The lady bent her head with due reverence, and then asked eagerly: 

“And when does the fishing smack sail?”

Sir Oliver shook his head impatiently.

“Not for full fourteen days:  it had but just come into port, and there be much merchandise to unlade and lade again.  The skipper was an honest fellow, and a true-hearted man to boot.  He would not take my gold, but said his passenger should bring it with him when he came; for he knew there was a chance he might not contrive to come, and he would not receive aught for services he might never have power to render.  But he knows his business, and once safe on board the sloop our fugitive will be safe enow.  But not till it be almost ready for sea—­not till the skipper could weigh anchor at a moment’s notice.  He himself said he must not come aboard till the last moment.  Were any hue and cry to be made after him, any vessel in port would be certain to be searched.  How to keep him safe for these fourteen—­nay, it is but twelve days now—­is the thing that is perplexing me.  Until the close of the appointed week naught will be done; but there will be one long week after that which will tax our resources to the utmost.  And this summons from the prior makes the whole question the more difficult.”

“And the boys say that the house is being watched.  Hast not heard as much?  There be spies from the priory posted round and about.  All the gates are watched.  Edred thinks it is to strive to seize Brother Emmanuel should he venture forth from the shelter of the walls.

“I like not the thought of all those prying eyes.  My husband, these be strange times in which we dwell.”

Sir Oliver’s face was dark and thoughtful.

“Ay, verily they be.  How can men wonder that the ignorant and unlearned turn with loathing and scorn from such crooked and cowardly ways?—­

“How now, Julian?  Hast learned the cause of this ado?  What says the lay brother?  Hast thou sounded him with care and with all due caution?”

Julian and Edred came in together.  Julian looked flushed and excited, Edred pale and thoughtful, and his eyes were glowing with a strange fire.

“Ay, verily, we have found it all out,” cried the younger boy, with eager excitement of manner.  “Methinks it will be a fine sight.  Father, hast heard of the thing which men call the ’Great Abjuration’—­was not that the name, Edred?”

The elder boy made a sign of assent.

“It is for the heretics and Lollards,” pursued Julian eagerly.  “It hath been done before in many places, and here it is to be done two days from hence.  All those persons who are suspected of heresy, or have been found guilty, are to be called before the lord prior and the Lord of Mortimer, and they will be bidden to abjure all their false doctrines publicly.  The whole village will be assembled to hear them recant; high and low, rich and poor, all are to meet together in the great quadrangle of