"The obligation hath been mutual, my dear," said Mistress Davis. "I do not know what the children will say, especially Bess and Helen."
"And you will let me know so soon as you hear from mine uncle," said I.
"Yes, indeed," answered Master Davis, but he sighed and the sigh was echoed by his wife.
I knew that he had little hope of ever hearing from Gabriel Corbet again. Those were days (as they are still abroad) when a man could easily drop out of sight and never be found or heard of again.
I have thought since that one reason why Master Davis was so ready to let me go, was a consideration for mine own safety. The Duke of Suffolk was in great favor with Henry, and was, indeed, his brother-in-law as well as god-father to the little Prince Edward, and he was one of the few men who dared cross the King's humor now and then. Gardiner hated him, but he was rather too high a quarry for that foul kite to fly at, bold as he was in those days.
[CHAPTER IX.]
HER GRACE.
THE next day at noon, which was the time appointed by Mistress Curtis, my aunt and I presented ourselves at the great new mansion which the Duke of Suffolk had built for himself in Southwarke, over against the church of St. George. This house came afterward into the king's possession, and is now used as a mint for the coinage of money. I had passed the house more than once and admired its ornaments, little thinking that I should ever live there.
The porter was at the door, and seemed to have been expecting us, for he called another man, who led us up the great stairway, and through a grand gallery all hung with weapons, bright armor and pictures, to a parlor, where Mistress Curtis met us and conducted us without delay to the withdrawing-room of the duchess. The room was a small one, but so beautiful with silken hangings, Turkish rugs and other ornaments, that it was like a casket prepared for some precious jewel; and wonderful, indeed, was the jewel it enshrined.