"Then, in very deed," resumed Isabel, warming with her subject, "thou shouldst have chance to make good alliance for Nib and Dickon, and see them well set in fair estate." "Ah!--and then?" "Why, then thou mayest match thy grandchildre yet better," answered Isabel, laughing. "And after all, Isabel," returned Custance, in a manner much graver than was usual with her, "there abideth yet one further _then_--death, and God's judgment." "Holy Mary aid us!--avaunt with such thoughts!" "Canst thou avaunt with such thoughts, child?" said Custance, with a heavy sigh. "Ah me! they come unbidden, when the shadows of night be over the soul, and the thick darkness hath closed in upon the life. And I, at the least, have no spell to bid them avaunt. If holy Mary aid thee in that avoidment, 'tis more than she doth for me." Isabel seemed at a loss for a reply. "I have had no lack of time for thought, fair Cousin, while I yonder lay. And the thought would not away,--when we stand together, I and Harry of Bolingbroke, at that Bar of God's judgment, shall I desire in that day that I had said ay or nay to him now?" "Forsooth, Custance, I am not thy confessor. These be priests' matters--not gear for women like thee and me." "What, child! is thy soul matter for the priest's concernment only? Is it not rather matter for thee--thee by thyself, beyond all priests that be? Thou and the priest may walk handed [walk hand in hand] up to that Bar, but methinks he will be full fain to leave thee to bide the whipping." "Nay, in very deed, Custance, thou art a Lollard, else hadst thou never spoken no such a thing!" "What, be Lollards the only men that have a care for their own souls? But be it as thou wilt--what will it matter _then_? Isabel, in good sooth I have sins enough to answer for, neither will I by my good-will add thereto. And if it be no sin to stand up afore God and men, and swear right solemnly unto His dread face that I did not that which I did before His sun in Heaven--good lack! I do marvel what sin may be. There is no such thing as sin, if it be no sin to swear to a lie!" "But, Custance, the King's Highness asketh not thee to deny that thou wert wed unto my Lord of Kent, but only to allow openly that the same were not good in law." "Can a law go backwards-way?" "Fair Cousin, the priest was excommunicate afore." "God wot if he were!" said Custance shrewdly. "Bishops use not to leave their letters tarry two months on the road, child. There have been riddles writ ere now; ay, and black treachery done--by shaven crowns too. Canst thou crede that story? 'Tis more than I can." "Custance, I do ensure thee, the King's Grace sware into me his own self, by the holy Face of Lucca, and said, if thou didst cast any doubt of the same, my Lord Archbishop should lay to pledge his corporal oath thereon."