Then you'll not help me ?" "I cannot, I cannot, who am myself in bonds," she replied again.
"So be it, Mother; then I'll help myself, and when I do, God help _you_ all," and with a contemptuous shrug of her broad shoulders she walked away, leaving the poor old Prioress almost in tears.
Emlyn's threats were bold as her own heart, but how could she execute even a tenth of them?
The right was on their side, indeed, but, as many a captive has found in those and other days, right is no Joshua's trumpet to cause high walls to fall.

Moreover, Cicely would not aid her.
Now that her husband was dead she took interest in one thing only--his child who was to be.
For the rest she seemed to care nothing.

Since she had no friends with whom she could communicate, and her wealth, as she understood, had been taken from her, what better place, she asked, could there be for that child to see the light than in this quiet Nunnery?
When it was born and she was well again she would consider other matters.

Meanwhile she was languid, and why was Emlyn always prating to her of freedom?
If she were free, what should she do and whither should she go?
The nuns were very kind to her; they loved her as she did them.
So she talked on, and Emlyn, listening, did not dare to tell her the truth: that here she feared for the life of her child, dreading lest that news might bring about the death of both of them.

So she let her be, and fell back on her own wits.
First she thought of escape, only to abandon the idea, for her mistress was in no state to face its perils.