A FUNERAL, in the days of which we write, was a most portentous business. Friends and neighbours, and even strangers, came from near and far, and the kitchen spit was going day and night, to roast the huge joints for the funeral baked meats.
Among the motley crowd who came to honour his father's memory in this fashion, Miles had to live for nearly a fortnight, but he took care that neither his sister nor Cicely should be disturbed in their quiet retreat, and he had the satisfaction of seeing that, as the days went on, the frightened look faded out of Cicely's eyes, and she began to be more like the girl he had first met in that happy home at Greenwich.
Letters had been sent by both of them to Sir Harry and Lady Guildford, telling them of all that had happened, and begging that Sir Harry would visit them, if it was possible for him to leave his duties, under the plea of attending the funeral of a friend.
This plea did serve its purpose; and the day before the interment of Sir Thomas Paton, Sir Harry Guildford arrived, followed closely by a train of servants and sumpter mules, bringing wedding presents and wardrobe for Cicely. Lady Guildford realised the awkward position in which the young couple were placed, and she rightly thought that a visit from her father, and gifts from all her friends, would do more than anything else to set matters right in the eyes of servants and friends.
So the coming of Sir Harry was hailed with real pleasure by Miles and Master Clark too. He also brought news from Tyndale, for he had rested at the "Golden Fleece" on his way through the city, and had been told all about the great work going on there, on purpose that he might tell Miles. He had also brought letters for him from Master Tyndale and the merchant too—such cheerful, hopeful letters, that Miles thought he would like to throw his cap in the air and shout for joy.
Tyndale was making good progress with his translation of the New Testament, and the difficulties that had at first beset him were fast vanishing, thanks to the pains they had both taken in clearing up the first difficulties as they arose, and when they had the help of the Cardinal's library at hand.
This was a very real comfort to Miles, for he saw now clearly enough that his duty lay here in the country among his tenants; but he could scarcely have settled down to this, if he had thought that he was wanted by Tyndale for the larger duty of giving with him the New Testament to the people. So the visit of Sir Harry brought help and comfort without alloy, except that Miles had to give so much time and attention to other guests that he could not see as much of his old friend as he could wish.
But at last the elaborate funeral came to an end, and there were candles enough burned on the occasion to satisfy even Lady Paton, whose mind, now that she had been able to take in the fact that her husband had passed away, seemed to fasten itself upon this item of the funeral.
Of course, the old friends and fellow landlords of Miles' father had been lavish in their advice as what he ought to do now that he had succeeded to the old inheritance of the Patons. One and all agreed that whatever he had been able to save while in the service of the Cardinal should now be expended to replace the sheep his father had been compelled to part with, and that all the property should be turned into grazing land.
"I say this to you, Sir Miles, with all the authority of an old friend, who knew your father's mind fully in these matters," said one.