Sir Miles would have liked to take the old folks by surprise, not announcing that they were likely to pay them a visit, but Lady Paton thought it would be better to send on a messenger, lest her father should be in attendance on the Court elsewhere; in which case her mother, or whoever was left in charge of the old home, might be prepared for them. And so, having secured a boat and sufficient rowers, Sir Miles insisted that they should have a good meal before starting on their next journey.
Fashions did not change very frequently in those days; but when they got into their boat about ten o'clock, and were fairly afloat, Lady Paton was startled to see that she and her children were attracting the attention of other ladies; and after a time she discovered that the fashion in ladies' dress had changed since she left home.
The morning was unusually warm for the time of year, and the two little girls had thrown aside their mufflers, and sat, with bared necks, while her own was scarcely less exposed when she loosened her cloak. But she saw that, although the occupants of other boats had likewise doffed their outer garments, their gowns were close-fitting, and reaching to the throat, or almost to the throat, and everyone had a neat, trim appearance, that rendered them conspicuous in their elegant, but old-fashioned garments. "We must put our cloaks on again," she whispered to her husband, glancing at the occupants of another boat close at hand.
"Aye, aye; I ought to have told you. I heard last night that the new Queen has brought in a new fashion. Queen Anne Boleyn brought other notions from the French Court, as well as what she deemed the right of every man to read the Bible in a language he can understand."
"Then this change of fashion in dress is part of the 'Reformation,' as father called it in his last letter. It is a long time since that came, Miles. I hope no trouble has befallen them, that we have not heard tidings of them for so long."
"Keep up a good heart, Cicely; we shall soon know all about them," said her husband, cheerfully; and remembering his host's warning, he would not encourage any talk about the Reformation, for fear some passing breeze should bear their words to other boats, or that the boatmen he had engaged to row them down the stream were also in the pay of some of Master Cromwell's agents, as spies, to pick up any stray evidence of disloyalty to the king.
Lady Paton felt very little inclination to discuss public affairs just now, for her heart was full at the old familiar sight of the river, with its boats and barges, and the pleasant gardens of the citizens sloping down to the bank of the stream; many a one with its own private boat, moored to the steps leading down to the water, and some already manned by the liveried rowers, waiting for the company to appear.
To the children the scene was delightful, and they were in no hurry to reach Greenwich, however anxious their mother was to see her old home once more. There were many reasons why Lady Paton should be anxious, for she was going among old friends,—and how would they receive her? Would they regard her marriage as unlawful, and meet her coldly and distantly? Or would they ignore the past, now that the reformed faith had been sanctioned by Parliament, and it was no longer a penal offence to possess and read a New Testament?
How would these changes, which had all come about while she had been living quietly at Woodstock, affect her now that she was venturing into the great world once more? It was not herself alone either that would be affected, for her mother would be terribly pained if their old friends should refuse to receive her. There was her husband, too, and the children. And as they drew nearer to the stately Palace of Placentia, standing among its green lawns and gardens on the river bank, she almost wished she had not ventured on the hazardous journey, but had been content to let her husband come alone, as he had first proposed to do.
She looked up into his face with a wistful gaze, as they drew near the landing-stage at Greenwich, and he, surmising something of what she was thinking, passed his arm tenderly round her, and bade the servants in attendance take care of the children, for Sir Miles knew by the way in which his wife was trembling that she would need all his care and attention for the next few minutes. No word was spoken between husband and wife, but Lady Paton felt strengthened and comforted, able to bear this revisiting of old scenes and old friends; and with a silent thanksgiving to God for this human love and friendship with which He had blessed her, she smiled through her tears as the boat bumped against the steps leading up from the water, and almost at the same moment she caught sight of her mother and father waiting to receive her just above.