“No—no,” she said, ashamed of her doubt. “I do not wish to know; I can wait.”
“I will tell you,” said Ralph. He went and sat down in the chair opposite, crossing his legs.
“It is about the Visitation of the Religious Houses. I am to go with the Visitors in September.”
Beatrice felt a sudden and rather distressed interest; but she showed no sign of it.
“Ah, yes!” she said softly, “and what will be your work?”
Ralph was reassured by her tone.
“We are to go to the southern province. I am with Dr. Layton’s party. We shall make enquiries of the state of Religion, how it is observed and so forth; and report to Master Cromwell.”
Beatrice looked down in a slightly side-long way.
“I know what you are thinking,” said Ralph, his tone a mixture of amusement and pride. She looked up silently.
“Yes I knew it was so,” he went on, smiling straight at her. “You are wondering what in the world I know about Religious Houses. But I have a brother—”