But these were, in themselves, indifferent.
His resolutions were few and simple.
He would behave himself quietly in all ways: he would make no demand to
see anyone; since he knew that whatever was possible would be done for
him by Marjorie. He would deny nothing and assert very little if he were
brought before the magistrates. Finally, he would say, if he could, a
dry mass every day; and observe the hours of prayer so far as he could.
He had no books with him of any kind. But he could pray God for
fortitude.
* * * * *
Then he knelt down on the earth floor and said his first prayer in
prison; the prayer that had rung so often in his mind since Mary herself
had prayed it aloud on the scaffold; and Mr. Bourgoign had repeated it
to him.
"As Thy arms, O Christ, were extended on the Cross; even so receive me
into the arms of Thy mercy, and blot out all my sins with Thy most
precious Blood."
CHAPTER VII
I
There was a vast crowd in the market-place at Michaelmas to see the
judges come--partly because there was always excitement at the visible
majesty of the law; partly because the tale of one at least of the
prisoners had roused interest. It was a dramatic tale: he was first a
seminary priest and a Derbyshire man (many remembered him riding as a
little lad beside his father); he was, next, a runaway to Rheims for
religion's sake, when his father conformed; third, he had been taken in
the house of Mistress Manners, to whom, report said, he had once been
betrothed; last, he had been taken by his father himself.
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