"Yes, as a foresworn nun, whom all men will despise," said Sir Harry, in a tone of bitterness.
Miles stared at him as though he did not understand. "Do you wish your daughter to languish out her days in this convent that is but little better than a prison? I believe that women as well as men, can serve God better in doing the work of the world, be it ever so humble, than in being shut away from their fellows to brood and pine for the sunlight of God's love, and human love, which is as sunlight in this dark world. No! no! Sir Harry, I must fight for the sunlight now—fight for it for my Cicely as well as for myself. You have given me something to work and strive for, and with it has come the strength. We may have to wait long and work hard, before we can hope to see each other again; but from this hour I shall hope, and that will nerve me to struggle against all difficulties. Now will you tell me all you know about the convent. If I may not see my Cicely, I may at least look upon the roof that covers her."
But Sir Harry feared that Miles would commit some rash deed in his present temper—climb the convent wall perhaps, and bring trouble and disgrace upon Cicely as well as upon himself.
So instead of telling him just where the convent was situated, he persuaded him to go back with him to the Palace of Placentia at once, as he had heard the Cardinal enquiring for one of his secretaries before he left.
Miles had little fear that he was the secretary wanted, but still he was specially desirous of pleasing his master just now, and so he readily gave up the idea of going to the convent, and returned to the palace with the King's controller, talking, as they went, of the steps that must be taken, if Cicely was to be rescued before the first year of her novitiate was at an end.
Sir Harry was in favour of approaching the Queen and laying the whole matter before her, while Miles thought it would be wiser to seek the counsel and help of his master. As Cardinal Legate he would have the power to grant a dispensation dissolving the preliminary vows already taken, and the sooner the business could be set on foot the better.
Miles knew, though he did not tell his friend, that his master would be ready to do anything that was likely to vex the Queen; for the Papal Crown had again eluded his grasp, mainly through the duplicity of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, the nephew of the Queen; and great as he was, the Cardinal was not above paying off such slights and affronts. And so to hear that Cicely was one of the Queen's ladies, who had been half forced, half persuaded, to enter the convent by the Queen, would powerfully aid in getting her out again, if the Cardinal was to be the person approached upon the subject.
So, without stating the reason why he thought so, Miles said he was sure the Cardinal would be more ready to help them on Cicely's behalf than the Queen was likely to be; and so it was settled that Miles should seek an opportunity of laying the whole matter before his master.