how constance passed her time in lambeth palace.
the good cardinal acted up to his promise in regard to constance. an apartment was assigned her in a wing of the palace overlooking the garden, and that nothing might be wanting to her comfort, search was made for her old attendant, dorcas, whose retreat being discovered, without much difficulty, by rodomont, she was brought to the palace, and reinstated in her former position with her young mistress.
ever since the night when constance had been carried off to the lollards’ tower, the poor old woman had been inconsolable. her joy, therefore, on finding her young mistress again, may be imagined. she strained her to her breast with all a mother’s affection, wept over her, and could scarcely cease her demonstrations of regard. the cardinal, who witnessed the meeting, was much touched by it, but at last deemed it proper to moderate the old woman’s transports of delight. but this only turned the tide of her gratitude upon him. she fell down at his feet, embraced his knees, and prayed that his goodness might be rewarded.
treated with paternal kindness and consideration by the cardinal, constance could not but feel profound gratitude towards him; and as the virtues of his character became more fully revealed to her, she began to regard him with feelings akin to veneration.
they had frequent discourses together on points of faith, 244and, though constance’s adherence to the new doctrines remained unshaken, she listened with attention to the cardinal’s able and profound exposition of the tenets of the church of rome. the differences between their respective creeds appeared slighter than she had at first supposed, and if all romish priests and prelates were like the cardinal, lived as he lived, and taught as he taught, she felt that there might, indeed, be one universal church.
the calmness of pole’s manner, the clearness of his judgment, his profound theological learning, contrasted strongly with the fanaticism and fiery zeal of derrick carver, who had as little toleration for the romanists as they had for him. her mind, over-excited by the stimulative discourses of the enthusiast, acquired a healthier tone from the exhortations of the cardinal, and she felt like one who had recovered from a fever.
perfectly resigned to her position, strengthened in all her good resolutions by pole, and allowed the free exercise of her own religious opinions, she became composed and cheerful, and, if not quite happy, was at least free from despondency. her personal appearance improved in the same ratio, and, ere many weeks had flown, she had quite recovered her beauty. her life might appear dull and monotonous, but its very monotony was not without a charm to her, who from early years had meditated the seclusion of a convent. caring little for the world, or its pleasures and vanities, she was well content with her present existence, and scarcely desired to change it. not that the cardinal’s palace, with its princely establishment, its numerous and important guests, was devoid of the stir and bustle of active life, but in this she took no part. she did not mingle with the household, and was never seen by the cardinal’s numerous guests.
the garden was open to her, with its long terraces, its alleys and groves, and therein she took her walks at morn. at such times she often met pole and priuli, and discoursed with them. in argument priuli displayed the same moderation and clearness of judgment as his friend, though he did not equal him in profundity of intellect or learning. perhaps pole was disappointed that he did not produce a more sensible impression upon his pupil, and bring her to express contrition for her errors, and a desire for reconciliation with 245the church of rome, but he did not manifest any impatience; still less did he employ harshness or threats. attendance at the chapel at matins or evensong, or during the celebration of mass, was not compulsory on constance, nor was she forced to assist at any of the rites or observances of the church of rome.
not unfrequently the cardinal spoke to her of osbert clinton, and held out to her, as he had done to her lover, the hope of a meeting at some future day.
shortly after constance’s partial restoration to freedom, the cardinal dispatched rodomont to southampton to acquaint master tyrrell with the steps he had taken in his daughter’s behalf, and inviting him to come and see her.
rodomont would fain have brought the old merchant back with him, but tyrrell declined. his anger against constance had not yet abated. unless she renounced her errors, she need not hope to see him again, he declared. he left her entirely in the lord cardinal’s hands, satisfied that if her conversion could be accomplished it would be by his eminence. the old merchant, it was clear, was so apprehensive of being implicated with his daughter, and suspected of heretical pravity himself, that he was resolved not to go near her.
rodomont seized the opportunity of ascertaining his sentiments in regard to her union with osbert clinton. but on this point the old merchant was equally obstinate. “i will not consent to her marriage—i will not give her my blessing—i will not see her till she recants, and returns to the faith of her forefathers,” he cried. “then she shall be my daughter once more.”
“it is well for her that she has found a father in the cardinal, since her own father deserts her in her need,” observed rodomont.
“why, what would you have me do?” cried tyrrell.
“go see her! comfort her! persuade her to conform,” rejoined rodomont.
“and be suspected of heresy, and cited before the ecclesiastical commissioners—mayhap burnt before my own door,” said tyrrell. “no, i thank you. i mean to keep out of harm’s way.”
“well, if you can reconcile such conduct to your conscience, 246i have no more to say,” observed rodomont; “except, that if you escape burning in this world, you stand a good chance of burning in the next. so you positively decline to go back with me to lambeth palace—eh?”
“positively,” replied tyrrell. “as a good catholic, the cardinal will applaud my conduct.”
“there you are mistaken,” rejoined rodomont. “you little understand his eminence, if you suppose him dead to the feelings of human nature, as you appear to be. he can but entertain one opinion of your conduct—disgust.” so saying he left him.
on his return to lambeth palace, rodomont informed the cardinal what had passed between himself and master tyrrell. pole could scarcely credit the relation, so astounded was he at the old merchant’s extraordinary indifference to his daughter. however, the effect produced upon him by tyrrell’s stoical conduct, was to increase the fatherly concern he already felt in constance, and make him more anxious than ever for her conversion.
how he prospered in his efforts we have already seen.
