“It must come, if the Queen continue as she hath begun,” answered he, in a low voice. “It may not be for long, if the Lord only try us, to humble us, and to prove us, whether we will keep His commandments or no: it may be for all this life. Beyond this life, it cannot be. The keys of Heaven and earth are in the hands of Jesus Christ, not in those of Mary Tudor!”
No more was said for that time. The friends clasped hands and parted.
But when Isoult and John had their quiet talk together, she found that he had already been thinking on the subject; and had conversed with Robin.
“I did somewhat marvel,” she admitted, “seeing the three years for the which Mr Rose did covenant were run out in June, that Robin made no motion thereunto. But verily I did think he should speak the first.”
“He hath spoken, dear heart,” said John, “and I did entreat him to await a season the upshot of this matter, till we should see who should succeed the King, and what manner of government we were like to fall under. And I pressed him with much of the same reasoning that (as I hear) Mr Rose hath given thee.”
“And what saith he touching his priesthood?”
“I think he hardly knew what to say.”
When all else had gone to bed, John and Isoult took Robin aside, and John told him what Mr Rose had said. Robin’s eyes filled with tears.
“Then,” said he, “it comes to this; I must either give up mine orders, or give up—”
He uttered not, nor did they need, the name of Thekla Rose.