I could be of advantage in seeing to the loading
and unloading of vessels and the storage of cargo. As for pay, I
should not want it, having, as you say, enough to live comfortably
upon. Still I should like to be with you."
"And I should like to have you with me, Stephen. Nothing would give
me greater pleasure. If you are still of that mind when you return
from Devonshire we can again talk the matter over, and as our
wishes are both the same way we can have no difficulty in coming
to an agreement."
Stephen Boldero remained for a week in London and then journeyed
down to Devonshire. His idea of entering Geoffrey's service was
never carried out, for after he had been gone two months Geoffrey
received a letter from him saying that one of his cousins, who had
been but a little girl when he went away, had laid her orders upon
him to buy a small estate and settle down there, and that as she
was willing to marry him on no other terms he had nothing to do
but to assent.
Once a year, however, regularly to the end of his life Stephen
Boldero came up to London to stay for a fortnight with Geoffrey,
always coming by road, for he declared that he was convinced if he
set foot on board a ship again she would infallibly be wrecked on
her voyage to London.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE SIEGE OF OSTEND
On the 5th of July, 1601, the Archduke Albert began the siege of
Ostend with 20,000 men and 50 siege guns.
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