“Beloved Father, my visit to the King was fruitless; he received me most coldly.”  The Abbe lifted her from her knees as she spoke, placing her beside him.  Her face was close to his, for the noise of the horses’ hoofs and the rattling of spurs and bits and the ever-rumbling thunder made speech difficult.  His face turned toward her was hid in the shadow of his cowl, and he drew the hood even closer as he answered,—­

“We feared it, mightily,” and his voice was barely heard above the noise.

“But it grieves me more than I can tell.”

“Nay.  Thou must not let it.”

“But it does, I cannot help it; and I see also thy disappointment, for thy hands tremble.”

“We have had much to unnerve us, and I am still under restraint.”

“I would thou hadst sent a better embassage!”

“We could not have found a fairer.”  At these words Mistress Penwick shrunk from him, remembering her disguise; which, though it was a custom of the time for one to go masqued when and where they pleased, upon whatsoever mission, yet she felt guilty to positive wickedness for having so cloaked her beauty, and did not the Father’s words imply that her charms should have won success?  For a moment she remained silent.  A flash of lightning fell broad through the open window.  She quickly glanced at Janet, who appeared to be asleep in her corner.  Katherine bent her face close to the Abbe’s and whispered,—­

“Father, might I not here make my confessions?  I would have come to thee at the monastery if it had been possible.  The confessional has not been open to me since I left the convent, and I feel I must confess.  I must now; for I know not when I shall be able again to have converse with a priest.  May I, Father?”

“’Tis a noisome, stormy night and thy nurse there—­”

“I will speak low, beside I care not if she does hear that that doth concern myself; for, indeed she understands me better than I understand myself.  Then I may speak, Father?”

“I will hear that I deem needful for the peace of thy soul; if perchance thy soul be wrought upon unhappily; and for sins innocently done I absolve thee already.”  Mistress Penwick half knelt by the cowled figure and placed her elbows upon his knees, and after saying the prayers of contrition leant her face close to his.

“I have been guilty of what I believe to be a very great sin.  Father, I disguised myself to go before the King!” She trembled and bent her head.  The priest’s voice was calm and unperturbed.

“And why didst thou that?”

“I heard ’twas an unsafe thing for a maid boasting of some fairness to visit the King.”

“Why so?”

“I have heard he keeps them for his own pleasure, allowing not their return.”

“And didst thou think we would have let thee go to him, had it not been safe?”

“But I thought, good Father, living as closely as thou dost, thou didst not know of the matters of the world, and I ventured to use my own judgment, meaning no harm.  But I will go to him unmasqued if thou dost appoint it so.  I intend to do so.  Shall I not?”