BEFORE Mistress Marvin went home, she arranged to come and spend the following day with her sister, to help her to plan out, with the aid of Lady Guildford's sewing-maid, the alterations in her own and the children's dresses. For Sir Miles commended the neat and sensible alteration that had been effected in the fashion of ladies' clothes; and as it was taken as a sort of badge that the wearer had embraced the reformed opinions and teachings, why, there was every reason that his wife should follow this new fashion, he said.
To have Cicely thus fully occupied at home would also fit in with his own plans, for he was anxious now to remove his servants from the hostelry at Westminster with as little delay as possible, for fear their talk of his affairs should bring them all into trouble at some future time. "There is no telling what the witless knaves may say with this London ale and mead in their pates, and so the sooner I have them here under mine own eye the safer it will be for all of us," said the gentleman, when talking the matter over with Sir Harry Guildford.
"Yes; bring them all down here, certainly," said his father-in-law. "You must make a long stay with us now you are here, and it will be better in every way to have the knaves where they can be controlled."
"We will stay over May-day," said Sir Miles. "Cicely stipulated that she should see the old games once more before we left home."
"Well, she shall see all the fun and frolic there is, but there is some change in this fashion too. Those of us who favour the new opinions, think there was too much licence in these games, and so a few things have been lopped off, to the great disgust of the poorer folk, who can only enjoy the rougher and coarser play."
"Ah, and there is something to be said for them," answered Sir Miles. "I have learned many lessons since I have lived among my people, and not apart from them. These games, which we have outgrown since we have learned to exercise our brains on the problems of the Church and the rule of the Pope, are still a necessary part of a man's life, if he lives by the work of his hands, and his brain has but a small share in the exercise. So now, I am trying both exercises for my varlets, encouraging the old races and wrestlings for the strengthening of the body, while giving them some relief to exercise their minds upon. No, no; it will not do for the poor varlets to be deprived of their May-day and holiday games; and so, prithee, let it be known, that I will give a prize for wrestling and racing, among the serving men and maids, and we will all be present to see the sport."
Sir Harry Guildford laughed. "I see you are as independent as ever. I am afraid your kindness will not be appreciated by some of our reformed friends, but Walter Marvin will be greatly pleased when he hears of what you are going to do."
"Why? How is that?" asked Sir Miles.
"Oh! just another sign of the change that seems to be working in men and all that concerns them. Those who hold to the Church in all things, and see no need for reform, are in favour of the old pastimes and holidays; while the Queen, and many of the reformers who gather round her, do all that in them lies to discourage these, and I expect to hear soon that the old saint days and holidays are to be lessened in number, for many are now saying it takes a man too much from his work to have so much time to play."
Sir Miles shook his head. "There is not too much playtime if it is used wisely, and men give their whole heart to their work when it is working-time. This has been a hard lesson to teach my knaves, but they have begun to see the worth of it, and winter and summer we work in working-time, and play when the holidays come, and we are all the better for it."