"As you like it. I have heard this and that of him from Mr. Hartlib who is a friend of that quarrelsome John Milton. Mr. Hartlib comes here frequent. He is full of inventions; only last night he brought Uncle Jevery one for taking a dozen copies of any writing at once, and this by means of moist paper and an ink he has made. I heard of Lord Cluny Neville, and of a hymn he has written which Mr. Milton has set to music. He talked as if it was fit for the heavenly choir. Something also was said about his marrying Mary Cromwell. Fancy these things! Marvels never cease." "The Lady Mary Cromwell may look much higher," answered Jane. "Lord Neville told us that his sword was his fortune." "The Lady Mary may see, if she looks at home, that a sword is a very good fortune. In these unholy wars, the faithful saints have given themselves the earth—that is the English earth—not to speak of Scotland and Ireland, and such trifles. Look at it, Jane, if you have any fancies the Neville way." "If I had, the Lady Mary would not trouble me. I have seen them together: and indeed I know that she has other dreams." "Perhaps she dreams of marrying the King, though he is a wicked malignant. ’Tis said she is the proudest minx of them all." "She would not say ’tush!’ to a queen." "The great Oliver may lay his ten commandments on her." "How you wrong him! His children have all been allowed to marry where their love led them. And I am sure if the Lady Mary and Lord Neville wished to marry, it would give his kind heart the greatest pleasure to make them happy. Do you think he loves riches or rank or honours or power? I declare to you that he cares not a fig for any of them." "Pray, then, what does he love?" "First and foremost, he loves England. He loves England with every breath he draws. England is the word graven on the palms of his hands; it was the word that made his sword invincible. He loves the Protestant faith, which he holds one with all religious and civil freedom. These two things run with his life blood. He loves his wife and children better than himself; he loves all mankind—even Jews and Quakers—so well that he would make them share alike in all that Freedom means." "And he hates——" "Every soul that hates England; every dealer in priestcraft or tyranny; every false heart, whether it beat in prince or ploughman." "I thank my Maker he loves not me." "But he does love you." "Let him keep his regard until I ask for it." "That you may do at some time. ’Tis not wise to throw dirt into the well from which you may have to drink."