“Ah me!” exclaimed Bertram regretfully.
“Master Calverley,” said Maude, looking up, “do me to wit, of your goodness, if you wot any thing touching the Lady Avice de Narbonne?”
“But so much,” answered he, “that she hath taken veil upon herself in the Minoresses’ convent at Aldgate, and is, I do hear, accounted of the sisters a right holy and devout woman.”
“Marry, I am well fain to hear so good news,” said Maude.
“Good news, Mistress Maude! forsooth, were I lover or kinsman of the fair lady, I would account them right evil news,” commented Bertram, in a tone of some surprise.
“Methinks I conceive what Mistress Maude signifieth,” quietly observed Hugh. “She accounteth that the Lady Avice shall find help and comfort in the Minoresses’ house.”
“Ay, in very deed,” said Maude, “the which methinks she could never have found without.”
“God have it so!” answered Hugh, gently. “Yet I trust, Mistress Maude, that our Lord may be found without convent cell, as lightly (easily) as within it.”
“Be these all thy news, sweet Hugh?” inquired Bertram. “Is nought at work in the outer world?”
“Matters be reasonable peaceful at this present. But methinks King Henry sitteth not over delightsomely on his throne, seeing he hath captivated (captured) the four childre of my sometime Lord of March, and shut them close in the Castle of Windsor.”