The day for making rigorous inquisition in all directions had not yet come, and there was no danger to himself in entrusting his safety to one as true and stanch as this maiden.
Freda's sympathies from the outset had been with those independent thinkers, who were in increasing peril of being branded as heretics; and she listened with absorbing interest to the story of the hidden books, the little band of Christian Brothers, the work going on beneath their auspices, and the check temporarily put upon it by the holocaust of books which Dalaber had witnessed at St.
Paul's.
"And you saw it--you saw them burn the books! You saw the great cardinal sitting on his throne and watching! O Anthony, tell me, what was he like ?" "His face I could not well see, I was too far away; but he walked with stately mien, and his following was like that of royalty itself.

Such kingly pomp I have never witnessed before." "And our Lord came meek and lowly, riding upon an ass, and had not where to lay His head," breathed Freda softly.

"Ah, ofttimes do I wonder what He must think of all this, looking down from heaven, where He sits expecting, till His enemies be made His footstool.

I wonder what yonder pageant looked like to Him--a prelate coming in His place (as doubtless the cardinal would think) to judge those whose crime has been the spreading abroad of the living Word, and now watching the burning of countless books which contain that living Word, and which might have brought joy and gladness to so many.

When I think of these things I could weep for these proud men, who never weep for themselves.