The bells of the convent had begun to ring for lauds, but it was only
twilight when they reached the wall of Lambert's garden of herbs,
where there was a little door that yielded to Ridley's push. The
house was still closed, and hoar frost lay on the leaves, but Grisell
proposed to hide herself in the little shed which served the purpose
of tool-house and summer-house till she could make her entrance. She
felt sure of a welcome, and almost constrained Cuthbert to leave her,
so as to return to the Tower early enough to avert suspicion--an
easier matter as the men-at-arms were given to sleeping as late as
they could. He would make an errand to the Apothecary's as soon as
he could, so as to bring intelligence.
There sat Grisell, looking out on the brightening sky, while the
blackbirds and thrushes were bursting into song, and sweet odours
rising from the spring buds of the aromatic plants around, and a
morning bell rang from the great monastery church. With that she saw
the house door open, and Master Lambert in a fur cap and gown turned
up with lambs'-wool come out into the garden, basket in hand, and
chirp to the birds to come down and be fed.
It was pretty to see how the mavis and the merle, the sparrow,
chaffinch, robin, and tit fluttered round, and Grisell waited a
moment to watch them before she stepped forth and said, "Ah! Master
Groot, here is another poor bird to implore your bounty.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163