human
Why, my dear heart, what do you here?
gpt
Truly, I know not, the youthful visitor answered.
human
I set forth to go down the stairs, and missed the right turning, as I guess. But pray you, Rebecca, ere you set me in the way, tell me of whom are these two pictures?
gpt
Why, said she,
human
Oh, then it is Grandfather when he was young. But who is this, Rebecca? It looks like an angel, but angels are never sick, and she seems to be lying sick.
gpt
There be angels not yet in Heaven, Mistress Lettice, softly answered the old servant.
human
And if you were to live to the age of Methuselah, you'd never see a portrait of one nearer the angels than this. 'Tis a picture that old Squire--Mistress Joyce's father--would have taken, nigh sixty years since, of our angel, our Mistress Anstace, when she was none so many weeks off the golden gate. They set forth with her in a litter for London town, and what came back was her coffin, and that picture.
gpt
Was she like that?
human
She was, and she was not, said old Rebecca.
gpt
Them that knew her might be minded of her. She was like nothing in this world. But, my dear heart, I hear Mrs Edith calling for you. Here be the stairs, and the Credence Chamber, where supper is laid, is the first door on your left after you reach the foot.
human
Nay, said she;
gpt
I would he were. We have a new lord and new laws, the which do commonly go together.
human
What manner of lord?
gpt
And what make of laws?
human
Bad, the pair of them,
gpt
Why, is he a gamester or drunkard?
human
Or a dumb dog that cannot bark?
gpt
Well, I'd fain have him a bit dumber, was Aunt Joyce's answer.
human
At least, I wish he'd dance a bit less.
gpt
Dance!
human
Well! said Aunt Joyce,
gpt
But where doth he this? said Lady Louvaine:
human
Dear heart! in the church.
gpt
But for why?
human
Prithee ask at him, for I can ne'er tell thee.
gpt
Did you ne'er ask him, Aunt?
human
For sure did I, and gat no answer that I could make aught of: only some folly touching Catholic practice, and the like. And, `Master Twinham,' said I, `I know not well what you would be at, but I can tell you, I lived through the days of Queen Mary, and, if that be what you mean by Catholic practices, they are practices we don't want back again.' Well, he mumbled somewhat about being true to the Church, and such like: but if he be an honest man, my shoes be made of Shrewsbury sweet bread. We tumbled all such practices out of the Church, above forty years gone; and what's more, we'll not stand to have them brought in again, though there be some may try.
gpt
They will not bring any such folly in while the Queen liveth, I guess,
human
Amen! but the Queen, God bless her! is seventy this year.
gpt
Would you have her live for ever, Aunt Joyce?
human
Would she could! she answered.
gpt
As to this fellow, I know not what he'll be at next. He told me to my face that a Papist was better than a Puritan. `Well, Mr Twinham,' said I, `you may be a Papist, but I am a Puritan, and there I tarry till I find somewhat better.'
human
Why, Joyce! said Lady Louvaine, smiling,
gpt
No, I wasn't, said she.
human
But I tell you, Lettice, there be things human nature cannot bear. A clean white surplice and Christ's Gospel is one thing, and a purple vestment and an other Gospel is another. And if I'm to swallow the purple vestment along with the white surplice, I'll have neither. As to old Bess, dear blessed soul! she's in her right place, where she belongs; and if I may creep in at a corner of Heaven's door and clean her golden sandals, I shall be thankful enough, the Lord knows.
gpt
But, Mrs Morrell! sure you never mean to say that surplices be giving place to purple vestments down this road!
human
Children, said the old lady very solemnly,
gpt
What made her pick out me in `especial,' trow? I'm not about to handle no pitch.
human
I thank you, Madam,