'Nay, that man taketh his friends among mine,' he answered. He stopped to regard her, his face one heavy and indulgent smile. The garter on his knee, broad and golden, showed her the words: '_Y pense_'; the collars moved up and down on his immense chest, the needlework of roses was so fine that she wondered how many women had sat up how many nights to finish it: but the man was grey and homely. 'I know none of your ways here,' she said. 'Never let fear blanch thy cheeks till we are no more thy friend,' he reassured her. He composed one of his gallant speeches: 'Here lives for thee nothing but joy.' Pleasurable hopes should be her comrades while the jolly sun shone, and sweet content at night her bedfellow.... He handed her to the care of the Lord Cromwell to take her to the Lady Mary's lodgings. It was unfitting that she should walk with him, and, with his heavy and bearlike gait, swinging his immense shoulders, he preceded them up the broad path. VI Cromwell watched the King's great back with an attentive smile. He said, ironically, that he was her ladyship's servant. 'I would ye were,' she answered. 'They say you love not those that I love.' 'I would have you not heed what men say,' he answered, grimly. 'I am douce to those that be of good-will to his Highness. Those that hate me are his ill-wishers.' 'Then the times are evil,' she said, 'for they are many.' She added suddenly, as if she could not keep a prudent silence: 'I am for the Old Faith in the Old Way. You have hanged many dear friends of mine whose souls I pray for.' He looked at her attentively. She had a supple, long body, a fair-tinted face, fair and reddish hair, and eyes that had a glint of almond green--but her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled. She was so intent upon speaking her mind that she had forgotten the pain of her arm. She thought that she must have said enough to anger this brewer's son. But he answered only: 'I think you have never been in the King's court'--and, from his tranquil manner, she realised very suddenly that this man was not the dirt beneath her feet.