There was a settled conviction in the minds of all of the Assistants, that the Lady Geraldine was other than she seemed; and the conclusion they had arrived at concerning her were not of a nature to operate favorably for the Knight.  The memorandum in the note-book was also considered weighty evidence.  It was recollected, that long before suspicions were conceived concerning Sir Christopher, and when he stood highest in the favor of the principal inhabitants, he had, in speaking of his travels in foreign parts, mentioned that he was at the very place where, and at the time when the scapula was assumed; and his ascribing the reference to another, was regarded as only an awkward attempt at deception.  It was thought plainly to betray him as a member of a religious order among the Roman Catholics.  Winthrop himself was of that opinion, and that, without more, was sufficient to support an unfavorable decision.  The idea of having covert Papists lurking in their midst was not to be tolerated, and, by whatever means, they were to be got rid of.  Allusion was made to his embassy to the Taranteens, and services rendered on that and other occasions, but they were deemed insufficient to neutralize his guilt; yet, in consideration of those services, they forbore to inflict any severe punishment.  The sentence of the Council was, that both the Knight and lady should be sent back to England in the next ship, and forbidden to return.

“All England shall ring with the report of your injustice,” cried Sir Christopher, when the decision was announced.  “Ye do yourselves more wrong than me, and the time will come when ye shall hang your heads with shame for the deed.  Ye have power, it is true, to extrude me from this new world, but my presence will be a bane to you in the old.  I go with solemn protest against your violence.”

“Enough,” said Winthrop, rising with dignity, “of threats which we notice not, because we are above them.  The men who are founding an empire, whose future extent and power human sagacity cannot limit, and who, for the sake of present liberty of thought and action, and of prospective blessings for their descendants, have renounced and count as naught the vanities of this world, fear no arm of flesh.  Their shield is the Lord of Hosts.  This Council is dissolved.”

CHAPTER XXXVI.

  “To feel that we adore
    With such refined excess,
  That though the heart would burst with more,
    We could not live with less.”

  MOORE.

Fair rose the morn of the day which was to unite the destinies of Miles Arundel and of Eveline Dunning, as if to make some amends for the clouds which had attended the progress of their affection.