversation without it being known.
"What say you, Gropper, now that you know as much as I do?" her
father asked, when the foreman stood before him at the counter.
"Get Master Tyndale and everything belonging to him out of the way,"
came the answer, in decisive tones.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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