"If it lay in mine hands, Father, it should surely be to mar," said Lawrence with much feeling. "I am thankful it is in God's hands, to whom I have given it, and He shall make thereof whatsoever He will."
"But you must needs have desires and wishes thereunto, my son."
"Aye, I have so," and a slight sigh accompanied the words. "Whether they shall ever behold their fulfilment I think greatly to doubt."
"Think you to abide with my Lady Countess?"
"Not so, if our Lord be served[#] otherwise."
[#] If it be His will.
"Then what mean you? To enter other service, or to go to the wars, or what so?"
"So far as mine own liking goeth, methinks, neither."
"I have alway counted you a man of peace, Lawrence," said Mr. Robesart, with a smile which betrayed rather more amusement than was indicated by his words.
"Aye so, to mine own pleasure," was the reply. "But they which best love peace be not alway suffered to pursue it."