Perrote was silent, but her face took a resolute expression, which Sir Godfrey had learned to his annoyance. When the "bothering old woman" looked like that, she generally bothered him before he was much older. And Sir Godfrey, like many others of his species, detested being bothered. He soon found that fate remembered him. As he was going up to bed that night, he found Perrote waiting for him on the landing. "Sir, pray you a word," said she. Sir Godfrey stood sulkily still. "If my Lord Duke be now in England, should he not know that his mother is near her end?" "How am I to send to him, trow?" growled the custodian. "I wis not where he is." "A messenger could find out the Court, Sir," answered Perrote. "And it would comfort her last days if he came." "And if he refused?" Perrote's dark eyes flashed fire. "Then may God have mercy on him!--if He have any mercy for such a heartless wretch as he should so be." "Keep a civil tongue in your head, Perrote de Carhaix," said Sir Godfrey, beginning to ascend the upper stair. "You see, your poor priests are no good. You'd better be quiet." Perrote stood still, candle in hand, till he disappeared. "I will be silent towards man," she said, in a low voice; "but I will pour out mine heart as water before the face of the Lord. The road toward Heaven is alway open: and they whom men beat back and tread down are the most like to win ear of Him. Make no tarrying, O my God!" CHAPTER TWELVE. WHEREIN SUNDRY PEOPLE ACT FOOLISHLY. "Why for the dead, who are at rest? Pray for the living, in whose breast The struggle between right and wrong Is raging terrible and strong." Longfellow. Amphillis Neville was a most unsuspicious person. It never occurred to her to expect any one to do what, in his place, she would not have done; and all that she would have done was so simple and straightforward, that scheming of every sort was an impossible idea, until suggested by some one else. She was consequently much surprised when Perrote said one evening-- "Phyllis, I could find in mine heart to wish thy cousin had tarried hence." The discovery of Ricarda's deception was the only solution of this remark which presented itself to Amphillis, but her natural caution stood her in good stead, and she merely inquired her companion's meaning. "Hast not seen that she laboureth to catch Master Hylton into her net?"