She, like him--or so took leave to think Juan Lepe--received
at times too docilely word of authority, or that which
they reckoned to be authority. Princes of the Church could
bring her to go against her purer thought. The world as
it is, dinging ever, "So important is wealth--so important
is herald-nobility--so important is father-care in these respects
for sons!" could make him take a tortuous and complicated
way, could make him bow and cap, could make
him rule with an ear for world's advice when he should
have had only his book and his ship and his dream and a
cheering cry "Onward!" Or so thinks Juan Lepe. But
Juan Lepe and all wait on full light.
He talked of her great nature, and her goodness to him.
Of how she understood when the King would not. Of how
she would never listen to his enemies, or at the worst not
listen long.
He turned upon his bed in the warm Indian night. I
asked him if I should read to him but he said, not yet. He
had talked since the days of his first seeking with many a
great lord, aye, and great lady. But the Queen was the
one of them all who understood best how to trust a man!
Differences in mind arose within us all, and few could find
the firm soul behind all that! She could, and she was great
because she could. He loved to talk with her. Her face
lighted when he came in.
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