The Archbishop had delayed his further journey for the sake of the dying Countess, whom he wished to see again, especially if his influence could induce her son to come to her. He now addressed himself to Mr Altham. "Master Altham, as I guess?" he asked, pleasantly. Mr Altham rose, as in duty bound, in honour to a priest, and a priest who, as he dimly discerned by his canonicals, was not altogether a common one. "He, and your humble servant, holy Father." "You be uncle, I count, of my cousin Amphillis here?" "Sir! Amphillis your cousin!" "Amphillis is my cousin," was the quiet answer; "and I am the Archbishop of York." To say that Mr Altham was struck dumb with amazement would be no figure of speech. He stared from the Archbishop to Amphillis, and back again, as if his astonishment had fairly paralysed his powers, that of sight only excepted; and had not Regina roused him from his condition of helplessness by an exclamation of "_Ach, heilige, Maria_!" there is no saying how long he might have stood so doing. "Ay, Uncle," said Amphillis, with a smile; "this is my Lord elect of York, and he is pleased to say that my father was his kinsman." "And if it serve you, Master Altham," added the Archbishop, "I would fain have a privy word with you touching this my cousin." Mr Altham's reply was two-fold. "Saints worshipped might they be!" was meant in answer to Amphillis. Then, to the Archbishop, he hastily continued, "Sir, holy Father, your Grace's most humble servant! I hold myself at your Grace's bidding, whensoever it shall please your Grace." "That is well," said the Archbishop, smiling. "We will have some talk this evening, if it serve you." CHAPTER SIXTEEN. THE REQUEST GRANTED. "It is not love that steals the heart from love: 'Tis the hard world, and its perplexing cares; Its petrifying selfishness, its pride, its low ambition, and its paltry aims." Caroline Bowles. Lady Basset fulfilled her promise of writing to her brother, and sent her own squire with the letter. It was uncertain where the Duke might be, and consequently how long the journey might take. The messenger was instructed to seek him first at Windsor, and to be guided in his further movements by what he might hear there. No time was lost, for the squire set out on his journey that very evening.