She wept, and I could not forbear weeping with her, and trying to comfort her.
"Dear Mistress Patience," said I; "Queen Katherine was a Christian woman and trusted in her Saviour, who is all pity and compassion. Think you he loves her less than you do?"
"No," said she, wonderingly, "I suppose not."
"Would he not love her just as much more than you, as he is greater than you—that is, infinitely?"
"Yes, belike He does. What then?"
"Then—do not be angry, dear lady—but would He leave her in such a dreadful place, because some one did not do what was impossible. The Scripture saith that his blood cleanseth us from all sin. What need then of any further cleansing?"
She looked doubtfully on me, and I had to leave her at that time; but the next morning, as I took my knitting, she said, abruptly:
"Mistress Loveday, is what you said yesterday—about cleansing from sin—is that in the Bible? I mean the true Latin Bible, not that which the heretics have put forth."
"It is, indeed," I answered.
She sighed. "I wish I could read it," said she; "but I was never good at Latin, and now my eyes are failed, so I can scarce read English."