He was so torn by contending emotions that he scarcely understood what his chief was saying for the next minute or two. He returned to his seat, and resumed the cutting of the quill for writing his list of the novices, and then, as he gradually grew calm, he heard Master Baldock say, "You will summon the other novice, Cicely Guildford, to our presence."
The Lady-Superior started when she heard the name, and even Miles—who knew him to be one of the Cardinal's most trusted secretaries—was amazed at the calm assurance with which he pronounced her name, until his next words unravelled the mystery.
"How do you know the maiden you name has found a shelter in this house?" demanded the Mother.
"Because I have seen her. I have known her from a child, and am the bearer of a message from her parents, which the Cardinal has commanded me to deliver."
The lady looked greatly disturbed for a moment, but at length she said, "I will fetch this Cicely Guildford, since you are set upon seeing her; but I pray you be gentle in your questioning of her, for she is not over strong, and hath been ill of late."
"Do not fear that we shall be rough in our questioning, and be not long absent, for I am not of the most patient mind, and already you have sorely hindered me in my master's work."
The lady nodded, and withdrew, and Miles took the opportunity of asking his friend if he thought he should know Mistress Cicely. "You have seen her among the Queen's ladies, of course, but are you sure you would know my Cicely?" said Miles, earnestly, but in a whisper.
"Be content; Cicely is my sister's child, and I never forget a face I have once seen," answered Master Baldock, in a reassuring whisper.
They were kept waiting for some few minutes, but at last the Mother came back, leading by the hand a girl, who looked timidly up at the two men seated at the table in the middle of the room. The girl was attired in the dress of a novice, but one glance at her face assured both of them that it was not Cicely, and Master Baldock said, in a stern tone, "Look at me, and tell me your true name. You are not Cicely Guildford," and the man fastened his eyes on the girl's face, as if to compel her to speak the truth.
The plan succeeded. "I am Amy Taylor," she said, in a faltering tone, not daring to look at the Mother-Superior, who stood at the back of her.