"But, Mother," said Reginald, "what can you do for so many?"
"Do!" she answered. "I will feed their bodies and souls; I will teach them and I will preach to them, if perchance I may save but one soul alive."
"And who will care for you, Mother?" asked Ann.
"The Lord," answered Mistress Newbolt, "He will care for me."
Tears were pouring down Ann's face.
"Ah, Mother, you will surely need someone," she said. "I will tend you, I will love you, I will care for you; my heart tells me this is my work. We will leave this great house. We will take just two rooms without the prison gates; you can do your work and I will do mine. When you are weary you can rest, and I will tend you. Shall it not be so, Reginald?" And she turned to her brother.
"Ann speaks wisely, Mother," said Reginald. "Let her remain with you."
"I will not hinder you, Mother," said Ann; "I will help you. To Newbolt we cannot go, because you know my father has willed that we should not dwell there."
"In any case," said Reginald, "I doubt if we shall keep it long. The king's greed is great; he would not have suffered us to remain. Doubtless, now that my father is dead, he will take it in payment for the fine which would have been imposed."
"Then sell it at once, and give the money to my poor," said his mother.