Sir Ralf added assurances that he would watch over the maiden like
his own daughter, and would take the utmost care of the faith and
good order of all within his household. Curll also wrote by order of
his mistress a formal application for the young lady, to which Mary
had added in her own hand, "I thank the good Master Richard and Mrs.
Susan beforehand, for I know they will not deny me."

Refusal was, of course, impossible to a mother who had every right to
claim her own child; and there was nothing to be done but to fix the
time for setting off: and Cicely, who had by this time read her own
letter, or at least all that was on the surface, looked up tremulous,
with a strange frightened gladness, and said, "Mother, she needs me."

"I shall shortly be returning home," said Antony, "and shall much
rejoice if I may be one of the party who will escort this fair
maiden."

"I shall take my daughter myself on a pillion, sir," said Richard,
shortly.

"Then, sir, I may tell my Lord that you purpose to grant this
request," said Will Cavendish, who had expected at least some time to
be asked for deliberation, and knew his mother would expect her
permission to be requested.

"I may not choose but do so," replied Richard; and then, thinking he
might have said too much, he added, "It were sheer cruelty to deny
any solace to the poor lady."

"Sick and in prison, and balked by her only son," added Susan, "one's