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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:39:25 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:39:25 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12256-0.txt b/12256-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..345c784 --- /dev/null +++ b/12256-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9809 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12256 *** + +MISTRESS PENWICK + +BY + +DUTTON PAYNE + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER I +THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL + +CHAPTER II +THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR + +CHAPTER III +THE BALL + +CHAPTER IV +HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL + +CHAPTER V +BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES + +CHAPTER VI +JANET'S PHILOSOPHY + +CHAPTER VII +THE BRANTLE + +CHAPTER VIII +THE ANCIENT MONASTERY + +CHAPTER IX +SIR JULIAN POMPHREY + +CHAPTER X +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUTLERY + +CHAPTER XI +JACQUES DEMPSY + +CHAPTER XII +CASTLE AND MONASTERY + +CHAPTER XIII +AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE CHAPEL BELFRY + +CHAPTER XIV +SERMONS NEW AND OLD + +CHAPTER XV +THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM + +CHAPTER XVI +BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE + +CHAPTER XVII +TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL CONCERNED + +CHAPTER XVIII +AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA + +CHAPTER XIX +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COACH + +CHAPTER XX +UNPROCLAIMED BANNS + +CHAPTER XXI +THE ESPOUSAL + +CHAPTER XXII +CEDRIC IN THE TOILS + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE COCOANUTS OF THE KING'S CELLAR + +CHAPTER XXIV +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER + +CHAPTER XXV +THE GARDEN OF YOUTH + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL + + +"If the ship sails at dawn, then I must hasten to tell my mistress of +the departure, and--of her father's letter." + +"I am loath to let yonder tide take her away so soon, Janet." + +"But my master's words are a positive command to leave Quebec at +once," and Janet's eyes fell to the imperative line at the close of +her letter which read: "In God's name, good nurse, take my baby to +England in all haste." + +"Aye, our noble patron's desire must be carried out!" and the Mother +Superior without further lament went from the small cell. + +When the last echo of her footsteps had died away, Janet Wadham +cautiously opened the inner door and passed to the cell adjoining, and +to the low couch upon which lay her mistress in sound slumber. + +Fondly she noted the beauty of her charge; the heavy waving hair +gleaming in the fading light a bronze-like amber, the white forehead, +the arched brow, the glow of health upon lip and cheek, the slender +neck, the slope of shoulders, and the outline of a perfect form. + +Then the maid stirred and opened her eyes. Her whole body thrilled +with the awakening. + +"Ah, 'twas like the bursting of a bud! How dost feel now, Mistress?" + +"I am not ill at all. I am a martyr to thy imagination. Dost remember +the time, Janet, I drowsed in the chapel and thou didst make me drink +bitterwort for a fortnight?" and the girl's voice rung out in soft +laughter. + +"Aye, I have not forgotten, nor why thou wert drowsy either, Mistress +Penwick." + +"Nay, thou didst not know." + +"I did so. Thou hadst a book of tales and read nights with the candle +shaded by thy mother's landskip fan, and I gave thee aloes for thy +folly." + +"Thou dost always find me out, Janet; I shall be glad when I become a +woman as big as thou." + +"Thou art a woman to-day, and thou wilt never be as big as I; so, +having age and not a hulking servant's body, be content. I have a +letter from my master, and in it is much that concerns thee--" + +"Isn't there always much that concerns me?" + +"But not such important concernings. He has gone on a long journey and +proposes one for thee, my lambkin." Katherine raised herself in bed. +"Nay, thou must not stir or I hush my tale! Thy father has provided +thee with a guardian and 'tis to him I take thee. We go to England +by the first boat,--nay, lay back, calm thyself or I take my wagging +tongue away; if thou dost so much as stir again, I leave thee. Thou +art to go to a great house over there and see grand folks with fine +airs and modish dress. Wilt be glad to see outside of convent walls? +'Tis nine years since I brought thee here a babe of six, and have +nursed thee well to this hour, and thy strength and health and beauty +show the care given thee." She suddenly arose and went to the window +to hide if possible her agitation; but when she looked forth on the +snow-covered city and on beyond at the long range of forest that lay +low and black against the arctic sky, she turned from the gloomy scene +and went again to the couch, quickly suppressing all thoughts save +those that were purely selfish: she would be glad to bid adieu to this +great, still northern world and leave behind forever old Quebec, even +though she must divide her treasure. + +"I have been a mother to thee, child, and now I must divide my rule +with a cantankerous Scot--" + +"Nay, a Scot and lives in England?" + +"He lives in England and thy father speaks of bending somewhat thy +quick temper to the mould of self-control as a safer parry to Scotch +thrust; so I conclude the gentleman must be a Scot." + +"Janet, 'tis these awful men that wear skirts like women. I remember +many years ago when I was in Sister Agnes' room, of seeing some of +those dreadful pictures of skirts and bandy-legs. They are unseemly +things for men to wear; it is as though one were uncivilised. I hate +him already for it!" + +"Lambkin, thou must remember thy teachings. Sister Agnes would +admonish thee for saying hate. Besides thou dost not know the man, he +may be a second father to thee and cajole and pamper thy whims. He +may even eschew plaid frocks and don modish garments--that would +hide bandy-legs still less! Thy father said I must enjoin upon thee +respect, for his lordship's age; regard, for his wishes, and thou art +to obey his commands, as 'twas not possible for him to direct thee +otherwise than good. If at any time he should find thee in fault, be +the matter seemingly beneath notice, acknowledge thy wrongness, for he +hath a temper and might goad thee to greater blunder. His blood flows +hot and fast, and thou must cool and swage it with thy gentle dignity. +Inasmuch as thy moneys and estates are in my Lord Cedric's control, +thou art to receive such income from him without question. Thy father +further directs perfect submission to Lord Cedric in matters of +marriage, as he will bring suitors of high degree for thy choice and +thou wilt find among them a lover to thy liking." The rosy red flew +into the maiden's face and she trembled with a sweet new emotion she +did not understand. + +"This is the first time thou hast ever spoken to me of lovers, Janet. +Indeed very strange things seem to be happening to-day. I feel like a +bird about to fly forth from its cradle-nest, I have forgotten how the +world appears. 'Tis broad and vast; it makes me dizzy to think between +these cramped walls that never seemed so narrow heretofore!" She +lay for a moment in deep thought, then,--"Where didst say father +journeyed?" + +"He said not, but intimated 'twas a place of safety where he was +happy to go from political intrigue and war, and where he shall meet +friends." + +"Why did he not inscribe some words to me?" + +"He speaks of an epistle of welcome--and farewell to be given thee +by Lord Cedric upon thy arrival in England. 'Twill give thee greater +pleasure then." + +"But Janet; a Scot! A blustering, red-faced Scot with petticoats! Hast +ever seen one outside of pictures?" + +"Aye, Lambkin, and 'twas the unseemly kilt that was the better part; +for I have met a blustering red-faced Scot as thou sayest; and he +was boisterous and surly, giving vent to a choleric temper by coarse +oaths; and 'twas his plaid denoted a gentleman of high rank withal. +The long hair that swept his shoulders was as florid as his face, as +was also his flowing whiskers and mustachio, the latter being bitten +short and forming a bristling fringe over a slavering mouth,--what is +it, Mistress, thou art pale, has pain taken thee?" + +"Nay, 'tis nausea, an awful loathing; I wish to remain here. Send at +once my desires to my father. I will not go to England, Janet!" + +"'Tis better thou shouldst think of something else beside my Lord +Cedric, for instance, his great demesne, Crandlemar Castle, the most +beautiful of his several seats; the splendid horses and equipages; +and, thyself, Lambkin, think of thyself bedecked in gorgeous hued +brocades; be-furbelowed in rare lace and costly furs. And thou wilt +have a maid to build thy hair, tie shoulder knots and make smart +ribbons and frills, and furbish bijoux and gems. And thou wilt wear +perfume, and carry a nosegay and fan. And thou wilt sweep the most +graceful courtesy and queen it everywhere with thy sweet graciousness. +Thy father says thou shouldst become an idol to the old man's heart, +as my lord is without wife or daughter." + +"If his demesne be in England, 'tis but right he should become as far +as possible a genuine Anglo-Saxon, and if I can turn him, I will. How +soon does the boat sail?" + +"Within forty-eight hours we shall be upon the sea and thou wilt +have begun to whimper and bemoan its awful swell. 'Twill have more +evacuating power than teeth-curtailed mustachios upon thy heretofore +staunch stomach." + +"Nay, I will not believe my Lord Cedric such a man; and yet thou hast +drawn a picture that will be ever before me until I see him. Sister +Agnes would say,--'there is a sinfulness in doubt and anxiety, +inasmuch as such thoughts lash the soul to uneasiness and draw it +from celestial contemplations. Think not on it!' neither will I, +but rather, I will fancy the morrow's sun glinting upon myriad +white-capped waves; the bosom of the ocean swelling with emotion +and--didst say 'twould make me ill, Janet?" + +"I am afraid of it, 'twill be glorious if thou art not; for 'tis a +wonderful thing to see the rise and fall of sun and moon, and witness +storms that seldom fail to lend their fearfulness to the voyagers of +so long a journey." + +"Wilt thou be afraid, Janet?" + +"Nay, not I; 'twill be the elixir of ambrosia to breathe salt air +again, and the stronger and more mist-laden the better to knock out +foul exhalations sucked in these nine years from musty walls. 'Twill +be sweet to have the wind rap from us the various fungi that comes +from sunless chambers. Ah, a stiff breeze will rejuvenate thy fifteen +years one month to a lusty, crowing infant and my forty all-seasons to +a simpering wench." + +"How splendid, Janet!" Katherine threw out her arms and drew a long, +deep breath. "'Twill be glorious to breathe pure, free air!" + +"Aye, my Lambkin, and thy chest will broaden and be larger by two good +inches ere we see chalk cliffs and English waters. Thou wilt open +like a rose to the sunshine of the outer world. But, we are +anticipating--let us speak of the present. To-night we go to vespers +for the last time, and thou must bid thy friends adieu before I tuck +thee in thy cot as we arise and are off before day-dawn. Let thy +farewells be briefly spoken as if thou wert to be gone but a day. +'Twas thy father's wish thou shouldst not grieve at parting with thy +companions, or the Sisters or Mother. 'Tis best to leave them the +remembrance of a face happy, rather than one steeped in sorrow. Say +to them what thy heart dictates, but with a quick tongue and bright +countenance; 'twill tend to suppress tears and numb the pain at thy +heart. When thou art thus engaged I will prepare us for journeying. +Wilt thou wear thy Sunday gown?" + +"'Tis none too good! couldst put on a ribbon to relieve its greyness?" + +"Ah, Lambkin, thou hast begun already with thy fine lady's notions! +thou wilt be crying for high-heeled boots and built-up hair and stays, +stays, Mistress, stays wilt be thy first cry--oh, Lambkin, thou art +heavy-hearted and I am turning myself into a fool to physic thy +risibles;--I wish we were upon the sea at this moment; if it were +possible I should have taken thee while thou wert in sleep; but nay, +I could not; for thou art a maiden grown and art plump and heavy with +all. If I had taken thee so, thou wouldst have wept anyway, perhaps; +for 'tis thy nature to have thy own way. 'Twould be a cross to thy +father could he see thee now. I doubt not 'twould turn the Scot's +bull-scaring face to ashen hues, 'tis possible--" Katherine's soft +rippling laugh interrupted her, and at its sound Janet leant and +kissed the maid's pink-palmed hands as they lay upon the coverlet, +and taking them within her own fondled them, saying,--"And thou +wilt surprise my lord and his friends by thy rare playing of the +clavichord, and 'tis possible so great and wealthy a man will own a +piano-forte of which we have heard so much; and mayhap thou will be +presented at Court, and in great London town thou mayest see many +musicians from France, for 'tis not improbable they are brought over +the channel at the instance of his Majesty. Is it not grand to think +of all these things, Lambkin?" + +"Aye, 'tis glorious! But Janet, let me up and dress me--ah, it seems +an age until the morrow!" + +'Twas with greater care than usual Janet made ready her Mistress. And +after sundry admonitions about cold corridors and draughts, opened the +door and watched her in silence as she passed through, and down the +hall to vespers. And when evening prayer was over and Katherine had +gone to say adieu, Janet began to pack the chests for their early +flight; her heart exultant, save for the sorrow of not seeing her +master again as she believed and having some little fear of the new +one she was about to encounter. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR + + +The adieux had been said, the night had come and gone, and with the +dawn the tide drew away carrying with it a large vessel upon the deck +of which stood Janet and Katherine wrapped in long traveling capes. + +"'Tis the most wondrous sight I ever beheld! Thinkest thou the +Bethlehem Star could have been more beautiful than yonder Lucifer. +Indeed it seems, Janet, we see in all nature the reflection of the +Christ; the birth of dawn; the presence of the star; these black +waters. 'Tis awesome! Listen, Janet, thou must acknowledge thou +hearest something more than plaint of ocean. 'Tis something more than +sound. It fills me with an exultation I cannot analyze. Dost feel it, +Janet?" + +"I cannot tell what I feel, Mistress." And Janet covered her mouth +to smother her laughter; first of all because she felt seasick, and +secondly the child's words stirred in her no such youthful enthusiasm. +She was not yet rejuvenated. + +"And with all this glory of nature filling me I can less understand +Sister Phelia's words at parting. Her eyes seemed to burn to my very +soul as she said: 'Dost not feel as thou art leaving these sacred +walls that thou art passing from a retreat where the Blessed Virgin +ever guides thee?' 'I have felt her presence ever, said I. 'But 'tis +better to renounce the world and have strength to live in seclusion,' +she answered. I made bold and replied that I thought it required much +greater strength to go on the battlefield of the world and be good +than live within the impenetrable walls of a cloister where bin cannot +come. 'But, child, thou wilt see beautiful things made by the hand +of man that will fill thy heart leaving not room for the Divine +Presence.' 'Nay,' said I, 'I shall see God's work in every beauteous +thing and I shall trust Him for the gift of penetration to see through +filthy rags and distorted body the beauty of the soul.' 'Twas her wish +that I should write her once a year of my spiritual condition and to +think of her as being happy in her isolation. And with this strange +light about us, the farewell recurs to me and I wonder that human +beings could shut themselves from so beauteous a thing as Nature in +their fear of contamination by sin!" + +"My Lambkin, 'they talk strongest who never felt temptation;' thou +art going into a world thou hast not seen, much less, felt its +power. Sister Phelia is right. We acknowledge the Divine Presence is +everywhere; she intimated thou wert leaving a place where sin was not, +to go where it abounded. There is one place, however, we may always be +sure of finding the divine atom whether we be in seclusion or abroad; +'tis in our own heart and called before the ages, 'Holy Ghost.' Many +of us fail to recognize it; others cry 'insolvency'; but the better +part draw on it with confidence. It honours our call and gives us +on demand, conscience, with which we can withstand all sin if we so +desire." + +The second day upon the water Janet fell a victim to _mal-de-mer_, and +'twas Katherine who turned nurse; and after four or five days +Janet grew better and was half ashamed, veiling her confusion with +self-accusation: "'Tis good enough for me, 'twas wrong to be eating +pork, 'tis positively forbidden us. I lay it to that! I gave myself +over to eating to make up for a fast of nine long years. Thou hadst +not a qualm because thou hast been fed on wine and porridge and beef +gruel and whey. The clearness of thy body speaks for a pure stomach. +Let the awfulness of my condition warn thee. Thou must never grumble +when I take from thee weightier food than thou hast been used to. But, +Lambkin, we have had a glorious voyage inasmuch as we have had both +calm and storm; had I been privileged to do the ordering, we could not +have had better weather." + +Janet and her mistress walked the deck when 'twas possible, from rise +to set of sun, and Katherine expanded until her convent dress became +straightened, and she retired to her bed while Janet let out seams, +augmenting it to her mistress' further comfort and development. + +It was almost with regret that they espied land; for Janet was +anxious, and Katherine was apprehensive of the Scot, and as the white +cliffs appeared to rise higher they each wished the sea journey had +just begun. + +At last they stood upon English soil, and so bewildered was Katherine +she could only cling to Janet's dress like a frightened child; there +was such a clamour, 'twas like pandemonium. The poor frightened thing +was inclined to believe that the people were mad and raving, and was +hardly called to concentration of thought when Lord Cedric's Chaplain +stood before them dumbfounded by her beauty. + +He was a pale, little man, who managed with difficulty to collect his +senses and lead them to an equipage of imposing richness that stood +not far away. And immediately after chests and sundry articles of +travel were placed upon the coach, the rolling wheels carried them +through the town and on beyond, over plains and hills and lonely +moors, through forests of oak and beech, coloured in the grey of +winter. Nor did the ponderous vehicle stop save for a hurried +refreshment or a short night's rest at some wayside inn. + +Lord Cedric's orders were not being strictly carried out. The Chaplain +was to bring back to the castle Janet Wadham and baby. Here was the +first-named, but where was the child? The little man was fearful he +had made some mistake, and grew exceedingly nervous when they at last +spied the battlements of Crandlemar Castle, and the child for whom he +had gone must be accounted for. + +Night was falling as the equipage bearing Mistress Katherine and her +attendants passed between the massive stone pillars of the gate +into the long avenues bordered by leafless trees; and when yet some +distance from the castle, the occupants could catch glimpses of many +lighted windows. Katherine lay back on the cushions tired, timid, +half-fearful, wondering. Not so Janet; she craned body and neck +fearful lest some small detail of the visible grandeur might escape +her. In a moment more they had stopped at the great entrance, and +immediately the ponderous doors were thrown wide by two ugly little +dwarfs in magnificent livery. Out trooped other menials of perhaps +less age and greater dignity, quickly gathering from the equipage the +chests and bags and other articles of less cumbrousness. Mistress +Katherine, with Janet by her side, was so blinded by the glare of +lights and furbished gildings, she saw naught, but followed on up +winding stairs, stepping twice upon each broad step; through corridors +and alcoves and winding halls, and in her ears was the sound of men's +and women's soft laughter, and she breathed the perfume of flowers, +and inhaled as they passed some half-open door, the odour of _paudre +de rose_ and jasmine. + +A woman older, less comely than Janet, and having the smirk of a +perfunctory greeting upon her flabby face, stood within the room +assigned to Mistress Katherine. As her eyes fell upon the maid, she +stepped back surprised, and with a confusion she essayed to hide in +her coarse voiced acknowledgment of their presence. + +"The child, madam, where's the child? 'is Ludship sent me to take +charge of the hinfant and 'er nurse." + +Janet's voice rang like steel as she said,--"Thou canst fondle me to +thy heart's content, but the 'hinfant his' a maiden grown and well +able to look after her own swathings; 'twould better serve thee and us +to get thee below and prepare thine 'hinfant' grown some meat and +wine with etceteras, and plenty of them, for she hath a lusty and +ever-present appetite. But stay, where wilt thou cradle thy babe's +nurse, in this room beyond the closet?" With a superhuman effort, as +it were,--the woman, confident of the importance of her position, +and the forbearance such an one should have in dealing with the less +consequential,--suppressed her choler and raised her eyebrows, and +spoke with the coldness of her betters. + +"Thou wilt sleep there for a time, at least until 'is Ludship's guests +'ave gone; the nurseries 'ave been turned into guests' rooms,--'is +Ludship 'as Royalty beneath 'is roof and bade me take the--the child +to the furth'rest room and keep hits squawking 'ushed!" With a +deprecating gesture, she shuffled from the room. + +'Twas a great square apartment, with low ceiling, a small hearthstone +and an immense bedstead with tester and outer coverings of flowered +chintz. The light from the two small candles upon the high +mantel-shelf were dimmed by the greater light from the hearth. + +With a long, heavy sigh, which ended in a quiet half-hearted laugh, +Katherine flung herself back in a huge chair and said,-- + +"Art not afraid to lash tongues with a trusted servant of my Lord +Cedric? She may give thee an ill name." + +"Nay, rather, if I had boxed' er hears' 'twould have been better. +Indeed, if thou hadst been absent I should have brawled it with her. +'Ludship'--'tis the cant of a pot house wench,--'is Ludship' to me, +who has been consorting with Sister Agnes and Phelia and Drusah and +the Mother Superior of the Ursuline. Wilt let me dress thee now?" + +"Nay, Janet, I will cleanse my face and hands, have my supper--for I'm +nearly famished, and jump into yonder bed that hath a lid--" + +"Why, Lambkin, that is a tester, 'tis the first thou hast seen! But, +Lambkin, I would have thee don thy pretty white dress and go down to +more cheerful surroundings." + +"Nay, Janet, I could not raise courage. Have my supper brought up!" + +"My blessed Lambkin, I will take thee down and see that they give thee +proper food for thy coach-jostled stomach. Thou shalt have a room and +table to thyself. I'll see to it. I thought upon it coming up to this +sky-begotten chamber. The toddy would freeze stiff and the pheasants +grow to clamminess on so long and frigid a journey. I will dress thee +and then will find my way down and make things ready for thy comfort +and privacy." + +'Twas a soft, white, clinging gown, high-necked and long-sleeved, with +the perfume of incense in its folds, Janet vested her mistress in. The +thick rolls of hair framing her face glinted with bronze and amber +sheen. Her warm youthful blood coloured her countenance with the tints +of the peach blossom. Thus she stood gloriously beautiful; ready for +conquest. + +Janet went below, nor was she gone long ere she came again to her +mistress' side. + +"Didst see any signs of petticoats. Janet?" + +"Nay, mistress," and her voice was sober and intense. "I tried to find +a servants' stairway, but it seemed all were grand and confusing. And +every moment lackeys rushed by me bearing trays of smoking viands, +and not even so much as looking my way. At last I found one I thought +would take the time to answer a question and I asked him the way +below. He answered me civilly and conducted me saying the while, that +'twas a grand party his Lord Cedric was having; members of the Royal +family being present; he even mentioned the Dukes of Buckingham and +Monmouth. The boy was so filled with good sense I am sure, Mistress, +he spoke truly and that we are within a very great man's house. I +found old flabby, and she took me to a cosy little room with a table +ready spread. So come, my Lambkin, when his Lordship finds not a baby +but a rare gem for his costly setting, his heart will bound with +pleasure and he will regret he did not prepare for a great lady +instead of an infant." + +Timorously the maid followed Janet through intricate windings to the +broad stairway. + +"Janet, take me through the servants' passage for this once!" + +"Nay, thou art a lady, and as such must keep to the grand aisles." So +on they went traversing lofty corridors. In one of these they suddenly +came upon a young gallant of youthful beauty; a mould of elegance and +strength; his countenance was flushed and shaded by curling black hair +that fell loose upon his shoulders. In his shapely, white, bejewelled +fingers he held a blood-red rose, and as his eyes fell upon the most +beautiful face he had ever beheld, he caught his breath and held the +rose to his face to hide his devouring glances as she swept by him +under the soft light cast by the sconces above her head. In a moment +he was upon the stairway, breathless and panting, and leaning over, +dropped the rose at her feet. Her face grew as rosy as the thing +itself, but passing on made none other sign. + +"'Tis a conquest thou hast made the first hour, and thou acknowledged +thy victory with naught but a modest maiden blush. But, Lambkin, his +body was not a match for thine; 'twas inclined to be too slender. I +shall pick for thee a beau like Sir Williams's Romeo." + +They had now come to where the table awaited Katherine, and Janet +bustled about handing things for her mistress' convenience; then +hurried out to send in the warm food from the oven. + +"Janet, didst say the bird was a pheasant?--'Tis grand tasting!" + +"Aye, Mistress, and there was a score of other things that I would not +let thee eat; 'twould make pimples on thy snowy neck and shoulders." + +"Dost think perchance the young man upon the stairway was the Duke +of Monmouth? He was very handsome, Janet, I think he was very, very +handsome." + +"Thou dost have the names of the great upon thy tongue as commonly +as thou sayest Janet; 'tis more than probable he is a country squire +and--" + +"Dear Janet, go get thy supper and get back to me, for I would rather +remain here alone than in yonder chamber. 'Tis grand to live in so +great a house, 'tis better than--than the convent. How soon shall +I have fine frocks and jewels and--a beau like yonder one on the +stairway?" + +"Thou art becoming exercised prematurely; his Lordship may not +condescend to visit his puling babe before his guests depart. In such +case, thou wilt have time to cool thy haste. I will go now. Do not eat +too much, Lambkin." Janet looked back admiringly as she left the room; +her eyes upon her mistress' daintily ruddy face, smiling at her from +between two tall candles. + +Every appointment of room and table was essentially English, and +Mistress Katherine cast her eye about wondering if 'twas so, or, were +they Scotch? She inclined to the former, and a sigh of relief and +happiness escaped her. + +Suddenly there was a sound of hurrying footsteps with an accompanying +one of broad Scotch oaths in no low key. A lackey carrying a bag-pipe +rushed into the room and out again without noticing its occupant. +At his very heels was a big Scotchman of large and ridiculous +proportions; red hair, red face, red whiskers, red mustachios, and +bandy-legs, petticoats and all; and a tongue ripping out hot oaths. +In a moment Katherine was upon her feet, her eyes flashed forth +indignation. The keen eyes of the Scot saw her at a glance. He looked, +stared, then bent almost to the floor before her and waited thus for +her to speak. She, not accustomed to the masculine courtesies of +polite breeding, thought his attitude was too prolonged for either a +bow of homage or humiliation; and she straightway in a voice that was +tremulous with emotion, said: + +"Has the bitterness of thy tongue taken root in thy stomach?" Quickly +he raised himself at her first word and gazed with enamoured looks at +the amber folds of hair, her glowing face; and with panting breath his +eyes rested upon the round fulness of her form as it palpitated with +rightful perturbance. + +"Betake thyself before I inform Lord Cedric of thy presence!" And +she rapped smartly her knife-handle upon the table. "Betake thyself, +begone!" He did not stir nor find breath until she stood forth from +the table and he saw her beauteous being from head to dainty toe of +convent sandal. Then he found voice, and in broad Scotch begged her +clemency, advancing toward her the while and almost kneeling in his +humility. + +"If I did not know the queen--" + +"'Tis presuming for thee to speak of knowing her; thou dishonourest +the noble plaid thou wearest. Begone from me, sir, instantly. Begone, +I say!" + +"Nay, I shall not begone. Tell me who thou art, I know thee not!" + +"Tell thee? Nay, 'twould displease my lord if he knew I held converse +with thee thus. He would no doubt send thee from the castle." + +"But who is thy lord, pray?" + +"Lord Cedric of Crandlemar!" + +"Ah, ah,--but it does not displease him. Lord Cedric says thou shalt +talk to him the balance of his days." The maid shrunk further from him +in sheer loathing. At the moment Janet entered, and the rough Scot +turned upon her, and in a voice of command, said,-- + +"Who is this maid, woman?" Janet scanned him for a moment and a bit of +truth flashed upon her. + +"'Tis the honoured daughter of Sir John Penwick," and she bowed to the +floor. + +"Ah! ah!!" He retreated in dismay and for a moment was silent, +encumbered with emotions of surprise, admiration, wonderment and +doubt. "Then thou art my ward and thou hatest me already--" + +"Thou, thou Lord Cedric, the master of this great house?" And +Katherine in the confidence of Janet's presence, laughed in scorn and +swept from the room disdaining his commands to remain longer. For a +moment he stood stunned as it were; then started toward the door and +looked after their retreating forms, exclaiming the while,-- + +"Ah!--ah!! Thou a convent baggage ordering the lord of the castle from +thy presence. Never have I been so talked to before. Damn me, I love +thy gorgeous self, thy beauteous body; thou my ward to have and to +hold. I may if I choose say to thee, thou shalt, or thou shalt not. +Hey, hey, there, Christopher!" He knocked loudly upon the panelling +of the door. A lackey entered trepidated. "Go and bring in haste from +Wasson the letter written by Sir John Penwick. Haste thee, mind!" He +turned to the table as if the shadow of her being still rested there +and spoke the continuation of his thought. "'Tis a bit of paper, +Mistress Katherine, that has become of more worth than a king's +ransom. The last will and testament of Sir John Penwick bequeathing to +my father a priceless property,--Thou wert slow, Christopher, but I +forgive thee." He tore the letter from the lackey's hands and sat upon +the chair drawing the candle to his convenience and read aloud: + +"'Cedric: When we parted twenty odd years ago 'twas in anger. I hope +thou hast forgotten it as I have.' My poor father had forgotten and +yearned to tell him so. 'I'm upon my death-bed and my consolation is +the remembrance of our mutual faith plighted to each other a short +time before our quarrel. 'Twas the bit of Scotch blood in thee that +brought us to contentious wrangle. I 'minded thee at the time thou +wouldst grieve for thy hot words, and 'tis a balm I send thee for thy +grieved heart; 'tis my baby Kate'--Baby, baby of course I thought +her so and sent her to a nurse's nookery at the top of the towers +to silence the wench's squawkings, and gave Stephen the care of the +freshest young heifer, that the youngster might not lack for proper +food, 'now under her nurse's care in the Ursuline Convent at Quebec. +The child has been environed with all that is pure and good, and will +come to thee with the sweet incense of the cloister clinging about +her. I have heard but once of thee, and 'twas that thy young wife died +leaving thee without heirs. If such be so, thou wilt find a solace in +my baby. Guard her as thine own. I have only enough gold to send her +with her nurse to thy protection.' She will be obliged to come to me +for all things, and I will spoil my own pleasure by giving her before +she asks. 'In my epistle to Janet Wadham I spoke of moneys and estates +being in thy hands. 'Tis a lie that will bring to thy mind more +vividly than aught else my personality--_suppressio veri_; but if thou +findest a like propensity in my babe, thou wilt deal gently but firmly +with her for its correction. I give into thy keeping more than house, +lands or titles. I would direct clemency toward my beloved servant; +she has proven most faithful. My wife truly loved her and at her +child's birth was constantly tended by the vigilant Janet; and 'twas +her desire she should remain always with the babe. Enclosed thou will +find a letter to be given to my daughter upon her arrival to thy care; +'tis a letter of both welcome and farewell. Some day thou must tell +her I am gone on my last journey, tell her when she is surrounded by +pleasant distractions that she may not grieve. She knows naught of +trouble, neither would I have her know. 'Tis possible she may have +some religious ideas that are not identical with thine. She may be +laden with all sorts of shrines, picture-books, candles, crosses and +beads; these religion's playthings thou of sterner mould wilt hardly +consider. My last wish and the one of greatest import to my child is +that thou find for her a spouse of rank and fortune; 'tis my desire +that she marry early to such an one. Ah, Cedric, if thou had hadst a +son, their union would have been our delight; for when thou seest my +Kate thou wilt see the most beautiful thing in life.' + +"Aye, she is the most beautiful thing in life. She is mine, my very +own, her father gives her to me for marriage--marriage, and 'tis a +speedy one he asks, and she shall have it. I love her, love her, my +whole being throbs with mad desire. She is the sweetest maid on earth, +and I drink from the cup upon which her rich, red lips have rested; +ah, 'tis sweet!" He poured a bumper and drank, then flung from the +room with great strides. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BALL + + +Meanwhile Mistress Katherine sat before the fire in the tower nookery +while Janet unpacked the luggage. + +"'Twould not be fitting for Lord Cedric to have such a man within his +house as guest!" + +"Neither has he, Lambkin; 'tis his Lordship himself." Her voice rang +truth and Katherine turned dismayed,-- + +"Nay, Janet, the man was a drunken fool! Surely, surely thou dost not +mean thy sayings. He is not a fit person to be in so great a castle. +Thou art shamming!" + +"I mean every word; 'tis my Lord _en masque_, for to-night there is to +be a great and magnificent spectacle." + +"And what does that mean, Janet?" + +"It means there is to be a masque ball, and my Lord Cedric is in his +costume, and he does not look like that at all. We may be sure he +appears quite the opposite when apparelled in his usual dress." + +"But his tongue, he cannot change that!" + +"Thou wilt have to wait and see for thyself, and fortune favours, for +now thou wilt not have long to wait. I saw his wicked young eyes--too +young for so old a man, as it appeared--directing enamoured darts upon +thee." + +"But art thou not afraid of so oath-beladen tongue? He is dreadfully +profane!" + +"He has already seen his peril and will drop his oaths like jetsam and +wilt come to thee with flotsamy oglings and tender nothings and bow +and smirk; and thou wilt find thyself an old man's sweetheart." + +"Janet, can we not find some point of observation where we may look +upon the maskers unseen?" + +"Thou art speaking my own mind. I will look about and find some +seclusion that thou mayest look and sate thine eyes upon Royalty; and +thou wilt gaze and gaze and make mental annotations, and to-morrow +thou wilt begin to preen thy feathers preparatory to flying forth; but +first thou must lie down and sleep three full hours, 'tis then the +ball will be at its height, and thou wilt feel refreshed and ready to +amuse me with thy observations. 'Twill be the grandest sight for thee. +I have seen many but none so gorgeous as this is to be." + +Janet went upon a tour of exploration and finding what she desired in +the way of a quiet corner returned for Katherine. They passed down +flights of steps, through halls, and came to a large corridor that +opened upon a gallery which encircled the ballroom, save where it was +cleft by a great stairway. As they stood looking over the railing, +'twas like looking down upon an immense concave opal, peopled by the +gorgeously apparelled. Myriad tints seeming to assimulate and focus +wherever the eyes rested. Gilt bewreathed pillars, mouldings, +shimmering satin, lights, jewels, flowers, ceiling, gallery and +parquetry appeared like a homogeneous mass of opal. Mistress Katherine +could not speak, her perturbed spirit was silent, she held to Janet +and the curtain that hung at the arch, and breathed in the perfume. + +"Canst see thy lord yonder?" + +"Nay, I see all collectively, but nothing individually; my eyes fail +to separate this from that." + +"Perhaps if thou couldst whip them to his ugly frame, 'twould prove an +antidote." + +"'Twill come in time,--I can now discern that 'tis the folk that art +moving and not the flowers and lights. I see a red figure seeming +to hurry among the dancers, looking this way and that, peering and +peeping; he has lost something." + +"'Tis more probable he is looking for what he has found; 'tis thy +stairway-beau with the rose; he has retrieved it and is hot upon the +chase again. He is looking for thee.--'Tis vain my lord-devil, thou +hadst better use the time to swathe thy feet in asbestos-flax." + +The music of the passacaglia floated up and Katherine drank in its +minor sweetness. Presently the dance changed into the chaconne with +its prominent bass theme, again turning to the poetic and stately +sarabande. + +"Now I do see the Scot; he is by far the most homely figure anywhere, +and yet, he is graceful, and it must be a very great beauty with him. +How could the master of so great a house look so?" The music changed +into a sprightly gavotte, Katherine's ears fairly tingled with the +confusion of sound. She lay her head upon Janet's bosom as if drunk +with the surfeit of music. + +"'Tis more than I could have dreamed. Didst ever see anything so +beautiful before? It seems years ago since we were within convent +walls!" + +"'Twill bring thy seeming nearer if thy lord proposes a speedy return +to the cloister." + +"Nay, I would not go." + +"Ah, then, enjoy the present and think of moments and not cycles. Here +thou shalt sit on this low divan, behind this tripod of roses; there, +thou canst hear what they whisper when the music ceases." They sat +ensconced in flowers and drapings of satin brocade, looking down +upon splendidly and wonderfully dressed princes and dukes, lords +and counts, with their ladies dancing the gavotte. There was the +perfection of beauty and stateliness and romance. The few unmasked +faces were smiling and bright with powder and rouge; dainty hands +flourished fans; and there was the low click of high heels upon +the parquetry. Jewels flashed and brocades gleamed; a shimmering +accompaniment completing the symmetry of the brilliant dance. It was +not long before Janet called her companion's attention to the lord of +the castle. He was dancing now with a very beautiful woman, even more +so than the one before. + +"He steps lightly, being so bandied. Now I think on it, 'twere +possible his legs were cushioned thus to hide a senile thinness! +'Tis human nature when badgered by excess of limit to flounder into +limitless excess. Look upon the Burgomaster at thy feet with a surfeit +of good round legs, he is unfortunate for being in excess, he cannot +whittle down. 'Tis a queer being with whom he dances,--here comes a +queen, see, she stops beneath thee,--sh--'Constance,' my lord devil +calls her, 'Constance'; what thinkest thou, is she not beautiful?" + +"See the bones in her neck, Janet, they protrude like pulpy blisters, +and she looks flat of chest for a waist so abbreviated." + +"I see thine eyes are ever upon nature, and 'tis best if thy gaze can +penetrate the heart as well." + +"Surely we have intuition, and I like not Constance." + +"How about my lord with the rose?" + +"I like him." + +"Oh, impressionable youth! 'thou art the gilded sand from which the +kiss of a wave washes every impress.' Tune thy myriad atoms to imitate +the rock, and gird thyself with strength to meet the battery of +onrushing breakers that grind against thee! Be careful, my Lambkin, +fall not in love with the first handsome face thou seest." The music +ceased; there was naught of sound, but a babble of voice and soft, gay +laughter. The guests passed up the grand stairway, and between the +pillars that guarded the entrance to the vaulted gallery beyond. +Immediately beneath, where Katherine and her nurse sat, were Constance +and her Mephistophelian consort. The former was saying: + +"And thou dost say she is extremely beautiful? In what particular is +this queen of thine so entrancing, is it in face or form?" + +"Her face is divine, and her form ravishes one with delight." + +"She is indeed fortunate to be such a goddess. If she is a +lady-in-waiting to the Royal suite she will depart to-morrow!" and +there was relief in the supposition. Constance continued: "I saw my +kinsman's list of invitation, and among them all there was not one +fitting thy description of this paragon, Adrian!" + +"She had the bearing of a princess; she must be a person of note!" + +"Adrian,"--and she grasped his arm tightly,--"dost think, thou knowing +the ways of men, Cedric could have some bright being here to keep +him from the dumps, and when guests are present, hides her in some +remoteness?" There was more in Constance' meaning than what she said. + +"Nay, nay, any man would be proud to--yet, if Cedric loved he would be +very jealous!" + +"Thinkest thou so?" + +"I am positive. To-morrow, Constance, I will watch the departure of +the guests, and, if I find not the maid, I will let thee know, and we +will pounce upon my Lord Cedric and have him bring her to our notice." + +"Nay, Adrian, I'll tell thee a better way. If she departs not with the +company to-morrow, I will search the castle and find her; for I know +every cranny. I will bring about a meeting, so thou mayest beau her +privately and win her love before Cedric knows aught; 'twill be a +grand joke to play upon him, and 'twill pay him back for trying to +hide from us the gem of his castle." They looked into each other's +eyes but an instant, and they each understood the other. + +"'Tis a compact, Constance. 'Twill be sweet to meet her in secret. +God grant she may be a member of my lord's household!" Like a prayer +Constance uttered after him, as they traversed the room to the great +stairway,--"God grant it may not be so!" + +"Unlike Hamlet's prayer, their words and thoughts both fly up, and to +such a prayer they will undoubtedly receive an answer; but whether +'twill be satisfactory to the one or the other, remains to be seen, +as the destination of their supplications was a long way this side of +heaven--" said Janet, as she wrapped her mistress in her grey convent +cape and led her without the gallery. + +"Is it possible I was the object of discussion, Janet?" + +"'Tis probable. The first trophy thou hast gained without appearing +upon the field." + +"And what is that?" + +"A woman's hate; thy rival hast given thee the first token of +success." They had reached the tower chamber and Janet began to +prepare her mistress for bed. + +"I cannot understand thee, I cannot grasp thy meaning." + +"Neither would I have thee understand; for if I took from thee thy +innocent mind, I would deprive thee of thy best weapon. Thou hadst +better chatter of thy poor, grey frock thou wilt don on the morrow." + +Katherine stood before a small mirror divested of her outer garments. +The soft white thing that bound her graceful, sloping shoulders, had +fallen loose displaying her glorious white neck and bosom. Janet +caught the mirrored reflection and understood and answered,-- + +"Nay, thou hast no pulpy blisters, neither shalt have while I feed +thee on pap and rub thee with oil; nor yet a flat chest for thy +shoulders are sunk from prominence by its fulness." + +"Shall I wear a low bodice thus, Janet?" + +"Aye, Lambkin." + +"And high-heeled boots and stays,--I must have stays before I appear +at my lord's table." + +"Thou shalt not have that 'twould squeeze thy beauteous mould." The +faithful Janet unbound her nursling as if she had been a tiny babe and +swathed her in a soft, warm thing, and bade her get to bed. Katherine +jumped to the middle and lay panting, with happy eyes that had naught +of sleep in them, until on a sudden Janet's voice rung like a menace +on her ears. + +"Thou hast forgotten thy rosary; thou hast neither said an _Ave Maria_ +or a _Pater Noster_ since our arrival. Thou wouldst neglect thy +religion, and 'tis thy own, sweet precious self that will pay the +penalty." + +"Nay, nay, Janet, I will say them ten times to make up for my +forgetfulness." She sprung from her bed. + +"To bed, to bed; thou shalt not kneel upon the floor in this ice-bound +chamber. Here, take thy beads and say them once and close thy azure +eyes." Janet watched until the wax-like lids drooped, then softly made +fast the doors. She flung herself into a great chintz-covered chair +and fell asleep before the bright fire. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL + + +She did not waken until aroused by the grinding of wheels upon the +gravel beneath the window. A servant brought coals and wood and +built a roaring fire that warmed her chilled bones. She ordered her +mistress' breakfast for eleven o'clock, and locking the door upon the +retreating lackey, settled herself in the chair again and fell asleep. +She was next awakened by a smart rap upon the door. The servant stood +upon the threshold gazing at the vision of beauty that had raised upon +her elbow in the bed, and was looking with inquiring eyes. + +"His Lordship begs Mistress Penwick to step to the library after her +breakfast." + +"Step, to be sure, thou hadst better bring a chariot to cart her +there, and 'twould be out of the question for her to go before getting +anything into her stomach to strengthen her for the journey." + +"Shall I tell him so, mum?" said the servant, with a look of roguery +in his eyes. + +"'Twould become thee better to tell him without asking if thou +shouldst. Avaunt, get thee gone on thy mission." Then turning to +Katherine,--"'Twould have to come sooner or later and 'tis best sooner +I'm thinking," and Janet stepped to draw the curtains to let in but a +sickly grey light. "Ah, there is a great snowstorm! and there seems to +be a large party about to set forth a hunting." And indeed there arose +to their ears a great noise of baying hounds and the tramping of +horses in the courtyard, and voices were raised high and merry. There +was a rattle of spurs and champing of bits; and as the two women +looked from the window the party set forth. + +"Thou wilt go with me, Janet?" + +"As far as the library door. I will listen and peep through the +keyhole when no one is passing." + +A lackey came to conduct Mistress Katherine below. He looked surprised +at Janet as she followed them, neither was his curiosity appeased when +Mistress Penwick passed through the library door, and the severe-faced +Janet sat down upon a ponderous chair in the corridor just outside. + +'Twas a great room with enormous fireplaces, and in front of one of +them stood Lord Cedric. There was a smile on his face as he noted +his ward's surprise. She looked upon him with interest and finally +spoke,-- + +"Lord Cedric sent for me; he is not here," and she retreated as if to +leave the room. + +"Nay, do not leave until thou hast become acquainted with Cedric of +Crandlemar." He held out his hand to her longingly, pleadingly, and +stood thus before her; his figure of an Adonis silhouetted by the +flames that reached above his head in the great chimney behind him. +His face and form was a match for her own. A hunting-coat wrapped his +broad shoulders; his beauteous limbs were encased in high-field boots, +showing well his fine masculine mould. + +"How many lords of Crandlemar are there?" she asked, almost +contemptuously. + +"One, only," and he still held out his hand with a gesture of +entreaty. "I was the ill-humoured, boisterous man in Scotch attire +last night. I beg thee to forgive and forget it. Come--come--thou art +my ward." + +"But my Lord Cedric is an old man, as old as my father, and is +Scotch." + +"Thou art speaking of my father; he has been dead five years. Thy +father did not know of his death when he sent thee to England. And +my mother"--his voice trembled--"died when I was born. I was reared +without a woman's love. Angel was too old to teach me tenderness. She +has tried to guide me; but Kate--thy father calls thee so--I have had +no one to love me like thee. I have lived a wild, boisterous life in +Scotland most of the time, and after father died I went to France. +I have lived wickedly, Kate; I have given myself over to oaths, +and--and--and--drink;--'twas so last night when I saw for the first +time the woman I loved; who was as fair in face, form and soul, as all +I had ever pictured or dreamed. Wilt thou forget my course tongue and +try--try--to--to--to love me, Kate. Thou wilt say 'tis soon to speak +so to thee; but why keep back that 'tis best for me to say and thou to +know?" She could not mistake the ring of truth in his voice that was +now so pleading. + +"Come, come,"--and as if a happy thought occurred, reached into his +pocket and drew forth a letter;--"here is thy proof that I am Lord +Cedric; thy father's letter," he held it toward her. She came and +reached her hand for it, timidly. His Lordship was one of the most +passionate of youths, nor could he restrain his ardour. He caught her +hand and drew her to him, meeting her graceful body with his own; his +hot breath was upon her hair, and he panted forth;--"Kate, Kate, I +love thee," his arm was reaching about her, when she called Janet +stoutly. The door was flung open and the nurse's face looked upon the +youth like an ominous thing of strength,--then surprise broke over it +and she spoke forth,-- + +"Who art thou, perfidious youth?" + +"I am Cedric of Crandlemar, and I was saluting my ward." Janet took +her mistress from him as he half supported her, and sat down, drawing +her into her lap. Katherine fell to weeping. + +"What has happened to thee, Lambkin?" + +"I don't know," sobbed Katherine, "assure me if 'tis Lord Cedric." + +"We will accept him, anyway, for 'tis a better subject than my Lord +Scot of last night." Thereupon Cedric fell upon one knee at Janet's +feet, and bent his handsome head to Katherine's hand and kissed it. + +"Nay, nay, thy lips burn me, and I hate thee for it!" She wiped her +hand upon her dress, and turned her head from Janet's bosom and cast a +scornful glance through her tears. + +"I love her, Janet, and she hates me. Her father gave her to me to +love and guard and--marry, 'tis in the letter so; and she shall--" + +"Thou talkest too strong to so young a maid; thou must remember that +she is but fifteen, and never used to beaux. Thou art the first man +beside her father to so much as touch her hand." + +"She fifteen, 'tis not possible!" and his enamoured glance swept her +form,--"'tis not possible." Mistress Katherine's colour blenched and +heightened, for the ardent masculine eyes made her like and hate +in turn; his countenance glowed with warm youthfulness which both +attracted and repulsed her; and she hid her face again upon Janet's +shoulder. + +"'Tis rather young to become wife, but I cannot live away from her, I +must have her." + +"Nay, thou must wait until she is past sixteen, and knows her own +mind." + +"I cannot wait, Janet, I am too inflammable, she consumes me with her +beauty." + +"Then I had better take her where thou canst not see her." + +"Nay, nay, she shall not leave me for a day nor hour. She is mine +absolutely, and I'll have her. I have found what is more precious +than all else to me." As Katherine's eyes were hid, Janet placed her +fingers upon her lips, enjoining silence upon the passionate man +before her. 'Twas a simple thing, but Cedric knew from that moment +he had gained a powerful ally. He rose to his feet, and, in softened +tones, continued,--"'Tis the first time I have ever loved, and 'tis +natural I should be impetuous;" then in a tone that was full of +magnanimity,--"I will give thee time to rest from thy long journey +before we buy the wedding garments, I will give thee a whole week." +Then 'twas that Katherine spoke,-- + +"A whole week, indeed, I shall not marry thee at all, never, I hate +thee. Thou wilt give me my heritage and I will go from thy house; my +father gave it and me into thy father's care not thine, I will write +to him at once and tell him of this terrible mistake." + +"Thy father is--" he caught himself in time. + +"Thy father is--what?" And she looked at him closely. + +"Is too far away over seas, and--might be hard to find." + +"Then I will go to him." + +"Thou wilt remain where thou art." + +"Thou talkest like foolish children. 'Twould better become thee to +prattle of frocks and fixings for my Lady Penwick. Your Lordship will +see to it at once?" It was a happy suggestion. Cedric leant over +Katherine. + +"Come, tell me what thou wilt have from London town? thou shalt have +all thy heart asks for." + +"Thou art generous with my belongings." 'Twas an unfriendly cut. + +"Come, Mistress, what will thou have, make out a list and I will send +it by a courier." + +"I prefer to go myself." + +"I have guests and cannot go with thee at the present,--and thou canst +not go without me; but thou shalt have the more for this very cause. +Come, tell me thy heart's desire. Be good to me Kate, I love thee so; +I must tell thee, it cuts me to the quick to have thee so set against +me. Thou wilt espouse me some day, sweet one?" Katherine stood up and +shot a withering glance full upon him. + +"Nay, nay, nay,--thou wilt let me go from thee!" + +"I beg thy pardon, Mistress Penwick, I will urge thee no more now; but +tell me thy wishes. Thou will have first of all, a beautiful hat with +feathers reaching to thy shoulder-tips, and dainty brocade gowns with +boots of the same hue, and jewelled fans, and ribbons and laces and +all kinds of furbelows, and I will give thee to-day some jewels, +rings, and--" + +"And a necklace like Constance has?" put in Katherine, unthinkingly. + +"Constance--where didst thou see her?" His voice and manner showed +annoyance. "Where didst see her, Kate?" There was a blush on her face +as she answered, + +"At the ball." + +"Thou wert not there," he said, incredulously. + +"Janet and I looked on from the gallery, and Constance stood beneath +us. 'Twas a beautiful thing that encircled her throat." + +"Aye, they were pearls; but thou shalt have a circlet that wilt not so +hide thy pink hued neck. To-day, Kate, I will give thee some gems +and thou shalt go with me to the great chests and see the laces they +contain;--and thy colours, Kate, what are thy favourite colours?" + +"I love white and violet." A happy smile covered Cedric's face. + +"'Tis my mother's choice and by that I hit upon thy fancy as thou +shalt soon see." Cedric racked his brain for more pleasant things to +say. "And thou shalt have a horse and learn to ride." + +"Oh, Janet, to have a horse all my own! 'tis too good to be true; 'tis +a thing I have dreamt of." And the delighted girl flung herself at +Janet's feet and embraced her knees from sheer ecstasy. It seemed +peace had come to stay; and for a moment Cedric looked upon her with +eyes full of admiration and, yes, heart full of love; then,-- + +"Art sure thou hast thought of all thou wouldst have, is the list +complete, Janet; canst thou not suggest something more? I will send +it to one of the court mantua-makers and if thou sendest the proper +measurements our lady will soon be a modish butterfly." At the word +modish a sudden thought came to Katherine and she leant over and +whispered in Janet's ear; then Janet said: + +"She must have a pair of stays with each frock." + +"Nay, nay, she shall not have stays to pinch so fair a mould; she +shall not have stays, nay, nay, sweet Kate." 'Twas then Mistress +Penwick flew into a passion. She clinched her fists and her face grew +scarlet; she shook her head and threw glances like sword-thrusts at +Cedric, and said not a word but stamped her foot. As she did so, she +saw that in Cedric's eyes that made her calm her passion on a sudden. +'Twas steel against steel. It was Janet's voice that drew Katherine's +attention; for it had in it something it never had heretofore; it was +full of reproach. + +"Lambkin, thou art too young for either stays or such a show of +passion. I beg thee to quench thy evil spirit, it does not become +thee." Katherine bent her head and turned from them toward the door. +Cedric called, + +"Do not leave until we have all things settled! Kate, dost hear me +speaking?" She pretended deaf ears. "Kate," he said, with emphasis, +"dost hear me? Mistress Pen wick, hear me, heed, heed!" he thundered, +and stamped his foot, the spurs rattling upon the hearthstone. She +turned about reluctantly and rested her hand upon the great oaken +table, looking at Janet as if it had been she that had spoken. Cedric +drew himself up proudly, and spoke in a firm, full voice, + +"I am thy father, brother, guardian, anything that love could be to +thee, and all that I have is thine, and when thou art with me thou +mayest do as thy heart dictates, but when thou shalt cross yonder +threshold thou shalt conduct thyself as becomes a daughter and +mistress of the castle. I have beneath my roof guests--my kinswoman, +Lady Constance, whom I have bidden to remain indefinitely, she being +so near of kin has been mistress here; but, from the moment thou +didst enter the portal of Cedric's house, 'twas thou became mistress, +thou--thou mistress of my home, and heart as well; thou wilt accept +the former mission, and I will fight with all of cupid's weapons until +thou dost accept the latter. 'Tis a pragmatic duty to follow my words +and understand them and demean thyself accordingly. To-night thou +wilt come to the drawing-room at the prandium hour, and 'twill be my +pleasure to seat thee at table, and 'twould be best if I acknowledged +our espousal." + +"Nay, nay, I will not come then." + +"Thou shalt come if thou art in the castle," Janet's scowling +face under cover of the high-backed chair stopped his lordship's +impetuosity, "hast a frock, Kate? thou shalt go to the chest and find +for thee some bright thing and I will send from Crandlemar a woman to +help thee with thy attire. Angel will come to take thee to see the +jewels, and thou shalt have those thou carest to take. I would see +thy choice, Kate. I can almost guess it now. So come, Kate, the storm +without should insure good cheer within; and with thy bright face the +castle will be aglow. Come, say _au revoir_, Kate." She held out her +hand and faltered forth _au revoir_. There was the language of the +convent in that one word and it rung sweet upon her ear. He took her +hand between his own and bent and kissed it tenderly, "_au revoir, au +revoir_" he said, then turned quickly from her. + +Outside stood old flabby-face, as Janet pleased to call her, when +alone with Katherine, but designated by the servants as Sophia. + +"His Ludship ordered Mistress Penwick's room changed." + +"Thou dost mean, rather, he advised a change of room; 'twould be +difficult to convey the tower chamber elsewhere." + +It was a beautiful room into which Sophia led them and beyond were +others belonging to the same suite, all in white and gold, with +mirrors and painted walls garlanded with cupids and floral wreaths, +and silken curtains at bed and windows; and cushions and beautiful +venuses and rare potpourri. And when they were quite alone Janet +strutted up and down the rooms enjoying the fulness of her cup. + +"'Tis more than thou dreamed again, eh, Lady Pen wick? Thou hast +fallen heir to a queen's portion without the ennui of satiety." + +"Truly 'tis a wondrous castle; but Janet can Lord Cedric espouse me +because he is my guardian?" + +"Nay, child, but he loves thee, and he means to win thee if 'tis +possible. He is young and self-willed and passionful, and he will have +his own way. Dost like him, Lambkin?" + +"Somewhat, but I hate him most." + +"Thou wilt impeach thy sweet tongue by that viscid 'hate'; thou hadst +better indulge in less of devil's warfare and leave room for digestion +of gentle peace. Thou hast bloomed into a beauteous maid, but thy +temper hath blown also. My lord hast seen many beauties that he could +have for the asking, and they are doubtless meek and gentle creatures +with soft and ready answer; but if thy cantankerous untowardness +continues he will set thee down as a shrewish wench and will heartily +dislike thee." + +"Nay, I would not have any one dislike me." + +"Then cease thy uprisings." There came a low knock, and an old +grey-haired woman stepped into the room with that in her face Janet +stood up to honour. She advanced to Katherine and in a trembling voice +said, + +"Thou art my lord's ward,--ah, I remember thy father well; thou art a +Penwick over and over again, I could see it with half an eye. I knew +thy father when he was a mere lad, so high; he had as bonny a face as +one cared to see. They tell me thou didst expect to see here my poor +master; is't so? Aye,--well thou hast found his son, the blessedst man +that walks the earth. He has a wicked, bad tongue at times, but he +means nothing. I nursed him and his father, and am longing for a wife +for his lordship." Then: "I am Angel Bodkin, and have come to conduct +thee to the vaults." She led them forth, talking all the while. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES + + +Lady Constance had exhausted every means of procuring the desired +information concerning the strange beauty in her kinsman's castle; and +she became fretted and annoyed and was about to give up all hope, when +she came suddenly upon the object of her search in the corridor; and +the beauteous maid, grey-gowned and sandal-shoon, flitted by without +deigning so much as a look. And my Lady Constance swept by with hate +of this formidable creature in her evil heart. She felt it was almost +understood that Lord Cedric would espouse her; she, Lady Constance +Clarmot. To be sure, she was somewhat of riper years than he, but that +counted for naught since they had always loved each other. She was +of a great family and proud and had of her own, titles and estates +and--yes, beauty. She fell to thinking of the many ways in which +Cedric had shown his love for her. He had consulted her on all +occasions upon the most trivial matters until the present instance. +"Could it be possible she is some soft-natured wench that hath fallen +beneath his eye and charmed him, and he has brought her here? Nay, +nay, he would not bring such an one beneath his roof while I remained, +and yet I have but just come and he hath kept her hid; 'tis possible +he will send her away at once." She soliloquized thus until the +candles were brought, and the curtains drawn to shut out the storm, +and she sat beneath her maid's hands heeding naught save her bitter +thoughts. "What had become of Adrian? Why had he not been in to see +her; surely by this time he had learned something being out the +whole afternoon hunting, perhaps side by side with Cedric." Thus +she fretted, and scolded her maid until it was time to go to the +drawing-room. It was a picturesque scene; the ancient castle with +its crenellated tower, from which now pointed a tall flag-pole, +the British Royal Ensign bound closely about it, its colours being +distinctly visible through its casing of ice; for an immense +quadruple-faced light was placed high up in the fork of a tree +opposite the great window of the vaulted saloon, casting its beam to +the very pinnacle of the ensign-staff; lighting the castle from end to +end upon its northern side, where the great avenues converged. A shaft +reluctantly and gloomily effused the near density of the forest; +another ray gladdening the expectant eyes of the guest from Londonway; +while yet another broad gleam sped the departing traveler over the +threshold of the forest into the gloom-environed pathway beyond. Upon +every shelving projection of the unhewn stone structure was ice. The +entire walls scintillated with a fairy brilliancy, and the trees as +they swayed back and forth propelled by the unceasing wind caused such +a coruscation of sparkles it fairly blinded the spectator. Beneath +the spreading branches were a host of men, horses and dogs. The gay +costumes of the huntsmen showing resplendent in the ice-bespangled +light. The horns were lowered, and there was a confusion of tongues +between groomsmen and lackeys; and there were shouts of welcome from +the wide-open doorway of the servants' hall; for 'twas here the game +was brought and laid upon the stone floor or hung upon pegs on the +wall for the inspection of the guests. Lord Cedric leapt from his +horse, throwing the reins to a waiting groom; strode into the hall +with rattling spurs and flung through the rooms and up the stairway to +his Lady Katherine's bower, and rapped smartly upon the panelling of +the door. The vision that met his amorous eyes sent him hot and cold; +and 'twas with difficulty he restrained himself from encircling her +full, glowing body. + +"The hours I have been from thee have seemed weeks, and I was of no +use in the field; my gun would entangle in the low-hanging boughs; +and on the wold my steed's feet were caught in the dry gorse, until I +could not get near enough to shoot anything. On the other hand, Cupid +has arrowed me to the death, and I come,--a shade for thee to put life +into; and the sight of thee is a life-giving thing." Katherine's face +flamed with his warm words, and the consciousness of the beauty of her +new adornment; for she stood before him in an amber shimmering stuff +that clung to her lithe limbs, hiding not her slender ankle and her +arched satin shoe, as her dress caught about a stool that held it. The +short round waist betrayed the fulness of her form, and Cedric turned +his eyes away from sheer giddiness, drunk with love. He spoke to +Janet with quick breath:--"Bring her down to see the game."--Then, +suddenly,--"Where are thy jewels, Kate?" He espied a casket, and +hastening to it took from it rings, fitting them upon Mistress +Penwick's tapering fingers, until her hand was heavy. Of other jewels +she'd have none. "But thou must have a shoulder knot," said Cedric, +and he took from the casket a glittering shoulder brooch of opals and +clasped it in the satin of her frock, and drew from a tripod of white +and gold a flaming jacqueminot and gave it into her hand and led her +forth, followed closely by Janet. Down the great stairway he led +her proudly, through corridor and passage, until they reached the +servants' hall, where the clamour of voices and baying hounds was like +pandemonium; and at the sound Mistress Penwick drew back with fear. +For a moment Cedric was sorely tried to keep from bending to those +rose-bowed lips. She saw him hesitate, and stammered forth: + +"Lead on, my lord!" + +He swung open the door and instantly all eyes were set upon his fair +ward. First his Lordship's face was exultant, then seeing Mistress +Penwick's glances that pierced every masculine heart, and her dazzling +beauty drunk in by all; his face grew dark, and jealousy possessed +him, and fear crept in, and he vowed to wed her at the earliest +moment. + +"'Tis Sir John Penwick's daughter, Mistress Katherine Penwick, my +father's ward," and he led her to their midst. + +"She is a wondrous beauty," many murmured as they saw her. + +"Dazzling, by God!" whispered some of the masculines that stood apart, +and there were others that spoke not a word, but stood spell-bound +at her majestic mien. A gorgeously apparelled figure swept to his +Lordship's side, and a little hand crept into his and black flashing +eyes looked up, and a soft voice whispered,-- + +"Thou didst never speak of--this, the most charming of thy +possessions, heretofore, Cedric. I knew not thou didst inherit so +beauteous a being from thy father. But Sir John,--England has not +heard of his death--" + +"Sh! sh! she does not know," Cedric answered. + +"Not know--ah!" and Lady Constance drew from him and looked at +Katherine with malice and thought evil; "'tis not Sir John's daughter, +'tis some trick Cedric plays upon his guests and me; it goes to show +that his relations to her are ill, and his intentions are to raise her +to our level. Nay, nay, Cedric, I will lift thee beyond such a thing. +When he has time alone, I will gain his ear and taunt him with a +debauched youth; free from heart or conscience; a rake to betray; and +I will win him from beauteous, youthful Bacchante. 'Tis his pleasure +to swear and swagger; but at twenty-three he should not begin to +carouse with female beauty. 'Tis time, and I will tell him so, for him +to bring a lady as wife to the castle. I will speak to him at once. He +has gone too far." + +Lord Cedric drew Katherine to inspect the trophies of the chase, and +explained their kind and the mode of capture. She with others followed +him; the gentler folk raising frocks from pools and streams of blood, +thereby displaying high-heeled shoe and slender ankle and ruffles of +rare lace; and they gathered close about Mistress Penwick, drinking in +her simple convent ways of glance and gesture and fresh, young spirit. + +Then his Lordship led them to the grand saloon. It was the glory +of the castle, this great room of forty feet in width and sixty in +length. The ceiling supported upon either side by slender Corinthian +pillars, was panelled and exquisitely frescoed with nude female +figures that were reflected in the highly polished floor of marquetry +woods. The walls were covered with old tapestries and rare pictures. +There were two immense windows; the one at the south end of the room +was quite twenty feet square of Egyptian style. The one to the north +reached from floor to ceiling and from side to side. It was draped by +a single ruby-coloured velvet curtain that was so artistically caught +by rope-like cords of silk that, by a draw, could be lifted upward +and to either side in luxurious folds, exposing the entire window. At +present the great saloon was lighted by seven immense lustres of fifty +candles each, and with twenty sconces each bearing fifteen candles. +The effulgent gleam cast from these myriad flames upon polished woods, +busts, statues, unique bric-a-brac, gildings, glass and ruby velvet +produced the perfection of old-time splendour. And now, as the gallant +beaux led in fair maidens, it gave the picture life. The great +north window disclosed the ice-bound trees in all their primitive +ruggedness. The snow and sleet were vigorously driven by the wind that +howled continuously. The light from the forked-tree cast through +the window rays that resembled moonlight, as they mingled with the +radiance within, while outside it twinkled with the sprightliness of +old-fashioned humour. + +Cedric of Crandlemar was noted among beaux old and young of his +intimate acquaintance for the spicy diversions with which he +entertained his friends, when they were so fortunate as to be present +at his stag parties. Arriving home after a long absence, he opened +his castle upon St. Valentine's eve with a ball, wherein his guests +appeared in full court costume, in honour of the Royal guests. The +weeks following had been filled with stately entertainment; and now +his Royal and formal guests had departed, and the throng that passed +into the great saloon were youths and maidens of neighbouring +counties; some college friends and kinsmen. They entered with gay +abandon. The beaux were whetted to great curiosity, for 'twas +whispered among them that after a short evening with the ladies, there +were to appear a bevy of London-town dancing girls, who would give +them a highly flavoured entertainment; and, as if Bacchus had +prematurely begun to disport himself in brain and leg of each beau, he +set about to ogle and sigh and wish and--pull a stray curl upon some +maiden's forehead or touch her glowing cheek with cold fingers, and +some began to illustrate the _modus operandi_ of taking certain game, +while another danced a clog or contra-dance or Sir Roger de Coverley. +The maidens caught the spirit and answered back glance for glance, and +being equipped for conquest let go the full battery of their woman's +witchery. It made a charming spectacle of young and noble blood +indulging in the abandon of the hour. There were dames that set the +pace for modest maidenhood, that ogled with the younger beaux,--(as +they do to this day). Lady Bettie Payne swept her fingers over the +keys of an Italian spinet, that was ornamented with precious stones, +and sat upon a table of coral-veined wood; she sung soft and tenderly +of the amours of Corydon, and neither her voice nor the low tinkling +of the spinet reached to the further end of the room where Adrian +Cantemir played upon the grand harpsichord a dashing piece that was +intended to charm at least, the beauteous Katherine, who stood near. +Lord Cedric leant over and begged the Russian count to change the tune +to a gavotte. He did so, and Cedric brought forth Katherine and placed +her fair to watch his step till she might catch the changes. Thus he +trained her carefully and with precision, and when Cantemir saw the +trap that held him where he was and gave Lord Cedric the upper-hand, +he fell into the spleen and played out of time, and Cedric flung +around and caught his spur in Dame Seymour's petticoats, and he swore +beneath his breath, and Katherine smiled at his discomfiture and her +own untutored grace, and she made bold and took a step or two on her +own dependence. Then there chimed eight from the old French clock of +black boule that sat upon a cabinet of tortoise-shell, and it stirred +the swains to think of donning 'broidered waist-coats and high-heeled +shoon preparatory to the prandial hour, when fresh game and old wine +would strengthen stomach and head; and they bowed low over tapering +fingers and cast a parting dart at female hearts, and climbed the +great oaken stairway to don their fine beaux' dress. + +'Twas eleven o' the clock when the gay company again entered the +saloon; gentlemen in fresh curled periwigs and marvels of laces and +'broiderings. They were gay with post-prandium cheer and flushed with +wine. + +Lord Cedric clapped his hands and immediately from some curtained +passage or gallery there was music; each instrument seeming to lead +in contrapuntal skill. His Lordship led forth Katherine and others +followed in the movement of the passacaille. Mistress Penwick was +beneath a great lustre that shone down and set her shoulder knot +ablaze with brilliancy, when Lady Constance passed and noted it. +She bit her lip from sheer pain, for 'twas Cedric's mother's prized +brooch, and through her heart fell a thunderbolt of fear; for now she +knew he would not allow a baggage to wear a thing so valued by the +mother whose memory he so loved. She began to fear this beauteous +thing could not be ousted so easily from her kinsman's castle; and her +heart rebelled at thought of losing him for spouse. She raged within, +reproaching herself for not hastening in woman's way his avowal; then +she trembled and grew sick at heart, as she saw his glances that were +so full of love; glances for which she would give the world to win. +She, on a sudden, was famishing for this love she had heretofore held +aloof from and yet would rather die than loose, aye, die a thousand +deaths. In her heart she vowed vengeance on that 'twould come between +them, and the thought strengthened her for battle, and when again she +saw Cedric's eyes gazing with ardent desire upon Katherine, it was +with comparative calmness. There appeared also a strange thing to her, +that this beauty did not appear to notice Cedric--that is, with the +notice due so handsome, rich and titled beau. There was not another +in the room with so elegant and fine shape; of so great vigour and +strength; none that could be so shaken and yet tender with passion; +none that could so command with a look; none that had such pure, noble +blood. And strange to say, for the first time she saw his weaker side; +she saw he was both jealous and selfish; she could find a thousand +matters pertaining to his lands and estates that she could find fault +with. He was exacting and heartless with his tenants; not providing +for their welfare as he should, being so great a lord. He hardly +allowed them religious privileges. The church was attached to the +castle by a passage leading from the landing of the stairway in the +library, and he had complained that the singing and preaching annoyed +him, and had frequently closed the chapel for this cause, and yet +a woman that held sway over such a man's heart could mould him to +anything. Why, why had she not married him ere this? She would set +about it at once and bring all these matters concerning his estates +to his notice; 'twould look so noble; 'twas time the castle had a +mistress, and who would better grace it than the fair Lady Constance +of Cleed Hall? And in Adrian Cantemir she had an ally, for he was +madly and desperately in love with Lord Cedric's ward. "I should like +her for cousin; she would make Adrian a fine wife, indeed I think I +should become quite proud of her," said Constance, as if the matter +was already quite settled. + +After dancing the stately gavotte, it appeared that the whole company +became heavy and wished for retirement; it might have been a ruse on +the part of beaux, and the fair ones fell into the trap; be it as it +may, the ladies retired. Janet had been waiting at the top of the +stairs for her mistress; but her smile of welcome turned to one of +disgust as she saw her appear with Lady Constance' arm about her. + +"Thou art commencing early, Lady Judas; I have not preened my eyes +for nothing, and this I well know, thou art hot in pursuit of my Lord +Cedric, and thou shalt not have him. 'Tis Mistress Penwick that will +queen it here and make a noble consort for his Lordship," said Janet. + +"May I come in a minute? Thou hast learnt I am Cedric's cousin, and I +feel as though I must know thee at once for his sake." + +"Aye, thou art most welcome, Lady Constance," replied Katharine. +And they sat over the fire laughing and chatting. Katherine was all +excitement and full of clatter, for 'twas her first "company," and she +was a young lady and could now boast of tender looks and words from +beaux. And her volubleness led her to tell of her convent life, of her +sudden surprise and pleasure of coming to England; and on and on; and +blushing, she thought with Constance that Adrian Cantemir was indeed +very charming, and having become better acquainted with him, she felt +sure she admired him quite as much, or more than, any one else; and +she was so fond of music he fairly entranced her when he played. + +"To-morrow he is to teach me battledore and shuttlecock in the +library." + +"'Tis great sport and a game that requires some skill," said +Constance. And thus they talked for one good hour, and in the +adjoining room Janet fumed and fretted; for 'twas far past her child's +bedtime. + +"Such late hours are not conducive to youthful roundness and a clear +colour," she grumbled. Constance yawned and declared she must retire; +but she was thirsty and must have a drink, and yet she supposed she +must do without, for all the maids and lackeys were abed. + +"But the more I think of it, the more I want it. I will get it +myself." + +"And I will accompany thee, for I would like not to go alone in so +great a house, when there is no one astir," said Katherine. + +They started forth adown the stairs; and following silent, noiseless +like a wraith was Janet, expectant, eager; for she felt she was to +see the opening of a great battle. Constance led the way, carrying a +taper. As they traversed some passage, their ears caught the sound of +music. They listened a moment, then Constance proposed they snuff the +candle and draw near the sound; "for very like the beaux were having +an orgy," she said. And Katherine, full of adventure and deeming it a +fine, young lady's trick--she had heard talk of such things among the +older girls at the convent--opined "'twas the thing to do." And +they followed the passage until an arched and curtained doorway but +screened them from that 'twas within the grand saloon, and Constance +made bold to draw aside a finger-breadth of the sweeping curtain and +peep within. + +"Ah! ah! 'tis a beauteous sight!" and she turned from what she saw +and drew the curtain to a generous opening; and the two with heads +together looked through. + +Every candle had been snuffed and through the great north window came +the rays from the light in the forked tree that fell like moonlight +athwart the saloon. In the centre of the broad gleam was a sylph-like +form, keeping time to the music in a sort of phantom style of +movement; twisting, shimmering folds that appeared to effuse a +scintillation of opal shades. 'Twas the chaconne; slow, graceful and +full of romance, the full major lifting and seeming to float, at last +dying imperceptibly into the minor passacaille. About were seated, +carelessly and after the manner of men who had pulled at the bottle +for hours in the hunting field and were now somewhat overcome by +warmth and _ennui_, beaux old and young, 'suaging their appetite of +mouth and eye by wine and women. + +"'Tis the King sets the pace!" said one, close to the curtain. + +"Egad!" said another. "He not only sets it, but carries it along. He +has fine wenches at his beck and call." 'Twas evident 'twas but the +beginning of revelry; a sort of bacchanalian prelude to what might +come later. No sooner was this dance finished than another began. +Some lithe creature came forth to dance, in bright scarlet, the +passacaglia. The glasses were refilled and the noise became more +boisterous; and the scandal more flagrant. The candles were set aglow +again and tables were brought for those wishing to gamble. And one +richly dressed and full of wine sprung upon a table and held aloft a +glass and called forth: + +"Here, here is to his Lordship of Crandlemar and to a long life of +free and easy celibacy." Now 'twas said Lord Cedric could drink more +without becoming undignified than any other man of his company, but it +seemed he gave himself to the spirit of the moment and had drunk deep. +When the young blood upon the table offered the toast, Cedric sprung +as if shot to the table, where he staggered and would have fallen, had +it not been for the youth who bore him up. Holtcolm, in his drunken +anxiety for his neighbour's steadiness, stood near him and with +tender, maudlin solicitude began to flick the grains of bergamot +scented snuff from the lace of Lord Cedric's steenkirk. At the same +time from the glass he held there spilled on his Lordship's brocaded +coat of blue and silver a good half-pint of wine. Cedric upon being +balanced had forgotten what he wanted to say, and turned to his +supporter. + +"What was it Holt-colm--I was goin' to shay?" Neither could remember, +so his Lordship continued with what seemed to weigh upon his mind: + +"'Tis thish: 'tis my deshire thish should be made a memorable--a night +worthy of remembrance. I'm about to espoushe my fair ward--and this is +positively my lasht appearance _en bout_--I know and am fully aware +_abondance de bien ne nuit_ until a better comes. To-night will be my +finale de-bauch--sho; tell the red beauty to come here." He sat down +upon the table and gazed with heavy, drooping lids upon the dancing +girl that came toward him. "Thou art a saucy baggage; but--hic--thou +art false of colour and--hic--flesh. Thy lips and cheeks are stained +with rouge--hic--and thy flesh--is--hic--pushed to prominence by high +stays--by God, it turns my stomach to--nausea." And he turned over and +lay flat upon the table. "Bring on another--shay--we must have the +moonlight beauty again." Katherine was well frightened and made +several efforts to persuade her companion to go away. It was part of +Constance' programme to cause Katherine's disgust at sight of Cedric's +wantonness. She felt it had been accomplished, and as there were other +matters to be about, she turned with her and together they groped back +up the stairs in the darkness, and found Janet feigning sleep in a +chair before the fire, Constance yawned and declared herself to be +tired out, and bade Katherine _adieu_. Janet closed the door after her +and in haste began putting her mistress to bed. And after giving her a +bath and rubbing, she snuffed the candles and went to her own room to +slip out again and go below stairs and find the curtained doorway, +there to watch and wait for that which was to come. She had seen as +much as Constance and Katherine, and she determined to see even more. +She would know how Lord Cedric appeared in his cups. There was nothing +anomalous in what was before her; 'twas as she had often seen in the +grand house in which she had served as maid; the same licentiousness, +wild riot and debaucheries that have been since the world stood. She +saw 'twas Cedric that drank as deep as any, and could rip out oaths +as trippingly as his swollen tongue would allow; but he was neither +vulgar nor lewd. Janet looked with pride at his clear flushed face, +so handsomely featured; his jewelled hands and fine round legs that +tapered to slender ankles. 'Twould be a fine pair when he espoused her +mistress, and she would help him to it as soon as he liked. Her heart +went out to him the more when she saw he cared not for the favours +offered him by the dancing wenches as they touched his flowing black +curls with caressing hands. He turned upon his stomach on the table +and hid his face in his hands and remained thus until the candles were +again snuffed and a maid came out into the improvised moonlight in +gipsy dress and a fortune-teller's cup and wand. She wore a masque and +veil tight wrapped about her head. She danced with less skill than +any that had come before. She lisped forth 'twas her trade to tell +fortunes, and thereupon a fop reached forth and pulled her to him, and +she began a startling story that had somewhat of truth in it; and to +each one her assertions or predictions had so much of truth in them it +provoked interest among them all. Lord Cedric called from the table: + +"The wench tells ear-splitting truths; send her here, she shall give +my pasht, present--and future." If they had not been so blinded by +wine, they might have noticed her haste to go to his bidding. She +looked closely at his hand and the sediment of his wine-cup. + +"Thou art madly and blindly in love!" said she, lispingly. + +"Good! good!" was sent forth from those about; and Cedric struck his +fist upon the table,-- + +"'Madly'--yes; but by God not 'blindly'! haste on, wench." + +"She loves admiration--" + +"She would not be half a woman if she--" + +"She is in love with one of Russian birth," went on the gipsy. Cedric +frowned and held quiet. "There is one who hast loved thee from early +childhood--a--a kinswoman--she would make thee a noble spouse and love +thee well with a warm nature to match thine own." + +"Thou tellest false, for I know not such an one. I have loved many +kinswomen since childhood, and they have loved me, but not to +espousal!" + +"'Tis here--her name--'tis--C-o-n-s--" + +"Constance, by God! but there thy lisping tongue prattles ill, for she +loves me as a brother, and I love her as if she were my sister." Now +the gipsy drew back as if the man before her had stricken her, then +hastened to cover her emotion with a sudden look into the cup and an +exclamation of-- + +"Ah! ah!" + +"What seest thou?" said Cedric. + +"A thing that means more to thee than aught else; 'tis an awful thing +if thou shouldst choose wrong!" + +"Haste, wench, what is it?" Cedric was growing impatient. + +"Thy kinswoman will bring thee a fine heir--" + +"By God, the other will bring me a dozen then!" + +"Nay, 'tis not so, she--" She stepped close to his ear and whispered. + +"Thousand devils, thou infernal, lying pot-house brawler--" and Cedric +glared fiercely upon her and bent forward, his hand falling upon his +sword-hilt; then he grew red at his hot action, and looked about to +see if 'twas noticed. "Get thee gone, thou saucy, lisping minx." The +poor thing was well-nigh distraught with fear of this man whose anger +came like a thunderbolt, and she fell heavy upon the lackey who +conducted her forth. She slipped through the corridors like a fast +fleeting shadow, and Janet followed her close and saw her enter a +certain chamber apart where she was met by one of the dancers; and +'twas Lady Constance that threw from her the gipsy attire and put a +bag of gold in the celebrated Babbet's waiting fingers; and with a +warning pressure of finger-on-lip, she came forth and fled to her own +grand apartments, and Janet watched until the latch clicked upon this +great mistress of beauty, title, wealth and virtue. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +JANET'S PHILOSOPHY + + +"This world of ours hangs midway 'twixt zenith and nadir: the superior +and inferior: the positive and negative; and 'tis a pertinent thought +that susceptible human nature takes on the characteristic of the one +or the other. One is away up in zenithdom or away down in nadirdom, +one is not content to go along the halfway place and see the good that +lies ever before them. But, again, there are natures that are not +susceptible to extremes; as a simile: a maid whose soul is ever +vibrant with the ineffable joys of the world to come, walks by the +seashore and mayhap beholds the full moon rise from the water and cast +to her very feet a pathway of gold, and she will quickly join herself +to those who see like visions, and pathway will lie against pathway +and produce a sea of gold; on the other hand, if she be a foolish +virgin and looks not before her, but tosses high head in pride or +walks with downcast eyes and smiles and blushes and smirks and flings +aside thoughts of deity, until she becomes submerged; on a sudden +Gabriel will blow and the world will cease revolving, and then--where +wilt thou be, oh, maid that hath fluttered from sweet to sweet and +forgotten thy prayers?" There came a great happy sigh from the +testered bed-- + +"Thou hast powerful breath, Janet, and 'twas an immense bitterwort +bush thou were beating about. I am sorry I forgot my prayers. I will +say them twenty times to-day, to make up." + +"And it's the heathen that repeateth a prayer oft; thou hadst better +say 'God, have mercy upon my untowardness!' once, from thy heart, than +to say thy rosary from now until doom with thy mind upon a bumptious +Russian." + +"What is the day, Janet?" + +"'Tis as bleak and stormy as one could wish." + +"What is the hour?" + +"Eleven." + +"Eleven? and I was to meet Count Adrian at this very hour. He is to +teach me battledore and shuttlecock." + +"'Tis a fussy game, played more with the heart than hand; canst give +it up; let me rub thee to sleep again?" + +"Nay, for I would not disappoint him or--myself." + +An hour later she stood opposite the count in the great library, +swinging the battledore with grace. There was much soft laughter and +gay repartee; and Adrian followed the movements of Katherine's lithe +form, clad in the soft, clinging grey of the convent. She became +remiss; for Adrian's glances were confusing, and intentional laches +were made by him, that he might come near her, almost touching her +hair in bending to recover the ball. She was flushed and eager, +triumphant of a fine return, when the door flew open and in came a +number of gallants, among whom was Lord Cedric. His face flushed a +warm red and he shot a glance of jealousy at Adrian as he bent low +over Katherine's hand. After a few commonplace remarks, they passed on +up the stairway to the broad landing, on which was an arched door that +led to the passage opening into the organ loft of the chapel. In a few +moments there came the sound of the organ. Katherine swung low her +battledore and breathed forth: + +"Let us listen; 'tis sweet, who plays, dost know?" + +"'Tis St. Mar, a fine fellow; a soldier, duelist and gallant." + +"'Thou dost flank duelist by two words that should scorn being so +separated!'" + +"'Twas a happy wording; for if thou shouldst meet him, thou wilt +fall but two-thirds in love, whereas, if otherwise worded 'twould be +altogether." + +"Thou art giving my heart an evil reputation; for after all 'tis not +so easy won." + +"'Tis true, as I know, more than any one else, for my heart misgave +me from the moment I first set eyes on thy beauteous countenance; and +since I have been in wild despair, not knowing if thou hast a heart +for any save thy nurse and my Lord Cedric; for 'tis to them thy heart +seems bent." There was neither shadow nor movement of fair expression +on Mistress Penwick's face, as she answered calmly,-- + +"Thou sayest well. I love my nurse--she has been mother too, and I +honour Lord Cedric as a good man should be honoured, and one whom my +father chose to be his daughter's guardian and holder in trust of her +estates." + +"Estates"--'twas a grand word and went straight to Cantemir's heart; +for 'twas something to espouse so beautiful a maiden that had demesne +as well. + +Katherine was listening to the chords of the organ, and she bent +forward eagerly. Her thoughts flew back to the convent where she had +enjoyed a pure religious life undisturbed by the trammels of the great +outer world. + +"Let us go," said she, "I would see who 'tis that plays!" + +She led the way up the broad stairs and through the passage into the +organ loft, and at first sight of her Cedric was well-nigh beside +himself with delight; for he took it, she had come to be with him. +There was a young fop at the organ in rich and modish attire, but +otherwise of unattractive and common appearance. + +Katherine cast upon him her entire attention, and there came that +in her face that drew the glance of every eye. 'Twas as if she was +entranced with the player, as well as the sounds he brought forth from +the organ. Cedric be-thought him 'twas an unfortunate oversight to +have learnt not to thrum upon some sort of thing wherewith to draw the +attention if not admiration of such a maid as this. And he straightway +made avowal to send at once for tutor and instrument; a violin, when +played as he might learn to, would perhaps be as successful in its +lodestone requirements as any other thrumming machine. "'Twas an +instrument could be handled to such an effect. A man could so well +show white, jewelled fingers; display a rare steenkirk to pillow it +upon; and withal, a man could stand free and sway his body gracefully +this way and that; yes, 'tis the thing to do; she may yet look at me +as she now looks at St. Mar!" so thought Cedric. The piece was soft +and gentle, with a pathetic motif running through it. Katherine became +so rapt she drew closer and closer, until at last she stood beside St. +Mar. He became confused and halted, and finally left off altogether +and turned to read the admiration in the azure blue of her eyes. + +"Thou art from France, and dost thou know many of the great +musicians?" + +"Aye, a great many--" + +"Hast thou met the great Alessandro Scarlatti? I understand he created +a _furore_ as he passed through Paris from London." + +"'Tis true, and I was most fortunate to hear him play portions of +'_L'Onesta nell Amore._' Queen Christina herself accompanied him to +Paris, and wherever he played she was not far away." + +"We used much of his sacred music at the convent; 'tis such warm, +tender and sympathetic harmony. He must be a very great man!" + +"He hath a son, Domenico, not two years old, who already shows a great +ear for his father's music; and they say he will even be a greater +musician than his father. It is possible Alessandro will visit +London." + +"'Twould be wondrous fine! I will go and hear him play, surely +"--Cedric interrupted their musical converse,-- + +"'Tis cold for thee, I fear, in this damp place; I beg thee to allow +me to lead thee to the library." And without further words he led her +away, through the library and on beyond to the saloon, where he begged +her to favour him with songs he was quite sure she could sing, naming +those he most wished to hear. + +Then in came Lady Bettie Payne with three or four others, and they +babbled and chattered, and as Lord Cedric stood near he heard them +speak of Lady Constance' indisposition. + +"Ah, poor Constance, I was not aware she was ill!" said he, and he +went forth to inquire of her condition and find if aught could be done +for her enlivenment to health and spirits. When he returned and +saw Katherine so surrounded, and his guests engaged at cards and +battledore and music, and some in converse as to whether they should +ride forth to the chase, he was somehow stirred to think of Constance +lying alone in her chamber; and there recurred to him the tale of the +night before; 'twas she that loved him. He felt sorry for her if such +a thing were true; but 'twas not possible, and to convince himself he +would go to her and give her the brotherly kiss as heretofore, and +take notice if there was aught in her manner to denote verification of +the miserable gipsy's story. He would put an end to such feeling, if +'twere there. He sent word if he might see her for himself, and be +assured her illness was not feigned, in order she might shirk the +duty--like a wicked sister--of presenting her fair face for the +enlightenment of the gloom that seemed about to penetrate, from +without, the castle walls. + +Constance lay propped amongst pillows, in a gorgeous _peignoir_ of +lace, arranged for the moment to display advantageously her plump arms +and a slender white neck encircled with pearls. Her brow was high and +narrow; her dark hair was carefully arranged in wavy folds upon +the pillow; her eyes, under drooping lids, glittered coldly and +imperiously. The nose was straight, and too thin for beauty. Her lips, +touched with rouge, were also thin and full of arrogance. There she +lay, impatient for the love of this one man, who was e'en now at the +door. + +When Constance was a baby, she had watched Cedric upon his nurse's +knee taking his pap, and a little later amused him with her dolls. She +had played with him at bat and ball; had ridden astride behind him +upon a frisking pony; had learned and used the same oaths when none +were by to note her language but grooms and stable-boys--always when +Angel, the head nurse, was not about. She would outswear the young lad +and then tease him because he could not find words to equal hers. +They had played at "Lord and Lady," and rode about the terraces in +a miniature sedan chair, and cooks and scullions winked and nodded, +wisely and predictively. And when they came to man's and woman's +estate, Cedric's regard for her was as a brother's; but hers for +him, alas! was deep love. It seemed to her as if the world was just +beginning; a bright, glorious world full of untold wealth of love, +when she thought perhaps she might yet win him for her own; and indeed +she thought, as already possessing him. On his part there was +being born in his heart a great joy: that of a new and first love. +Heretofore he and Constance had known all things in common, and now +suddenly he was satiate of her. But Katherine, he had thought, was +so young and bright and beautiful; a child that had lived within the +cloister and had grown to maidenhood in sweet innocence. 'Twas like +finding in some tropic clime, embowered and shaded by thick, waxy +leaves, a glorious, ripe pomegranate, which he would grasp and drink +from its rich, red pulp, a portion that would cool and 'suage a +burning thirst; while Constance, by the side of Katherine, was like a +russet apple, into whose heart the worm of worldly knowledge had eaten +its surfeit and taken all sweetness away, and the poor thing hung low, +all dried and spiritless upon a broken bough to the convenience of any +passing hand. "Nay, nay; give me only the rich, ripe pomegranate; my +Katherine, Kate! Kate!" and blinded thus by the fever of desire to +possess only his sweet Kate, he swung wide the door of Constance's +room and passed to the bedside and leant over and kissed her. + +She flushed red as she met his eyes--now cold and +unimpassioned--looking into the very depths of her own. He saw the +sudden scarlet that mantled her face, and knew--knew she loved him. +And his heart went out to her, for he was attached to the russet +thing, an attachment heretofore unnamed, but now--now suddenly +christened with that parsimonious appellation--pity; the object +of which is never satisfied. But he had naught else to give, for +Katherine had suddenly impoverished him. + +"'Tis generous of thee, Cedric, to break from thy gay company; what +are they engaged in?" + +"Various,--some at cards, others at music--" + +"And what was thy pastime that thou couldst sever thyself so +agreeably?" + +"I was listening to Bettie, and she on a sudden remarked of thy +indisposition. I straightway came to note thy ailing. I have talked +not with thee in private since thy arrival, and there is much news. +Hast seen her, Constance, to talk with her?" + +"Whom meanest thou? There are many 'hers' in the house!" + +"The beauty that flew to me over seas, of course; whom else could I +mean?" + +"Oh! oh! to be sure; the maid from Quebec. Aye, I talked with her +some. Thou sayest she is Sir John Penwick's daughter?" + +"Aye, and she's a glorious beauty, eh, Constance?" + +"But how camest thou by her?" + +Cedric reached to that nearest his heart and drew forth Sir John's +letter and gave it opened into Constance's hand. She read it with +blazing eyes and great eagerness; for 'twas a bundle of weapons she +was examining and would take therefrom her choice. She flashed forth +queries as to the probability of this or that with a semblance of +interest that disarmed Cedric and made him wonder if this woman +loved to such an extent, she could fling aside her own interests +and submerge all jealousy, all self-love into the purest of all +sacrifices, abnegation? + +"What! no estates? That looks ill, for at one time Sir John was +affluent, for Aunt Hettie has told me of him many a time." + +"But he lost it all, as I've heard ofttime from father; he has spoken +not infrequent of Sir John's high living; he had great demesne, a +great heart and great temper; and 'tis the last named that has fallen +clear and uncumbered to his daughter; and the heart will be found by +careful probing, no doubt; and the demesne she will have when she +condescends to take me as spouse." + +"Thou, thou espouse her?" and Constance feigned surprise, as if 'twere +a new thing to her, when in reality she had suffered agony from its +repetition. + +"Aye, and why not, pray? Am I not of ripe years and know my mind?" + +"And why so?--because thou shouldst wed one of high degree and fortune +and worldly wisdom." + +"Nay, thou art wrong. 'Tis enough that she is of noble blood from +father and mother; and I have fortune for us both; and worldly +wisdom--bah! Constance, dost thou expect her to know all the intrigues +of court, when she is but lightly past fifteen?" + +"Fifteen?--Now by heaven, Cedric, thou wouldst not lie to me?" + +"Nay, Con, I would not--I have no object in this case, 'tis a truth." + +"Fifteen, and indeed she is well-formed for such youth!" + +"And what a beautiful and innocent face she has, too?" + +"Beauteous, admitted; but innocent of what?" + +"Innocent of all we know; she knows naught of this great world. Janet +keeps all evil from her. We cannot conceive of such innocence in any +one. The child has eaten the simplest things all her life; milk and +gruel and beef-whey; 'tis no great wonder she is so pink and strong; +Janet says in hand-to-hand battle in their convent chamber, the child +hath thrown her oft in fair wit of strength;--such rough sport was not +indulged in openly and Janet taught her thrusts and flings to broaden +her chest and strengthen hip and back; she is stout and strong, and +yet she makes one think of a beautiful flower until she falls in +anger; then she shows a stout temper as well, and is wilful to all +save Janet, who governs her by some strange method I ne'er saw before; +for 'tis odd to see servant lead mistress. But, 'twas an awful thing +happened me; I knew not, or had forgotten rather, the arrival of the +babe Sir John speaks of. As thou knowest, I came home unexpectedly, +and I found the letter here. It had arrived some time before, and +I read it hastily, told Wasson my duty and passed the letter to a +convenient pocket, and thence until the night of the _masque_ forgot +all about the arrival of the infant. I was masqued, mad and raving at +Christopher for not mending my bag-pipe, and I rushed swearing after +him and Mistress Penwick heard my oaths, my broad Scotch ones thou +knowest I love to use when in anger. She hates me for it, and I can +do naught to win the confidence due me as her rightful guardian. So I +have settled upon an immediate espousal--" + +"Immediate? Thou marry a child,--'tis unseemly--" + +"Nay, 'tis not unseemly; 'tis the most proper thing to do. Janet +says so, too, and will urge her to accept me as soon as I wish to +wed--which shall be at the earliest moment." + +"Janet, indeed! What right has a servant to forward the doings of +master and mistress? Thou hadst best wait and have her Grace of +Ellswold present her at Court and give the child at least one season +in London to improve her convent ways." + +"Nay, Constance, if she were to grow one whit more beautiful, 'twould +kill me dead." + +"I am afraid thou art easily slain; indeed, I never knew beauty was so +murderous before. Thou art surely beside thyself; she here alone in +this great castle without a mother's love to guide! No one to whom she +can tell her troubles! How must the poor child feel to be forced into +a marriage she most like--hates;"--and her ladyship's voice took +on such a tone of pity one would think she was about to break into +tears,--"'tis a barbarous act for thee to talk of marriage so soon to +a helpless being." + +"There is nothing helpless about Kate, she can take her own part. She +hath wit and temper for a half dozen." + +"But thou wilt acknowledge if she will have _her_ way she must leave +the castle; for thou art bent upon _thy_ way--thou wilt not listen to +reason; so, see to it, and wed her straightway if--if thou canst." He +was about to answer her with an oath, when suddenly Katherine stood in +the half-open door smiling over the top of a great bunch of roses. +On Constance' face was a look of triumph, as she noted Cedric's +confusion; but Katherine's words put Cedric at ease. + +"I was told thou wert ill and that Lord Cedric was uneasy and had come +to thee; and I reproached myself for not coming earlier to see if thou +wert in need of aught." She placed the vase of roses on a table close. +Constance thanked her and took the tapering fingers and hugged them +between her own. Katherine looked down upon her thin, arrogant lips; +and as there always comes to the innocent--when dealing with those of +other mould--a warning, a feeling of repulsion, took possession of her +and she withdrew her hand, and, in a moment, her presence. + +"'Tis a vision of loveliness more refreshing than the nosegay she +brought, thinkest thou not so, Constance?" + +"Thou dost see with lover's eyes. How soon wilt thou espouse her; +thy house is somewhat taken up by company, who are to remain for +the summer, and how wilt thou get through the irksomeness of grand +ceremonies without great preparation, for much will be expected of thy +wealth and rank?" + +"Damme, I'll have no pranks and ceremonies and entertainments; I +have not time. I must wed her at once. Canst thou not see, under the +circumstances, scandal-mongers will make eyes and prate of wrong for +me thus to have a young maid here alone?" Now indeed this thought had +not occurred to Constance in just this way; but now it struck her with +a mighty force, and she shot at him a piercing glance through the +half-closed imperious eyes. + +"I had thought of it, but determined mine should not be the first +breath to breathe forth scandal, even in private converse with thee; +'twas an awful thing for her to come here knowing of thy youth." + +"But she did not know, as that letter and thou thyself can testify." + +"But the world--the Court where thou wilt go to hold sway--they know +not the circumstances." + +"Now, by God, Constance, one would think thou wert an alien to King +Charles' Court. If Charles knew I had here this maid and had not yet +taken her to wife--why--why, he would take her away himself and laugh +me to scorn for my slothfulness. But all London knows by now, as I +have sent a message to my solicitors." + +"But if she be set upon not marrying thee. What wilt thou do?" Lord +Cedric hung his head, as if in profound meditation; then, without +raising it, but remaining in a hopeless attitude, said: + +"I will guard her from all evil. I will stand between her and harm and +wait. And thou must help me, Constance. Wilt thou persuade her?" + +"Have I not always taken thy part, even--when thou wert in the wrong?" + +When Cedric left Lady Constance, he sought Janet and poured into her +willing ears his woes. He feared lest some gallant should win his +Kate's love, and Janet must tell him of some way to win it for +himself. + +Janet now loved Lord Cedric as if he were already Katherine's lord; +and she, knowing 'twould be one of the best matches in all England, +vowed 'twas best for them to marry at once; beside, Kate, being wilful +and having a tendency for men of foreign birth, with nothing in their +favour but a small share of good looks and some musical ability, might +see fit to plant her affections with such, and 'twas plain mischance +would kill Cedric outright, for he was passionate to self-destruction; +so when he said: "'Twould be instant death to me, Janet. What wouldst +thou advise me to do--thou dost so fully understand her?" she answered +him: + +"'Tis somewhat the way with maidens to sigh for that not easily +attained, and it might serve thee to put forth an indifferent air and +incline thy attentions toward another and act a mighty cold lord and +coddle not her desires." + +"That would take so long a time; I cannot wait. I will speak to her +once more, then I will be cold and indifferent as thou sayest. When +shall I have an opportunity to speak with her?" + +"How soon dost expect the chests with my lady's raiment, my lord?" + +"On the morrow they should be here." + +"'Tis then she will think of thy goodness, and I will put in a word +for thee, and perchance thou wilt come to see if all things came, and +'twill give thee opportunity to speak of other things. She is wanting +many things for the Chapel; she wishes to reopen it; and 'tis in +matters of religion thy hot tempers will clash, for Mistress Penwick +is a Roman Catholic, and thou art of the English Church." + +"Thou art a wise Janet! I will turn the people, and they shall become +Catholics." + +"Nay, if thou dost undertake it, thy people will rise in arms against +thee." + +"So be it, let her have her way. I'll bother her not in her simple +ideas of religion." + +"Not so simple, my lord. Thou hast not seen the teachings of nine +years take root and spread and grow as I have. Dost think she would +allow thy Chaplain to bind thee to her? Nay, she will be wed by none +but a priest. But she is kindly intentioned and feels sorry for thy +poor Chaplain, who hath so hard a time to keep his flock together. +I look any day for her to carry in a cross and hang it behind his +pulpit, then--then he will faint away from fright of her." + +"Nay, Janet, he will fall down and worship it, and--her." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BRANTLE + + +Mistress Penwick sat in her chamber, trying to calm herself to reason; +for the chest had come from London-town laden with splendid raiment; +all had been unpacked and examined, and 'twas enough to cure all +grievances, the very sight of such adornings; but her ladyship +was disappointed that there were no stays. Janet for the time was +distraught and said: + +"I would that had been sent that would mend thy untowardness and bring +thy temper to a comelier mould. 'Tis past time for thee to clothe +thyself in that in which thy noble lord hath seen fit to purchase for +thee; I heard some moments since the arrival of the hunters and it's +time--" There was a sounding rap and 'twas his Lordship's lackey +begging the admittance of his master. Janet bade Lord Cedric enter. He +came forth in riding-coat and field boots and rattling spurs. Mistress +Penwick vouchsafed a nod of recognition and turned her eyes away. The +hot blood mounted Cedric's face and at a look at Janet understood all +was not well; he essayed to speak with coolness: + +"Art not happy with the contents of thy chest, Kate?" + +"'Tis more than one could expect, but--sadly it lacked that I wished +for most--a thing that marks one as lady and not child in grown-up +people's clothes." + +"And what might that be, Kate?" for indeed he had forgotten about her +order that stays be sent. + +"Simple, modest, commonplace stays, my lord," and she said it slowly +and with a mighty air. + +"Nay, nay--stays they did forget?" and he stamped his foot in seeming +wrath and broke forth:--"I'll thrash that damned lackey blue for +so forgetting!" and he turned as if to quit the room, but Mistress +Penwick ran to stay his hurry. + +"Nay, thou wilt not hurt him, 'twas not his fault, 'twas not by his +hand the order was writ." And Cedric feigned further show of temper, +and Katherine's tapering fingers ventured upon either lapel of his +lordship's velvet coat, and he turned red and white and could hardly +contain himself with delight. Janet, fearing a confusion of her +master's words, put forth her arms and drew away Katherine's hands and +said, softly: + +"His Lordship will not thrash the lad, if thou wilt don thy most +beautiful frock and forget the stays." + +"That will I, if 'tis his desire; and--" she looked up into his +Lordship's face with a look that was almost tender--"thou wilt say no +word to the boy?" His voice was soft and pleading as he answered: + +"Anything thou wouldst ask of me thus, thou couldst have it without +the asking." + +"Then, my lord, when there is aught I would have, I may take it +without thy spoken yea?" + +"Nay, not so; that would be highway robbery; for thou wouldst take +from me the dearest thing that has yet happened to me; 'tis thy sweet +pleading for that 'tis already thine." + +"'Tis a generous thing for thee to say, but if I might have perfect +freedom to do all things as I desire--" + +"And what are the 'all things' that thou wouldst desire?" + +"I should like to have many changes made in the Chapel, and bring one +who is well able to play on the great organ. And 'twould be a wondrous +good thing to bring from the village of Crandlemar youths for the +training of a choir, such as I have heard are of much repute among the +poor lads for strength and sweetness of voice; and after all things +are made ready, have the Chapel opened again with pomp of priest and +solemn ceremony." + +"If such are thy desires, I will put forward the work at once." Now +indeed Katherine forgot the sad lack of stays and for the moment +forgot all else save that the handsome Cedric stood before her flushed +and eager to gratify her every whim. He, one of the richest noblemen +in Great Britain, whom she could have for a look; the stretching out +of the hand. And she quite well knew that he was ready at the first +opportunity to renew the subject of marriage, and for this very thing +she turned from him thinking that some time she would consider his +proposal. So again he went from her presence with a throbbing in his +breast that was half-hope, half-despair and knew not what to do. + +'Twas the last ball at Crandlemar Castle, for the hunting season was +over. A goodly company gathered from neighbouring shires, and Mistress +Pen wick was the mark of all eyes in a sweeping robe of fawn that +shimmered somewhat of its brocadings of blue and pink and broiderings +of silver. She had decorously plaited a flounce of old and rare lace +and brought it close about her shoulders and twined her mother's +string of pearls about her white throat, the longer strands reaching +below her waistband and caught low again upon the shoulder with a knot +of fresh spring violets. Cedric stood apart with his kinsman, his +Grace of Ellswold, who enjoyed the freedom of speech of all Charles' +Court; indeed it appeared that not only looseness of tongue but morals +also held sway in the most remote as well as the best known portions +of the kingdom. And at his Grace's first sight of Katherine he uttered +an oath and some other expression that savoured of common hackney; for +Cedric had been telling him of the soothsayer's words. + +"The soothsayer spoke false and I'll wager thee the East Forest thou +hast coveted against thy Welsh demesne. I tell thee, Cedric, a jewel +hast thou found. Never have I seen her equal. And that is John +Penwick's daughter!" and he took a great pinch of snuff and looked +at Cedric. "She will make thee a fine wife,--but who is the man that +dangles after her now? Indeed, I would say thou hadst better watch out +for him. I do not like the look in his eyes; he is--" + +"Egad, uncle! I would as soon think of being jealous of--of thee. He +is Constance' cousin from Russia, and as she is staying here for some +time, at her request I asked him also. Bah! I could never imagine him +as a rival!" + +"Well, so be it; but how about the wager of the East Forest?" + +"Thou art on the winning side. So thou couldst not wager without an +opponent, and 'twill be futile to find one, lest thou dost charge upon +some landless bumpkin." + +"And how soon wilt thou espouse her?" + +"At the first moment of her consent--" + +"Consent 'tis thou art waiting for? Thou hadst better keep her close; +for if his Majesty gains inkling of such fresh, young beauty and finds +her out of bans, 'twill go hard with thee to sword thy way to a lady +in waiting or--perhaps----" + +"'Sdeath, by God! I had not thought of that! 'Twould be too bold +and out of place, she being under my guardianship, to press her to +espousal without fair consent;--but I know best; 'twould be for her +own safety, is it not so, uncle?" + +"If she knows naught of the frailties of all mankind and the Court in +particular, I should say as thou art her rightful guardian and the +suitor chosen of her father, and 'twas thy wish for her immediate +espousal, 'twould best serve thee to use all manner of means to gain +her consent, and if this prove abortive, I would abduct the maid and +have thy Chaplain ready to marry thee to her; and after he pronounces +thee man and wife, what can she do but love thee straightway for thy +strong handling; 'tis the way of women. I would marry such a beauty in +haste, ere another takes the vantage." + +Lord Cedric chose Mistress Penwick for the brantle and led her forth. +They moved with such majestic grace, they attracted all eyes. It +seemed Cedric could not contain himself for love of Kate, and he vowed +to gain her ear this very night and know for a certainty if she would +ever marry with him. + +It pleased Mistress Penwick to dance with Cedric, for she was more at +ease with him than any other, and she was hardly pleased when he bade +her rest and took her to another room, where they were quite alone. +But she would not sit down, and stood fanning and smiling up into his +face, saying half pettishly: + +"Thou art soon tired; the brantle has just begun." + +"Kate, hast thou patience?" + +"Aye, but 'tis of dwarfish mould." + +"Kate, dost love any human being?" + +"Aye, 'tis a poor thing that loves not." + +"Dost love me, Kate?" + +"As a father or brother and as one should love her father's best +friend." + +"Then--give me a--kiss as thou wouldst give thy brother." The hot +blood suffused her face. At sight of it, Cedric's heart leapt with a +mighty gladness. + +"Not having had a brother, I know not how to give that thou +askest;--and 'tis unseemly of thee to ask for that that makes one +blush for very shame to be questioned of." + +"Blushes are not always for shame--'tis for love, sometimes. Kate, +'tis time I knew thy heart, for thou knowest I am about to die for +love of thee. Dost not understand that thy father wished thee to marry +at an early age and to marry the son of his bosom friend to whom he +gave his daughter's keeping?" + +"Nay, he said naught of my marriage with thee, as he knew not thou +wert in existence." + +"Aye, of a truth he hath done so; it is here next my heart," and he +drew forth Sir John's letter. "Wilt read but the lines I show thee; +for there are secrets belonging to thy father and me alone?" He marked +the lines with his jewelled finger, his love locks falling against her +cheek as she read: "My last wish and the one of greatest import to my +child is that thou find for her a spouse of rank and fortune. 'Tis my +desire she marry early to such an one.--Ah! Cedric, if thou had hadst +a son, their union would have been our delight--" + +"Ah! ah!" and Katherine's eyes grew wide. "Thou hast said naught of +this--as it appears here before me now; and it might have been too +late." + +"Too late! What meanest thou?" + +"The noble--nay, now I cannot tell thee, for 'tis a secret but half +mine." + +"My God! who dares have secrets with thee save thy nurse and guardian; +whose damned heart hath played the lover to thee?" His hand fell upon +his sword and he drew it half way. "What guest hath so dishonoured +name as to make profit of that I have already made known as my +espoused? Tell me, Kate!" Seeing her frightened eyes, that were justly +so, he pushed back the jewelled hilt and threw his arm about her and +drew her close, so close she was well-nigh crushed by his warm and +passionate embrace and choked by pulverulent civet as her face was +pressed against the folds of his steenkirk. She felt the tumultuous +beating of his heart, and 'twas a great, new feeling came to her and +she trembled and swayed, and loved and hated both, in one brief moment +and drew from him and looked with angry eyes. "Kate, Kate, what saidst +the false lover; tell me every word. Did he ask thee for espousal?" +Now Mistress Penwick faltered and flushed, for she dare not tell him +who her suitor was and thought if she told him well what was said, +he would not press her for name, and 'twas meet she should tell him +truthfully. She feared his hot temper not a little, for she had heard +that one time he locked Lady Constance in the tower for two whole days +for telling him a falsehood. + +"Aye, he asked me to espouse him." + +"And what didst thou say?" + +"I said him nay, 'twas too soon to wed, 'twould be wiser to speak a +year hence." + +"And what answer did he make thee?" + +"He said the king's sister, Princess Mary, when but ten married +William, Prince of Orange, and--" + +"And what?" said Cedric, leaning forward his hand upon his sword, a +curse between his white teeth and a line of light from between +his half-closed lids like the flashing of a two-edged sword. +"What--'sdeath?" And Kate trembled forth-- + +"And fifteen was none too soon to wed." + +"And did he say naught else appertaining thereto?" + +"Nay, I know naught else he could say!" and the innocence of her +inquiring face proved his evil imagining a perjury. He caught his +breath in a flutter of sheer heart's-ease. + +"Now who is this swain who hath taken advantage of my invitation and +come up from among the rustics yonder to make love to thee? I will +run him through the first time I meet his insolence. Who is he, Kate; +what's his name?" She vouchsafing no answer, aroused his suspicion. + +"'Sdeath! what ails thy tongue? Haste thee, what is his name?" and he +glared at her, furiously, 'til she was well nigh cold with fright. + +"Sooth, thou art strong with temper for the very meagre cause a maiden +will not bewray a poor man's name." + +"Poor, indeed, when such as thou bestoweth upon him the priceless +gift of thy heart as a locker for his secrets; by God! give his name, +quick, ere I slay a dozen for one paltry fool that would rob me!" +She read aright the steely light 'neath his half-closed lids and was +distraught, for she dared not give him the name of one of his guests; +for the noble Russian Adrian Cantemir had pressed his suit and was +upheld by Lady Constance, who told him of Katherine's vast demesne, +knowing well he could not marry one without estates, as his were in +great depletion. And the noble Cantemir had well nigh won her heart by +his voice and music, and now that he was in danger of Lord Cedric's +anger, he became an object of commiseration, and not for her life +would she give his name to this raging man with murder in his heart. + +"Nay, nay, my lord; give me grace. I have told thee truly all else, +and now I beg--" + +"Dost thou say thou wilt not give his name? Then, by God, I will cut +my way to his black heart!" He drew his sword and strode forth to +slash the curtain that barred his way, and Katherine caught his +upstretched arm and fell upon her knees, bursting into tears. At sight +of tears and touch of fingers he dropped his sword and raised her +quickly, saying: + +"Nay, nay, not tears. Dry them, Sweet, they wring my heart to greater +pain than all thy secrets, and for this one thou boldest I will take +thy shoulder-knot instead." She looked up surprised at the sudden +surcease of storm, and seeing his handsome face becalmed, she +wondered at the magic that had caused it, and her heart smote her for +withholding aught from one that loved her so. She hastily drew from +her shoulder the knot of violets that were still humid with freshness; +and as she drew the fastenings the lace fell from her shoulder, +disclosing her too-low cut bodice, and Cedric's quick eye saw why the +screen of lace was used, and with trembling fingers caught up the lace +and drew from his steenkirk a rare jewel and pinned it safe as deftly +as her maid. He touched her hand with his warm red lips, saying in +a voice resonant as music: "God bless thee, Kate, for thy sweet +modesty!" He thought if the modish beauties in yonder rooms could +boast of such perfect charm, 'twould not be hid by a fall of lace and +a shoulder knot of violets. And he pressed the nosegay to his heart +and left them there, folded within her father's letter. A calmness +settled upon him, such as had not come to him heretofore, and +trembling with happiness he led Katherine forth in the brantle; she +feeling quite like an heroine for being able to hold her secret from +this passionate man. + +For all the convent had environed Mistress Pen wick with sacred +influences, and she had absorbed its most potent authority, religion, +yet even that was not efficacious to the annihilating that 'twas +born within; and one can but excuse the caprice and wantonness of a +coquette, when 'tis an inheritance. She adhered pertinaciously to the +requirements of a lady of title, and loved opulence and luxury and +admiration. She foresaw--young as she was and reared as she had been +with all simpleness--an opportunity, being a noblewoman and the ward +of a wealthy titled gentleman, to become a favourite at Court. This +idea, however, was not altogether original; for Lady Constance +had given her a graphic description of her presentation, and the +requirements due to all ladies of note. And while Katherine fully +intended to carry out her father's wishes for an early and noble +marriage; yet she felt there was no haste; she was sure it would be +his desire for her to enjoy one of those seasons at Court she had +heard so much converse of. 'Tis not much wonder, having been so short +a time in the great world and having won the hearts of two noblemen, +she should wish for fresh fields to conquer. But now was not the time +for a trip to London, for spring was upon them and there was much to +look after in Crandlemar. His Lordship had sadly neglected his duties +in keeping up the village and looking after the poor. The church +must be built up. It had not occurred to her that there were other +religions beside the Catholic; and when Lord Cedric's chaplain made +known to her the difficulties of arranging Catholic orders in a +Protestant Church, she could not understand. Janet explained to her +what she would be compelled to surmount to bring her religion to be +the accepted one in Crandlemar. Again her mind was turned to Count +Adrian, and she thought 'twould be well to wed with one of her +own faith, and he was as warm a Catholic as herself. Cedric was a +Protestant and a very poor one, indeed it seemed he had no religion. +And yet he had told her that he petitioned not to God for aught; +but 'twas his diurnal duty to thank Him for His benevolence and +chastening; ever deeming chastisement the surety of his alien thought +or action, and he speedily mended his ways or made an effort to; but +what great sin he had committed that her love should not be given him +was more than he could tell, and he should keep on trying to find out +what his faults were, that he might receive that he wished for most. +He wrangled not of religion, but ever kept the divine spark in his own +heart alive, if not fanned to flame. Indeed so indifferent was his +Lordship to the great questions of the times, he thought not of the +ancient monastery in the depths of the vast forest upon his estate, +where still resided recluses. 'Twas seldom he thought of these simple +monks. They lived in seeming quiet, enjoying the freehold of their +castle. But there was a storm brewing, and in its midst his Lordship +was to be severely reminded of their presence. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ANCIENT MONASTERY + + +Lord Cedric's guests all departed after the Saxon dance, save their +Graces of Ellswold, Lady Constance, Lady Bettie Payne and Count +Cantemir. And with their exit spring seemed to burst forth in sward, +bourgeon and bud, and the clinging tendrils upon the castle walls grew +heavy and pink with their greedy absorption of carbon dioxide from the +warm atmosphere. It seemed the unfolding of nature brought ten times +more pain and uneasiness and mad love to Lord Cedric's heart. He had +not yet learned who had been talking to Katherine of love. Janet +had mentioned Adrian Cantemir; he had laughed at her. Constance +had pointed to Lord Droylsden, a man of distinction and strong +personality, whose estates joined his own. This appeared more +plausible than the suit of Cantemir, and his Lordship watched +Katherine when she was with these two and soon found, so he thought, +it was for the latter she cared; indeed 'twas hard for him to follow +the trend of her vacillating mind. + +'Twas a glorious, warm spring morning. Mistress Penwick had ridden +forth, attended by a groom, to the village. She spent the entire +morning in visiting the poor and sick and did not fail to note the +dilapidated state of the cottages. She rode home flushed and eager +with plans. She made known to Lord Cedric her desires to build up +these poor cottages. Without question he doubled the amount of money +she asked for, and paid her a large sum for immediate use among the +poor. Katherine's heart was touched by his goodness to her, and spoke +with more warmth than 'twas her wont and opined 'twould be a glorious +afternoon for their ride in the forest! He had kept his eyes +steadily from her; for 'twas his mood to play the disinterested and +unconcerned; but at this innovation on her part he raised his eyes and +spoke indifferently: + +"Aye, if this weather continues, we will have roses in a fortnight." + +"Speaking of roses reminds me; as I started forth this morning I saw +a gardener upon the upper terrace trimming about some bushes of +wonderful grace and beauty, and as I stepped among them I saw an +ancient sundial; 'tis the first I've yet seen, and I made bold to ask +him to plant some rare rose near it, that its leaves and blossoms +might enfold its cold marble whiteness and warm it to greater beauty." + +"And didst not thou suggest some choice?" + +"Nay; just so 'twas healthy and prolific of bloom." + +"Then as thou hast named a rose, I will name its kind!" + +He smiled significantly, and the hot blood flushed his cheek. She came +a step nearer and bent toward the table before him, her riding dress +wrapping her perfect mould. + +"One thing more I would ask thee; 'tis that I might have a bolder +steed, the one thou gavest me is not near spiritful enough for one who +wishes to ride well and gayly. I would have one that shakes his head +and rattles his bit and stamps about uneasily." This was more than his +Lordship could stand, and he broke forth in a mirthful laugh,-- + +"Thou shalt have the most buoyant palfrey can be found; he shall have +a wicked black eye, and--an honest heart for his mistress." Cedric +arose and bent gracefully to the fingers of Katherine as she held +them out to him, then turned quickly to the fire and crushed a +half-famished ember beneath his heel as he heard her cross the +threshold. A moment after he strode out upon the upper terrace to the +gardener, who stood with bared head as his Lordship gave command to +plant by the dial a bridal rose. + +The afternoon was glorious with the scent of a million shooting +sprouts, and delicate with the perfume of violets. But the sunshine +of the day was not to stay, for the party from the castle were scarce +three miles within the confines of the forest when the sun became +overcast. But they rode on, however, taking delight in the fine air, +and caring naught of cloud and threatening weather. + +They soon came to intricate windings of the forest path, where two +might not ride side by side, and as the Duke of Ellswold rode in +behind his wife, he suddenly reeled and would have fallen had it not +been for his groom. They all turned quickly save Mistress Penwick and +Adrian, who had made the sharp turn and were galloping forward. Cedric +bade a lackey ride with all speed to the castle for a coach; and as +the anxious group waited, they wondered somewhat that Katherine and +Cantemir did not return. And Cedric's heart, while well-nigh taken up +by his uncle's state, had still room for jealousy, and he grew hot +with anger that for once he kept hid under the semblance of anxiety. + +His Grace was tenderly lifted and taken to the conveyance that waited +upon the broader road some distance away. The little caravan moved +slowly, and before it reached the castle the wind began to blow +furiously, bringing heavy showers. + +The physician from Crandlemar had been summoned, and after a hurried +examination gave them encouragement, saying that the duke had probably +been riding too fast and his condition was not dangerous. + +A courier had been despatched for his Grace's physicians and all +things done for his comfort; and Cedric for the time relieved from the +anxiety of actual and impending danger concerning his kinsman, now +felt the full force of his disappointment in Mistress Penwick's +absence with Cantemir. He determined to ride forth in quest; and with +a groom laden with all sorts of cloaks for her protection from the +storm, that now raged furiously, started, feeling naught but the pain +at his heart. + +The Catholics and Protestants being at variance throughout the +kingdom, and there were passing constantly under cover of forests and +unfrequented highways groups of riotous men of both parties; for the +life of him Cedric could not tell with which party he would rather his +Katherine would come in contact--she unattended save by a modish fop. + +After reaching the depths of the forest, 'twas no easy matter to find +the exact paths they had traversed in the afternoon. The groom carried +a lantern, but 'twas Lord Cedric's order not to light it. There were +shooting lodges and forester's cabins, other abodes there were none +save the old monastery, and to which of these places to go was left +altogether to the toss of a penny. Beside, they were not sure of +finding a shooting lodge, should they start for it; the night was so +black and the paths so numerous and winding. Very often Cedric would +stop and listen for the tramp of horses' feet; but there was naught +save the occasional cracking of twigs as some wild thing jumped from +the roadside frightened, or the stir of the high wind in the giant +trees. On they rode, and Cedric's heart was first sorry for his +kinsman's ills, then--he would rant because Katherine had taken no +notice of his importunities, and he swore under his breath in good, +round Scotch oaths for his allowing her to go thus long without +espousal; and again he looked at the matter dispassionately. She was a +very young maid, without the protection of womankind of her own rank +or an aged guardian. Then began to find fault, and on a sudden saw she +loved admiration, and this sin became unpardonable and he became +so wrought upon, he swore he would lock her in the tower until she +consented to their espousal. Then he thought of Janet's words as he +left her but a short time before: "I would vouch for her innocence +with my life! Be not harsh with her, my lord!" and he ground his teeth +in rage for his _espionage_ of her. Then he thought of the king and +what if she came under his eye,--"Ah, 'sdeath! 'twould make me mad!" +and he laid spur to his horse and galloped on with hot curses in his +throat. + +How long or how far they had ridden 'twas impossible to tell, until +suddenly they saw a light and at once Lord Cedric knew they were at +the monastery. He halted instantly and dismounted. Throwing the reins +to the groom, he crept cautiously forward alone. To his astonishment +he beheld a great number of horses about the enclosure, and he became +still more cautious. "'Tis a Catholic _rendezvous_, by God!" said he. + +He followed close to the wall, and was about to reach the window when +the door was thrown wide open and a group of three stood upon the +threshold. Two of them, Cedric saw, as the light from within fell upon +their faces, were noted leaders of the Catholic party, the other was a +monk, and 'twas he that was speaking. His voice was low and intense: + +"If his Majesty has but one glimpse, he will pitch the Castlemaine +overboard. This one is a religionist of no common order and will do +much for the cause; and when she has done this thing, I shall do all I +can to withdraw her from further communication with Charles. She shall +not become one of his household, she is too good for that." + +"'Twas rare luck that brought her to thine abode this afternoon, for +our case was well-nigh hopeless, and soon it would have been too late, +for once Sir John gets to this country--sh! Didst hear something stir +hereabout?" + +"Nay, 'twas naught but the wind; but when thou dost speak of Penwick, +thou hadst better whisper." + +"'Twas a pity we came not earlier according to agreement, and we +should have feasted our eyes upon the beauty." + +"If thou hadst been one-half hour sooner, thou wouldst have seen her +with the gay youth that will give her little peace 'til she doth say +the word. I tell thee both, the Virgin Mary doth plead our cause, and +no doubt 'twas through her agency the rain came upon the maid and +drove her here. We offered special prayer to Holy Mary this morning. +And the youth with her is also of the only religion. Mistress Penwick +was greatly frightened of my Lord Cedric; for she would go forth in +the heart of the storm, fearing a longer stay would bring uneasiness +to the castle; so I gave her protection, a guide and a promise to +receive her in a few days for the confessional and some religious +direction; and I feel sure she will visit me within the week." + +"'Tis an easy way to reach the king's heart; he doth so love a pretty +face and fine parts; and we may be able to use the youth as well--eh?" +They said a good-night and passed on to their steeds, mounting and +riding away. + +The monk returned to those within, and Cedric hurried away, anxious +only to see Katherine once more,--to behold her once again with his +own eyes and never, never again would he allow her to leave him. He +would not be turned aside again from his purpose, she must come to his +terms at once. Then he fretted and fumed, fearing she had fallen under +the stormy blast and had taken cold, and perhaps would have a fever. +Then he grew hot and angry with her for riding so fast and beyond +ear-shot of the company. And jealousy and all evil passions took +possession of him. + +Meanwhile Mistress Penwick had arrived at the castle, and was grieved +when she heard of his Grace's condition, and sorry she had ridden +ahead and was so late getting home. + +Janet had hurried her to her chamber and disrobed her of wet garments, +and bathed her in hot and cold baths, and was rubbing her with +perfumed olive oil when Lord Cedric arrived. + +He went to his uncle's bedside, and finding him resting, quietly +hastened to his own apartments and sent to inquire of Mistress +Penwick. + +'Twas Janet's pleasure to answer her lord's inquiry in person, and +after swathing her lady in fine flannels, she hastened to Lord +Cedric's presence. + +She found him standing in satin breeches, silk hose and buckled +high-heeled shoes, and shirt of sheer white lawn and rare lace. He +raised his drooping eyelids lazily, and looked at Janet as he lifted +from the dressing-table before him rings--rare jewelled--and adjusted +them on his white fingers. At his side was a valet, placing fresh +sachets filled with civet within false pockets of the satin lining of +his lord's waistcoat. The cold, proud gleam from Cedric's dark orbs +daunted not Janet. She courtesied with grave respect. There was that +in her eyes, as she raised them, that called for the dismissal of the +lackeys. As they passed beyond to the ante-chamber, she approached and +spoke low in tones vibrant with suppressed emotion. + +"My lord, as I am with thee in the chiefest thought of thine heart, I +make bold to inform thee of a virulent action that is about to be made +against thee; one flagrant of state intrigue and court duplicity." + +"Damme, what now?" and his Lordship leaned heavily upon the table; +the conversation at the monastery recurring to his mind with force as +Janet proceeded. + +"Not being able to contain my anxiety for Mistress Penwick, I wrapt +myself and went forth in the storm to watch and listen for aught of +her return. I passed some little distance within the confines of the +forest, and was soon put upon my guard by the approaching tramp of +horses' feet, and then, low-keyed voices, and in very truth I thought +my lady was come; instead, three horsemen came within a few feet of my +hiding and one said,--'We are even now hard by the Castle courtyard; +'tis possible the lackeys are waiting for the beauty who is perchance +now started from the monastery. Didst ever see such beauty?' They +halted and dismounted some distance from the open road. Then one +said,--''Twill send his Majesty to madness when he sees before him +such perfect mould, suing for his most gracious clemency toward our +cause.' ''Tis a wonder my lord of Crandlemar does not take such beauty +to wife,' said another. 'He may bid her farewell when once her fame +reaches the Court; and 'twill be there in less than two days from this +hour. Who will remain with the despatches while we find that rascal +Christopher?' ''Twill best serve for one to go, and two guard the +horses and bags. Thou hadst best go, Twinkham, thou art as subtle as +the wind. Prod the villain Christopher to haste and enjoin upon him +secrecy in the name of His Most Catholic Majesty, the Pope,--and do +not thou be hindered by some scullion wench.' These things I heard, +well-seasoned with imprecation against the king. I hastened from the +_rendezvous_ to my chamber and thought upon it, and--and there is +naught can be done, unless thou wed Mistress Penwick straightway." + +His Lordship fell into furious rage, and vowed he would sever +Christopher's head from his rotting body with a cleaver, and honour +him not with a thought of Tyburn Hill. He would burn yonder monastery +and all within to ashes for the wind to carry away; and he would lock +Katherine in the tower with his own hands; and he started toward the +door, half-dressed as he was, and flung it wide open. + +Her Grace of Ellswold stood upon the threshold with a warning finger +raised. + +"Thou hast a clamourous tongue, Cedric; the doctor hath enjoined +silence, as holding for the moment the greatest good for his Grace." + +"Now God forgive me! I was so wrought upon by foul communication I am +well nigh distraught.--How is his Grace?" + +"He is resting quietly; but I thought but now, as I heard thy +voice--indistinctly, 'tis true,--his pulse did flutter extraly." + +"Dear aunt, forgive; thou shalt not be thus annoyed again." He turned +and strode up and down the room with bent head. + +Janet watched him narrowly, wondering the while that any female, of +whatsoever age, could withstand such fine mould, masculine grace and +handsome features; such strong heart and hot blood. What maid beside +her Lambkin would not be overjoyed to see him so mad with love of her? +Who could resist kneeling before him and pleading, and watch his anger +take flight; and feel his strong arms raise her and fold the maiden +bosom to his heart, where 'twould throb and flutter as he held it +close pressed--ah! 'twas not his anger that would kill, nay! nay! +'twas his tender passion. + +"Janet, these are troublous times come upon us. They have come within +these walls. We have traitors about us. That knave Christopher shall +die by the hand of the lowest scullion in the kitchen; for 'twould +dishonour a better to mix with blood of swine. And thou wilt take thy +mistress to the tower and there be bolted in, and 'twill be given out +that her ladyship is ill and must needs have quiet--" + +"If my lord values her health, 'twould be best to put her in a less +windy chamber; the room is large and ill-heated for damp, spring +days." + +"Canst keep her safe where she is?" + +"Aye, leave it to me, my lord." + +"And thou shalt allow of no communication with those outside, save +her Grace, and Angel thou canst rely upon--stay--thou mayest allow +Constance to keep my lady company." + +"Nay, my lord, I would refute the idea of safety in my Lady +Constance." + +"'Sdeath, what meanest thou; art thou also turned from serving me?" + +"My lord, dost remember the night thou didst have dancers from London? +Lady Constance sat late with Mistress Penwick, and at last complained +of thirst and they two stole below stair and I followed, and as if by +accident Lady Constance brought Mistress Katherine to the curtained +archway, and she saw thee swaying in thy cups, and after a while my +lady led mistress to her room while she hastened away to a room apart +and donned the garb of one of the dancing maids and came to thee as a +gipsy, and she told thee false things concerning Mistress Penwick--" + +"Is what thou sayest true, or is't thou art going mad?" + +"'Tis true, my lord, as Mistress Penwick will tell thee if thou carest +to ask." + +"And Constance would do such an act?--" he spoke half aloud and +incredulously,--"Nay, I cannot and do not believe it! Thou must have +dreamt it, Janet,--and yet,--I did have like visions!--Thou art right; +no one shall see thy mistress, no one, mind, but Angel and her Grace. +'Tis possible the king may send for me within a few days; and if so, I +must go and leave thee to fight the battle alone. Art able, Janet?" + +"Trust me, my lord." + +"I can trust thee, good Janet. Look after her health; keep the windows +open for fine air, but let her not go from her chamber. How thinkest +thou she will take such imprisonment?" + +"She will be angry, but so proud she will not petition for freedom; +she may even brag 'tis to her liking to be so rid of thee." + +"'Sdeath, Janet, thy tongue can cut! Dost believe she cares a jot for +my anger?" + +"Nay, not a jot, for 'tis the outcome of love, and 'tis my noble lady +Innocence that is well aware that thy anger will fall to spray when +she hath a notion to turn the tide." + +"Nay, not again shall she win from me aught but cold looks 'til she +hath a mind to espouse me;--and yet my mind was made up to marry, +whether she consented or not; for the time has come when the one who +waits will wait still, and the one who rushes on, will take the prize, +whether by foul or fair means;--but nothing can be done to-night. In +the meantime I will steel my heart to harsh deeds, and, by God! I will +bear out my course. Janet, go now to thy mistress, and should I be +despatched for before I see thee again, there will be no one here +to defend her as thou canst do. Thou must not allow the servants to +attend upon her; thou must do it all thyself--a sweet duty! so, 'tis +left thee to defend with thy quick wit." + +'Twas near noon the next day that Mistress Penwick arose and would +prepare her for a ride to the village, when Janet told her of the +imprisonment imposed upon her for safety. She at once became angry and +accused her nurse of being a traitor and tool for Lord Cedric. + +"Nay, Lambkin, in truth, there are dark deeds abroad. Those monastery +celibates, who are well equipped to bandy with their equals, are mere +braying bumpkins when they have to do with embroidered waistcoats +and amorous hearts. They have surreptitiously corrupted one of Lord +Cedric's lackeys and the fellow is condemned to die." + +"Condemned to die! and who hath done the condemning, pray?" + +"His master, to be sure!" + +"Ah! if he should put forth the accomplishment of such a deed, 'twould +be the act of a barbarian. What are the charges against him?" + +"Just what it is I know not; but my lord deems the charge most grave +and--he may be even now dead." + +"Janet, thou dost so frighten me. Does the matter concern my lord's +person,--is his life in danger?" + +"Not his life but his love; 'tis for thy sake he does it." + +"For my sake!--then it shall not be done; I will see to it. Let me go +to Lord Cedric straightway." + +"His orders would not permit it." + +"For shame, Janet; to save a man's life? Let me go; I am not afraid of +his anger." + +"'Tis impossible; he would send me away if I disobeyed him." + +"Then thou must bring him here, Janet." + +"'Twill do no good to see him; he will not come. He is thoroughly out +of all patience with thy perverseness,--thou wilt never find another +such a noble lord and one 'twill love thee with such love;--and for a +face and figure--well, thou art surely blind to masculine beauty;--and +should his Grace go hence, my lord will be his Grace of Ellswold, and +second to none in the realm; he will become as much to the king as the +Duke of Buckingham, and will far outshine Monmouth and Shaftesbury." + +"Nay, Janet, he will ne'er become great when he doth so confuse +justice with viciousness;--but, nurse, I would have thee haste. Tell +my lord that I beg his presence, if for a moment only; he surely would +not refuse so trifling a request." + +"But it is not trifling, as he well knows thou art upon the keen edge +of want before thou wilt so much as smile upon him." At the moment +there struck upon Mistress Penwick's ears the tramp of horses' feet, +and straightway she ran to the window and leant out and saw Cedric +about to ride forth. + +"My lord, my lord!" she cried, and dropped a rose to attract him. His +horse sprung aside and trod upon it; but Cedric looked up and saw +the anxious face embrazured by ivy-clad sill; and with involuntary +courtesy he speedily uncovered and waited thus her pleasure. + +"May I have a word with thee, my lord?" + +"Indeed, Mistress, it doth rack me with pleasure to accord thee so +slight a service," and he dismounted quickly and strode into the great +hall and bounded up the oaken stairway. It seemed to Mistress Penwick, +as she heard his rattling spurs, that 'twas a sound of strength, and +she felt a happy, exultant tremour, knowing her cause already won. +But for once there was not wisdom in her conceit. She made a sweeping +courtesy as he entered. He bent low before her, waiting her first +words. + +"My lord, wilt thou permit me to inquire somewhat of thy mercy?" + +"Thou dost make me insolvent of such a quality when thy keen +penetration doth not discover, without inquiry, its existence." She +was not daunted by his severe answer, but flushed slightly at his +imperturbance. + +"Then, if thou dost acknowledge thyself so pampered, I beg thou wilt +conjoin to justice its semblance and forgive thy poor servant the +penalty of death." + +"Ah! ah! and 'tis Christopher's cause thou art pleading. Happy +Christopher!" he sighed deeply. "If the King would thus condemn me, +Mistress Penwick wouldst thou thus care for me?" + +"The query is of that so premature 'twould be impossible to frame a +reply,--hence I beg to continue converse upon an affair thoroughly +elaborated and arranged." + +"'Twould grieve me to say at once 'nay'; for that would end at once +for me these supreme moments in thy presence; however, I will repeat +the adverb of negation with a rising inflection that thou mayst +continue with amplification." + +"Dost thou mean to discontinue converse with me?" + +"Nay, I beg not." + +"Then thou meanest thou wilt not forgive thy poor servant, and wilt +impose such extreme penalty; and further importunities would be +useless?" + +"I forgive the dead all things." + +"My lord, he is not already dead?" and she fell from him aghast. + +"Nay, but soon will be." + +Mistress Penwick saw no softening in Cedric's manner, and she became +alarmed and threw some tenderness in her voice and spoke softly, that +she might lead or manage her lord by gentleness and tact. + +"My lord, do not look so cold and hard." She drew nearer and her voice +became more pleading. "'Tis a little thing for thee to grant me this +one desire. I beg with all my heart for thy servant's life." + +"Nay, I have given order for his despatch before sunset." + +"Nay, nay, my lord, I beg." She came close to him and laid one hand +caressingly upon the silver fastenings of his coat and he turned white +and trembled and caught her hand within his own and bent down and +pressed his lips to her fingers. She saw her advantage and followed it +close. + +"Wilt grant me this one thing, my lord, and I will hold myself--ready +to--hear thy suit renewed--if thou so will it?" His voice vibrant and +low with passion he could hardly restrain, broke forth,-- + +"Kate, Kate, I could not call so base a life worthy of thy +consideration, and I could not grant thee that 'twould sully thy sweet +tongue to barter for." + +"Thou art most unrelenting, my lord!" The maid was angry for having +offered her lord the privilege of renewing his suit; which he didn't +seem inclined to do; and finding her pleadings were of no avail, and +being angry and annoyed, she broke into tears, knowing of a certainty +she would now have her way, even though her dignity was lowered. +Cedric could not stand and see her thus; he turned from her +quickly and was about to leave her, when she called to him almost +impatiently,-- + +"My lord, wilt grant his life until the morrow?" He hesitated, then +turned and bowing low, murmured, + +"Until the morrow, Kate," and left the chamber. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SIR JULIAN POMPHREY + + +"Now time is something to have gained! Janet, thou must go to yonder +monastery and bring a priest to shrive Christopher." + +"And how didst thou know Christopher was shriveable?" + +"'Tis unseemly of thee to make jest of divine ordinances." + +"Nay, I would not jest but know where 'twas thou learnt of his +religion?" + +"All of the Catholic faith know one another by intuition; 'tis +God-given." + +"Then thou didst also know him to be a rascal?" + +"Neither do I know it now. Wilt thou not find some way to bring a +priest hither? Pray, Janet, do; for if I let it go past, 'twill bring +me miserable thoughts and wicked dreams. Janet, thou didst once love +me and hadst a fond way of anticipating my desires; but thou hast on +a sudden forgotten thine whilom usages. Beshrew thee for falling away +from thine old friends and taking up with new ones. Lord Cedric's +nurse watches him from morn until eve and deigns not to cajole him or +win his desires from their natural bent." + +"'Tis wisely said; for his desires are inclined in the right +direction. 'Twas but last night when he was well-nigh distraught with +thy absence with the Russian Jew that doth ogle thee, that Angel +brought his riding-cloak and threw it over his shoulders as he tore up +and down his chamber; and she said, lowly,--'Go, my lord, 'twill ease +thy mind to ride,' and he flew to horse. She is ever helping him to +thee." + +"And now I would have thee to help me to my lord's good graces and my +desires; but thou art evil bent." + +"Nay, my precious Lambkin, if I could I would help thee this night to +the nuptial altar; but as to helping thee to thy desires, 'twould be +helping thy peace of mind and him to utter ruin; and such calamity +would render thy young life incomplete; for without this noble lord +thy perfectness will be unfinished." + +"Cease carving epitaphs, Janet, and help me assist this poor +unfortunate. How long will my lord be gone?" + +"He has only gone to the village to meet the workmen who were to +renovate the nurseries and ride home with Lady Constance, who rode +away early this morning when thou were dreaming of Russia." + +"Then I will write him my petition, and thou shalt give it to Angel +to give my lord, immediately upon his return." She sat down with +parchment and quill and wrote rapidly; and as Janet noticed not, she +wrote two letters instead of one. The first she folded evenly and put +beneath a book, the other she gave to Janet, who took it and left the +chamber to seek Angel. Mistress Penwick, thus left alone, wondered how +she should convey her other letter to Count Adrian. She approached the +window, and lo! upon the upper terrace paced her Grace of Ellswold and +Cantemir. 'Twas not the first hour that day the latter had so paraded +the sward, ever and anon casting glances toward Mistress Penwick's +windows. Again he glanced up and saw her wave a white paper and +immediately leave the window. He guessed at once 'twas something more +than indisposition that held her to her room. Again she looked; they +had turned from the window. She flung forth the paper and it floated +down as Janet came into the room. + +'Twas late that evening Katherine sat in _peignoir_ and unbound hair, +ready for retiring, when there came a soft rap and a pleading voice +asking for admission. Now Janet was not one whit afraid of double +dealing when she was present, and being proud of Mistress Penwick and +not wishing it to appear that she was a prisoner, she opened the door +and in came Lady Constance smiling and shy, a hollow-hearted creature +of the world. Now it so happened that Lady Constance had kept herself +from Katherine for some little time, wishing not to be disturbed by +the maid's beauty; as it usually stirred her to frenzy and she wanted +perfect quiet for calm reasoning. It took some time to plan her +campaign that was already full started, and she now came forth from +her chamber refreshed, the course of her slothful blood hastened; her +eyes gleamed with impatience for action; her whole being changed, +rejuvenated, filled with a new life. She came also with a full +knowledge of all that had taken place in the _interim_ of her absence +from Katherine. She came well prepared for a bout, and blushed not at +the subterfuges and mean, paltry artifices, aye, a full battery of +chicaneries that awaited her use, as she crossed the maid's chamber +threshold. "'All is fair in love and war,'" she quoted--"'Tis an +egregious platitude adopted alike by king and fool!" + +"I could not sleep without first seeing thee and knowing thy +condition. It must be more than hard for thee to keep thy chamber?" +said Constance. + +"Nay, thou art wrong; the convent doth inure one to quiet and +solitude." + +"Dost think thy ailments will allow thee to go abroad on the morrow?" + +"I know not, I am at Janet's mercy and I cannot leave my seclusion +without her permission. I feel quite well, but Janet says I am ill." + +"Oh! that I had a nurse to so fondle me; indeed, she has kept all +looks of illness from thee; thy face is as clear as if thou hadst been +fed on wild honey all thy days;--and such hair! Dost leave it thus for +the night?" + +"The tangles would never submit, should I so leave it." + +"'Tis my delight to fuss with hair and thine is so beauteous--" she +arose and went to Katherine and smoothed the amber threads--"See, when +I turn it thus, 'tis like rare bronze, and when I place it to the +light, 'tis a glorious amber. May I plait it for thee,--I should love +so much to do it?" + +"If 'twill give thee pleasure thou mayest assuredly plait it," replied +Katherine. Janet now watched for a whispered word or some sign of +intercourse; but her vigilance was of no avail, for Lady Constance +deftly placed a tiny paper in Mistress Penwick's hair and plaited +tightly over it. + +"'Tis such a pleasure to fuss with hair--and such fine threads, too; +indeed, I have half a mind to become a _peruquier_,--there, 'tis +finished!" + +"How is his Grace, Lady Constance?" + +"He bids fair to pass a comfortable night,--'tis too bad his +physicians cannot arrive before the day after the morrow. They have +also sent for Sir Julian Pomphrey--a favourite of the duke and an +intimate and college fellow of Lord Cedric. Sir Julian is a most +wonderful man. When but nine years of age, he entered Eton school, +and having pursued his studies there with great success for one of +such light years, he was sent to travel upon the continent, where he +studied in Geneva for some time; thence he went to Florence, remaining +there many months,--afterward visiting Rome and Geneva and other +continental cities of note. He returned to England a scholar, a +soldier, a gallant, a conqueror of female hearts,--in brief, he holds +all the requirements of a charming cavalier of King Charles' Court. +He has modish habits that so completely masque his strong will and +determination that before one is aware they are caught and wound in +the meshes of his duplicity. He is a literate, poet and musician." + +"Thou dost indeed stir me to great interest, Lady Constance; he must +be a wonderful man. It seems we seldom have so many great qualities in +one human being. He must be quite along in years?" + +"Nay, not at all! His very youthfulness is what makes him such a +wonder. If I remember rightly, he is but two years senior of Cedric, +and I will venture there is not ten pounds' difference in their +weight. They are very much the same mould, and their voices blend as +one, but Cedric has the handsomer face. Sir Julian, however, has a +countenance of no common order; 'tis like a rock of strength already +well lined and marked by the passions that have swayed him to battle +and death or--perchance a lover's intrigue. He is in great repute for +his smile that is transcendent in its beauty, but one can never tell +what note it rings, whether true or false; its condiment may be of +malice, hate, reserve, flippancy, deception. And one looks on and +fears to take part in his mirth, for the reason one knows not what +lies beneath in Sir Julian's heart." + +"Indeed, and he is to arrive soon?--Sir Julian Pomphrey--I like the +name!" + +"It is one of the best names in England. I shall be very glad to see +him, and hope he will come soon. When he gets word his Grace is so +ill, he will probably come as fast as the ship and post-horses can +travel. He is at present a special emissary to France. He did write +Cedric some time since that he was about to return to England, that +his work there was nearly finished." + +"He will doubtless be playing fine French airs, and have much gossip +of the composers and will perchance bring music with him that will +stir us to greater study of execution." + +"It may be, and it mayhap so move thee; but I am foreign from the +rudiments of counterpoint and technique and such lollipops of +harmony." + +"Then it must be wearisome to hear me prate of the divine art, and +much more to hear my poor drummings on the harpsichord, I am sorry--" + +"Nay, be not so. I am more content when thou art at practice than at +all other time, save when I am with thee thus, alone." And there was a +covert meaning in her flattery. "Now, my dear Katherine, if thou art +thus beset on the morrow, I will engage to come at thy retiring hour +and dress thy hair; 'twill give me such pleasure." + +As Lady Constance retired from the chamber, Mistress Penwick stretched +her lithe body and yawned and expressed a desire for the bed. Soon +she was left alone, and she stole from her couch and knelt at the +hearthstone and read the missive eagerly and flushed not a little +at Count Cantemir's warm words of love that were a prelude to the +weightier matters appertaining. She crept back noiselessly and lay +pondering of many things. It seemed to her as if all earth breathed of +love; that she was the nucleus around which all flowers and perfume +and everything beautiful revolved. And now she was about to open a +mystic shrine, into which she would step and see and know and feel +with youth's ecstasy a strange development of essential existence. And +after wondering and speculating upon the affairs of love, she entered +into prayerful thought of Lord Cedric's servant, and soon fell into +sound slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUTLERY + + +"'Behold thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thou hast +dove's eyes within thy locks; thy hair is as a flock of goats, that +appear from Mount Gilead. + +"'Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which come +up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren +among them. + +"'Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely; thy +temples are like a piece of pomegranate within thy locks. + +"'Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armory, whereon +there hang a thousand buckles--'" + +"Nay, nay, Janet, thou must not idolize me thus, 'tis--" + +"Beshrew thy conceit. 'Tis Solomon I repeat. Thou were not thought of +when 'twas writ." + +Katherine raised upon her elbow and looked surprised at Janet, who +knelt by the bed. + +"Thy tongue is sharp, Janet, for a day yet in its swaddling hours." + +"Aye, 'twill be whetted two-edged e'er the day waxes old. 'To +everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the +heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a +time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to +heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, +and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to +get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a +time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love and a time +to hate; a time for evil communication to be thrown from young maid's +window, a time to look for answer to a pleading letter sent to a +justly angered lord; a time when his Lordship deigns not to give +answer; a time when a young lord to a tender parchment pregnant +with importunities says: 'Damme, she would set one thief to shrive +another;' a time when his Lordship slams with a bang the outside cover +to a book _blasé_ of many turned leaves." + +"Dear, dear sweet Janet; where is Lord Cedric? And has he said nothing +of Christopher?" The nurse averred that his Lordship had ridden forth +early, without giving his destination, and had left no word concerning +the servant. + +"Perhaps my lord's better nature hath prevailed, and he will keep the +poor fellow in durance yet for a time," said Katherine, hopefully. + +"Nay, his decision is irrevocable. He is not dealing in hearts now, +Lambkin." + +There was no doubt in Mistress Penwick's mind but that his Lordship +would kill, or cause to be killed, the condemned lackey, and Janet +knowing, 'twas his Lordship's temper and not his heart that vowed the +death, dissembled and impressed upon her mistress that the deed was as +good as done. + +Katherine's wit was sharpened by the exigency, and she managed to use +the window again as a post, only fearing--from Janet's anomaly of +Solomon's words--that some one waited below to capture the flying +missive. This issue was accomplished as the nurse was listening to the +Duke of Ellswold's message; when, late in the morning, the duke after +swallowing a stimulant declared he must have the more substantial +refreshment of Mistress Penwick's beauteous countenance. + +The duke was too ill to remain up long; and though Katherine was less +than an hour from her chamber, the day was much shortened by the +diversion. As night approached she became more and more anxious about +Christopher. Indeed, it seemed to her as if the moments were hours +after candle-light. And she moved restlessly about her chamber and +listened and sighed for the return of his Lordship. Surely the silence +was more pronounced than usual; it became ominous to her, and she +spoke out quickly in a voice that was peevish: + +"The castle is very quiet to-night. His Grace is not suffering again, +I hope? Wilt see, Janet? I'm in a perfect fever of impatience!" + +"Nay, he is very comfortable. Her Grace is with him. Lady Constance, +Lady Bettie and the Russian are at cards." + +"Will my lord arrive soon, dost think, Janet?" + +"I know not. Why art thou so solicitous on a sudden of his outgoings +and incomings?" + +"I would make another effort to save Christopher, if I could but +converse with my lord." + +"And what wouldst thou give him in exchange for the fool's life?" + +"Everything, Janet,--all that I have to give should be his." + +"Then that includes thy heart, Lambkin?" + +"Nay, dear nurse, my heart is already given." + +"Of all the powers that be! And what knave hath attempted to steal +that that thou wert born without?" + +"'Tis unjust of thee to speak thus. I have a mind not to tell thee!" + +"Thou wilt tell me straightway, for thou wilt turn all colours when I +say Adrian Cantemir," and quickly Mistress Penwick turned her back, "I +am aggrieved at thy folly. What hath he said to thee? Tell me every +word, Lambkin." + +"He hath said more than I could tell thee, Janet, in a whole hour." + +"It is impossible! And what were all of these hour sayings,--love +pratings?" + +"If I told thee, thou wouldst then know as much as both of us, and +there are but two in a marriage contract; so I will have to begin +barring secrets from thee." + +"And did he tell thee what marriage meant to two people knowing not +their own minds?" + +"He said 'twas a most perfect life. All was sunshine and flowers and +great happiness. First of all, he will take me to Russia, as 'tis his +pleasure to hasten home with me. Then we will visit the French and +English courts, and we will see all the beauties of this life. I shall +become known among the musicians and meet--" + +"And said he naught of home-life, and the extent of his riches?" + +"Nay, we are to live at Court always, free and happy, consorting ever +with kings and queens--" + +"Did his High-mightiness ever consider that court dignitaries consort +not with a rogue who hath entrapt an angel for spouse?" + +"I will not listen to thy rough tongue, Janet," and she straightway +closed her ears with her tapering fingers and walked up and down as a +spoilt child would do. + +The prandium hour was past, and the evening far spent when Mistress +Penwick desired to retire. + +"'Tis most likely his Lordship will not return to-night, Janet?" + +"He has gone on a journey of some import, as Angel hath just said; so +I could not say when to look for his return." + +Janet had been asleep some time when she was aroused by some subtle +thing that brought her upright and from thence to the floor and from +the floor to the closet that connected her apartment with that of her +mistress. The door was locked; this was an innovation that startled +Janet to a keen alertness. She rattled the knob and knocked upon the +panelling. Stooping, she saw the key was turned in the door. She +hurried from the place to her own room and into the hall, and from the +hall to a small corridor, and from thence to the grand corridor, where +opened the door of her mistress' ante-chamber. In she flew, and tried +the inner door. 'Twas fast locked, and the key gone. It seemed she +sped on wings as she descended the oaken stairway in her trailing +gown. She reached Lord Cedric's bed-chamber with trepidation and not a +little daunted; for should his Lordship be within 'twas possible his +anger would know no bounds; and while she loved his good hot temper, +she feared it when so justly aroused. Within the ante-chamber was +a steward and two or three lackeys, all asleep; she passed them +silently, and without hesitation opened the door. Lord Cedric sat +before the table in riding boots and spurs, divested of coat and +waistcoat; writing, and looked up surprised and amazed at one +who dared to so enter his presence; but he read that in Janet's +countenance that brooked not at delay. + +"My lord, Mistress Penwick hath deserted her chamber, and I know not +where to find her, nor can think of where she may be gone." Lord +Cedric stood before her still and white as marble, his face glistened +with the cold sweat of fear. + +"By God, Janet, thy tale doth take from me all strength!" Even as he +spoke he sunk down upon his chair. Janet brought from a stool hard by +a posset-pot and pressed it to his lips. He drank gurglingly, as if +his throat was paralyzed. + +"Janet," he breathed forth, "call the lackeys." He had somewhat +recovered, and stood upright while his valet buckled on his sword. He +took from the table a polished dagger and placed it in his belt; he +called for candles and bade the lackeys lead on. Janet was well-nigh +distraught at this awful cloud of anger that was about to break forth +in the thunder of his tongue and stroke of sword. The steward of the +household was aroused, and keys were brought to unfasten Mistress +Penwick's door, that they might ascertain if she had fled afar. +Her hoods and hats were all in place upon the shelves of the +dressing-closet, but there was gone a white camelot cloak. The footman +near the outer entrance said none had passed since Lord Cedric's +arrival. + +"But, my God! I have just arrived; who passed before?" + +"Not one soul since nightfall, save the village doctor, your +Lordship." + +Lord Cedric had enjoined perfect silence, fearing lest some noise +might disturb his Grace of Ellswold. + +The lackeys bearing lighted tapers--behind them the young lord of the +castle, with the attendant Janet--moved solemnly like a procession. + +They passed thus from room to corridor, from hall to gallery, and +through passages; examining secret exits and closets. They traversed +the long banquet-hall and were upon the threshold of a carved and +lofty doorway, when Janet espied upon the parquetry a cobweb bit of +lace protruding from beneath the tapestry of a chair. Lord Cedric's +keen eyes marked her movement as she essayed to reach it without his +notice. He turned quickly and fierce upon her, knocking his sword with +a loud noise upon the chair's carving. + +"Give me thy treasure, Janet!" She gave it to him with something like +a sob; for 'twas her mistress' handkerchief, and she feared mightily +her lord's anger. + +"Your Lordship! If it so turned out that she be holding some +_rendezvous_ with thy Russian guest--" + +"Ah, 'sdeath!" he interrupted. + +"I beg thou wilt forgive much, she being of such slender age and +knowing not the great wrong of clandestine--" + +"Ah! ah! she holdeth court here in the chief butlery." + +The door before them had been thrown open by the lackeys. They stood +upon either side for his Lordship to pass through. Beyond, framed in +the dark embrasure of the archway, stood Mistress Penwick in gleaming +white. Her hands behind her rested upon a table from which long leaves +depended to the floor, upon either side, her camelot cloak was thrown +carelessly upon the further end, its long fulness draping to the +floor, and in the centre of the polished top of the table rested a +tall, silver candlestick with lighted taper. Upon the hearthstone +there shot up a cheerful blaze, for the night was damp and chilly, and +the flickering light sent Mistress Penwick's hair first amber, then +bronze. Her face was still and white, and her eyes flashed wide and +boldly. Her heart beat high and her breath came fast and hard. + +For a moment only his Lordship's glance fell upon her, then it swept +the room from end to end, and from ceiling to parquetry. Then occurred +a strange thing to them all; for 'twas ever Cedric's way to swear +and curse, using holy names and blasphemous phrases; and it startled +Katherine more than all, as he spoke low and calmly, holding out his +jewelled hand to her: + +"Come, Mistress Penwick, I will escort thee to thy chamber; 'tis a +childish trick of thine to seek bread and butter at such unseemly +hours." + +"But, my lord, I am not yet begun." + +"Ah!--with one pair of shapely hands unused to spreading butter, it +doth take long in preparation." The snowy whiteness of his Lordship's +waist reflected upon his face, where now came and went its wonted +colour, as doubt and certainty fought for supremacy. He stepped nearer +and glanced behind her upon the table. + +"Thou hast not even brought forth bread. I will aid thee," and he went +to 'the cupboards that lined the room, and opened and looked within +each large door, until he was satisfied of his search, and those about +stood watching and trembling, fearing lest some one should be found in +hiding. + +"I find naught here of bread or butter, Mistress Penwick; we will have +to seek elsewhere!" + +"And thou wilt not have far to seek, my lord; my whey sits freshly +made upon the cellaret in yonder closet adjoining; if thou wilt be so +kind as to bring it hither, Janet will provide me with bread," and +Katherine looked triumphant. + +"I would first learn whom I follow. Who hath so cavalierly concocted +it for thee at this late hour? Where is the person, my lady?" + +"One who is in the habit of following thy orders; but at mine he hath +made it; 'twas Tompkins." Her voice rung with so much of truth, his +Lordship was satisfied and looked at her with a lighter heart; then, +as she pointed toward the door--a mute command for him to bring the +whey--he frowned and drew back and spoke,-- + +"Hiary will bring it thee, for 'tis said a hand put forth by an angry +heart doth curdle that it toucheth and--I am of no mind to be either +kind or courteous." At these words, the colour that had come into +Katherine's face a moment before, left it. + +As Hiary turned to do his lord's bidding, a door opened and Tompkins +entered with a lighted candle and large basket. Seeing the unexpected, +coughed to hide his confusion; indeed he knew not which way to turn, +when his Lordship walked to his side and raised the cover of the +basket and looked within. + +"It appears that 'twas a feast thou wert preparing;--everything +suitable for a full meal. Here is fowl and cheese and mutton tarsal +and bread and ale,--Egad! we shall not want now, shall we, Mistress +Penwick? Set the table, Tompkins!" + +"Ah!" came in an asperate tone from the now trembling and frightened +maid. His Lordship heard it and saw her turn white and tremble. Slowly +he walked to the hearthstone, eyeing her askance, then he swept his +brow where the cold perspiration lay in beads;--then turned to her +again with a world of love for her in his eyes and a great crushing +self-pity; and the menials looked away from the abject misery they +beheld in their lord's face; Tompkins fumbled nervously with his +burden, daring not to look up; Janet leant forward, intent, pained, +sorrowing, scanning the two countenances she loved best on earth. His +Lordship stretched forth his arms and with a great sob that broke upon +that one word "Kate," he took a step forward and essayed again to +speak, but the words would not come. Then with a great effort he +seemed to fling all tenderness from him and spoke most harshly,-- + +"Where hast thou hid thy lover, Mistress Penwick, tell me where he +is!" She drew herself up quickly to her full height and smiled, for +this was one thing and she had thought another, and the reality was +better than her fancy. And she said, as she drew a long, relieved +breath,-- + +"He is safe, my lord!" + +"Nay, nay, by God! he is not nor ever will be again. He hath so dealt +with me and my honour, even though I stand within mine own threshold +'twould be heinous to allow him to leave it with life in his accursed +body. I tell thee now, there is nothing of hell or heaven that can +take thee from me. Dost hear--dost hear, maid?" He again wiped his +brow and looked about him. "It does somewhat appear as if my brain +were turning!--Janet--bring thy maid here to me! Janet made a step +forward, but was checked by Katherine's warning look. + +"Mistress Penwick, remove thyself from the table; Tompkins, set it, +set it, set it quickly I say!" Tompkins put the basket upon the table +and turned to a linen closet and brought therefrom a cloth and made +as if to spread it upon a small table near him. His Lordship saw his +move, and broke forth in angry tones,--"The table of honour, there, +there Tompkins!" As he shook his fingers toward it, his hand fell back +upon the hilt of his sword. + +"Nay, I forbid him to do it," said Katherine. + +"By all the foul fiends! raise the leaves or I smite thee down," said +Lord Cedric to the frightened Tompkins. And he drew and leaned forward +his body well nigh to the floor. His eyes were wild and bloodshot. As +Tompkins raised the leaves Mistress Penwick threw herself between his +Lordship and the table. With one bound Cedric swayed aside and like +one frenzied, gazed beneath the table, and there looked out to him the +white face of Christopher. + +His Lordship broke forth into such a wild laugh, even the affrighted +and condemned servant crept from his hiding and looked on amazed. +Finally, when his laughing had well-nigh ceased, his Lordship drew +from his belt the dagger and threw it across the room at Hiary, +saying,--"There; stick him as thou wouldst a wild boar--no probing, +mind; but death!" + +"Nay, nay, my lord! my lord!" broke from Mistress Pen wick, and Janet +ran to her crying,--"My lord, not so harsh a deed before my lady's +eyes!" + +"Ah! ah! and she hath carved my heart to pieces! Commit thy office, +Hiary!" The lithe lackey sprang upon Christopher and drove the knife, +it appeared, to the hilt, and with a gurgling cry the lad fell. + +Mistress Penwick looked on wild-eyed with terror. His Lordship came +near and leant close to her ear and said,-- + +"Thou hast turned thy charms to ill account, thou stirrest me to evil +deeds. Didst thy love help thee to this _rendezvous_, and was he +satisfied to leave thee when he heard my sword flap upon the chair +without to fight thy battles alone, or did he sate his desire on thy +innocent face and fled aforetime to prepare for a greater sating? Now +by God, none shall wrest thee from me again. Arouse the chaplain! +Come, Mistress, thou shalt have a husband who loves thee within the +hour, and the morrow's sun will look in on a sweet young wife with a +light heart." + +He laid hold on her without violence, she drew from him even more +frightened than heretofore. + +"Come, we will wed straightway and before dawn thou wilt have +forgotten my haste and stout urging," and he started forth drawing her +with him by force. She struggled wildly and cried,-- + +"Nay, nay; I'll not marry with one who would strike down and kill the +unfortunate; nay, nay!" and she screamed again and again. + +From the doorway came a voice of thunder, its power seemed to crush +out all other presence. 'Twas but one word, but it rung and vibrated +and stirred each breast with its vehemence. + +"Cedric!" + +His Lordship let go the maid and turned and sprang to the open arms of +him who called. The awful tension of his nerves relaxed and he uttered +in rapid succession,-- + +"Julian, Julian, Julian!" and fell to sobbing, his form trembling with +his emotion. + +"Hath gore of _canaille_ sapped thy noble blood and impregnated in +thy veins vile clots to turn thee purple with choler?" and he pushed +Cedric from him. "What doeth this _couchant_ dog here?" He turned and +stirred the prostrate form of Christopher. "'Tis ill to so fall upon +the seething caldron of thy passion, the noxious fumes of which +penetrate yonder to our kinsman's couch of suffering--and at the same +time thou dost pound to pomace the heart of yonder Junoesque figure." + +"Julian, thy tongue hath an awful strength, it doth goad me to +something like reason. I was indeed rough, but I was looking after +mine own. The maiden there is plighted to me for espousal and I was +taking her to the chaplain." + +"It may be thou dost take her rightfully; but if 'twere me I would +bring her to it by soft and gentle words, not by handling. It doth +take away the sweetness." + +"Indeed, Julian, I have used all things worth using to gain her. I +have played all parts and have asked and sued and prayed, aye, begged. +I have honoured and loved and pampered her every whim; I have coerced +and threatened,--all to no avail; indeed, I have gone mad for very +effort to please." + +"Hast thou tried cold indifference and haughtiness? It oft haps that a +maid is won by a lofty and arrogant mien." Sir Julian Pomphrey glanced +askance at Mistress Penwick, who lay with her face buried upon Janet's +ample bosom. "Methinks 'twould be a good beginning, if thou wouldst +renew thy suit by sending the maid to her chamber and let her espouse +Morpheus and 'suage her grief upon a bosom thou needst not be jealous +of." Janet arose and led forth Katherine. Lord Cedric stepped after +them and held out his hands and sobbed,-- + +"Kate, Kate, forgive, forgive!" She deigned not a backward look. + +As they passed from sight, he fell upon his knees and shook with his +great emotion and groaned aloud in his misery. + +Sir Julian Pomphrey dressed as a gentleman of France in riding +apparel; his overhanging top-boots displaying a leg of strength +and fine proportions; the curls of his periwig sweeping his broad +shoulders; his hands, half-hid by rare lace, gleaming white and +be-jewelled; a mustachio so flattened with pomade it lay like a black +line over his parted lips, through which shone strong white teeth, +was veritably a man of noble character and distinction. He was the +counterpart of Lord Cedric in all save visage and temperament. + +Gracefully he strode across the room with the confidence of one +who had already mastered the situation; planned for his Lordship a +complete victory, and there was naught left to do but carry out the +methodical arrangements thus quickly formulated. He placed his hand +lightly upon Cedric's shoulder. His touch was like magic, for his +Lordship started. + +"Cedric, I have rid hard and would seek my bed. Come with me and calm +thyself. Yonder maid thou shalt have, so sure as thou dost do my +bidding; and she will sigh and draw quick breath and preen herself +to gain from thee one amorous glance; and will do penance for her +untowardness and offer hecatombs as high as zenith will allow." + +"Dost think so, Julian? It gives me hope to hear thee thus speak." + +"Indeed, I may say--'tis done--even though 'twere precipitately +avowed;--but oft, 'tis the premature babe that doth become the most +precocious child, and 'tis well to foster that 'tis fecund." + +"But, Julian, she hath another lover,--and now that I think on't, +didst thou meet a knave upon horse, perhaps, attended by a swaggering +groom as thou cam'st through the village or thereabouts?" + +"Thou hast said it. A half-league beyond Crandlemar there past me at +furious speed a devil-upon-horse. I hallowed once and again to no +avail, so I prodded the fellow with my sword to assist his respiratory +organs, as he flew by. 'Twas a kindly act, for he immediately found +his breath and--swore." + +"And didst notice his livery?" + +"Nay, for the trees were too ostentatious and flaunted their new, +green finery impudently and hid Neptune's satellite or--'twas cloudy, +I could not see. Come, come, I must and thou, too, have sleep if +the God thereof doth not wantonly spend too much time with thy +mistress;--but thou shalt soon offset him and I may have, for one +night at least, his undivided attention." + +"Ah, heaven, that thy words may prove true. 'Tis hard to bide the +time. Come, let us begone from this foul nest that reeks of blood." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +JACQUES DEMPSY + + +To Katherine's untutored vision of social and religious matters, +all appeared like a placid sea; but beneath, political dissension +complicated by religious wrangling produced a vigorous under-current +into which she was to be drawn. + +The exegencies of poverty and exile through which King Charles had +passed made him resolve not to "go again upon his travels," and for +this cause he tolerated the Episcopal religion, of which system the +cavaliers were votaries; and they supported the royal prerogative. +Being an alien to honour, truth and virtue, he was not stirred to +a wholesome interest of importunities, save when a voluptuously +beautiful female solicited his attention. Now 'twas Lady Constance' +plan to forward Count Cantemir's suit with Mistress Penwick and hasten +a marriage that could only be clandestine, owing to Lord Cedric's +vigilance. If this scheme should prove abortive, it was her intention +to bring the maid to the king's notice. Here were two lines of battle, +each surrounded by skirmishing detachments. She was subtle in the +extreme, and arranged warily these side issues, which had more of +death and utter destruction in them than an open onset. + +Rigidly she had kept from Cantemir the knowledge of Mistress Penwick's +insolvency, likewise the death of her father; knowing the condition of +the count's fortunes, she feared he would retreat; his love for the +maid might be of such a nature 'twas possible he would not take +part in the ugly skirmish against her. So Constance had set +about systematically to bring Mistress Penwick and Adrian to an +understanding of each other. + +He believed Katherine to be a wealthy heiress of Sir John Penwick, who +was being held as hostage at some point in America. At her marriage +her estates would be placed in her own hands. All these things Lady +Constance could vouch for, as she had read the letter herself that Sir +John had written Lord Cedric. Mistress Penwick was at a marriageable +age, and her father being ill and hopelessly bound by ties of war +never expected to see her again and had made provision for her future +happiness. Knowing these things, and being in love beside with so +beautiful and youthful creature, Cantemir was well-nigh mad to win +her, without any urging from Constance. + +On the other hand, Mistress Penwick never forgot his slender grace and +pale, patrician features, as she beheld him first upon the stairway +the evening of her arrival. He had ingratiated himself into all her +thoughts of music and court life and religious duties. Being like her +a Catholic, he sat by the hour and spoke of their ill usage by the +nobles of England, and insinuated that the cavaliers (Lord Cedric +being one, of course) were combined to rout out the Catholics and +confiscate all their properties, both public and private. + +At one time Lady Constance said to Katherine that her father, Sir +John, was an Episcopalian and she had made answer,--"'Twould be absurd +to suppose him anything else than a Catholic." Upon this, Constance +spoke to Adrian, and he, casually as it were, asked Mistress Penwick +if she were not afraid her demesne would be seized by the Protestants. +Thus she had come gradually to know of the chasm between the two great +religious orders, and had even written her father of the dangers in +which she believed she was placed. These letters of course were kept +by Janet. The seals remained unbroken and the missives were carefully +laid aside until Mistress Penwick should know the truth. And neither +she nor Janet receiving news from him, stirred her to confide her +fears to Cantemir, who questioned her of the letter which her father +wrote, bidding her to depart for England. She became startled and +uneasy, when she remembered that Janet had refused to show her the +letter and having promised herself to Cantemir in marriage, she spoke +of the matter to him. But her love of and confidence in Janet was +deeper than she thought, and at his first words against her, she fell +from him. He said 'twas possible Janet, being so great a Protestant, +she would undoubtedly take his Lordship's part against her, should any +serious trouble arise. He even went so far as to suggest that perhaps +there was a-foot a ruse to get from her those possessions her father +had written of. Katherine rebelled at these insinuations and thought +that "dear, good, sweet Janet would never take a pin from her Lambkin +to save Church or State. And Lord Cedric, too, even though he would +condemn his servant, he would never take her property, he loved her +too well for that; beside, he was a gentleman of honour, even though +his evil temper did goad him to fearful deeds." She tried to make +herself believe that she truly loved Cantemir, and 'twas her religious +duty to marry him; but when he spoke either against Cedric or Janet, +she was quite sure she hated him. + +In pursuance of Lady Constance' diplomacy, she had assisted Cantemir +in arranging the _rendezvous_ for himself first, and finally for +Christopher, who was to escape with provision for a long journey, as +'twas not certain what Lord Cedric would do if he found him at the +monastery. And Katherine had this night pledged to wed the count in +three days' time. Even as they were arranging their plans Cantemir's +valet had rushed to him saying that his Lordship's page had come to +his apartments, and finding him gone his master had vowed death to any +who would intrigue at such hours with his promised wife. Cantemir, a +polished, hollow-hearted, selfish sycophant and coward, made more so +perhaps by Constance' influence over him, at Katherine's command, as +it were, had taken flight. + +Constance listened eagerly the next morning, as she sat 'neath her +maid's hands, to every detail of the evening's adventure; but her +disappointment at such mischance was greatly allayed by the unexpected +presence of Sir Julian Pomphrey. He was second only to Lord Cedric in +her affections. Her greatest desire was to gain his Lordship's love; +if she could not have that, then she would try for the king's favour +whereby she would be able to live at court and be ever near Sir +Julian, whose mistress she had been and might be again. + +She had begun well to bombard for the accomplishment of her first +desire. + +As soon as possible she rode forth, passing beyond Crandlemar village, +where a short way from its confines she came upon a certain innocent +looking tree that had some six feet above its broad trunk a loosened +knot, which could be removed at will. She plucked it forth and looked +within. It was empty and barren of even a bird's nest. Constance had +no compassion for its loneliness when she laid therein a small, white +piece of paper and filled the orifice with the rough knot. She rode +away content and doubting not that Count Cantemir would soon have her +letter. + +He had halted some five leagues beyond Crandlemar at an inn remote +from the highway, the landlord of which was a monk, dissembling his +name to Jacques Dempsy of the Cow and Horn, and his religion to +anything that was the king's pleasure. + +The two sat in the deserted drinking-room; their heads bent together +and speaking in subdued tones. Cantemir's hand rested upon his leg, +that had been freshly washed and bound by the landlord. + +Sir Julian's sword-prick had goaded Cantemir to an anger that was +'suaged neither by good old wine nor the council of the monk. +He fretted for an opportunity to thrust his assailant in the +back--anywhere. "Surely," said he, "the day is not far when I shall +kill that devil Pomphrey," His groom had seen Sir Julian full in the +face at a small opening in the trees. + +"Sh!" said Dempsy, "there is other work for thee now. 'Tis best for +thee to bide here awhile, at least until a courier shall return from +the tree, where thou sayest thy cousin will place the billet. And if +everything is well, then there will be found for thee a guide to lead +thee through the forest to the monastery, where thou shalt first sign +thyself for the strict carrying out of our plans; then thou shalt be +wed, if there is no remissness, and carried safely to London, where +thou shalt remain until thy lady has audience, and gains that we seek +of the King. Ah! there are times when we sigh and almost weep for +those good old _pro_-Reformation days, when such ecclesiastical bodies +as ours took their grievances to--Rome. Bah! to have to bribe a +profligate king for--the signing of his name. What does he know about +bequests and inheritances--" The count started and Dempsy all alert +broke in with,--"and freeholds. Thou dost know, count, the monastery +is a freehold in the very centre of Lord Cedric's lands; but--I am +telling secrets; forget what I said." The count fell back listlessly, +a gap made in his thoughts by the sudden disappearance of a clue. + +"Charles treats us as mendicants; but if he should chance to see the +coffers of our order, he would know we had received something else +beside a crust for shriving." The count looked up again so quickly, +Dempsy caught himself and wondered what he had been saying, and what +his last words were; for he had been thinking aloud, as it were. + +"Aye, aye, I was saying if Charles could see the riches of our +coffers, he would know the sale of Indulgences had not been a little. +Thou seest, count, we have here at the monastery great treasure, our +coffers are filled with priceless articles of virtue that will, no +doubt, be carried to Rome and be laid in the reliquary of Santa Maria +Maggiore or St. Andrew Corsini or St. Peters. We have some priceless +bones--" Adrian shuddered and relaxed his attention--"they have brought +us great, good fortune; we have bits of clothing--thou dost well know +most of the saints were plainly attired--that some day will be worth +much, perhaps not in my day nor thine, but when age comes, when we +grow a little further from the saints. Ah! I see, thou hast not much +interest in my converse--treasure is nothing to thy love-sick heart, +eh! count?" + +"Nay, not dead men's bones, indeed thou hast rare wine for such +cumbrous relics that can be turned to naught! And didst thou shrive +the saint for the use of his bones a hundred years hence?" + +"Thou art growing facetious, count. Dost think of no virtue but thy +maid's? And art thou sure she will not fall back from her promise to +thee?" + +Cantemir, filled with his own ideas, gave perfunctory acquiescence and +continued in his own line of thought. And what with a busy brain that +was not over-strong, and a ride of some length and dampness, with a +sore leg, he became feverish and the monk took him to bed in great +haste, where he remained for the best part of a week; the seriousness +of his disease not a little augmented by the desire for immediate +action. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CASTLE AND MONASTERY + + +The next morning after Christopher's sudden disaster, the castle +seemed to have awakened from a long apathy. The servants clattered +under breath of their wounded fellow. The arrival of his Grace of +Ellswold's physicians held gossip in the castle in abeyance, as all +were anxious of their decision; but the presence of Sir Julian seemed +to fill the sails of the becalmed household with a stiff breeze, which +at a favourable moment would raise anchor and fly forth on a joyous +sea. + +The physicians gave out that there was no immediate danger, but his +illness was serious and there must neither be noise nor excitement. It +was out of the question to move his Grace either to his own estates or +elsewhere for baths or sea air. + +Lord Cedric and Sir Julian sat with him an hour after the doctor's +examination, Sir Julian, conversing of the freshest gossip at court, +without the usual condiment of inflammables which would be apt to +rouse his Grace not a little. + +There being now no traitor--unless perchance Constance might be termed +one--in the house, and no danger of Mistress Pen wick being left +without the close surveillance of Janet, she was no longer kept +prisoner. And, while she was greatly wrought upon by the sad havoc of +the previous night, her youth and gay spirits and Janet's exhortations +upon the age, giving license to all sorts of uprisings and display of +temper and unwarranted vengeance, somewhat quieted her, and she arose +as sprightly as ever, all the more determined to free herself from +Lord Cedric. If she had stopped for self-analysis, she would have +found that she was bent on gaining her independence at no matter +what cost; regardless of consequences. That her desire was more of +adventure than ambition. And she also would have found that she cared +naught for Cantemir and a very great deal for Lord Cedric. She had +never given thought to a separation from her beloved Janet; while even +classing her as antagonistic to her desires, she never ceased to love +her; for this woman had made herself a mother in every respect, aye, +even more watchful and exacting. While acting in a servant's capacity, +doing the most menial of service, she developed in the maid those +seemingly trifling motives of mind and soul which in the end make up +the character of a life; and very few mothers ever have the tact to +so understand these very minute details that so develop a child's +passion. Janet had ever developed in her charge an inclination for all +beauty; not failing, however, to show wherein weakness crept; where +grace of countenance oft screened defect of character. Indeed this +maid was one of Janet's own creation, save in flesh and blood, and no +one knew any better than she, herself, the vanity to rout the faults +and frailties inherited. She strove the harder to overthrow such +imperfections by perfecting and cultivating the maid's receptive mood. +She was ever fencing with her in words, working out in detail exchange +of thought wherein Katherine might, if 'twere in her, make a clever +reply. At times Mistress Penwick would pick up such threads of Janet's +teaching as would bring her to a semblance of conscience of present +environment, and she would see in a vague way the right and wrong of +things. For the moment she would read all in Cantemir's handsome +face that it masqued and would turn from it only to become lost in +contemplation of what life would be if she were free from Cedric's +guardianship, never thinking of the greater bondage of espousing a +knave. Ever and anon her eyes sought the young lord of the castle, +forgetting she was his ward--and there would come to her such a +feeling of overwhelming conviction she was for the moment submerged +in ecstasy, and with the hot blush still upon her face she would flee +from him as if he were an evil tempter. He brought her near to that +great unknown, upon whose threshold she stood trembling and expectant, +eager to know what was before her. And so, not understanding her own +mind, and being of such tender years, drifted along with the tide that +was carrying her to destruction. Her mind was set upon her own way, +and sheer perversity deigned not to let her see the hands stretched +toward her. + +The afternoon sun fell aslant the black oak parquetry where sat her +Grace of Ellswold, Lady Constance and Mistress Penwick, engaged with +limning and embroidery. Lord Cedric and Sir Julian entered, attired +in the most modish foppery of the time. The latter was saying, as he +soundly rapped his pouncet-box,-- + +"His demeanour is too provincial, too provincial--ah!"--and he bent +low with grave formality to Mistress Penwick as Cedric presented him; +then turning to the duchess continued,--"I was saying, your Grace, +that Dryden is provincial in his demeanour, when compared to his Grace +of Buckingham." + +"Indeed, Julian, thou dost speak lightly of such gigantic genius; +beside, 'twould not be fair to compare sun and moon; and how could we +do without either the one or the other?" + +"To which dost thou comparison his Grace?" + +"The moon, of course!" said the Duchess. + +"And to what planet is my lord a satellite?" + +"Nay, I know not; thou dost question of one who knows little of +astronomy; but I think perhaps Mars, as the planet doth resemble earth +more closely than any other." + +"Bravo, 'tis a rare simile; and I take it thou didst speak in +derogation;--no matter how true the _inuendo_, it is ever the material +we most appreciate and enjoy, and the sun being nearly ninety-three +million miles from the earth, 'tis too remote to be interesting." + +"Indeed, Julian, Dryden in five minutes' converse will stir one to +seriousness by his fancy, to tears by his pathos, and to thoughts of +deity by his sublimity." + +"'Tis only a great, good, noble nature like thine that could be so +stirred; believe me, your Grace, thou didst dissemble these emotions +from pure charity." + +"Well, well, we must all admit that 'tis not his character that +commands our respect and esteem, but his prose and poesy. We all love +Buckingham, but in our appreciation of him we must not exclude reason +and put him before all others,"--and her Grace turned abruptly to +Mistress Penwick. "Here is an admirer of Dryden's compositions, she +clings pertinaciously and with all the ardour of strong youth to his +satire of 'Absalom and Achitophel,' although 'tis a bitter lampoon on +Monmouth and Shaftesbury; two men she heartily admires." Sir Julian +leant over the Duchess and spoke softly,-- + +"I was not aware Mistress Penwick had been presented?" And his keen +eyes scanned every lineament of her face and mould. Lord Cedric was +watching askance, and his face grew red with a stroke of passion as +he noted Sir Julian's look of evident admiration, and jealousy for +a moment swept the young lord's heart, and he cursed in thought +the wicked feeling that in connection with his noble friend could +predicate of naught but the foul fiends. Indeed, so open were Sir +Julian's glances that the maid herself became confused and said, with +some embarrassment,-- + +"My imagination is ofttime profligate, and I indulge--in fancy--in +exchange of word and thought with those great and exalted personages +whose noble compeers I have the good fortune to consort with daily." +And she laid her hand caressingly upon the Duchess' arm. + +"Then 'twould serve thee greatly to place thee within the shadow of +Whitehall, aye, Mistress?" + +"'Twould be a great happiness, Sir Julian." + +"Dost know of any greater, my lady?" It seemed his eyes would pierce +her very soul. + +"I must admit it; I have a great desire," and her face grew rose-hued +and her heart fluttered with the bold words she was about to utter-- + +"Ah, thou dost wish for, or have a desire to enter the--" + +"The distinguished service of a Lady of Honour." As one looked upon +her great beauty, 'twas a wonder she was not born a queen. + +Upon hearing the maid's words, Constance in jealous rage fell to +inordinate laughter and shook her work to the floor, and as Lord +Cedric stooped to regain it he whipped out,-- + +"And why, pray, art thou so amused; 'tis most like Julian to promote +this idea, and she will straightway wish to leave us. I am sure one +glimpse of her would set the whole court on fire." + +"Such startling metaphor, unless indeed thou dost allude to the colour +of her hair!" She spoke with so much malice and hate Lord Cedric was +stirred to amazement, and for the first time his eyes were opened to +Constance' hate of one whom he loved beyond all else on earth. He had +thought her merely jealous of the maid, but now he saw 'twas hatred. + +Sir Julian paid no heed to aught save Mistress Penwick's brave colour +as it came and went, and the fervour of her eyes as they looked into +his. He came nearer to being shaken than ever before in his twenty odd +years of slow and fast living. + +"If I might be so honoured by the privilege, I would present thy +desire straightway to the Duchess here, who would no doubt place thee +at once at court." Mistress Penwick arose, unable to contain her +perturbed spirit, and said,-- + +"Sir Julian, how can I ever--" and she stopped, so stirred was she +with her emotion; very much as a child is wrought to wonderment by the +sight of a marvelous toy. Julian offered his arm, and they sauntered +up and down the room, Sir Julian boldly playing his part. If Katherine +had been less innocent, she might have seen that he was not sincere. +He said: + +"I see no reason why thou shouldst not begin preparation at once +for thy journey. The Duke is progressing finely and her Grace could +perhaps accompany thee as well now as at another time. Wilt thou +prepare at once, Mistress Penwick?" If the king had already sent for +her, he could not have talked with more confidence; but there was +something he must know. As he insisted on an immediate journey, she +turned scarlet, and bit her lip, and frowned. + +"There are a few matters I must see to; I could hardly leave within a +week;--there is no hurry!" + +"On the contrary there is a great hurry, for I must leave at once, +and I would escort thee. I think I shall leave by dawn to-morrow." +Katherine's brow puckered still more as she stood upon the seesaw of +duty and ambition, perplexed to know which way to turn. It appeared +the better quality was innate and her brow cleared, as she said,-- + +"'Twould be impossible to go so soon. I could not ask her Grace to +leave when the Duke is so ill; for, beside a long journey, much time +might be required ere I should be presented. I must have time--a lady +should have a great number to attend her--" + +"Thou hast a host in thy nurse, Janet; she is quite enough for the +journey, and at London there will be a matron for each finger of thy +hand. I can see no reason why thou shouldst not start at once, if the +Duchess so decides." They were quite alone now, and Katherine, +being well cornered and being young and given to confiding, felt so +irresistibly drawn toward this man at her side, she looked up into his +face and said,-- + +"Canst thou not guess, after all thou didst see last night, why I am +kept from going?" + +"I cannot; methinks 'twould be a happy moment to say _adieu_ to such +scenes." + +"Then thou dost not know I am to wed Count Cantemir, Lady Constance' +cousin?" + +"I think thy heart an alien to love; for if thou wouldst sooner become +a Lady of Honour than wed one to whom thou hast 'trothed thyself, 'tis +sure thou hast no love; 'tis caprice or--what one wills to call it, +and thou hadst better fly from a marriage that has not love in it." + +"But I know not what to do. I have given my promise to wed, and I want +to go to London." + +"Then I beg to assist thee to thy heart's desire as soon as thou +hast found what its desire is; and I insist thou dost examine the +weather-vane of thy mind and discern its bent. I am by thy side, +groping in darkness for that thou wouldst have. I am bound to serve +thee." + +"Sir Julian, thou dost nonplus my understanding of myself absurdly. +I agree I have more minds than one, and 'tis disconcerting to try in +haste to ascertain which is the best. Indeed, I do not wish to make a +false step and do that 'twould make me sorry ever after." + +"'Twould be well to have one to guide thee in thine uncertainty. I +should aspire to such an office with alacrity, if thou wouldst but +give me one encouraging glance." For a moment they looked into each +other's eyes, then Katherine's lids dropped and she became as clay +in his hands. And before she was aware, she had told him all things. +These matters were not altogether new to Sir Julian, for Lord Cedric +had discoursed at length upon them, but the nucleus he sought was +found, and he listened perfunctorily to all else, feasting his eyes +upon her face and listening only to the music of her voice. + +"Then why, may I ask, didst thou discard Cedric's suit?" + +"He is tyrannical and cruel, and even though my heart should incline +toward him, 'twould not be meet for me to wed with one of another +faith." + +"'Tis possible thou couldst win him to thy way of thinking." + +"Nay, I should not try it; for I have cast all thought of him aside." + +"Then thou dost acknowledge having had a tenderness for him? 'Tis well +thou dost so fling him aside, he is unworthy of thy consideration." + +"Not so; he is most noble, but--but--I know not what,--he is haughty +and full of temper and given to harsh language--" + +"Yet he is not a fit companion for thee, sayest thou?" + +"Thou dost greatly misunderstand me; he is on the contrary a most +delightful person to converse with and every whit fit to be a +King;--but we are not suited to each other." + +"Was it not thy father's desire for thee to soon wed and to this man?" + +"Even so; but he knew not my Lord Cedric but his father; beside--" + +"Well--" + +"I am expecting to hear from my father in the near future--" + +"Ah!" + +"--and 'tis possible he will come to me or send and make some change. +I have asked him to appoint another guardian for me and my estates." + +"'Twould be a wise thing to do, no doubt; but 'tis possible Cedric has +used already thine inheritance." Mistress Penwick flushed hotly. + +"Nay, thou dost judge him ill; he is above such a thing." And Sir +Julian knew what the poor maid knew not herself, and he felt 'twas a +safe thing to carry through his adventure. + +"Then there are two things that weigh upon thee. Thou knowest not +whether to wed or become a Lady of Honour. I will warn thee that thou +must not dwell long upon them, for 'tis possible if thou dost +not decide very early, I will be able to help thee to nothing +but--myself." + +Mistress Penwick flushed warmly and smiled back at him; and her desire +for admiration drove her on and on, and she soon forgot all else save +the man by her side, and it appeared that no matter how he tried to +break the spell of her witchery, he could not leave her for a moment. + +It fell out that before three days had passed, they were deep in +admiration of each other. Cedric was racked by doubt and fear, yet +never for an instant letting go his faith in Julian. Constance was +happy that Katherine was so diverted, keeping thereby Cedric from any +rash moves, and giving herself time to visit the tree that often held +so much of importance. And she managed to outwit the ubiquitous Janet +and hailed with joy the day of the great battle when Mistress Penwick +was to be removed from her pathway forever. + +The disappearance of Adrian Cantemir was not spoken of--as if 'twere +a matter of too small import;--and yet he hovered ominously in their +minds; and Katherine most of all desired to forget her promise and +every word she had spoken to him, and Constance understood and would +not let her forget, planning night and day to bring them together +again.... + +To look back from the lower terrace at the castle was to see a +gorgeous display of blossom. The ivy-clad walls stood a rich +background to the splendour of tinted flower. Indeed, the scene +appeared not unlike an enormous nosegay lying upon a hill of moss. The +night had brought showers, and from every minute projection of twig, +leaf or petal glistened limpid drops, some swelling with honey +and falling like dew upon the young sward. The birds twittered +ceaselessly, and some young thing preening upon a light blossomy twig +scattered down, anon, perfume upon some shy young fawn, and he leapt +away frightened by so dainty a bath and plunged knee-deep in crystal +pools and sent the stately swans skimming hurriedly to a quiet and +sheltered cove. + +From the Chapel came indistinctly the sound of the organ in a prelude, +it would seem, to the day. 'Twas Sir Julian's wont to rise early and +draw--it may be--inspiration from the full vibrant chords of sweet +harmony. + +From an upper casement leant forth Mistress Penwick with a face as +delicately tinted as the blossoms of the peach that flaunted their +beauty at some distance. She appeared to be arranging violets--that +still sparkled with rain--in an oblong porcelain box that lay flat +upon the casement. Her white jewelled fingers flitted in and out of +the blue depths. Her small white teeth were but half eclipsed and +there fluttered forth from her parted lips a low humming that keyed +and blended with the organ. Her soft white dress enveloped her mould +loosely; her long flowing sleeves, prefaced by rare lace, displaying +her pink, round arm. She wore not the look of care; for she had thrown +all such evil weight upon one who played in yonder sacred shrine +so tranquilly, as if nothing but his own sins rested--and they but +feather-weight--upon his soul. On he played, and she arranged her +flowers, and up the avenue came horses' feet and Lady Constance +unattended came riding near the castle and called up to the vision of +beauty that leant from the window,-- + +"'Tis a glorious morning for riding forth. I have had a fine jaunt and +met nothing but the post-boy,"--and here she showed a billet and rode +close to the wall and hid it neath the ivy--"and a famous adventure +which I've half a mind to pursue, after--I've 'suaged my hunger. If I +ride thus every morning, I shall soon have an arm as pink and round +and perfect in mould as thine own. Hast thou broken fast?" + +"I have had my simple allotment, and have been down on the lower +terraces and gathered these violets, and am now hungry again and +Janet has gone for a wing of fowl and some wine." At these words Lady +Constance looked about her cautiously and spoke in low tones,-- + +"Everything is ready for thy flight. I saw Adrian this morning. He is +handsomer than ever and eager to see thee, and counts the hours 'til +nightfall. If 'tis possible thou art to escape unnoticed to the +monastery, where the nuptials will be performed at once, then thou art +to depart immediately for Whitehall, where thou wilt be made much of +by the King and he will more like detain thy husband under pretext, +and mayhap offer him some honour for the sake of keeping thy beauty +in England."--With a wave of the hand Mistress Penwick bade Lady +Constance depart as Janet stood within the door. + +The castle was astir early, as if there was naught but a glorious day +before them, and they would make it of much length. It seemed as if a +great peace had settled upon those ivy-clad walls, or it might be the +calm that is the solemn presage of storm, and Sir Julian himself quiet +beyond his wont seemed to portend the calamities that were to ensue; +and after his breakfast stood at a window watching the dripping trees +and whistling so softly one could not tell whether 'twere he or the +birds chirping without. Cedric and Lady Constance played at battledore +and shuttlecock. Mistress Penwick sat apart, busy with thought and +needle. His Grace of Ellswold sat up that morning, his wife and +physicians by his side, and all were happy with the great improvement. + +Meanwhile, at the monastery all was commotion. The day there would be +far too short to accomplish all that was to be done. Three couriers +had arrived since dawn with important dispatches. In the midst of +the monks, who sat upon long benches that flanked either side of a +spacious gallery, sat Adrian Cantemir, reading the last message. +Opposite, at the table, were three monks apparently engaged upon their +own affairs, but subtly watching the puzzled countenance of their +guest. Finally their patience seemed to have run out and Constantine, +the monk directly _vis-a-vis_ to Cantemir, coughed, cleared his throat +and in low gutterals said,-- + +"Thy countenance is unfair; 'tis a perjury on thy happy heart." Adrian +looked up with a start, so lost was he in contemplation. His letter +was prophetic of evil, and he was afraid. + +"'Tis ill news, and thou wert not far wrong to bring forth thine +arms. The secrets to be intrusted to my wife it seems have already +reached--" + +"The King?" and with the words it appeared each Abbé was upon his feet +and leaning forward intent. + +"Nay, but the arch-fiends Buckingham and Monmouth. And with the King's +consent they leave for a hunting bout and they ride hither. It says +that the former in masque saw my meeting this morning with Lady +Constance, and he followed and made love to her." The Abbés stood in +utter dismay and dejection. At last, Dempsy of the Cow and Horn began +in deep, full tones the first movement of the "Kyrie eleison, Christe +Eleison, Kyrie eleison," and one by one every voice leapt up in a +God-have-mercy, and the walls echoed and without the birds seemed to +take it up, and it was carried to a listening ear not far from the +shadow of the wall. Then the prayer ceased and La Fosse--half soldier, +half priest--spoke in ringing tones. + +"And what else does thy billet say? Why are we to be attacked; are we +not upon our own ground?" + +"It is mooted that should my wife gain the King's ear, she will +influence him to consent not only on this thy matter but others of +great importance that now pend. It is said that Buckingham has boasted +of rare sport in routing a full score of knaves; taking treasure--" +Cantemir's eyes swept keenly the visage of Constantine--of great +value, beside the beauteous maid that is to arrive; for he says 'tis +sure she will be worth as much to them as the King. He refers to +himself and Monmouth, who mean to take my wife prisoner this very +night." + +"'Tis enough," said La Fosse, with a deprecating gesture. "We must put +on the armour of strength and gird ourselves for battle. We have all +to fight for that that is honourable: home, virtue and religion. What +more could we ask for to strengthen us?" + +"'Tis well said," quoth Constantine. "Judging from thy billet, we are +not to be attacked until the maid hath arrived. Is it known, also, at +what hour she is to come?" + +"If they know so much, they perhaps know even all." + +"Then we must hasten the hour by two, and 'twill incur no disadvantage +save to bring the maid to a greater discretion and show of wit; for +'twill be harder for her to escape at nine than eleven." + +"Methinks 'twill be a greater task to warn the maid of the setting +forth of the hour." Adrian looked up hopefully; for he was of no +mind to meet his wife upon the threshold of a battle, and two hours +earlier, 'twould be time and to spare, and he spoke out bravely,-- + +"I'll see to the message," and he was guilty of a low-bred wink at +Dempsy. + +"Then 'twill serve to set aside this matter for the next," and La +Fosse looking at Cantemir and speaking softly and deferentially bade +him leave them for the present. + +Adrian left the room by the door he had entered it, and passing +through a hall reentered the chamber that had been assigned him. + +The Russian, though a coward, was wary at times and allowed it to +carry him into danger, and as an example he changed his riding garb +for his cavalier costume, discarding his spurred boots for high-heeled +slippers and deigning not to don coat or waistcoat started forth in +search of--he must think what? He was without servant, as 'twas safer +to leave him at the Cow and Horn;--especially one who has corners on +his conscience. He must search for--the kitchen. This place was below +stairs, and he stole this way and that to find a flight of steps. +Treading softly, listening intently and looking ravenously for +opportunity to plunder, for there was treasure somewhere about the +monastery, this was certain, and he might as well have part of it as +Buckingham and Monmouth to have it all. And in case of any mischance +and Mistress Penwick be lost to him, he must have something to live +upon. Constance would never forgive him for allowing the maid to +escape him, and consequently would not give him large loans as +heretofore. But if he should gain the fair prize, some day he would +give back to his church even more than he had taken. As he thus +thought, he forgot for a moment his present surroundings and was +suddenly reminded by a touch on the shoulder, + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE CHAPEL BELFRY + + +He started quickly and looked up shuddering, and saw a tall, slender +monk with cowl so drawn not a feature could be seen. The Abbé spoke +low and hoarsely, as though a cold prevented better utterance,-- + +"What seekest thou?" + +"The kitchen," Cantemir answered, with a great show of bravery. + +"And what there to find, my young man?" + +"Pen and paper. I must write to Mistress Penwick." + +"Ah yes, ah yes, my son. I had forgotten. Curve thy sentences to the +point, without being so broad in assertion another might understand. +Thou hadst better put it this way--" + +"Indeed I thought I had my meaning well covered. I had proposed to +say--" + +"Ah, we are not alone; step this way." The monk turned to a panelling +that gave way by a touch, and to Cantemir's surprise they were alone +in a dark and vaulted passage; indeed they were unable to discern +aught. Quickly the Abbé drew his companion from the panelling through +which they had passed; and 'twas hardly done when three monks followed +with lighted candles. The foremost was Constantine, carrying an +enormous bunch of keys. Their long robes swept Cantemir's feet. He +drew a quick breath, and before it sounded his companion placed his +hand over his mouth. Now this hand smacked not of holy mould or +monastic incense, but rather of rare perfume; but Cantemir was +frightened and did not notice the worldliness of the admonishing hand. +The monks proceeded down the passage; stopping near the centre they +lifted from the floor a trapdoor. A ladder was brought and swung down +the opening and the three descended. + +"Now, my son, thou hadst better write thy billet, and if thou dost not +find one to carry it, I will be along directly and do the service for +thee. I must visit the village and the tree, my son. Now I'll give +thee a bit of advice. Never again go about looking for anything where +'tis supposed there is treasure. If it had not been for my timely +interruption, my brothers there would have found thee and not +so easily forgiven thy inclination for discovery. Go, go in +peace--remember always, that discretion is the wit of safety." + +Cantemir was frightened, and glad to get away, for he feared the +Abbé's smooth tones masqued treachery, and he slid through the +panelling and in very earnest sought the kitchen. + +The deceitful monk hastened toward the open trap and kneeling gazed +for a moment below. There came up a foul odour that made him flinch +and draw back; he drew his handkerchief and placed it to his nose and +leant again and looked. There was a faint glimmer that showed in which +direction the lights were. He lay flat and putting his head beneath +the opening, saw the priests leaning over a chest. Quickly he prepared +to descend and was upon the second rung of the ladder, when the +panelling again opened and a half-dozen faces looked through; anger +and indignation upon all but one, and that was the Russian's, which +bore joy of a discovery. He had gone to the refectory with good intent +to write his letter; but finding a small company of monks gathered +there and they appearing much perturbed, he asked the cause. One +said there was a strange Abbé in the monastery, whose hands were as +bejewelled as any fop's, and that a number had gone in search of him. +The false monk's hand had betrayed him, as 'twas seen from a window as +he uncovered it to open the door. Now Cantemir thought it a good, safe +moment to become a hero and straightway told of his encounter; saying +he was in search of the refectory and had lost his way; making a +plausible story. He was carried forth with the party in search and +now came toward the opening in the passage with drawn sword, his face +wearing the masque of bravery. + +The man upon the ladder was the same that had listened to the "Kyrie +eleison" from without, and before it concluded had made his way +inside: the Duke of Buckingham. + +He jumped like a cat under cover of his pursuer's noisy entrance and +slipped away from the opening. Quickly he drew from him the robe and +cowl and flung them down upon the ladder and drawing his sword stood +waiting and almost eager for a fight. He did not forget, however, +that there is often a practiced and keen thrust from the folds of a +priest's habit. But they were confident the false Abbé was beneath, +and with less noise and more subtleness moved toward the opening. As +they did so, his Grace swung round and cautiously approached the wall +where the panelling was. "Aye, aye," he heard, as the foremost man +found the robe. Straightway they all rushed below stair, and as +the head of the last man disappeared, his Grace went through the +panelling, and within five minutes stood safe in the forest, happy +with the knowledge he had gained. + +It was near the hour of five when Lady Constance rode forth alone. She +left the courtyard unnoticed and hurried to the village and through it +and on beyond toward the tree and passed it and galloped some distance +beyond, then seeing she was not followed made a quick turn and +retraced, But there came from a bend in the road a horseman that rode +warily. She again turned to see if any came, and seeing no one stopped +at the tree and brought from its cavity a letter. As she replaced the +knot, there was such a sudden sound of horses' feet behind her she +dropped the billet and her unknown squire leapt from his horse to +recover it, and stood uncovered before her with such a long, low bow +of homage he had most time to read the missive. Lady Constance was +flattered and felt surely that one with such courtly dress and bearing +could be nothing less than a Duke and his wearing of a full masque +made her doubly sure of it. She flushed and reached out her hand for +the letter and spoke in her most seductive tones,-- + +"My lord,"--he looked up and saw on her pretty, though characterless +face a smile that warranted a further acquaintance. He placed the +letter in her hand slowly, then caught her hand and held it firmly; +indeed their hands touched and lingered together with such intention +it conveyed much more meaning than words. Constance had all the +outward show of a great lady, but at soul she was putrescent. There +came such a heartrending sigh from her cavalier she spoke in a most +tender tone,-- + +"And why such sighing?" + +"Is it not enough, sweet lady?" + +"I am at a loss?" + +"Nay, rather 'tis I that am at loss; for I had sought to gain thy +favour undivided, and I meet with thee only to give into thy hands a +trysting billet that lifts thy glorious orbs above me." He bowed low +in mock humility. Constance' heart fluttered at his ardent words. + +"I would fain know who thus sues for a woman's love; 'tis possible--" +He lowered his masque. "Ah, his Grace of Monmouth!" She well-nigh +prostrated herself upon the saddle, in lieu of the fine courtesy +she would have swept had her position been more favourable. His +words--such gloriously sweet words when uttered by the lips of a +Duke--fed her vanity. Her face flushed as she thought of what his +love must be. He saw his vantage and drew nearer--it may be a hair's +breadth over the line of respect--indeed 'twould have been an +innovation had he not done so, as the time warranted nothing else but +a show at virtue. + +"Your Grace finds a maid that is heart whole; but I would aid others +to their desire. I but act as post-boy 'twixt tree and castle." + +"Thou art cold and cruel. I can see well thou dost hold tightly to thy +bosom thy billet; thou art afraid 'twill betray thee. Thou art the +maid herself that doth own it?" Constance had a burning curiosity to +know why Monmouth was in the neighbourhood of Crandlemar, and though +he insinuated he had come purposely to see her, yet she was not blind +and wondered what diplomacy she could use to gain from him the desired +knowledge. Could it be possible he had come on behalf of the King, +and if so, for what business? The Catholics surely had not been so +indiscreet as to allow their affairs to reach the King's ears? And if +so, why should he send to them? It was not at all likely any one knew +of the monastery so hidden away in a dense forest. Could it be that +the beauty of Mistress Penwick had become notorious at Whitehall and +that the Duke was hunting for her? These thoughts passed speedily +through her brain, while the ogling Monmouth waited for her answer to +his accusation. She spoke with a shy little twist of her head, vainly +trying to blush like little innocence. + +"How can I hold out against thee, Duke? Thou dost steal my secret; +here, then, read it for thyself." With a lightening glance he finished +reading what he had begun before. + +"I was right, sweet Katherine; 'tis a trysting letter, and thou art +to go to him to-night at nine? Thou shalt not; I'll have thee for +myself." Now they had made a great mistake. Constance thought to +convince the Duke she had no lover. He misunderstood and believed +her to be the Katherine he had come after. She, thinking to gain his +secret, allowed him to think so, and quickly took up her new part. + +"Thou dost embarrass me, Duke!" + +"In very truth," said he, "we have heard of thy great beauty at +Whitehall, and have come hither to claim thee for ourselves. Thou +shalt be my very own, sweet Katherine. The King was about to send +forth to Crandlemar to enquire of his Grace of Ellswold. We asked for +the service, that we might gain sight of thy rare beauty. We are about +to pay our respects to the Duke who lies yonder, and at the King's +order bring him important news. We have heard, however, his condition +is most critical, and we cannot see him until high noon to-morrow, as +the midday finds him stronger. And I must see thee, sweet one, again +before the night is over. I cannot wait for the morrow's noon." He +caught her hand and pressed his lips to it, resting himself against +the horse, his arm thrown carelessly across Constance' knee. She +deemed it an honour to be in such close proximity to the royal Duke, +and grew red with his amorous glances and soft-spoken words and the +familiarity of his arm upon her. + +"Indeed, it doth seem to me also like a very long time to wait," and +she sighed heavily. At this Monmouth drew her down and kissed her upon +her thin, arrogant lips. She, well-nigh beside herself, exclaimed in a +thin, high voice,-- + +"Ah, ah, Duke, thou dost kill me--I must hasten away from thee. I must +go." She spurred her horse; but the Duke caught the rein and held it +fast. + +"Nay, nay, thou shalt not yet be gone. Wouldst thou be so cruel to +leave me now at Love's first onset? I will not have it!" + +"But I must hasten,--I am riding alone, and some one will be sent for +me if I do not soon return to the castle." + +"Thou must give me promise first, sweet one!" + +"Promise,--promise of what?" and she listened eagerly to his next +words. + +"Dost thou not covet a Prince's favour?" Constance' heart fluttered +mightily, and she thought--"A fig for Cedric's love of me. He loves +not at all, compared with this man's warm passion. Cedric loves me not +at all, anyway. I will be a Prince's favourite," and she answered,-- + +"I never covet that which is beyond my reach." 'Tis often a true thing +that when we sit within our dark and dismal chamber without comfort, +hope or happy retrospection, there stands upon the threshold a joyous +phenomenon of which we have never so much as dreamt as being in +existence; and this had come to Constance. If the Duke loved her, what +would it matter if Cedric did love Katherine? She could not compel him +to love her. + +"Ah, sweet Katherine, how can one covet that they already possess? I +would teach thee to enjoy all that such beauty as thine is heir to. +Thou wilt come to me to-night?" + +"To-night!" and Lady Constance fairly gasped. + +"To-night, fair one, on the stroke of nine thou wilt pass through the +postern door of the castle and fall into my arms,--here, take this, +sweet, to pledge thyself." He slipped from his finger a ring of +marvellous beauty and essayed to place it upon her hand. + +"Nay, I cannot. I should be seen to go forth at so early an hour,--and +I know thee not!" + +"Thou art not afraid of me? Nay, I am one of the most gentle and +tender--" + +"But where wilt thou take me, your Grace?" + +"I will take thee to my heart, and if thou art unhappy, thou mayest +return when thou desirest; but 'twill be my pleasure to keep thee with +me alway; we will go to London." Constance, having read the letter, +knew it would not do for her to leave the drawing-room at the same +hour with Katherine, and she hardly knew what to do. + +"Indeed, I have no wish to see a duel upon my Lord Cedric's grounds, +thou must come later. My love will perhaps wait an hour,--thou mayest +come at twelve." + +"And allow him to come first and steal thee; nay, I protest." +Constance felt somewhat dubious. The Duke saw it, and hastened to +reassure her. + +"If thou wilt sit near the window on the stroke of nine, I will let +thy lover go; but if thou dost pass from my sight, I will run the +fellow through; and thou mayest come to me at twelve!" + +To this Constance agreed, and allowed him to place the ring; and he +kissing her again with fervour, let her go, exultant. + +'Twas a glorious, clear, warm night. The castle was aglow and merry. +Lady Bettie Payne and Sir Rodger Mac Veigh and Sir Jasper Kenworthy +and sundry other shire folk had come to while away a spring night. The +gentlemen were playing at cup and ball; Lady Constance and Lady Bettie +were gossiping of Court scandal, when in swept her Grace of Ellswold +with Mistress Penwick, the latter such a vision of loveliness the game +was suspended for a moment, and Constance and Bettie looked up to see +why all eyes were turned from them. + +The maid wore a pale-hued brocade gown of sweeping length of skirt, +and short, round bodice and low-neck and long sleeves that tightly +encased her plump, pink arms. Her mother's pearls lay glistening about +her slender neck, and falling low was caught again by some caprice +of mode high where met sleeve and waist, and here a rare bunch of +fragrant violets shone bravely as a shoulder knot. + +Lord Cedric saw her first, and was well-nigh drunk with her beauty, +and he advanced and bent low, kissing her hand that trembled in his +own. He raised his eyes to hers, she looking fairly at him with a +ready smile. + +"Kate, Kate--" Such a flood of emotion came upon him he was bereft of +speech. She looked at him surprised, and wondered if he knew aught. +Could it be that Sir Julian had found out anything and had spoken to +Cedric? She was sure she had kept this last secret safe from all save +Constance, and had not been with Sir Julian for a whole day, fearing +he would find out by looking at her. Nay, he knew nothing,--beside, if +he did, he would shield her from Cedric's anger by keeping so great +a secret. And yet it almost seemed as if the young lord knew of her +desperate act; 'twas written on his face, she saw the pain upon it; +and yet, how could it be? These thoughts flashed through Katherine's +brain, and she tried to move from him, but an inscrutable presence +held her, and she felt she must not leave him, perhaps forever, with +that face so full of pain, and she spoke out a word she had never +used before and one which touched his Lordship as nothing else could, +'twas: + +"Cedric." He caught his breath with sheer excess of joy, and bent +again and whispered,-- + +"What, Kate; what is it?" 'Twas enough, she laughed quietly and turned +to Sir Julian, who had come to her side. Lady Constance was not long +in finding an opportunity to speak alone with her. + +"Oh, sweet," she said. "I haven't had a chance to talk with thee of my +adventure," and she drew the maid aside and began volubly to speak +of her encounter of the early morning. "He was most certainly of the +Court. I cannot possibly mistake his manner. Indeed, I am certain +he is a noble lord, and no doubt is here to bear Cantemir +escort--perhaps--" and she leant close to Katherine--"it might be the +King himself, who knows?" Her listener flushed and thought-- + +"Was it possible she was to receive such honour, and why not?" She had +heard from Constance and Cantemir himself that his house was a very +wealthy and important one in Russia and that the English royalty and +nobles made much of him. She, with her poor knowledge of the world, +thought Constance spoke truth. + +"I'll tell thee why I thought he was the King. He was the form, grace +and elegance of his Royal Highness and kept his masque securely tied. +I'm sure it was he. And this evening,--ah, ah, how can I ever tell +thee, Katherine, the honour I felt! Indeed we do not know how +important Adrian is until we see those with whom he consorts. To-night +I met--who dost guess it was, Katherine?" + +"Nay, I could never guess, for I know not whom Adrian's friends are; +but if thy friend of the morning was the King, 'tis certain the +setting sun brings thee one less titled." + +"'Tis so, but one who may be a King. Thou wilt never tell, Katherine?" + +"Nay, never." + +"'Twas the King's son, his Grace the Duke of Monmouth." + +"Ah, ah, a Prince! Thou art indeed favoured. And how came it about? I +am very curious." Lady Constance related part of her interview with +the Duke, embellished and with many deviations-- + +"He said they were to be at the monastery as witnesses and intimated +that the King had heard of thy wonderful beauty and grew so impatient +to see thee he must either come himself or send some one he could +trust. Monmouth said thy request was already granted in the King's +mind, and he only waited to see thee to give it utterance. Thou dost +know what a good Catholic he is, and hearing they were to send thee to +ask certain things of his clemency, he has sent the Duke with other +special guard to render speed and safety to thy journey to Whitehall, +where great honour will be shown Adrian's fair bride." Constance so +entered into the very soul of her lies, she half believed them as she +gave them utterance. + +The young maid was well-nigh beside herself with pleasure at the +honours that were to attend her, and she gave up all idea of a +backward step. And when Constance proclaimed she was to accompany her, +her heart leapt up with joy. She gave no place to doubt now, 'twas an +unknown quantity, and her voice trembled as she said--"It makes me +perfectly content, if thou art to accompany me. Thou wilt go with +me to the monastery, Constance?" For once her ladyship answered +truthfully, but she did not know it: + +"Nay, I am to join thee some time after twelve; I know not just when +or where; but we are to be together. I owe this especial favour to the +Duke. I am so glad thou art espoused, or will be in a short while, or +I should be insanely jealous. Look, Katherine!" and Constance under +cover of her handkerchief showed the ring. + +"Isn't it beautiful?" said Katherine. + +Mistress Penwick, like many another of her beauty and age, was +inclined to be of ill-spirit when another of her sex seemed to be in +favour; and at Constance' sudden acquaintance with the King's son, +and able to wear his ring, she was piqued, and almost wished it was +herself instead; for in such intimacy there could be nothing else but +a very near and exalted position at Court. The poor child--innocent +of all evil seeing naught in the gaining of Royal favour but the +achievement of all that was high, holy, beautiful and perfect--now +for a brief moment scorned her own poor estate and fell to envying +Constance, and was of a notion not to go at all to the monastery;--but +if she didn't, then her religion would suffer; for who could go to the +King in her place? She knew she was beautiful, and knew its influence, +and was sure the King would not refuse her. Now if Lord Cedric had not +forbidden her going to the monastery for confession, she could have +known what they wished and gone openly with Lady Constance or Sir +Julian, or perhaps just with Janet to his Majesty and gained his +favour and at once have become a Lady of Honour. But no, 'twas not +thus, and things were as they were, and she could not change them or +retrace. + +She would not engage in any game, but played upon the harpsichord and +sung some of her sweetest songs; Lord Cedric ever coming to her side +to turn her music or offer some little service. He was aflame with +hope, for had she not called him "Cedric"? + +How dear it sounded; if he might only hear her say it again. He came +to her side and whispered,-- + +"'Twas sweet of thee to call me Cedric!"--His hand for a moment rested +upon the violets at her shoulder,--"Kate, why didst thou not wear the +opal shoulder-knot instead of these violets?" + +"Because--I value it more than aught else, and I would not wear it on +all occasions, for 'twas thy mother's choicest brooch." + +"Indeed, I love it, also, Kate, for the same reason; but I would +rather see thee wear it, for I love thee, Kate, thee, thee, thee." His +voice was like a sob stirring her to a pity that made her sick and +weak, and she turned from him hastily and began singing softly,-- + + "When love with unconfined wings hovers within my gates; + And my divine Althea brings to whisper at the grates; + When I lie tangled in her hair and fetter'd to her eye; + The gods that wanton in the air, know no such liberty. + + "'Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage; + Minds innocent and quiet take that for an hermitage; + If I have freedom in my love, and in my soul am free; + Angels alone that soar above enjoy such liberty!'" + +"Thou dost sing the words of the beautiful and amiable Richard +Lovelace; I have heard my father speak of him with great affection. +The lines to Althea--his sweetheart--were written in prison. She +thought him dead and married some one else. He loved her more than +life,--dost believe in such love, Kate?" + +"Aye, why not?--Ah, Sir Julian, hast finished,--who was victor?" + +"I am modest, my Lady." + +"But never too modest to hold thine own." As she spoke thus to Sir +Julian, the sands of the hour-glass ran out and nine tolled from the +Chapel belfry. Before the bell had ceased, Constance had drawn Cedric +and Julian into a game of cards, she placing herself opposite the +window, and Katherine had stepped into an adjoining passage, and +taking up her camelot cloak, with flying feet and beating heart +hastened to the postern-door and slipped bolts and bars and stood +without in the calm, warm night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SERMONS NEW AND OLD + + +"The reign of Charles the Second seemed to be impregnated with a free +and easy moral atmosphere that engendered lewdness in human product. +It is said by a great historian that Thomas Hobbes had, in language +more precise and luminous than has ever been employed by any other +metaphysical writer, maintained that the will of the prince was the +standard of right and wrong, and that every subject ought to be ready +to profess Popery, Mahometanism, or Paganism, at the royal command. +Thousands who were incompetent to appreciate what was really valuable +in his speculations eagerly welcomed a theory which, while it exalted +the kingly office, relaxed the obligations of morality and degraded +religion into a mere affair of state. Hobbism soon became an almost +essential part of the character of the fine gentleman. All the +lighter kinds of literature were deeply tainted by the prevailing +licentiousness. Poetry stooped to be the pander of every low desire. +Ridicule, instead of putting guilt and error to the blush, turned her +formidable shafts against innocence and truth. The restored Church +contended indeed against the prevailing immorality, but contended +feebly, and with half a heart. It was necessary to the decorum of +her character that she should admonish her erring children, but her +admonitions were given in a somewhat perfunctory manner. Her attention +was elsewhere engaged. Little as the men of mirth and fashion were +disposed to shape their lives according to her precepts, they were yet +ready to fight for her cathedrals and places, for every line of her +rubric and every thread of her vestments. If the debauched +cavalier haunted brothels and gambling houses, he at least avoided +conventicles. If he never spoke without uttering ribaldry and +blasphemy, he made some amends by his eagerness to send Baxter and +Howe to gaol for preaching and praying. Thus the clergy, for a time, +made war on schism with so much vigour that they had little leisure to +make war on vice." + +"Charles the Second wished merely to be a King who could draw without +limit on the treasury for the gratification of his private tastes, who +could hire with wealth and honours persons capable of assisting him +to kill the time, and who, even when the state was brought by +maladministration to the depths of humiliation and to the brink of +ruin, could still exclude unwelcome truth from the purlieus of his +own seraglio, and refuse to see and hear whatever might disturb his +luxurious repose. Later in life, the ill-bred familiarity of the +Scottish divines had given him a distaste for Presbyterian discipline, +while the heats and animosities between the members of the Established +Church and the Nonconformists, with which his reign commenced, made +him think indifferently of both. His religion was that of a young +prince in his warm blood, whose inquiries were applied more to +discover arguments against belief than in its favour." + +"The wits about the Court, who found employment in laughing at +Scripture, delighted in turning to ridicule what the preachers said in +their sermons before him, and in this way induced him to look upon the +clergy as a body of men who had compounded a religion for their own +advantage. So strongly did this feeling take root in him that he at +length resigned himself to sleep at sermon-time--not even South or +Barrow having the art to keep him awake. In one of these half-hours +of sleep, when in Chapel, he is known to have missed, doubtless with +regret, the gentle reproof of South to Lauderdale during a general +somnolency:--'My lord, my lord, you snore so loud you will wake the +King.'" + +"He was altogether in favour of extempore preaching, and was unwilling +to listen to the delivery of a written sermon." (Indeed, if we had +more people like him in this day, we would hear far more of the gospel +and far less of politics and jokes which so demoralize the pulpit and +take away all sacredness. The King was right, as all mankind will +agree, in his idea of preaching.) "Patrick excused himself from a +chaplaincy, 'finding it very difficult to get a sermon without book.' +On one occasion the King asked the famous Stillingfleet 'how it was +that he always reads his sermons before him, when he was informed that +he always preached without book elsewhere?' Stillingfleet answered +something about the awe of so noble a congregation, the presence of +so great and wise a prince, with which the King himself was very well +contented,--'But, pray,' continued Stillingfleet, 'will your Majesty +give me leave to ask you a question? Why do you read your speeches +when you can have none of the same reasons?' 'Why truly, doctor,' +replied the King, 'your question is a very pertinent one, and so will +be my answer. I have asked the two Houses so often and for so much +money, that I am ashamed to look them in the face.'" + +"This 'slothful way of preaching,' for so the King called it, had +arisen during the civil wars; and Monmouth, when Chancellor of the +University of Cambridge, in compliance with the order of the King, +directed a letter to the University that the practice of reading +sermons should be wholly laid aside." + +There was much ignorance in the seventeenth century; but 'twas of the +people's own choosing; 'twas not of necessity. Lewdness was preferable +to purity; it was easier had. And when the King led the pace, why not +they of lesser rank and fortunes? But was there ever a thing created +in all the world without its right and wrong sides? It seemed there +was no room in Charles' time for aught but evil. "The ribaldry of +Etherege and Wycherley was, in the presence and under the special +sanction of the head of the church, while the author of the Pilgrim's +Progress languished in a dungeon for the crime of proclaiming the +gospel to the poor." + +As time waxed, even the vigilant persecutors became passive, relaxed +themselves into indifference; but before immorality was aware the +still, small voice was heard. The seed that was twelve years in +planting had taken root and Pilgrim's Progress became known and John +Bunyan stood without the prison gates to preach and pray at will, to +keep on extending that influence that lives to-day. And for once the +King did not go to sleep when, through caprice or curiosity, he went +to hear him preach. + +"When Bunyan went to preach in London, if there was but one day's +notice, the meeting house was crowded to overflowing. Twelve hundred +people would be found collected before seven o'clock on a dark +winter's morning to hear a lecture from him. In Zoar St. Southwark, +his church was sometimes so crowded that he had to be lifted to the +pulpit stairs over the congregation's heads." He strove not for +popularity, as could be seen in the one little circumstance when "a +friend complimented him, after service, on 'the sweet sermon' which he +had delivered. 'You need not remind me of that,' he said. 'The devil +told me of it before I was out of the pulpit.'" + +"Charles Doe, a distinguished nonconformist, visited him in his +confinement. 'When I was there,' he writes, 'there were about sixty +dissenters besides himself, taken but a little before at a religious +meeting at Kaistor, in the county of Bedford, besides two eminent +dissenting ministers, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Dun, by which means the +prison was much crowded. Yet, in the midst of all that hurry, I heard +Mr. Bunyan both preach and pray with that mighty spirit of faith and +plerophory of Divine assistance, that he made me stand and wonder.'" + +The sweet spirit of a minister is treasured and kept green in the +memory of his flock, no matter how recalcitrant they may be. This is +shown by the reading once a year in Bedford Church of John Gifford's +letter to his parish people, written over two hundred years ago. It +says: "Let no respect of persons be in your comings together. When you +are met as a church, there's neither rich nor poor, bond nor free, in +Jesus Christ. 'Tis not a good practice to be offering places or seats +when those who are rich come in; especially it is a great evil to take +notice of such in time of prayer or the word; then are bowings and +civil observances at such times not of God." It was the "holy Mr. +Gifford" that was often in conference with John Bunyan; "the latter as +the seeking pilgrim, the former the guiding evangelist." With such +men as these the sweet spirit was kept aflame and eventually changed +England and made her the great country she is. But in those licentious +days this sweet spirit shone from its impure surroundings like the +_ignis fatuus_, and 'twas a great, wicked world that Mistress Penwick +stood all alone in that early summer night. + +A nightingale sung afar in some bowery of blossom, and for a moment +she listened. + +"'Tis an ode to the night he sings, 'tis too clear and high and full +of cadence for a nuptial mass,--nay, nay, I shall not marry to-night, +I will go and see what dear father Constantine wishes and return to +this home that has never seemed so fair to me before;--and my lord is +handsome and so, too, is Sir Julian and I'm fond of their Graces of +Ells wold and Janet,--Janet, I love her best of all. Nay, nay, I'll +not be married. I will go and see and return. Janet will not look for +me above stair before eleven at least. I shall be home again ere I'm +missed." She thought thus as she hurried on through the courtyard and +beyond, where waited Father Dempsy. + +In a second, it seemed, they were galloping away, Mistress Penwick +throwing back a long, sweeping glance at the great, stone pile behind +her. The train of her brocade skirt hung almost to the ground; her +fair, sloping shoulders, her exquisite face framed in a high roll of +amber beauty, made a picture,--a rare gem encircled by a gorgeous June +night. + +On they rode without converse; Dempsy was a brave man, yet he feared +and justly, too, that Mistress Pen wick might be taken from him before +they reached the monastery, therefore he enjoined silence, and the +best speed of their horses, and kept a hand upon his sword. + +He drew a sigh of relief when he beheld the dark outline of the +cloister that appeared quiet and undisturbed. + +As they approached, Cantemir came from the open door and lifted +Mistress Penwick from her horse in a most tender fashion, and would +have held her close and imprinted a kiss upon her forehead had she not +drawn from him and raised her hand to his lips. + +"'Tis a cold greeting, Katherine, after these long, weary days of +separation." + +"Nay, not so. 'Tis thy warmth that is premature." And without deigning +further opportunity for converse, she swept over the threshold of the +monastery. + +There was much business to be attended to before the ceremony could +take place, and the time was limited; for in one hour it was believed +the cloister would be attacked by the Duke of Buckingham and his +party, and the maid must be far on her way before the attack. + +There was none but Mistress Penwick, herself, that thought else than +that a marriage contract was to be sealed. She on a sudden felt a +great repulsion for Adrian Cantemir, and she resolved not to wed him. + +As she stood in the large hall that served as council chamber and +for all functions of importance, she cast her eye about for those +answering to the description of his Grace of Monmouth and that +other--was it the King? She felt sure she would know him; but upon the +long benches there were none but sombre cowled figures with crucifix +and--aye, swords gleamed from beneath the folds of their long gowns +and touched the floor. Her eyes flashed wide with surprise, and she +felt proud and loved the bravery of her religion. But to what it +portended she thought on for a moment seriously and concluded Royal +personages must be present, or why else such precaution? + +As the business had to do with Mistress Penwick only, Cantemir was +asked to withdraw. As soon as the business was entered upon, the +maid's doubts of the surrounding company were dispelled and she knew +none of the Royal party would dare be even an unknown guest at such a +meeting. + +At the conclusion of the council she held an important secret, more +important to herself than she dreamt. It made her bold, and she +straightway arose and spoke out clearly,-- + +"If the reverend fathers would agree upon a certain matter, I will +start at once upon my journey. I feel my mission to the King to +be more important than all else to me, and for the success of my +undertaking I deem it best I should go as maid and not wife to his +most Royal presence." This was a startling but most acceptable +assertion. It had been much spoken on by the Abbés but by common +consent they agreed if the maid wished to marry the Russian, why--they +would offer no objections; so they had left the matter. + +"Dost think, Mistress Penwick, thou canst settle readily the case with +the Count?" + +"'Twill be easy and quickly done. Call him hither!" said she. The +Russian came with eagerness and some impatience, for he feared a delay +might plunge him into a lively skirmish. + +Katherine went to his side, and placing her fingers upon his arm, +said,-- + +"Thou wilt escort me to the King?" + +"Most gladly, and where else in life thou shalt choose to go." + +"'Tis the present that indicates the future,--wilt come at once +without ceremony?" + +"Nay, nay, I protest. I must have thee as wife, first, Mistress +Penwick!" + +Constantine leant toward them from the table and looked with purpose, +a frown emphasizing his shrewd glance,-- + +"We have not time for further controversy, and if the maid will say +the word, the ceremony will be performed now." The Abbé knew the maid +would give in to circumstances sooner than the determined Count, and +thus hastened her. All eyes were upon the two, and Katherine hearing +in the priest's voice a tone of insistence, stood for a moment +motionless and evidently debating her course. + +As she opened her lips, there was a sudden sound of horses' feet. + +In a moment a thundering knock upon the door's panelling demanded +admittance. + +"Who seeks an opening so roughly?" thundered La Fosse. + +"Cedric of Crandlemar!" + +"The devil!" cried Cantemir, as he fell back in consternation and +fear. Indeed he would rather meet the King of devils than this +hot-headed Cedric. Katherine was not at a loss to read Count Adrian's +countenance, and straightway bade them open the door. La Fosse spoke +as his hand rested on the locker,-- + +"Art alone, my lord?" + +"Aye, quite alone!" came in a voice so shaken Katherine fell to +trembling in very fear. Cedric threw wide the door and stood within, +facing them all. His face gleamed like marble, so colourless and still +it seemed. His body swayed by love and anger, knew not which way to +turn, but appeared to sway from side to side. His breath came +in quick, sharp pants. His hair, damp as if from fine rain, was +dishevelled. His dark eyes shot forth sparks of angry fire that burnt +all who fell beneath their glance. + +"Who brought hither the maid? Did yonder pandering fool? Aye, 'twas +thou. I see it plain. Come, come, draw fool; draw ere I run thee +through and dishonour sword by attacking thee, unarmed; draw, I say, +fool!" + +Count Adrian's face was ghastly. Lord Cedric raised his sword and made +a lunge at him. La Fosse was too quick for Cedric. He sprang between +and parried the pass with astounding dexterity. The monk intended it +for a finale stroke; but not so Cedric. He began a fight that was not +to be so easily ended, and he drove his sword in fury. The good monk +only wished to parry; but alas! he caught the spirit of battle and +fought. Constantine made as if to draw the maid from the scene, while +others sought to interfere with the combatants. 'Twas of no avail. +Katherine could not be moved from where she stood, white and still +as a statue; neither could they interpose between the Abbé and his +Lordship. Sorrow and dismay were written on every face, for 'twas sure +one or the other must fall of those two masters of the sword. Already +there fell at La Fosse's feet drops of blood. When Katherine saw them, +she sprang forward and cried,-- + +"Stop, stop in God's name, stop!" As she was about to fling herself +between them, Cedric fell heavily to the floor, a stream of blood +flowing from his breast. With a wild scream Katherine fell upon her +knees at his side and pressed her dainty handkerchief to the wound, +and began to fondle him and speak in his ear that she loved him. Aye, +she was sure now, there could be no doubt, and as she pressed her lips +to his cold, white face she saw his eyelids flutter. She looked up +quickly into the priest's face; he answered her look with wholesome +words. + +"The wound is slight, my child; he will recover." She fell back, +blushing with shame for her bold avowals, and knew not which way to +turn to hide her confusion; for she was sure all present had marked +her warm words and actions. + +Immediately Lord Cedric was carried to an inner room, and Katherine +turned about to look for Cantemir, as did a half-dozen others; he had +disappeared and where he stood were a score of masqued figures. When +they saw they had the attention of the company, one lifted high his +sword and cried,-- + +"Hail, merry monarchs of the Sylvan Chapel! We have come to escort +the maid to the King!" While this avowal struck the Abbés with +consternation, they had expected a different mode of attack, and +they were not displeased that it had taken another course. They had +expected the treasure would be demanded of them with all their papers. +These they would fight for. The secret for which Mistress Penwick was +to visit the King, the Abbés were now sure the Royal party knew not. +The papers she carried could give them no clue even though they gained +possession of them, and the maid would never divulge what she was to +say to his Majesty. + +"Her escort is provided," said La Fosse, who stood nearly exhausted, +leaning upon the table, his sword still in his hand. + +"Ah, but if we choose to offer her a more honourable one! Indeed the +knave of a Russian, who lies without, has but just put the matter in +our hands. He was to escort her, but at sight of blood he faints and +begs us take forthwith his promised wife to Whitehall." One could not +mistake the courtly grace and fine figure of his Grace of Buckingham. +Behind him was a form equally imposing, and the handsome mouth and +chin of the Duke of Monmouth could be seen as he tilted his masque for +a better view of the maid, whom he supposed was the same he had met in +the evening. But with half an eye he saw his mistake. Never was he so +moved at first sight of a face before. He drank in her loveliness in +rapturous drafts, and swayed from side to side examining with critical +eye the outline of her fair mould. She had thrown her cloak from her +and stood slightly in front of Constantine, as he, holding a candle +at her elbow, leant close to her ear, whispering and holding a small +paper for her to read. As she read, her eyes flashed, her bosom rose +and fell neath the covering of her short, full waist; and Monmouth's +eyes seemed ravished by it. It had been his misfortune, he thought, to +see long, modish, tapering stays that bruised his fancy as it did +the wearer's body, and to behold such slender waist crowned by full, +unfettered maiden roundness, pedestalled by such broad and shapely +hips was maddening. He had not dreamt of such beauty when his Grace of +Buckingham had suggested the trip into the forest. + +"We will have some sport finding a beauty and a secret. If it pleases +your Grace, I will have the secret and thou the maid," said he to +Monmouth, and the latter had come all the way from Whitehall, for +he knew the Duke would waste no time looking for aught but a King's +portion. Never was there another such a beauty; she would be the gem +of his seraglio. She looked up, her dark orbs casting a sweeping +glance upon those about. + +"I will return to Crandlemar for the night; call my escort!" said she. + +Now it was plain this was a ruse of Constantine's own making, and had +whispered it as she had pretended to read. Buckingham laughed cruelly +and scornfully, provoking smothered mirth from behind the masques of +his followers. + +"Thou hadst better set out directly, if thou wouldst gain audience +with the King ere he leaves Whitehall." + +"I am in no hurry, to-morrow will do as well. I like not advice +unsought. I'll have none of it. I will go where, when and how as I +please!" + +"And coercion smacks of a power residing not in these parts. I am +delegated, Mistress Penwick, to bring thee straightway to the Royal +presence." + +"And why, may I ask, am I so called to his Majesty?" + +"Thou art a hostage!" and Buckingham took a pinch of snuff with as +much ease and grace as if standing in a crowded drawing-room. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM + + +"I--I, a hostage! and who gave me as such, pray?" + +"There is not time for further inquisition; we have a long journey +before us. Come, Mistress!" + +"Nay, nay, I protest; I'll not go with thee--" + +"Mistress Penwick, I beg thee in my own behalf,"--and the Duke bowed +before her so courteously, he half won her good will, then--"and I +command thee in the name of the King," and with these words he put +forth his hand as it were to take that of Katherine. A sword swept +lightly over the maid's fingers, at which the two Dukes drew back with +haughty indignation, which meant that reparation must be immediate for +this insult to those who came upon his Majesty's affairs; for indeed +they feigned well that they were carrying out the King's orders. La +Fosse, having now regained his breath and some strength, essayed to +draw Mistress Penwick from the scene that was about to ensue; but a +young man flung himself between them and drove back the monk at the +point of his sword, thus beginning the fight. + +Katherine was well-nigh fainting from actual fear and apprehension. +If she were a hostage, 'twas her duty to go and it might favour her +cause. Doubtless these men were gentlemen, and what matter now who +accompanied her to the King? Adrian had proven himself a knave. Poor, +dear Cedric lay ill of his wound and he could not attend her if he +would. These things flashed through her mind as she watched the flash +of steel. Then on a sudden it came to her who these masqued figures +might be. Her heart gave a great bound, and she sprang into the midst +of those fighting and raised her voice, crying forth,-- + +"Cease, cease, fight no more; I will go with thee." A priest near her +whispered,-- + +"'Tis thy honour we fight for now, hold thy peace; 'tis not best for +thee to go with them, 'twould be thy utter ruin and the undoing of our +affairs!" His warning came too late; all had heard Katherine speak; +and although two forms already lay upon the floor, there were other +motives stronger than the thirst for blood, which on a sudden seemed +quenched, and faces pale and blood-stained turned upon Buckingham as +he coolly and with much dignity lifted Katherine's cloak from the +table and placed it about her shoulders, then had the audacity to +offer his arm. She ignored it, turned to Constantine and fell upon her +knees; he blessed her, then whispered hurriedly in her ear. She arose +and passed down the bloody aisle, which was flanked on either side by +an array of shining steel. As she approached the door, it was flung +wide by a figure that startled her, so like was it to Lord Cedric's, +but the light fell aslant his countenance and as she swept by saw +'twas Sir Julian Pomphrey. + +A chaise stood some little distance from the cloister, into which +Katherine was placed with great courtesy by his Grace of Buckingham. + +She sunk back among the cushions with half-closed eyes; heeding not +those that rode at either window of the equipage; she was trying to +collect her thoughts and by degrees they shaped themselves and she was +thinking of that that had but transpired. First of all, she consoled +herself like the selfish girl she was: Cedric would not die; 'twas a +sweet consolation, and she smiled; her thoughts dwelling not for a +moment on her own conduct that had brought him to suffer such pain. +Then she lay back even more luxuriously as she thought that Sir Julian +would not have opened the door for her, had she been going into +danger. To tell the truth, she sighed happily in contemplation of +further exploit. She grew bolder and bolder, fearing naught but some +slight mischance that might prevent her being a Maid of Honour; for +never, never could she go back to Cedric after she had made assertion +of love in his ear, and his eyelids had trembled. Nay, nay, she could +not bear to look him in the face again. Alas! she made vow she never +would. If she was not made a lady of her Majesty's household, she +would seek the patronage of some titled woman, who could help her. +Not for a moment did she think of the perils that surrounded and grew +closer about her unprotected self with every turn of the wheels that +carried her on. + +It appeared now as if all barriers to the King's presence had been +levelled and Katherine's hopes matured to confidence. She drew her +cloak about her with sedulous care, as if in so doing she wrapped and +hid from the whole world her own poor cunning. She found in her +lonely condition no embarrassment, conceiving that her position as +intermediary between her Church and the State was sufficient reason +for her abrupt leaving of home. Sir Julian would doubtless explain +matters to the Duke and Duchess, whom she believed were more than half +of her faith. They would see she had been highly honoured by being +entrusted with a great secret. + +It appeared as if the chaise would never cease to lung and swagger +over rough, unused roads, and when at last it did mend its way, +Katherine had ceased thinking and fallen fast asleep, nor did she wake +during hours of travel, until the great coach came to a sudden halt. +She looked through the window. Dawn streaked the East with uncertain +intention, knowing not whether to open the day with rain or sunshine. +A little to the left was the dark outline of an inn, nestling upon the +threshold of a forest, from the window of which fell aslant the way +a line of light. The door of the equipage was opened, and a stately +cavalier stood to assist her down the step. She leapt lightly to the +ground, taking the proffered arm, as the way was dark and uneven. + +Within the large, cheery room they entered, burnt a crackling fire; +for the morning was damp and chilly. Katherine stole a glance at her +companion and saw the handsome features of Monmouth. He had removed +his masque and now stood uncovered before her. + +"I hope Mistress Penwick has not suffered from her long ride?" + +"Nay, sir; on the contrary, I feel refreshed." Her manner told him +plainly his address was not displeasing to her. His eyes rested +amorously upon her; for 'twas naught but strong, healthful youth +could predicate such reply and vouch for its assertion by such rich +colouring of cheek, such rare sparkling of eyes and such ripeness of +lips. + +She sat at the chimney-nook, her satin gown trailing at her side, +her cloak thrown over the back of the high chair. Their Graces were +engaged aside with the landlord and servants. + +"We will rest here until noon, anyway," one said, "and if they have +not arrived we will set out without them." Katherine heard and thought +'twas Constance whom they were expecting; and when a table was drawn +close to the fire and covers laid for four, there being but three to +sit down, Katherine looked askance at the vacant place; the Dukes +exchanged glances and his Grace of Buckingham turned to her quickly, +introducing himself, then Monmouth, and explained that at the last +moment Lady Constance had been prevailed upon to accompany them to +London and was expected every moment. + +Mistress Penwick had flushed at the presentation of two such noble +names, but at his following assertion, which corroborated with +Constance' own words, made her not a little jealous; for the handsome +young Monmouth had already shown his regard (God pity her innocence) +for Lady Constance by giving her a valuable ring, and now had +contrived to make her of their party that he might be constantly with +her. + +She straightway became very sober-minded, vouchsafing no remarks and +inviting none. Her pique would have given way had she but heard the +Duke's conversation a few moments previous. + +"Damme!" said young Monmouth, "I have kidnapped the wrong girl. +'Tis not my fault; thou saidst, Duke, to take any pretty girl from +Crandlemar castle, and I have captured Lady Constance, whom, I took +it, was the girl in question; and I made up my mind thou shouldst not +choose beauty for me. I shall throw her on thy shoulders to dispose +of." + +The Dukes, bent on provoking the maid to her former manner, began +witty tales of wayside inns. Their demeanour was so noble, their +stories so terse and pretty, their converse of such elegant and pure +wording, she relaxed and fell into their mood and told what few +convent stories she could boast. Their Graces were charmed by +her beauty, her sweet resonant voice and the simple and innocent +narratives, and not a little pleased by the result of their diplomacy. + + * * * * * + +When Mistress Penwick had gone from the grand salon the evening +before, Lord Cedric was not long in discovering her absence; for his +eyes and thoughts ever sought her. He had been greatly stirred by some +unknown thing, perhaps that we call premonition ('tis God's own gift, +if we would but heed its warning), but the game being well under way +and Constance calling his attention to an immediate and imperative +move, he was dissuaded from his inclination to arise and inquire of +the maid's absence. It was not for long, however, either the game or +his kinswoman's cunning could hold his Lordship from seeking her. +Quietly he beckoned a lackey and whispered aside. A few minutes +elapsed when the servant stood by his master, while beyond in the +doorway was Janet, who for once in her life was quite pale. Swiftly +Lord Cedric strode to her, saying,-- + +"Hast thou looked for her everywhere, Janet?" + +"Aye, my lord, in her own chamber and--" + +"But perhaps she has gone to the kitchens or pantries, for hunger doth +assail her not infrequent and at unusual hours." + +There was a bit of bitterness and sarcasm in his voice and he ground +his heel as he turned about to give orders. In a moment servants +were hunting in every direction throughout the castle. It was soon +ascertained she was not within the great house. Cedric grew wild with +passion and tore up and down like one gone mad. Sir Julian could not +restrain him, a thing that had not happened heretofore. Angel, his old +nurse, was called; she bade him ride forth for her. + +At this a horse was made ready, and his lordship mounted and rode +away. Sir Julian protesting all the while. + +As the clatter of horses' hoofs had fairly died away and Sir Julian +stood just where Cedric had left him, debating with his several ideas, +a soft touch was laid almost tenderly upon his arm; had it been the +soft, slimy trailing of a serpent, 'twould not have so startled +him. He turned suddenly and caught the slender hand, with no fine +affection,-- + +"I see it all quite plainly, thou art the cruel spider that hath woven +a silken mesh for that innocent child, and thou shalt tell me before +the sands of the hour-glass mark ten moments of time, where has flown +Mistress Penwick,--so speak, speak quickly, Constance!" + +His voice and manner brooked no delay, and her ladyship thinking that +even now Katherine was Cantemir's wife, spoke out with a semblance of +injured dignity that melted under Sir Julian's scathing contempt +to silly simpering. The noble character of Sir Julian seemed to +silhouette that of her ladyship in all its ugly blackness. + +"She is, I presume, by now, the Countess Cantemir--made so by an Abbé +at the monastery." + +Pomphrey was a-road; the clatter of bit and spur brought a smile to +Constance' face, and she cried forth with all the venom in her poor, +foul being: + +"Two mad fools,--both gone crazy over a convent wench, who is now my +Lady Cantemir--my cousin,--the wife of a fortune hunter!" She fled +within doors like one pursued and stopped not until she reached her +own chamber. + +Midnight approached phantom-like, and as stealthily Lady Constance +crept to the postern door. Behind her fell a shadow athwart the floor, +a shadow that was not hers but of one that moved as warily. She +listened as she held the door ajar, fearing to look back. As she +thrust the door wide, a figure from without moved toward her. + +"Who is there?" she whispered. + +"Monmouth!" was the answer; and out she stepped, well pleased to +be free from that shadow she felt was pursuing her. Her hand was +immediately taken and eager eyes sought the ring. It was hardly +visible, so dense was the shadow of the trees. + +"Come this way, Lady Penwick," came in a voice that was not that of +Monmouth's, which had sounded so much like music to her a few, short +hours before, or that had spoken the word "Monmouth" even that moment. +She, drawing back in her uncertainty, was captured by strong arms, a +hood was thrown over her head, and she was lifted and carried in hot +haste to a chaise, and helped therein without much formality. As her +escort leapt in behind her, there swept in the other door another +figure, also intent upon being accommodated by a seat in a London +equipage; and before any one was aware of a _de trop_ comrade, the +doors were shut with a bang and horses started at a gallop. Under +cover of the noise her ladyship's vizor was lifted and she, half +smothered, drew breath and stared about her in the darkness. + +"Thou didst bring thy servant with thee, Lady?" + +"Who doth dare inveigle me from the protection of my cousin, Lord +Cedric?" + +"I, my lady; a simple gentleman of his Grace of Monmouth's suite,--and +at his order." + +"Ah--" 'twas long drawn and somewhat smacked of satisfaction. "Who is +this female?" + +"Is she not thine?" + +"Nay, not mine. She doth play the hocus," said her ladyship. + +"Who art thou, then, woman; how came yonder door to pamper thy whim?" +The surprised guardsman rapped smartly upon the window, then pulling +it up leant out and asked for a torch. As there were none a-light, +he waited some moments; as he did so, there came an answer from the +figure opposite,-- + +"I am Mistress Penwick's waiting-woman." The answer was satisfactory +to the guard. + +"'Tis Janet, as I live," interrupted Lady Constance. She was not sorry +to have a companion of her own sex, and Janet would make herself +generally useful, if the ride was long and her ladyship should fall +ill, as she was certain to do. She knew also Janet's motive for +following her. She was interested in nothing but her mistress. + +As the road seemed rough and endless, Constance became anxious of her +destination and began to inquire, as if in great anger, why she +was thus taken and for what purpose. All questions being answered +perfunctorily, she relaxed into silence. At last she asked broadly,-- + +"Where are we to stop for refreshment, man; I am near dead with +fatigue?" + +"We stop at Hornby's Inn, my lady, there to meet his Grace." + +Janet sat quiet, nor did she speak again until she stood before +Mistress Penwick at the inn, where she sailed in as if nothing in the +world had happened, but inwardly she fairly wept with joy to find her +nurseling happy and unharmed. + +The rain was falling heavily as Lady Constance entered the room where +sat Katherine with the two Dukes. Dawn seemed to have gone back into +night, for 'twas so dark candles twinkled brightly and lighted up the +maiden's face as she spun a story of convent ghosts. Hate flung open +gates through her ladyship's eyes and fell a battery upon Katherine's +face. 'Twas but a thrust of a glance, but their Graces noted it as +they arose to greet her. Katherine was answering in an undertone +Janet's questions as Monmouth spoke aside to her Ladyship. Constance +was not to be delayed, even by his Grace, and she hastened to the +table and greeted Katherine as Lady Cantemir. + +"Nay, not so!" said the maid; whereupon Constance gasped, covering +her defeat by a great show of wonder and surprise. She fell to +questioning, her inquiries being overthrown by Buckingham, who +adroitly turned the conversation upon another matter. + +Monmouth was wild with delight over the prize he had captured, and +as they sat at meat he was pondering upon where he should hide the +beauty, for he feared his father's predilections, and 'twas sure he +would not run the risk of any such mischance and he tossed about in +his mind the advisability of taking her to London. As these thoughts +crowded upon him he grew grave and frowned. Constance, feeling her +disappointment most keenly, saw the tangle upon the Duke's brow. It +arrested the quick pulsing of her own discontent and turned her mind +into a channel of evil even more treacherous than any ideas that +had assailed her heretofore. It meant, in case of defeat, her own +downfall. She would barter, if need be, her own soul away. Of such +character were her ladyship's ambitions. She was impatient for the +final bout that was to settle all things. + +Even the haughty Duke of Buckingham was moved by Mistress Penwick's +youth, beauty and innocence. And yet he thought 'twas pitiful she +should go unclaimed by Court. Her secret must be had at whatever cost, +and seeing the maid was neither dismayed nor at loss by being thrown +with the king's son and the famous Buckingham, 'twas certain nothing +less than extreme measures would draw from her her secret. Whether +these measures were foul or fair was not of much consequence to him. +If the maid was to favour any, he would withdraw, giving place to +Monmouth, providing of course 'twas in his power to do so. And that +'twould be his power he did not doubt. + +Mistress Penwick saw Monmouth's frown also, and looked up at him +smiling and asked,-- + +"Thou must not ponder upon ghosts.--When do we journey, your Grace?" + +"When thou art well rested and say the word." His face broke into +sunshine and the maid could not fail to see the admiration that fell +upon her from his Grace's eyes. She flushed rose red. He caught her +hand as they arose from table, and pressed it warmly, and with a +tenderness that was apparent to Buckingham and Constance. Should he +press his suit upon her now or wait? He thought best to wait, as Janet +quickly came to her mistress at a motion of the hand that the Duke +reluctantly released. He allowed her to pass to her chamber without +his escort. Constance passed unnoticed by him from the room, and being +well-worn by her long ride, also went above stair, where she tumbled +upon her bed in tears, most unlike Katherine who was rubbed and +swathed in blankets by the faithful Janet. + + * * * * * + +Sir Julian Pomphrey had sent to the castle and procured conveyance and +Ellswold's physicians for the young lord, who lay very white and weak +at the monastery. Owing to his serious wound, they had moved very +slowly, reaching home near three o'clock in the morning. The Duchess +was greatly shocked by Cedric's condition and most indignant with +Mistress Penwick and Constance. + +The matter was blown about by servants, and before the dismal rainy +day was ended, all Crandlemar knew of the goings-on at the castle +and were greatly stirred that their lord had been so used by the +Catholics. 'Twas inflammable matter that meant the possible uprising +in arms of the whole village. It was said the Protestants were +aggrieved that Lord Cedric had thus long allowed the monks freehold, +and now that he was helpless they would take it upon themselves to +drive them away at the point of the sword and see if, by so doing, +greater fortune would not fall to them, for such bravery would +certainly bring them to their lord's notice and mayhap he would build +up many of his houses and do better by them than heretofore. + +Over the ale mugs at the village inn 'twas whispered by the landlord +that the day before two men, wearing masques, had left the place +together, one bearing under his saddle-bag a monk's robe; and a +crucifix had fallen from his pocket as he mounted. + +The men grew more and more excited and fell to pledging themselves to +clean out the ancient monastery before another day should close. + +A pale young man in fashionable attire sat apart, drinking deep and +listening with satisfaction to the village swains and their elders' +talk; his eye in imagination upon the dark passage in the monastery +that hid the trapdoor and--no doubt the treasures of the cloister that +lay beneath. + +'Twas Cantemir; he had escaped unharmed from the clutches of +Buckingham and Monmouth. The former had caught him hastening from the +monastery and seizing compelled him to give the information he sought +and to give up all papers on his person; which he did cheerfully. +Finding him a cowardly knave, the Duke flung him from him with +disgust. Buckingham had heard, to be sure, that the maid they sought +was a hostage; but whether this was true, or would lead to matters of +more consequence, he had yet to learn. + +Buckingham, after a few hours' sleep, left Hornby's Inn, returning +to the village of Crandlemar. He wore no masque this time and boldly +entered the inn to refresh himself and prepare for a visit to the +castle. He took little heed of the slender young man who now lay, very +much drunken, upon a long bench; but ordered the best wine and sat +down before a table that was already accommodating some half-dozen +men. He appeared not to hear their excited whispers, and feigned +preoccupation until he was quite sure his manner had been noted, then +as if modesty held him, he spoke,-- + +"Is there not in these parts a monastery upon the estates of the +noble Lord Cedric of Crandlemar?" He hardly raised his eyes, so +indifferently did he put the question. + +"There is, sir," one said. + +"Then where hath flown my lord's religion?" + +This struck consternation upon the group; for 'twas certain they +loved their patron's good name, even though he did forget their +importunities, and this sudden thrust struck home. One whispered +aside,-- + +"Perhaps 'tis one come to spy upon our lord's intentions and take him +to the Tower." At this one honest, brave man arose and leant with +rustic grace across the table toward the stranger and said,-- + +"His lordship lies ill yonder," pointing over his shoulder toward the +castle, "and we loyal subjects to his Majesty, claim the right to +drive from Protestant soil the shackles of Catholic freeholds, +and 'tis our intention to come upon them--what say you, fellows, +to-night?" + +"Aye, aye!" rang from nearly a score of tongues. + +"'Tis well," said the cavalier, "for to-morrow might have been too +late." + +"What might that mean, sir?" + +"It means that Catholic lands and holds are sometimes confiscated and +in some cases the boundary lines are not known, and some good King +might send some noble lord to the Tower to search for the required +limitations of his demesne." + +Every man's hand sought a weapon and eye met eye in mutual concourse. + +"To-night, then, to-night we'll put to rout the enemy!" they cried. + +The cavalier, pleased with the reception of his hint, asked for his +horse. + +He arrived at the castle to be most cordially received by the Duchess +and Sir Julian. If Buckingham was ever unbending, it was to Sir +Julian. + +As they met, Buckingham bent lower than his wont to hide a guilt that +was not perceptible to any one else but Julian, and the latter was not +slow to note it. The Duchess, not knowing who had carried off either +Constance or Mistress Penwick, was very free in her conversation and +spoke at once of Lord Cedric's injury and of the naughty beauty that +had driven him to it. Buckingham's countenance was changed by the +assumed expression of either surprise or regret, as was necessary and +suited. + +Upon his arrival he was not allowed to see either the Duke or Cedric, +and as his business called for a speedy return to London, he must +leave early after supper, adding that he regretted the importunity +of the hour, as it detained the king's business with his Grace of +Ellswold. + +This of course changed the physicians' minds, and Buckingham was +allowed to have converse with the Duke and finished that he came to do +at the castle. + +But Sir Julian had somewhat to say, and ordered his horse to accompany +the Duke on his return journey. + +This was not unlooked for, and Buckingham, fearing no _imbroglio_, +intended to hasten Sir Julian's speech, as there was no time to spare. +They started forth 'neath the dripping trees. + +"Where is Mistress Penwick, George?" + +"With her nurse, Julian." + +"And where the nurse?" + +"At Hornby's." + +"Where is Monmouth's place of hiding her?" + +"That is more, I dare say, Julian, than he knows himself." + +"How long will they remain at the inn?" + +"Until I return." + +"Then--?" + +"Then, London way is my desire, and I doubt not 'tis Monmouth's also." + +"Dost love me, Duke?" + +"Aye, as always. What is thy desire?" + +"Canst thou keep the maid safe for thirty-six hours?" For a moment +there was no answer; then calmly and cold came the word "No." + +"By God! is it so bad that you, you George, cannot take care of her?" + +"'Tis the worst of all!" + +"Is she safe then now--now?" + +"If the eye of the nurse doth not perjure its owner, I would say she +was safe for all time." + +"Good--" + +"But, Pomphrey, one would wonder at thy devotion to Cedric?" + +"I loved him, first." + +"That does not say thou lovest thy second love better, eh?" + +"By heaven, I love her, there--thou hast it." Buckingham gave vent to +his natural inclination and laughed boldly. + +"Then, follow her. We may presume she will be safe kept 'til London +gives her rest and wine and finds a locker for her nurse." + +"Then my errand is finished. I will bid thee _adieu_." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE + + +Buckingham, returning to the village, where his escort met him, then +went to a small unused cabin in the thick woods beyond. Here he +changed his attire, making ready for a quick journey and one fraught +with some adventure. + +As he donned his clothes, ever and anon he paused to hear the low +murmuring of voices that came up from the village. 'Twas evident the +mob was gathering. + +An hour he waited impatiently, when his servant entered, saying that +the mob had started and were hurrying along the high-road at great +speed. + +The Duke mounted and rode after them, quite far enough in the rear +for them not to hear his horse's step or see as he passed where some +cottage light fell aslant the road. + +By the time they came in sight of the monastery, he was exasperated +beyond measure to be so held behind and was in no mood to wait the +mob's leisure. He leapt from his horse and threw rein to his man. + +No light was to be seen. It appeared the monks had either deserted +their dwelling or fortified it by fastening with boards the windows +and doors. The latter was the case. The besiegers with all sorts of +sticks, stones and bludgeons began at once to bombard the building +that stood dark and seemingly impregnable. Buckingham stood some +distance from them, as if indeed he were of different mould and could +not mingle with their steaming, smoking, foul-smelling bodies, that +reeked of gin and poor tobacco. He waited only for an entrance to be +made, that he might pass in without the labour of making an opening +for himself. Indeed, his arm, unused to such rough strength, would +become unfit to handle the sword of a gentleman. + +He was leant upon one knee behind a strip of iris that bordered a +forest path, when suddenly he heard the crash of glass and heard a +triumphant yell from the mob. He sprang from his hiding and crept +toward the place. A window had been broken in and the fight had +already begun. The monks were well equipped for battle with weapon, +strength and stout hearts and a good stone wall for shelter, but their +numbers were weak. + +The siege was destined to be a long and bloody one, unless the +ponderous door could be broken, for the mob could not enter fast +enough through the small casement. Should this be done, it was evident +the monks would be obliged to either take flight, surrender or be +foully murdered. + +Buckingham could not enter the window without taking part in the +fight, and mayhap run a great risk to his person. + +He was not long in discovering, however, that the doorway was being +bombarded successfully, and soon the massive door must succumb. + +At last there was a thundering crash, and broken oak panels flew +through the air. + +The men rushed in. Buckingham in a moment was in their midst and +fighting his way through them. He flung himself aside and escaped the +fighting mass by a small door that led him to a passage, where he +regained his breath and looked out for his bearings. + +He found his way through many winding passages to the panel. This he +opened and quickly strode through to the trapdoor, which stood agape. +From beneath came the sound of voices. He knelt and looked down. There +was no light to guide him. Cautiously he descended the ladder, finding +his way warily toward the place where he had seen the chest and whence +now came the voices. One was saying: + +"It's gone, the damn knaves have secreted it; we must have a light, +Anson, or the horde above stair will be upon us, and all the fires of +hell could hardly show us out of this dungeon." Whereupon the flint +was struck and the forms of three men were dimly outlined. + +They began running about nervously in different directions to find the +chest; his Grace keeping from view by following in their shadow. Back +they went again to the spot where it had stood, and as the light +fell full in their faces Buckingham recognized the pale, chiselled +countenance of Cantemir. There were two servants with him, which, +judging from their eagerness, evidently expected perquisites. + +The sound above stairs was growing more and more noisome, as if the +monks were being pressed back in the direction of the secret passage. +'Twas evident the Abbés intended this move; for unless there was +egress 'twould be a veritable slaughter hole and from the first they +had kept together, preferring the direction of retreat. + +Suddenly one of the men in front of Buckingham leant down and traced +with his finger on the dusty stone,-- + +"They have moved it in this direction, and there is no mistaking it," +and he pointed from the ladder. + +They followed the direction, holding the light low, and came at once +upon what appeared to be a solid stone wall. Inadvertently the man +bearing the lighted taper rested his arm for a moment against the +stones. Instantly a blaze flared up and showed a very cleverly +concocted wall. A canvas had been padded in shape of unhewn stone and +painted in imitation; the oil in the paint had ignited and despoiled +the illusion. + +The blaze was quenched in a moment, the canvas door pried open and the +three men passed beyond, carefully closing the door behind them. + +Buckingham was close upon them. + +They fled rapidly along, Cantemir following his servants and ever +glancing behind with eyes staring with fear. + +Buckingham was not to be caught by fear-staring eyes and kept well in +shadow. + +The passage was narrow with many windings and appeared to be +interminable. + +The men began to run, which was very incautious under the +circumstances, for in a moment they were precipitated into a small +chamber occupied by two stalwart monks. The latter had barely time to +throw themselves upon the defensive ere they were attacked. + +Cantemir had the advantage, as the monks were encumbered with their +long robes. + +Then ensued a short fight, in which Cantemir's men won the day--he +remaining well in the background. + +One of the servants was wounded and lay helpless upon the floor, his +head falling against some object that held him in a semi-upright +posture. Cantemir turned with the torch he had taken from the floor, +and looked about him, stumbling over the prostrate bodies of the monks +as they lay wounded. Noting his injured servant's position, he ran to +him, and seeing the thing upon which his head rested, kicked his body +from the chest, as if the fellow had been his enemy's dog, instead of +his own serving man. + +With a cudgel he and his comrade opened the chest, after first finding +it too heavy to carry at speed and for an indefinite distance. + +Cantemir's eyes waxed big with greed and delight, as he looked +within. He spread out his long fingers, as if to grasp all the chest +contained. + +"These small caskets must be filled with jewels. Anson, fasten the +torch somehow and put these in the bags. Here are some rare laces, +looted from some dead Croesus, I warrant,--put those in too;--those +infernal papers--they can be of no consequence--" + +"Then I will take them, my lord," said the servant. Cantemir eyed him +with no fondness and slipped the papers within his own bag. + +Buckingham, watching them from his little cove in the rocks, caught a +sound that made him start. It was very distant and indistinct, yet he +was quite certain some one was coming, and without further delay he +cried out and drew his sword upon the man nearest him, which happened +to be Anson. + +The fellow used his sword fairly, but no match for his adversary. + +Buckingham run him through before the Russian had regained his +presence of mind. + +As the unfortunate Anson fell, the Duke turned to Cantemir, who was +separated from him by two prone figures and the chest. The Count held +the advantage and meant to use it by springing ahead into the opening. +There was no opportunity for Buckingham to either reach him or head +him off. Cantemir had caught up the filled bags and was smiling +insolently across at him. Buckingham was exasperated, not by the +fellow's triumph, but at his own helplessness to cut him off. But +there was no time to be lost; those other sounds were growing nearer. + +The Duke made a bound toward the opening. Cantemir, with an exultant +laugh, sprung also toward the opening, but his laugh was turned into +a yell of fear, as his leg was caught in a death-like grip by the +servant he had kicked from the chest. + +In an instant Buckingham was upon him and binding his arms tight +behind; the poor, cowardly knave begging at every breath for his life. +He was completely undone with fright, his heart melted and his knees +bent. + +"And would it not be thy meed to run thee through also, for serving +thy wounded knave with a kick? 'twas inhuman--by God! 'tis a pity it +takes a man with a soul to suffer the tortures of hell, for thou wilt +never get thy deserts!" He looked down and saw the poor servant's eyes +raised to his pleadingly. The Duke drew from his pocket a flask of +wine and gave it to him; then gathered the bags that lay filled by the +chest and hurriedly looked at their contents. As he did so the wounded +knave feebly raised his voice,-- + +"I will be killed if I am found here." + +"Nay, a gentleman--" and he cast a scornful glance at +Cantemir,--"would not kick thee when thou art down; say nothing of +our most noble fathers putting to flight what small life thou hast in +thee. What is thy name?" + +"Christopher," came in weakened tones from his pallid lips. + +In another moment the Duke was gone with his looted treasures. + +He flew along at a most undignified gait, bearing his pack as a +labourer. His shoulders, unused to such burden, grew tired. He +began to wonder if the passage would never end. He was growing more +exhausted than he cared to own, and beside, he apprehended he was +pursued. + +At last he felt almost compelled to leave one of the bags behind, and +stopped to think which, one he should leave. Yet he was a-mind to +carry them all if he broke his back; and beside, it was so dark he was +unable to tell which was the more important. + +As he stood undecided he heard distinctly the fast approach of +footsteps. He gathered his strength and bags and flung along, somewhat +refreshed by the change of burdens. As he made a turn, the fresh +outside air blew upon him. He grew cautious and moved more slowly, +listening now in both directions. He might not be overtaken, but some +one might be at the opening of the passage. There was no light or +sound beyond, and soon he stood in the deep darkness of the outer +night 'neath dripping trees. Warily he stepped, lest some cracking +twig exposed his presence. + +He ascertained his surrounding was a thicket, and was about to make +his way into its labyrinthine density, step by step; for the way +was difficult, when there was a tramping of horses' hoofs upon the +rain-soaked road that appeared to be in close proximity. + +Under cover of the noise he swept hastily and boldly through the +briery bushes that were thickly entangled, and was able to make +considerable headway whence he had come, when the noise ceased and a +peculiar whistle rang out; then there were a few moments of quiet, as +if those who signalled were listening for an answer. + +There appeared to be a chaise with several outriders, as Buckingham +thought, by the tramp of horses' feet, and a creaking of wheels +pulling heavily along. + +As he gazed anxiously in their direction, a torch was suddenly set +a-glow and a horseman rode up with it to the mouth of the subterranean +passage. He leant from his steed and examined the ground closely, +noting doubtless the footprints that led away from the road and +directly to the place where the Duke stood. He turned abruptly back to +the group upon the highway and conversed in low tones. + +Buckingham was not a little perturbed, for a horseman could with less +trouble than it takes to tell it, track and overtake him in a moment's +time. He fain would have a few minutes to ease his burden, but his +peril was great. There was no doubt but what these men were monks, +come to assist their fellows with the chest and convey them to a place +of safety. + +Indeed, the secret of the chest must be royal, but whether in jewels +or papers he did not know, nor was it the time and place to find out. +If he only knew in which pack was the bone of contention he would +certainly lighten his burden. + +Again he lifted the bags and strode on lightly, for he still could be +heard to the highway, if one should listen. + +He had not gone far, however, when there was a shout from the +subterranean opening and much confusion following upon it. + +The Duke was now thoroughly aroused. Doubtless the monks within the +passage had at that moment arrived at its mouth, there to make known +to their comrades the robbery of the chest's contents. They were in +pursuit; he could hear the bushes crackling beneath horses' feet. +Never before had the wily Duke felt so hard pressed. He could afford +to be taken himself, for he was sure of a release sooner or later; +but his whole being revolted at the idea of losing the riches of his +burden and above all--the secret, the secret that would make his +fortunes thribble, the secret that would make him more powerful than +heretofore. The King's favour would be boundless. And George Villiers +turned abruptly and--fell into a swollen ravine that was throbbing +with its over-filled sides. He straightened himself to his full height +and thanked God for the stream, for truly 'twas life-giving water. + +He waded in and found it hardly came to his waist in the deepest part. +After crossing to its farthest bank, he kept the watery path for +nearly a league, thereby throwing his pursuers effectually off the +trail. But where his course trended, 'twas impossible to tell, as +there was no moon, and the stars were veiled by thick cloud that +vomited forth rain in gusts. + +The leather bags were very near rain-soaked and had become so heavy +'twas impossible for anything less than a beast of burden to carry +them further, so leaving the friendly stream, he walked some little +distance from it, gaining to his surprise an open road. This was not +what he wished, and was turning from it when he stumbled and fell +prone. Being hot with anger and fatigue, he reached for the obstacle +that had so unmanned him to damn it. 'Twas a large, round knot. It +struck his memory, as he held it, with a thought of the morning +before. + +"_Eureka_!" he cried, as he felt the very presence of the tall tree by +the public highway that led from Crandlemar, London way. He arose and +reached for the aperture. + +"Egad, 'tis there!" + +Fortunately the royal tree was not far from the unused cabin that had +afforded him accommodation some hours before. He immediately sat down +upon the bags and rested. + +There passed him several horsemen and a chaise; whether they were his +whilom companions of the thicket or not he did not care. It was +sure they were in haste to leave the village as far behind them as +possible. + +When the sound of the horses' hoofs had died away, he again donned his +leathery burden and made for the depths behind him. + +He was not long in reaching the _rendezvous_, and was met by his +anxious servant, who had but just arrived from seeking him. + +The exhausted Duke gave orders for one hour's rest, then fell upon a +pile of blankets that were spread upon the damp and open floor. + +An hour later saw the Duke astride his horse, that stood with flaring +nostrils, caring not a whit for his extra burden of saddle-bags and +flew along the wet road, regardless. + +Hours after his master jumped from his back at Hornby's. + +The morning was far advanced and Mistress Penwick was fretting under +the delay. + +Monmouth had plead that the weather was too wet and Lady Constance was +too ill to proceed until the following day. + +The maid had demurred, saying Janet might remain with her ladyship; +but Monmouth was not quite at liberty to take Katherine without first +seeing Buckingham, whom he thought should have arrived early in the +morning. + +As Buckingham came into the great room of the inn, Katherine proposed +they set out at once, as she would reach Whitehall, if possible, +before Sunday. + +It was not the Duke's wish to proceed further without resting himself +and horse; but being anxious to please Mistress Penwick, he said +'twould be his pleasure to start at her convenience; whereupon she +relaxed her ardour, finding no opposition, and asked him if he thought +the weather would permit. He answered that the weather must permit, +and that they could easily reach their destination without killing +more than three relays. + +"Nay, nay, your Grace, if one horse only were to die, I would not +permit such hurry!" + +Suffice it; the Duke had his rest, and being of no mind to remain +longer, at five o'clock in a gale of wind and rain set forth. + +They had but common post-chaises as any squire would have, as these +travelled about without drawing the attention that a London coach +would. They rattled and slid along at their own convenience on the +muddy road, and the postilion were soon reeking with mire thrown from +the horses' feet. + +For five hours the chaise jostled Constance, until she declared she +would go no farther. Buckingham, who rode with his secret in the +chaise that followed, said if they stopped to rest over night, they +could not reach Whitehall before the King should leave. + +This was a ruse planned by himself and Monmouth, as the latter had +settled where he should take Katherine, and the former, not having had +time to examine the contents of the bags, was loath she should see the +King ere he had done so. + +Katherine, seeing that Constance' lips were blue and her face pale, +and forgetting her ladyship's evil ways, agreed they should stop at +the first inn and there lie until the next morning; Janet having +declared privately to her mistress that she should not waste any time +with her ladyship. + +Though the night was black and the road uncertain, yet they maintained +a fair pace over the open downs, having left the shadowy trees behind; +but there were no lights ahead and the prospects of getting shelter +for the night were dubitable. + +Constance became more and more impatient, pulling up the window every +few minutes to inquire if any lights were to be seen, each time +letting in a shower of rain that deluged her dress. This dampness was +soon felt by her ladyship, whose temper could hardly keep her warm, +and she called for blankets. There were none. At this knowledge she +grew worse, and cried that she was in a chill and must have aid from +somewhere. + +For a truth, her teeth were chattering and her hands were cold, but +it was nothing but mimosis brought on by the evil caldron that boiled +within her wicked body. She had heard Buckingham tell Katherine that +the King would be gone from Whitehall if they were delayed. Her plans +were now made, and this sudden illness was a ruse to detain the maid. +No, she must not see the King. She must now, first of all, become +Monmouth's mistress, then Cedric in his wild despair would turn again +to her; his playfellow, his old love, Constance. + +Whether the postilion were in their master's confidence or not is not +certain, but just before midnight they plunged into a narrow, miry +road that traversed wastes and low coppices; the plash of the horses' +feet showed the tract to be marshy and full of pools. Her ladyship +looked out across the dreary fen and exclaimed,-- + +"I'll be damned, they have set us out like ducks!" At her words +Katherine drew from her with disgust. It was the first she had heard +her swear; but she had not yet seen her true nature. + +On a sudden the chaise made a lunge and stopped in a deep rut. Some +one plodded laboriously to the door and thrust in a rain-soaked +visage, saying,-- + +"Their Graces beg your patience, as we cannot move until help comes. +There is a light ahead, and we hope to get on directly." + +It was hours, however, before the lumbering equipages were pried out +and started on. The light beyond had paled as dawn broke. They were +once more upon the causeway, and the horses' feet beating with loud +and even step upon the wet road. + +Constance had calmed, and with the other occupants slept through the +long delay. Nor did she wake until they had entered a thick wood where +the branches of the trees swept tumultuously against the window. Then +she opened her eyes with a start and saw Katherine still sleeping, +her head pillowed on Janet's bosom. Her limbs were stiff from their +cramped position. Vainly she essayed to stretch, and cried out as a +rheumatic pain took her. She swore roundly and vowed she would alight +at the first hut they should come upon. + +It seemed hours before they came to a long, low stone building, +evidently an old-time lodge. It was covered with ivy that trembled and +glistened in the wind and rain. + +The chaises stopped at the door, which was thrown open by an outrider +who knocked up the locker with his whip handle. + +The opening disclosed great, high-backed pews and an altar and pulpit. +It was indeed a place of refuge to the weary travellers. It was dry +and clean and afforded rest. Katherine stepped inside first, and +immediately knelt and crossed herself. Monmouth did the same, knowing +that the maid's eyes were upon him. + +They took seats not far from the altar and settled themselves +comfortably; for the servants had gone to find food and fresh horses. + +Katherine was stirred by the sacredness of the day and place, and +took little part in the conversation that was becoming more and more +animated, as the Dukes and Constance drank heavily of wine brought +from Monmouth's box in the chaise. And when meat, bread and cheese +were brought and more wine was drank, her ladyship became maudlin and +cast her eye about for diversion. + +It fell upon the pulpit, and she tripped up to it, passing over the +sacred altar in vulgar _insouciance_. + +It pained Katherine to see the place so lightly esteemed, and she gave +a little cry of "Oh!" as Constance threw open the Bible and began to +preach in mockery of the Methody parson. + +Buckingham's face was as stolid as Janet's; Monmouth's bearing a smile +that was bastard of mirth. + +Hardly was her ladyship started, when a tall form, strong boned and +sinewy, strode through the open door. His ruddy face disclosed what +appeared to be a stern and rough temper. His forehead was high; his +nose well set over a mouth moderately large. His habit was plain and +modest. The rain dripped from his red hair and the bit of mustachio +that he wore on his upper lip. His quick, sharp eye noted the men and +women that sat apart, and then turned like a flash upon the woman in +the pulpit. + +As Constance saw the man full in the face, there was a bathos in her +zeal, and she stopped, open-mouthed, and closed the book. + +Neither Buckingham nor Monmouth could see the countenance of him that +entered, so they held quiet and wondered at her ladyship's behaviour. +Katherine had bent her head upon the back of the seat. + +The tall man proceeded up the aisle, his eyes upon the titled woman +whose face was now covered with a genuine blush. For the first time in +her life she felt ashamed. She felt a presence near her that was not +altogether of this earth's mould. + +At last regaining a semblance of her usual _aplomb_, she stepped from +the pulpit and made toward the door, where others were entering. She +looked back when half-way down the aisle and beckoned to the others of +her party to follow. As she did so, there came from the pulpit a voice +so rich and sweet, so penetrating the soul, the woman trembled and +listened. + +It was the "Kyrie Eleison" sung in a new tune with clear, strong +English words, and they rung and rung in Constance' ears, as they +continued to do for the rest of her days. + +"He is a Ranter. Let us stay and hear him?" Monmouth said. + +"Nay," said Katherine; "I am without covering for my head. Let's +begone, the meeting is gathering. What a glory is in his countenance, +and his voice is like music!" + +"The lack of a bonnet need not hinder. Thou art a lady and +privileged." + +"Nay, nay. I would know who he is?" Monmouth plucked the sleeve of +a passer-by and inquired. The man answered with a question put in a +whisper,-- + +"Hast never read 'Pilgrim's Progress'?" The Duke threw back a glance +at the form in the pulpit, then strode forward and jumped into the +chaise. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL CONCERNED + + +The house stood surrounded by a beautiful lawn that sloped gradually +to the river. Trees in full leaf and woody perennial plants in full +blossom, dotted the sward. The long, low stone building was covered +with vines that hung in rich purple bloom. All was quiet, refined, +subdued--without pomp. Not so was the chief inmate of this charming +abode. She stood gowned in filmy white, waiting for Janet to spread +her repast, but the nurse moved at leisure, resolving to give the maid +meat for thought, as she did for the body. She said: + +"When a maid is without father or mother, and away from her rightful +guardians, and has presented her such frocks as thou dost wear, 'tis +the maid's duty to find out whence such gorgeous and unmonastic +apparel comes." + +"But, Janet, I do know. The Abbés have made provision for me. They +bade me leave the castle without incumbrance, and the chest was sent +for my necessity. I mean to pay it all back when I return--or when I +send to Lord Cedric." + +"And when will that be, Lambkin?" + +"When the King gives me audience." + +"And thou art expecting the Duke of Monmouth to bring the word from +Whitehall?" + +"He said 'twas his pleasure so to do." + +"Now God pity me this day; I would I had never seen it!" + +"Why wearest thou so sorry a face, Janet?" + +"For thy too fat zeal. Is it not enough to make an ingrowing visage?" + +"How so?" said Katherine in feigned _insouciance_. + +"A surfeit of good, like a too-full cup, boils over and falls to ill." + +"Then, Janet, surfeit sin 'til it bubbles up, runs over,--perhaps a +better cup to fill." + +"Alack, alas, for youth's philosophy!" + +"At what art thou driving, nurse; thou canst neither affect +Shakespeare nor the Bible!" + +"Have I not always loved thee, Lambkin; search thy memory; did I ever +tell thee lies or use the veil of falsehood to cover from thee that +which I would not have thee know?" + +"Nay; but thou hast used artifice 'til it is threadbare, and I now +behold its naked warp." + +"But hast well served, thou canst not deny. It has made thee the sweet +innocent bud thou art, and we will enshrine its shade, though it hath +no soul to join it hereafter, and I will resort to vulgar frankness, +employed by the truculent commonplace, and say we live in an age of +swaggering, badgering, immoral-begotten, vice-ridden, irreligious +decrepitude--" Katherine made a hissing noise with her teeth, as if +she had been suddenly and severely pricked by a pin, then put up her +hands and stopped her ears--this day, Mistress Penwick thou shalt know +the character of thy King--Nay, thou shalt know. I will tell thee that +'twill poison thy mind of one of so great station--" + +"Wouldst thou assail his morals, Janet?" + +"'Tis impossible to assail that a man hath not." + +"Then 'twould be a field for sweet mission to teach him morals." + +"And wouldst thou delegate thyself to such an office?" + +"Aye, why not?" + +"Because he would steal thy knowledge ere thou hadst found his heart, +and thou wouldst find thyself insolvent of virtue." + +"Thou hast overreached artifice, Janet, and gone back to Bible days +and corrupted them by borrowing parabolic speech to waste upon +deaf-eared seventeenth century maid." + +"Ah, Lambkin; with closed ears thou dost not becalm sight and wit, +they cease not to fructify under suasion of childhood impregnations. +I fear not for thee, if thou art forewarned. If thou art taken to the +King, he will straightway be enamoured of thy beauteous face and will +wish to have thee near him, and because he is of so great a title, he +will expect to mould thee to his desires, whether 'tis thy will or +not. He may perhaps overawe thee, and thou wilt feel flattered by his +approaches, which will seem sincere to thy untutored perceptions. +'Twill be thy first meeting with a King. There is one thing most sure, +thou wilt not think him handsome; he has not the rich colouring that +so marks Lord Cedric's face, nor yet the clearness of countenance. The +King is most swarthy, gross featured and unfitted to thy fancy. +And how wouldst thou like such to approach thee and fondle thy +hand--perhaps imprint thy cheek with a caress, or his long fingers to +go a foraging on thy slender neck?" + +"Nay, nay, Janet; I should most surely hate such an one. I am sure I +should hate! hate!" + +"But 'tis surely to what thou art coming." + +"But, Janet, the Duke of Monmouth is the King's son, and his Grace of +Buckingham his friend; and with these two at my side, what harm could +come to me?" + +"Should the King propose to keep thee with him, could they lie like +slaves or dogs across thy threshold in the dead hours of night to keep +unwelcome visitors from thy door?" Katherine's eyes appeared on a +sudden to open wide upon a thing she had not dreamed of before. + +"Indeed, Janet, I think I see the trend of thy parables. He is then +debauched and given to entering rooms not his own at any hour he +chooses. I will be most careful and avoid spending the night." + +"But he may insist on thy presence, and no one dare gainsay the Royal +will." + +"I am for the time of his dominion, but we can claim at any moment +King Louis' protection, and therefore I may defy him if I wish?" + +"'Twill be like jumping from the river into the sea. I understand, +Lambkin, thou art bent upon paying well for thy popish idolatry. If +his Majesty sets black eyes on thee, thou art undone. If thou art +determined to go, we must have some way to prevent his falling in love +with thee. Thou wilt be willing to do this for me and--thyself, Love?" + +"Then I might not become that I so much wish--a Lady of Honour!" + +"That phrase, my Lambkin, is paradoxical--'Lady of Honour.'" + +"Janet, thou dost turn all sweets to bitterness!--Then I will mottle +my face and wear a hump and be spurned outright. 'Twill ill serve me. +'Twill not accord a safe issue." + +"Thou must not forget the King hath a tender heart for distress, and +now I think on it, 'tis possible, if thou didst so disfigure thyself, +thou wouldst gain his reply the quicker. We will mottle thy face with +leprous spots and cover thee with old woman's clothes, placing a hump +upon thy shoulder. And no one shall be privy to our scheme but his +Grace, and my lord of Buckingham, if they are to attend us." Janet +felt satisfied with the turn affairs had taken. + +"I think I shall enjoy it hugely. 'Twill be fine sport to so puzzle +the King, and when he sees me as I am--" and Mistress Penwick turned +proudly to a mirror--"he will be pleased!" + +"We will not think of that now, Lambkin. When dost thou expect her +ladyship?" + +"She did not say, but I think perchance she will come before the Duke +of Monmouth returns." + +"And he will not come before the morrow, didst thou say?" + +"When I demurred at not going straight to his Majesty, he said 'twould +be meet for me to remain here until he should first see him; then +he should return in a day. Those were his words, Miss Wadham, +_verbatim_,--now thou dost know everything I do, but--the church +secret; and if thou wert not insolvent for ways and means, thou +wouldst have had that." With a sudden step, the maid flung her arms +about Janet, who ever felt hurt when called Miss Wadham. + +Katherine sat to her evening meal with many flutterings of pleasure in +her young and guileless heart. Her first thought was of Cedric. He was +going to live and doubtless would follow her as soon as he was able, +and she would again see his handsome features and hear him admonish +her with a tenderness she was sure he would show after being so +frightened by her absence. It did not come to her that she should be +in sackcloth and ashes for causing him such woeful pain and misery. +She only tried to remember how he looked, as many a love-sick maiden +hath done heretofore. She pictured the rich colouring of his cheeks +and how his dark eyes had looked into hers; and she remembered how +once he had thus beheld her, his glance sweeping her face, then he had +taken her hand and pressed his lips to it passionately. Her face grew +rose red and she trembled with ecstasy. She, so perfect in mould +and health, was capable of extravagant and overpowering emotion; a +rapturous exaltation that filled her and took possession of her whole +being. She tried to turn her thoughts to Sir Julian, and wondered +vaguely why he had not come to London. He had intended leaving the +castle before this; and why had he not found her? He might know she +would like to inquire of those at home,--the Duke of Ellswold and the +others that were ill. The thought seemed to grow upon her, and she +wondered more and more why no one had been sent after her, and how +very welcome Sir Julian would be. Could it be that Lord Cedric was too +ill for him to leave? + +The Dukes had fairly left Constance and Katherine at the very door of +this villa belonging to one of Monmouth's friends, and proceeded at +once to Whitehall, where they needs must report of their visit to the +Duke of Ellswold. The King detained them near his person, much to +the annoyance of Buckingham and serious discomfort to Monmouth. The +latter, so anxious for the companionship of Mistress Penwick, could +not help but show his uneasiness and hurry to withdraw, which made his +Majesty still more obstinate. + +Two days Katherine had been thus alone at the villa, little knowing +the idea of bringing her cause to the King's notice was the most +foreign to either Buckingham or Monmouth, the latter wishing to +promote his own cause with her until she should become satisfied to +remain at his side, without seeking further Court favour. The former +gentleman had among his looted treasures certain papers that made +necessary, for his own personal aggrandizement, the strict seclusion +of Mistress Penwick. + +Lady Constance had been so thwarted--her mode of battle proving so +abortive--she resolved to fight as things came in her way, without +method or forethought. There was only one settled arrangement; that +was the full and complete destruction of this woman that had come +between her and Cedric. She had gone, after a few hours of rest at the +villa, to the mercer's for silks and velvets and furbelows to array +herself for conquest and take--now that she had fair hold on Royalty +itself--some masculine heart; if not the heart, the hand without it; +if not Cedric's, be it whose it might, so it were titled and rich. She +also sought Cantemir and news from Crandlemar. + +As she stood at the polished counter in the mercer's shop, she glanced +without and saw--or thought as much--Lord Cedric himself, pale, yet +stepping in full strength from a chair. She quitted the counter and +hastened to the entrance and looked up and down the busy street with +longing eyes. But there was no sign of my lord's handsome figure. +After securing her purchase, she repaired at once to Lord Taunton's--a +kinsman of Cedric's--'twas possible he would be stopping there. But he +was not. + +She rode from place to place, hoping at every turn to see him; but to +her chagrin she found him not, even at a certain inn in Covent Garden, +where he had been wont to stay. She drove in her cream-hued coach to +the Mall, but he was not to be found. + +Her first act after reaching London had been to dispatch a letter +posthaste to the castle, telling of her abduction by the Duke of +Monmouth, who, she believed was determined to bring herself and +Mistress Penwick to the King's notice, as he avowed Court was not +Court without such faces. She, being so widely known and so well +connected, had been allowed her freedom, on condition that she +returned promptly and keep their hiding place a secret. Then came that +she felt would touch Cedric. + +"I overheard some converse about your Lordship, a hint that some knave +gave thee a slight wound. Now, if this be true, if thou art hurt at +all--which I cannot allow myself to think--tell me, tell me, Cedric, +and I will fly from Court and all the world to thee, my sweet cousin, +my playfellow, my beloved friend, now." + +This letter fortunately did not reach Cedric in time to give him a +relapse, as he was on his way to London when the courier arrived at +the castle. + +He had drawn rein at Tabard Inn, Southwark. It abutted on the Thames +and was opposite the city, and it suited his fancy to stop here, +rather than ride into London. His business was private and not far +from his present quarters. His wound had healed enough to give him no +trouble, and action kept his mind easy. He had seen Constance with +as fleeting a glimpse as hers had been of him. It was quite enough, +however, he wishing never to set eyes upon her again. + +That evening he went to seek Buckingham at the Royal Palace. He had no +austere regard for the pomp and splendour of the Court at best, and +now he was almost unconscious of his surroundings. His azure-hued +costume was magnificent in its profusion of embroidery and precious +stones. There were none more handsome of face or figure. Courtiers and +wits abounded, but none more courtly or witty than he, when he was +moved. None bowed before his Majesty's dais with more grace, appearing +more a king than he who filled the Royal chair. He erred not in the +most minute detail of demeanour. There was no one in the realm that +held more of his Majesty's regard. + +After being detained some moments at the Royal chair, he went to seek +Buckingham, whose first words smote him foolishly. + +"It is said, my lord, that Love hath Cupid's wings, and I verily +believe William was right, or else how couldst thou have fluttered +from a couch of painful wounds to London either by chaise or a horse? +Ah!--Love is nascent; after cycles of time it may become mature enough +to be introduced into Court--eh!--my lord?" + +"Contemporary chronicles relate that the mind is capable of greater +suffering than the body, and when both are affected, if we give +precedence to the employment of the mind, the body is at once cured; +hence my sound chest. Hast thou seen Sir Julian?" + +"He is with Monmouth in his chamber. They have been drinking deep, or +at least the Duke, who is pouring out in Pomphrey's ear confidences +almost too maudlin to be understood;" and there was a covert sneer +on the haughty lips of his Grace. At the name of Monmouth and the +knowledge that he was not with Katherine, Cedric's great tension +appeared to snap asunder. For a moment Buckingham gazed at his +companion as if in him there were undiscovered mines. Then suddenly +his mind and eye returned to the tangible, and he run his arm through +that of Cedric's and drew him away. When they were quite alone, the +Duke, without the shadow of compunction, said,-- + +"You, my lord, are ambitious of nothing but domesticity. Is it not +so?" His Lordship looked up with a start. If there was one thing he +hated more than another, it was intrigue. And though he was ever +environed by it, yet 'twas not his business now. He had come seeking +Buckingham for the purpose of asking his assistance with the Duke +of Monmouth, and at these words, so foreign from his interests, he +frowned slightly and answered,-- + +"'Twould be difficult to say at what I aspire, seeing the thing I +coveted most is taken from me. If that were mine, it might open up a +vista of aspirations I had ne'er thought on heretofore I see only one +thing at the present worth possessing." + +"And to possess that--thou art one of the richest nobles in the +realm--eh! Cedric?" His Lordship thought he saw the trend of his +Grace's mind, and felt better. + +"I'm rich to be sure, egad! What's the game, faro, loo, crib, +langquement or quinze?" and he tapped his pouncet-box nervously. + +"We have always been good, true friends, my lord. Your father and mine +have shared in many and continued vicissitudes, and for this cause +alone, barring our friendships of more recent years, I would give thee +a secret of which I am only half owner." + +"And what is this secret, your Grace? I am interested." + +"A secret cut into is only half a secret, and--" + +"Ah! ah! how stupid I have grown! By all means, we are dealing in +fractions, and to get the other half I must either pay or go a-hunting +for it." + +"And thou, being hot-foot after most precious game, methought 'twould +best serve to give thee a clue, as to the value of the secret, that +thou couldst determine whether 'twas worth the finding;--whether 'twas +worth the leaving off pursuit of that thou art after,"--and the Duke +threw open his waistcoat and revealed its lining of rare satin and a +pocket that contained a paper written upon in a writing that made Lord +Cedric start, for he recognized it as Sir John Penwick's. And there +recurred to him the conversation he overheard at the monastery, when +one said,--"and once Sir John gets to this country." But nay; his +very last words in his own waistcoat pocket? So he spoke out +disdainfully,-- + +"And thou dost embroider thy facings with dead men's autographs?" + +"They are the better preserved, my lord," said the Duke, with a smile. + +"Then I am to understand the secret doth nearly concern Mistress Pen +wick, and if I should show her favour, I would pay well for a sequel +to that thou art about to unfold, eh! Duke?" + +"Aye, pay well; for the demand will be more than thou dost imagine," +and he took the paper and gave it into Cedric's hands. + +At a glance Cedric saw that the outside paper only was written on by +Sir John; the inner document, containing the whole story, being made +in a strange hand. And Cedric said to himself,--"Aye, 'tis a ruse. +Sir John is dead and I'll wager on't." + +"Thou mayest occupy my chamber, which for the present is here." The +Duke left the anxious Cedric to read at leisure. + +Lord Cedric knew 'twas not his Grace's way to waste time on things of +no moment, and he therefore apprehended evil and his fingers trembled; +his dark eyes grew large as he read; his face changing from red +to white as the different emotions were awakened; his white teeth +crushing his lips. Sir John Penwick had left England, taking all his +worldly goods--which were of no mean value--with him. He settled his +possessions in the New World. These in time became very great and he +was known as one of the wealthiest men in the locality in which he +lived. After six years of married life, a great grief came upon him; +his wife died, leaving him a baby girl of five. This so unsettled +him--having loved his wife beyond measure--he turned again to warfare, +having interest and inclination for naught else. He sent his baby +daughter with her nurse, Janet Wadham, to the Ursuline Convent +at Quebec, where they remained until coming to England. Sir John +travelled about from one country to another, engaging in all kinds of +intrigue and war. One Jean La Fosse--a Jesuit priest--had been for +many years the tried and true friend of Sir John, having been in his +early years a suitor to Lady Penwick. This friendship had grown so +stout that when they met again in the New World, Sir John put his +possessions, in trust, into La Fosse's keeping. When Sir John was +taken prisoner, a sort of treaty had been entered into between the +French and English, and hostages were required for prisoners of +importance. La Fosse was now holding high office in the ranks of his +adopted country--England. Therefore, when hostage was asked by the +English for Sir John Penwick, La Fosse saw the chance he had waited +for for years, and his John was every inch an Englishman, and since +being prisoner of the French, determined as far as possible to place +his belongings with his own country. He had thought it all out and +wrote his desires to La Fosse. Of course, what belonged to Sir John +belonged to England, but his possessions were on French soil and his +daughter in a French convent. And now Sir John felt 'twould be an +opportunity to place his child forever in the hands of his own +country. La Fosse had so shaped affairs, that Sir John was at his +mercy, and at Sir John's proposal that his child should be held as +hostage for himself, he had answered that the babe was of too tender +years to be accepted unless accompanied by lands, tenements and +hereditaments. This was a happy thought to Sir John, and his old trust +of La Fosse came back. "After all," he thought, "the French would +rather give up my child than a man, but my possessions they would +never give." So, not suspecting La Fosse's duplicity, he gave him +legal right to place his property as hostage also. The child was to +remain at the convent, unless England preferred to have her under +their own _régime_. La Fosse was sure Sir John would never again be +free and could never, of course, claim his lands. He went so far as +to make sure--as sure as was in his power--that Penwick should not be +released. He, being a man of shrewdness, at once manipulated affairs +without the knowledge of his sovereign or the higher powers about him. +In a very short time these possessions were built upon by the Jesuits, +who, through La Fosse, claimed all right and title. But La Fosse was +forgetful. He never gave the babe a second thought, it being of no +consequence whatever. It would, no doubt, sicken and die without a +mother's care. He was aware of its whereabouts, but even that in time +was forgotten, his mind being occupied by more pertinent thoughts. +This was a great victory for the Catholics, whose lands had been +confiscated in England, and La Fosse felt he had dealt a master stroke +for his religion. But no mortal man can equal Time as an adept in +chicanery. He brings forth truths unheard of or dreamt by poor +humanity. + +Years went by and La Fosse was suspicioned. At the first smell of +smoke, La Fosse fled. No one knew whither. He escaped, however, to +the monastery upon Lord Cedric's estates. The sudden appearance of +Mistress Penwick at the monastery was believed to be a direct answer +to their prayers. When, too, it was found without a doubt she was Sir +John's daughter, they felt she belonged to them to do with as they +pleased, so all things were accomplished for the benefit of the only +divine church. Their rights in the New World were now being meddled +with and this God-send was to give them, with her own hand, all right +and title to the property in question. + +Sir John had vaguely heard while in prison of Jean La Fosse's +duplicity, and at once sought to save his daughter from his hands by +sending her to his old friend, Lord Cedric of Crandlemar. He, angry at +himself for being so duped, and heartbroken at his loss of property, +knew of nothing else to do but call upon his Lordship for his child's +protection; yet he was too proud to tell him why these calamities +had come upon him. Indeed, any man would take him for a fool for so +trusting another. He had been ill when writing those letters. He never +expected to arise from bed again and thought 'twas best to say he was +dying; 'twould perhaps touch Cedric's heart as nothing else would! +Thus ended a document that was still incomplete, and his Lordship sat +wondering and thinking. This meant that the Catholics were exposing +Katherine to the King's pleasure. She was being sent to him for +a title--a title that was to give them all her possessions. And +Buckingham held the clue that would save those lands or--or her +father--if he were alive. Aye, he should have all the money he asked; +for the Catholics should not have their way. "They shall not, by God, +they shall not!" + +"They shall not!" quoted Buckingham behind him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA + + +Lord Cedric looked about him. He had heard no sound and was surprised +and not well pleased that Buckingham had so caught him off his guard; +for he now understood that the Duke was undoubtedly deriving some +benefits from this fiendish plot, and the greater his perturbation the +easier mark for his Grace. + +"The maid proposes at all hazards to see the King. Monmouth is as +determined she shall not. However, if she escapes the Duke, she will +visit Whitehall and present her plea to his Majesty for his signature. +He is--after seeing her--not supposed to refuse her anything. And not +knowing the value of these lands will sign the paper, thereby giving +the Catholics the property. Then if he sees fit--which of course he +will--will retain the beauty as a Maid of Honour. If he should refuse +the plea, she is to hand him a sealed paper, which will give him the +knowledge that he has before him a hostage who wishes his signature to +the willing of her property to her beloved Church. They do not count +on his putting two and two together and seeing their scheme. They +think he will be so infatuated, that 'twill be 'aye, aye, aye,' to her +every look. She only knows half the contents of the thing she presses +'neath the folds of her dress." + +"By God, Buckingham, this is despicable! She to be made the tool of +her religion!" + +"There are other complications, my lord. Providing thou art successful +in running the gauntlet with Monmouth first, then the King, thou, +thyself, art in danger of the Tower or Tyburn-tree." With a bound +Cedric was upon his feet and sprang toward the Duke,-- + +"A thousand devils, man, I care not for myself,--'tis the maid; +beside--what have I done, why am I so threatened?" + +"The scheme for thy destruction is already set a-foot. If thou +shouldst get the maid in any wise, it appears thou art doomed. Take my +advice, look to thyself and let the--" + +"'Sdeath! finish it not!" and there was that in the young lord's eyes +that curtailed the Duke's words, and he stood frowning at Cedric and +thinking what next to say. + +"When thou art acquainted with the circumstances, my lord, thou wilt +see thy peril. One Christopher, whom I once befriended with a bottle +of wine in a certain close passage, came tottering to me, asking for +my patronage, which I accorded him, as he was a sorry spectacle. As a +reward for my seeming kindness, he told me that the knave Cantemir +was arousing the Protestants by speaking of the monastery being a +_rendezvous_ for all good Catholics, naming the lord of Crandlemar as +one of them. The knave is working with both factions. He has gained +some powerful help. These are to come upon the King and demand a +confiscation of thy lands, thou art also to be sent to Tower or +Tyburn-tree for the murder of thy servant--" + +"Enough, enough, my heaven! I did kill the bastard Christopher." + +"Ah! not so. 'The bastard Christopher' is still on his legs and gives +Cantemir's plans away; for the knave kicked him when he was down. Thou +art to have thy head, but--" + +"Nay, my friend, tell me no more. Ah!--is there any limit to this +devil's industry! I have to thank thee to-night, on the morrow--" + +"I'm expecting to leave Whitehall early--" Cedric started. + +"Will Monmouth bear thee company?" + +"Nay, his Majesty seems on a sudden to have an undue fondness for +him." + +"God strengthen it." + +"'Tis a pity there is such thing, else his Grace would not care to +go." + +"And thou and I might not have been brought into this world." + +"And Adam have had eyes only for the serpent, not even coveting the +apple." + +"_Adieu_, my lord!" + +"_Adieu_, your Grace!" + +The candles were just a-light within the villa, where the thick +foliage of tree and vine brought a premature gloaming. Outside fell +upon the sward the last rays of the setting sun. In the depths of the +shadowy leaves the glow-worms displayed their phosphorescent beauty; +the lampyrid beetles plied between gloom and obscurity, impatient for +the mirror of night to flaunt therein their illumined finery. In +the distance was heard the lusty song of the blowsy yokels, as they +clumsily carted homeward the day's gathering. The erudite nightingale +threw wide the throttle of his throat and taught some nestling kin the +sweetness of his lore. + +From the villa doorway passed out Mistress Pen wick in fluttering +white, with the waxy jasmine upon breast and hair. Down she came, +unattended, through aisles bordered by fragrant blossoms, traversing +the way from door to postern-gate with quick, light steps. + +She was not aware Monmouth had left a strong guard and orders to allow +no one to enter save those he made provision for. + +As her hand rested upon the gate, a guard stepped from behind a bower +of iris and gently opened it for her. She was somewhat taken aback by +his presence. The stalwart guard strode after her; she, noticing it, +turned about and said sweetly for him to hold the gate open 'til she +returned, that she would only be gone a very few minutes. + +"My lady is alone upon the highway, and I could not suffer her to be +so, begging permission." + +"Nay, I wish to be alone. Remain at the gate." + +"It may not be, my lady; 'tis his Grace's order to give thee proper +escort outside the gate." + +"Ah, then--" she turned from him and beckoned to a monk who appeared +to be walking aimlessly upon the opposite side of the way, but at her +bidding moved with alacrity. When the guard saw her intention, he +begged her to consider the Duke's wish that she should communicate +with no one. + +"I was not aware, sir, that I am held as prisoner. I'm quite sure his +Grace was only kindly intentioned for my safety;--and as for further +vigilance, 'tis beyond his power to use it." The three now stood at +the gate. The monk looking intently at the guard, said,-- + +"Where hath flown thy religion, Eustis?" + +"'Tis a poor religion that hath not the grace to offer its adherents +an honest living." + +"Ah! then thy faith is hinged upon the _largesse_ of the damned. +There!--take for the nonce thy meed in honest coin." The Abbé gave him +a piece of gold and passed within the gate. The sun now dropped from +sight, leaving the villa terraces in sombreness, and brought into +prominence glow worm and firefly and the sheen of Mistress Penwick's +frock. + +"I have watched for thee ever since thou arrived, hoping to catch +thine eye.--Hast guarded the billet to the King, my child?" + +"Here it is." She took from her bosom the letter. The keen eyes of the +Abbé saw the seal was intact and quickly put out his hand deprecating +what her act implied. + +"'Twas not that, my child; 'twas the fear that thou hadst been robbed, +as we have. We trust thee with all our hearts," and she read not +hypocrisy in the feint of benignancy. + +"Thou hast been deceived into thinking that the Duke of Monmouth or +Buckingham will arrange a meeting between thee and the King. The +former Duke is evil-intentioned toward thee." + +"Ah, my Father; thou dost sorely grieve me! If thou didst not say it, +'twould be hard to believe; for surely he has been most kind to me." + +"But 'tis true, nevertheless. He is now with the King and fretting for +being so detained from thee. He means to offer thee the protection of +his favour; which means thou art to become an inmate of his seraglio. +Dost understand me, my child?" + +"Ah!--I understand," and Mistress Penwick looked up into the face that +the darkness veiled. + +"And I have heard that the King is sometimes poorly intentioned" The +monk coughed behind his hand and moved uneasily,--"'Tis said of him, +as other like things are reported; but 'tis false. He is a good +Catholic at heart, and he will offer thee no insult, else we would +not allow thee to approach him. Our first thought is to get thee from +Monmouth's hold and place thee in safety elsewhere. The noble Lady +Constance is helping us and hopes that by to-night to have arranged +certain matters, so with our aid thou mayest be able to see his +Majesty very soon. One of the Brotherhood will accompany thee to his +presence or meet thee there; for we are anxious of the issue. Thou +wilt--" The conversation was interrupted by the sound of wheels. The +guard came running to them, crying half aloud,-- + +"Methinks some one of importance is about to arrive, as there is a +coach and outriders and a score of mounted escort. If thou, Father, +art found here, I'm doomed. I prithee hide thyself;--and my lady's +gown can be seen for a league. Hide here, behind this bunch of iris, +'til the cavalcade hath passed." + +It was in truth the young Duke of Monmouth, who was hurrying with the +impatience of young, warm blood to his mistress. For all Katherine was +indignant with him for having such wicked intentions toward her, yet +she was moved by the fact that he was a Prince, the son of the King; +and susceptible as are all womankind to masculine beauty, she hardly +could withhold her admiration. She did not fear him, on the contrary +she wished to play with firebrands and see how he would appear in her +eyes, now that she understood him. On a sudden she wished to see him +more than any one else in the world, Lord Cedric excepted; and in her +adventurous heart vowed to torment and give him pangs to remember her +by. Her pride was wrought upon. That any one should presume to love +her without thought of espousal! and Janet's words came back to her +with great force, making her see her error in accompanying the Duke. + +There were a few hasty words spoken by the monk as he left her, and +passed through the postern-gate, where none save Eustis saw his tall +form. Katherine took her time, as she crossed the lawn to her former +seat, stopping here and there to gather a nosegay; exulting all the +time at his Grace's discomfort when he found her not within doors. +Suddenly she thought of Christopher and of what might happen to the +servants if the Duke undertook to vent his displeasure upon them. At +the thought, she leant forward, straining her ear for any signs of +violence; but she only heard Janet say,-- + +"My eyes have not been off her, your Grace. I'm just taking her a +wrap." + +"Give it to me," the Duke said in a voice surprisingly calm and +gentle. It piqued Katherine. It was disappointing not to hear a +fierce voice like Cedric's was wont to be. She saw the Duke's form +silhouetted by a bush of white blossom and heard from his lips a +quaint love ditty. It so set her very susceptible heart to fluttering +she knew not whether to be glad or sorry that he was there. She was +weaving a garland in a peculiar manner learned at the convent. The +finished strands she placed under the bench upon which she sat, +pretending the while neither to see nor hear his Grace as he walked +about from bush to bush, singing softly. But he soon caught the +glimmer of her dress, and he came bounding toward her. + +"Pray what does Mistress Penwick out alone on so dark a night?" + +"Ah!"--she started in feigned alarm, dropping her flowers and rising +hurriedly--"'tis your Grace of Buckingham. I admit I was startled." +She made a sweeping courtesy. + +"We who love never forget its voice, Mistress. I believed that thou +wouldst never be able to find it in Buckingham's tones; for if 'twas +there, thou only could note its tenderness." He so ignored her +feint--and she knew he understood that she knew not whether to keep up +her hypocrisy or recant. + +"Didst see the King, your Grace, upon my affair?" He stooped to +recover the flowers she had dropped. She hindered him, fearing lest he +should see her schoolgirl play beneath the bench. + +"Ah! ah! what hast thou hid there?" She exulted. + +"Nothing, your Grace, only--the flowers are not worth the exertion." + +"Aye, they are worth the bended knee of a thousand, when dropped from +such fair hands," and he again essayed to reach them; but she stood +between, and holding her hand out to him, said,-- + +"Nay. I pray thee come. I am going to the villa. 'Tis growing damp." +She timidly made as if to go. He on the instant drew his sword and +lunged beneath the bench and drew out upon its point the maid's +flowers. He laughed at his disappointment, for he was certain some one +was beneath. She felt ashamed of her childish pastime and hastened +within doors. He followed, carrying the interwoven hearts upon the +point of his sword. He held them high for inspection as he entered the +lighted room, and was transported with delight when he saw the design, +and complimented her upon its significance. + +"Thou dost seem to know that two hearts are to be entwined, at any +rate! Even if a voice full of passion doth corrupt thine ears to +hearing tones that are vibrantless of love." He broke into a +great laugh and looked upon Katherine's blushing face with tender +admiration. "Come, Mistress, I have played thee very uncavalierly, +inasmuch as I have not answered thy question. Sit with me and sup. +There--his Majesty is indisposed. He will not be able to see thee for +at least a week. Then I am to bring the most beautiful woman in the +world to Court." + +"I am very sorry; my business is imperative--" + +"Imperative!--imperative! that such words should fall from cherry lips +that will become irresistible should they turn to pouting;--so take +heed and tempt me not." He had already swallowed several glasses of +wine and was fast becoming audacious. + +Janet stood behind Mistress Penwick's chair; her face appearing +immutable. The Duke bade the maid drink her wine. She touched her lips +to the glass and set down the cup. He swept it passionately to his +own. Katherine's boldness was fast declining. She began to wish that +something would happen to take the Duke's attention from her. Even +Constance' presence would be a relief. If she were only in the garden +again--free--she would fly to some place of safety. + +He lowered his voice into a passionate whisper and leant over, +catching her hand as she would withdraw it. He began to draw her +toward him. Her fear was evident, for Monmouth, drunk as he was, saw +it, and fell to coaxing. His voice, not yet maudlin, was sweet and +impassioned. + +"Thou were not afraid when that Russian knave claimed thee and was +about to carry thee off, and now thou hast the King's son to guard and +love thee--love--dost hear it, my Precious? And I came to claim thee +this night, to tell thee all I know, to make the little Convent Maid +wise." He threw his arm about her, almost drawing her from the chair. +Katherine was white and trembling, knowing not which way to turn. + +"Indeed, sir, I know not thy meaning." + +"My meaning? Dost not thou know what love is? Of course thou dost +not--if thou didst, it might be I should not care to be thy tutor. +Come, I will teach thee this night--now, my Pretty,--now. Come, come +with me." He arose and essayed to draw her toward the door that led +to an inner chamber. Katherine was well nigh to swooning, and perhaps +would have, had not there fell upon her ear the sound of some one +entering the house. "Ah, heaven!" she thought, "if it were only Father +La Fosse or Sir Julian or even--ah!" She did hear Constance' voice. +"Aye, even Constance could think of some way for her to escape." She +knew Janet was behind her chair, but she might have lost her usual wit +and have become incapable of helping at the very moment she was most +needed. Monmouth drank another glass of wine, then withdrew from +his chair and leant over that of the maid, drawing her close in his +embrace. He was now so drunk he did not hear the door creak as Janet +and Katherine did; the former, seeing the pale, triumphant face of +Constance reflected in a mirror, as she stood half-way inside the +door. Katherine tried to disengage herself by reaching for another +glass of wine. The Duke reached it for her and would hold it to her +lips; but she, looking up at him with a feint of a smile, said in +coaxing tones,-- + +"I was getting it for thee; your Highness will drink it?" + +"Could I refuse--there!--there! Come!--" He put his arms about her +and was carrying her forth, when Janet plucked him by the sleeve and +whispered something in his ear. He loosed for a moment her trembling +form and she began to weep. These tears made him forget Janet's words, +and he turned again to Katherine. + +"There, there, my wife; thou dost break my heart at each sob. Here, +see here what I brought thee," and he placed on her arm a circlet of +rubies. "There, hush thy tears. I will not teach thee anything but how +kind I may be--there, sit thee down. I will let thee wait until thou +art accustomed to man's caresses." Monmouth's heavy drinking trended +to strengthen his good humour, else he might have resented roundly the +interruption of his love-making by the entrance of Lady Constance. He +held out his hand to her, saying,-- + +"Come, my lady; see my poor dear. The poor child is affrighted at my +love-making. Thou wouldst not be so frightened, Constance,--eh?" + +"I am not a child, your Highness, to fall to weeping if so honourable +a gentleman as some should choose to kiss my hand." The Duke reached +to the table and pressed another cup of wine to his lips, that were +already stiffened by excess. + +"Come, Sweet; give me one kiss--" and he bent over her close. + +"Nay, nay, I'll not suffer thee." And Katherine drew from him with +flashing eyes. + +"Come, silly child; one, just one." She fled from his reach. He sought +to catch her but was stopped by Constance who whispered something +hurriedly. The Duke turned upon Janet and frowned, then broke into a +mocking laugh, and with a sly wink at Constance, said,-- + +"Thou art a trickster, good nurse; thou didst play upon me foully. +Good, good nurse! Come, go quickly. Thou shalt see no more +love-making; I forbid thee; kiss thy nestling and go. I will watch +over her. Come, my sweet, come!" His Grace took the maid in his strong +arms, and though his legs threatened collapse, bore her toward the +door. + +Janet saw the look of devilish menace and triumph upon Lady Constance' +face and--beyond--what did she see behind the curtain of the window +that looked upon the garden? Surely 'twas something more than the +evening breeze that stirred those hangings. 'Twas a familiar face +that looked from behind the folds; aye, of a truth, 'twas Sir Julian +Pomphrey's. When Monmouth, half carrying Katherine, reached the door +and stood some little way beyond its deep embrazure, he turned to +Janet again, saying,-- + +"Go, good nurse. I wait for thine exit. Come, begone!" + +"I beg your Grace to forgive the lie I told and give pledge of thy +forgiveness by taking this." She handed him a brimming cup. + +"Then, good nurse, I forgive thee. Here is to the maid thou dost let +go and to the woman I shall bring back." He threw back his head and +lifted the cup. As it touched his lips a handkerchief fell about his +eyes and a strong hand covered his mouth and the Duke lay helpless +upon the floor. + +Janet carried the half-fainting maid from the room. As she did so, Sir +Julian and Lord Cedric, who had also come through the window, carried +the young Duke to another chamber; binding him fast; keeping his eyes +well blindfolded and their own tongues still. Constance was left +standing in the middle of the floor in dumb surprise and chagrin. In a +moment Lord Cedric returned, and his voice rang steel as he faced her, +nor was there shadow of pity as he saw her white face grow ghastly in +fear. + +"Thou, Constance, art the receptacle of all the damned ills flung from +mortals, whether of the mind or body. As for soul, that unknown thing +to thee--thou canst not recognize in another and therefore canst take +on nothing of it save its punishment hereafter, when thou shalt have +no choice of condiment. Thy heart lies festering in the rheum that +exuviates from its foul surroundings. Conscience thou art bankrupt of, +and in its place doth lurk the bawd that envenoms thy senses and turns +thy narrow body into prodigious corruption--" + +"Cedric,--my God; stay thy tongue!" + +"Nay, nay; my tongue is a well-matched Jehu for thy devil's race. I +would I might scorch thee with it, to give thee foretaste of that to +come; perchance 'twould seethe thy rottenness to the quick--if thou +of that art not also bereft--and turn thee from thy course. Thou dost +pander for the King's son and steal an innocent maid of unripe years +to gratify his lust--ah, 'sdeath! thou art but a pernicious wench, +as false as hell. And when the nurse whispered that 'twould save the +child from shame, thy protrusile tang-of-a-serpent didst sibilate in +his ready ear a denial--" + +"Cedric, Cedric; cease, I pray!" And Constance fell upon her knees +sobbing. But the young lord's storm had not yet spent itself, and he +sped on in fury: + +"I would thy noxious blood had all run out ere mingling with its +better, and I had naught of so foul a taint within. If I held the +apothecary's skill, I would open my veins and purge from them thy +jaundiced blood and let in slime of snakes and putrid matter to +sweeten the vessel thus set free--" + +"My lord, we must hasten. The maid is ready to depart with her +nurse," said Sir Julian. As the young lord turned to him, Lady +Constance--crushed and broken--said,-- + +"Couldst thou not see why I have so misused my better self; have thine +eyes been blind all these years not to see how I have loved thee, +Cedric--thee--thee--with all my heart and soul?" + +"I would not hear thee prate of anything so sacred as love,--'tis +sacrilege." + +"Nay, not so, Cedric! I love thee more than heaven. I love thy scorn, +if to be free from it were to deprive me of thy presence. I would +follow thee to the end of time, even though thy brow lowered in ever +threatening storm--" + +"Nay! thou shalt not follow me. Would I draw such as thou to yonder +maid? From this moment thou art none of mine, and I fling thee from me +as I would a snake.--Thou didst think to take Mistress Katherine from +me; put her beyond my reach, first, by marriage, then by ruin. Thanks +to heaven, both of thy infernal schemes miscarried and she is again in +my keeping. And soon I shall fold her to me as my own; pillow her head +here, Constance, here, where thou sayest thou shouldst love to lie. I +shall press her to my heart as wife, wife--ah! I have at last touched +the quick within thee. We may hope there is some redemption--some +possibility of bringing thee back from thy foulness--" + +"Come, Cedric, come; we are late!" cried Sir Julian at the door. Lord +Cedric turned to go, but Constance flew to his side and grasped his +hand,-- + +"Nay, nay; thou shalt not leave me thus. Thou shalt not leave me to go +to one who cares not one jot for thee! Cedric, turn not away. Do not +leave me here. Cedric, hear me, take me, take me with thee! I will be +so good--" + +Again Sir Julian came and called hastily,--"Indeed, my lord, there is +a chaise upon the highway, and if we mistake not 'tis the King's." +Cedric loosed himself from Constance and hurried from the room. She +flew after him; but he had passed Sir Julian and flung himself upon a +horse. Pomphrey saw her plight, and, whether from pity, gallantry, or +intrigue, lifted her quickly--before she had time to withdraw from +him--into a coach. Cedric remonstrated with him; but Julian was +confident of his motive and started the coach at full speed. They flew +along in the opposite direction from whence came the King. + +It was his Majesty, who had heard of his son's hiding with some +beauteous maid and was resolved to play a trick and come upon him +unawares. + +It was feared, when he should find Monmouth in such a plight, he would +pursue the offenders, if for nothing but to see with his own eyes the +maid who had so wrought upon his son's affections. + +The coaches bearing Katherine and Constance sped along at a rapid +swing. The one bearing Katherine, with Janet by her side, was some +distance ahead; Constance alone in the rear. Cedric and Julian rode at +either side of the first coach, their horses in full gallop. + +They reached Southwark after two hours' hard riding. Katherine was +not aware of Lord Cedric's presence, and he avoided meeting her or +attracting her attention in any way. He was content with the thought +that she was near him. + +They proposed to remain at Tabard Inn at least until the next night, +when they would set out under cover of the darkness for Crandlemar, +where Lord Cedric had given orders to have all things ready for +his immediate espousal. He knew that Katherine loved him, and felt +sanguine that after passing through so many vicissitudes she would +come to her senses and give up the ideas of churchly duties and +religious requirements. + +Lady Constance feared the worst, now that Cedric was once more with +Katherine. What could she do to stave the matter off? She knew +Cantemir would hardly be able to place Cedric in the Tower before +another week. She was tempted to poison or kill in some way the maid. +Aye, she would kill her--that would be safest. Then Cedric could not +have her. They would be parted forever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COACH + + +In the meantime his Majesty had entered the villa and found his son +bound and in drunken sleep. Seeing he was uninjured, the King fell +to laughing at his plight, his ringing tones awakening Monmouth. The +King's gentlemen unbound him and brought him to a chair. The youth was +not long in collecting himself, quickly making a tale for his father's +ears. + +"I have caught thee, James,"--said the King,--"but where, oh! where is +the maid? Has she flung thee off and escaped with thy guard, who left +the gates wide, or didst thou expect us and had them placed so for our +convenience?" + +"'Tis certain, Sire, I have been foully treated. I have been drugged +and some valuable papers taken I had got hold on." + +"And who held the papers before thee, a pretty wench, eh?" Monmouth +glanced suspiciously at Buckingham, who stood behind the King. + +"Now indeed, Sire, I should like thy opinion upon her, and--she hath +a secret, as the Duke there can testify." Buckingham started, but met +the King's glance with a stolid countenance. + +"And what is this secret, George?" + +"'Tis something the Papists have enveigled the maid into bringing to +thy notice, your Majesty," and the Duke cast a contemptuous glance at +Monmouth, who had made a wrong move. + +"Then, by God! why was she detained? Why did any one take the papers +from her?" His Majesty looked not too kind at his son, who was now +fair caught. "We will send for her posthaste." The lackeys were +questioned of the direction taken by the coaches that had just left +the grounds, and a courier was sent after them, bearing the Royal +command to Mistress Penwick to appear before his presence within three +days. + +The courier did not reach the inn until the party were about to set +forth, on account of being turned repeatedly from his course by +designing lackeys left along the way for the purpose. + +Sir Julian, Katherine and Janet were standing at the coach door when +Lady Constance came hurrying down the stairs to join them, unasked; +for she was of no mind to let Cedric carry off Katherine without her. +She felt it would be worse than death. As she opened her mouth to ask +of Cedric--for she saw he was not with the party--the King's messenger +rode into the courtyard. Mistress Penwick received the order from the +courier with her own hand, and was rejoiced at it; Lady Constance flew +to her chamber in an ecstasy; Sir Julian roundly disappointed at the +news he must send Cedric, who had gone on toward Crandlemar. There +was no help for them now. They were under the King's order; but--what +might not happen in three days? + +Sir Julian was as adamant when Constance proposed a trip to London, +and would under no circumstances allow her to leave the inn. Janet +kept Katherine in complete seclusion, fearing lest some new thing +should come upon them. She did not fail, however, to tell Sir Julian +of the monk's visit to the grounds of the villa and of his project to +accompany her to the King, when an audience should be granted. + +"I am glad thou didst apprise me of this, Janet, for it gives me an +idea. I have seen lurking about several of the Order and have watched +them carefully." + +The morning of the eventful day arrived. Mistress Penwick was already +gowned in a sombre old woman's dress. A hump was fastened to her +shoulder; her face was darkened skillfully and leprous blotches +painted thereon. She stepped like a Queen, for all that, and 'twas +feared her falseness would become evident to the King's eye. + +Lady Constance was to remain at the inn, a prisoner, until Sir Julian +saw fit to release her. With curious eyes she watched for Katherine, +whom she conceived would be decked in irresistible finery. She even +pictured her beauty, clad in that soft brocade of peach and green that +so became her figure and enhanced the richness of her youthful bloom. + +"Ah! ah!" she cried under her breath, as she saw the maiden's masque, +and fairly bit her lips in rage at the clever ruse about to be played +upon the King. Back she flew from the window and pranced up and down +her chamber in rage, her brain on fire. She sought in its hot depths +some way--some way. "It must be done. The King must know. It would be +the convent wench's ruin--and what would his Majesty not do for one +who should give him hint?" She was not kept under close guard. She +could go about the corridors as she chose. Out she flew into one of +these and saw near by a scullion furbishing a brass knob. + +"Come, fool, hast thou a close mouth?" she said, almost in a whisper. + +"Aye, too close for the comfort of my stomach." + +"Then here--but first, bring me from anywhere thou canst a gentleman's +suit that will cover me in plenty--not too scant, remember, and bring +a horse from where thou likest to the door below. Haste thee, and thou +shalt have this." She jingled a well-filled purse in his face. Off he +ran in hot haste, soon returning with the desired outfit; no doubt +looted from some gentleman's closet near by. Quickly she donned it; +but here and there were slight alterations to be made, and her fingers +were all a-tremble, slackening speed to a meagre haste. She donned a +red-hued periwig and cockle hat, then strutted back and forth, proud +of her fine appearance, as, indeed, she looked a roguish fop of no +mean parts. She flung out into the passage and asked the lad if the +horse was ready. + +"Aye, Sir!" he said, impudently. She flung him a bag of gold with a +show of masculine strength. Out it flew through the open window, down +to the pavement, frightening the steed from his groom, who first +stopped to pluck the bag before giving chase to the wily horse. Down +came the scullion, followed close by the gay young fop, who waited +impatiently outside the door. The guard looked on indifferently, +his eyes fixed upon the groom, rather than the young man that paced +restlessly up and down the courtyard. + +At last Lady Constance dashed out upon the highway with a smile of +cunning on her face, a devil's flash from her eyes, a haughty curving +on her lips, and her heart beating faster and faster, the nearer she +drew to the King's palace. "One masque is as fair as another, and +methinks the King's eye will open wider at my boldness than at +Mistress Penwick's plain dissembling, should he require a fair show of +our feigning. He will love me for my daring and for bringing him the +knowledge aforetime of the maid's deception. And when the wench smiles +in triumph, he will bring her down upon her knees by one fair blow of +tongue. 'Twould be like his Majesty to deprive her of decent covering, +if I can only make her designing plain to him." On she rode in high +good humour with her adventure; for if this move was without laches or +mischance, 'twould be a triumph indeed. The maid would be ruined and +her own fortunes made. + +The coach arrived at the Royal Palace upon the stroke of four. +Mistress Penwick was conducted to the King's ante-chamber. She was +visibly nervous; trying vainly to calm the fast beating of her heart. +When at last she was called, Sir Julian walked beside her to the +threshold of his Majesty's chamber. The King, ever _insouciant_, +had never thought to ask Monmouth the maid's name, and when she was +presented as "Mistress Wick," and he beheld her form and attire, +he was amazed. He felt he had been made a dupe; that Monmouth had +purposely made him believe this girl was beautiful for some subtle +cause, perhaps just to gain an audience for her;--then, as he saw the +spots upon her face, he recoiled and a horrible thought came. Had she +some loathsome disease and been sent to him that he might--He started, +his blood boiling with indignation. "Treason," he cried in his heart, +and before the maid had arisen from her knees, he called for her +dismissal. She was taken precipitately from the King's presence before +she had time to open her mouth. + +The King was greatly wrought upon, giving Monmouth the blame. The +matter must be sifted. He would write an order for his son's arrest, +and--yes, the woman must be taken also. + +Sir Julian saw it all in Katherine's disappointed and half-angry face, +but without giving her time to relate her grievances, rushed her to +the coach, putting her into it with very little ceremony. They were +fairly flying from the Palace, turning from the sight of a young fop +as he came at full gallop through the throng that crowded near the +Royal House. + +The youth made known his desire to see the King, saying the matter was +an imperative one. Even as he spoke, his Majesty came from within and +heard the breathless request. + +"What now, my pretty rogue; what is thy wish?" + +"May I speak with thee apart?" said the lad, as he knelt and kissed +the King's hand. "'Tis something of import--a trick is about to be +played upon thee." The King took alarm. + +"We are about to start forth, my lad. Come, thou mayest walk by our +side, and if thy speech is as neat and comely as thy body, 'tis +possible ere we reach the end of yonder corridor thy tongue will have +won for thee the Royal favour." The King leant upon Constance as they +swaggered along down the passage. + +"May I be so bold as to inquire of your Majesty if there has not come +to thee a woman with swart marks upon her face and a hump on her back, +preferring a petition for thy signature to some lands now held by the +Catholics?" The King started and looked now with great interest upon +the girlish fop, and speaking slowly as he answered,-- + +"Why, yes; she hath come and gone. What of her?" + +"She hath played foully upon her King. I would give, Sire, half my +life to have seen your Majesty compel her to wash the painted spots +from her face and take from her shoulder the false hump, and she--" + +"Ah! ah!" came from the thoroughly awaked King. + +"--is the greatest beauty in England." For the first time Constance +gave Katherine her dues. + +"Dost thou speak truth, lad?" + +"I fear my King too much to speak otherwise, unless, indeed, it were +to save his life." + +"Then--" said the King, with flashing eyes.--"We shall have her back; +we'll send for her at once; and, my pretty lad, thou shalt remain here +to see the fun, with your King. 'Twill be rare sport, eh?" He gave +Constance so sound a smack upon the shoulder, it came near to knocking +her flat. It brought the tears and made her bite her tongue. The King +fairly roared with laughter. + +Buckingham heard the King's order to recall the woman. He also knew +the King's informant, and for reasons of his own sent straightway one +to intercept his Majesty's messenger. + +Lady Constance, believing that Sir Julian, with Katherine, would +return to Tabard Inn, mentioned it. This, of course, allowing they +followed Constance' suggestion, gave Sir Julian a good start and +Buckingham's messengers time to reach their several destinations. + +The night had come with even greater heat than the day. The sultry +gloaming foretold a near-by storm. Clouds were brewing fast and thick, +with ominous mutterings. Already every inch of blue sky was overcast +with a blackness that was heavy and lowering. Occasionally the sullen +thunder was prefaced by a jaundiced light that swathed the skies from +end to end. The coach bearing Katherine and Janet left the causeway +and entered a thick forest. The great trees seemed even larger; their +silence becoming portentous. There was not a breath of air. Katherine +fanned herself with Janet's hat, but hardly did her efforts create a +breeze large enough to move the threads of hair that waved above her +forehead. + +They had proceeded but a short way into the forest when the postilion +got down to light the lamps. + +Sir Julian rode close to the window and spoke of the approaching +storm. The stillness was ominous; there being no sound save the plash +of a muskrat as he skurried through a dismal, dark pool near by. +Katherine jumped at the noise and her small hand grasped the arm of +Sir Julian, as it lay across the ledge of the window. She gave a +little gasp--just enough to touch Sir Julian tenderly. + +"'Tis nothing but a lusty genet, my dear," and his hand closed over +hers for a moment. There was something about that touch that thrilled +them both; he leant farther toward her as another flash came through +the trees and was sure he saw a flush upon her face. The lights from +the lanterns flashed up, then--stood silent and unmoved, the boy's +breath who stood over them was swallowed in the hot air. Then the +coach began to move and at the same time the giant trees stirred in +a peculiar way. They, like a vast army, bent low with a sound as of +heavy artillery rumbling over a bridge that covered vacuous depths. +Then they began a deafening noise, their branches sweeping hard +against the coach windows. + +Katherine lay back languidly against the cushions, still trembling +from the gentle pressure of Sir Julian's hand. For a moment only she +enjoyed this sweet dissipation, then turned from it as if duty called +her to think of her visit to the King. She consoled herself that she +had done all she could now. When she reached Crandlemar, she should +be better able to collect her thoughts and see what would be the next +best thing to do. She longed to see Lord Cedric and the Duke and +Duchess. She even fell to imagining how the grand, old place would +look in midsummer. It seemed like she had been gone months. Would +Cedric be changed, she wondered? Would he be pale and fragile looking? + +So great was Sir Julian's haste, and so great was the heat, the horses +were soon exhausted and began to lag. Sir Julian thought they were +near an inn, as it soon proved. He flung open the door and almost +lifted Katherine from the coach, so great was his haste. Supper +was awaiting them and Katherine for the moment alone, near an +open window,--the room appeared close to suffocation with humid +heat--waited for Sir Julian to take his seat at her side. Janet was +arranging a posset. Suddenly Katherine heard a soft voice behind her; +it was low and intense. Hardly could she distinguish it from the +soughing of the wind in the trees. She half-turned her head to listen +as Sir Julian came toward her. But she caught the words: + +"Abbé ---- will be in the coach upon thy return. Enjoin silence upon +thy nurse and be not afraid." + +She thought Sir Julian looked at her suspiciously; but was quite sure +he had not seen or heard the person behind her. + +Janet, while in the coach had bathed the maid's face and taken from +her the garb of disguise, and Katherine now looked her sweet self +again, flushed and thoughtful over this new adventure. She was most +like her father, ever looking for new fields to conquer. Sir Julian +asked her if she would be frightened at a severe storm. She answered +it made her somewhat nervous to be abroad. + +"Then I will ride inside with thee--" + +"Nay, I could not think of allowing thee. The air is too oppressive." +Sir Julian insisted, but to no avail. As they were about to leave the +inn, Katherine whispered to Janet that an Abbé would be in the coach +and enjoined silence and deaf ears. + +"I did not catch his name, but I'm quite sure his voice rung like Abbé +La Fosse's. They have doubtless heard I am on my way to the castle, +and, knowing 'twould be impossible to see me there, they have taken +this way, being impatient to know how fell my suit with the King." +Janet for once had no answering word, but uttered a groan of seeming +dissent and followed her mistress, who leant upon Sir Julian's arm. + +The dim light cast from the lanterns was well-nigh swallowed up in the +intense gloom. The rain was already falling rapidly and Sir Julian +opined that it was a hopeful sign, as it presaged no sudden gust that +would tear things to pieces. The door of the coach slammed to and the +horses started at gallop through the windy forest. Mistress Penwick, +now for the first time alone, that is without the surveillance of +Cantemir or Eustis, with a beloved Father of her church, flung herself +upon her knees at his side, saying: + +"Beloved Father, my visit to the King was fruitless; he received me +most coldly." The Abbé lifted her from her knees as she spoke, placing +her beside him. Her face was close to his, for the noise of the +horses' hoofs and the rattling of spurs and bits and the ever-rumbling +thunder made speech difficult. His face turned toward her was hid +in the shadow of his cowl, and he drew the hood even closer as he +answered,-- + +"We feared it, mightily," and his voice was barely heard above the +noise. + +"But it grieves me more than I can tell." + +"Nay. Thou must not let it." + +"But it does, I cannot help it; and I see also thy disappointment, for +thy hands tremble." + +"We have had much to unnerve us, and I am still under restraint." + +"I would thou hadst sent a better _embassage_!" + +"We could not have found a fairer." At these words Mistress Penwick +shrunk from him, remembering her disguise; which, though it was a +custom of the time for one to go masqued when and where they pleased, +upon whatsoever mission, yet she felt guilty to positive wickedness +for having so cloaked her beauty, and did not the Father's words imply +that her charms should have won success? For a moment she remained +silent. A flash of lightning fell broad through the open window. She +quickly glanced at Janet, who appeared to be asleep in her corner. +Katherine bent her face close to the Abbé's and whispered,-- + +"Father, might I not here make my confessions? I would have come to +thee at the monastery if it had been possible. The confessional has +not been open to me since I left the convent, and I feel I must +confess. I must now; for I know not when I shall be able again to have +converse with a priest. May I, Father?" + +"'Tis a noisome, stormy night and thy nurse there--" + +"I will speak low, beside I care not if she does hear that that +doth concern myself; for, indeed she understands me better than I +understand myself. Then I may speak, Father?" + +"I will hear that I deem needful for the peace of thy soul; if +perchance thy soul be wrought upon unhappily; and for sins innocently +done I absolve thee already." Mistress Penwick half knelt by the +cowled figure and placed her elbows upon his knees, and after saying +the prayers of contrition leant her face close to his. + +"I have been guilty of what I believe to be a very great sin. Father, +I disguised myself to go before the King!" She trembled and bent her +head. The priest's voice was calm and unperturbed. + +"And why didst thou that?" + +"I heard 'twas an unsafe thing for a maid boasting of some fairness to +visit the King." + +"Why so?" + +"I have heard he keeps them for his own pleasure, allowing not their +return." + +"And didst thou think we would have let thee go to him, had it not +been safe?" + +"But I thought, good Father, living as closely as thou dost, thou +didst not know of the matters of the world, and I ventured to use my +own judgment, meaning no harm. But I will go to him unmasqued if thou +dost appoint it so. I intend to do so. Shall I not?" + +"Nay, thou hast done all and more than is expected of thee." + +"How, more?" + +"'Twas brave to go at all after hearing of his Majesty's demeanour." + +"But I was not very much afraid; indeed, I became very calm as I +entered his presence." + +"If I understand, thou wert ambitious to become a Maid of Honour." + +"At one time, but having better acquaintance with the Court, I feel my +ardour has cooled." + +"We have gone somewhat astray, my child. We will finish thy +confessions for I soon must leave thee. Indeed, if this is the weighty +part of thy sins, there is no need to confess any more." + +"One thing I am particularly anxious to inquire of thee. Since love +comes and we cannot help it, 'twould be wrong not to give it place?" + +"If the love is love and not masquerading passion, and it comes from +one who is not altogether unworthy of thee?" + +"Indeed, he is most worthy, barring his religion, which is Protestant. +I would have advice upon this matter, for I believe the love is +mutual." + +"My child, if his heart is good and true, and thou lovest him, and he +thee, the manner of worshipping God should not be of question, since +one shows his love one way and another another. The common scullion, +who, from year's end to year's end sees not inside the holy sanctuary, +may carry in his heart the divine image of God and pay him homage +every breath he draws; while he who walks in sacred robes and abides +ever in the shadow of the cross, taking part in all the forms, pomps, +vanities and varied monotony, may have Satan within him and breathes +out flames of hell as he intones. We can in all things beside religion +discern punctilio. There is no sect that has the control of the Holy +Spirit; it is the exclusive property of the individual who gains the +right and title of it by the keeping of the ten commandments. So, if +thou art sure thou dost love the youth, and art most sure he loves +thee sincerely, then--" + +"Then, indeed, I am most happy; for I am sure he is noble and good +and--loves me." + +"When didst thou learn that he loved thee; for if I mistake not, thou +wert recently bent upon marrying one Adrian Cantemir, who, I must +declare, is altogether unworthy of a maid who doth possess such +virtue." + +"I have learned to since--since--I can't tell when--I knew I loved +him--yesterday--the day before. I know it now. I tremble when I think +of how well I love him. I have been so uncertain, Father. I thought I +loved this one, and then another, and for a time I was not sure I knew +what love was. Then it came to me on a sudden that I would rather die +than live all my life without the one I so desired. And yesterday I +knew of a certainty that I loved and that I was loved." + +"Yesterday?"--and the priest winced, and there was pain in the tone of +his voice as he uttered the word. + +"Aye, yesterday--I was thinking. I thought of his kindness to me--of +the deference he has shown me, of his great patience toward me; and I +saw how well he loved me." + +"Was it the King's son, my child?" + +"Nay, one not nearly so gentle as the Duke. He is more noble at heart +and hath a most noble name. He hath a handsome countenance, more +even than the Duke's, and Janet says he hath the finest mould in all +England. Indeed, I do not know so much about such things, but I am +sure his hands are near as small as mine, but with a grasp like iron. +He is wonderfully strong and hath an awful stamp when in rage, and his +temper is most violent and bad, and his tongue is vicious;--indeed, +Father, I know not what to do with his oaths. They frighten me." + +"Perhaps if thou shouldst go to him and ask in all gentleness, he +would leave off blasphemy." + +"But I have no influence with him. When anger takes him, he is +terrible." + +"Then I'm afraid he does not love thee." + +"Aye, he loves me; but wants his own way, and--to be sure, I love him +quite as well when he does have his way--which is not often. Janet +says I provoke him to swear." Again the priest started and his white +hands trembled suspiciously. + +"And how dost thou so provoke him, child?" + +"He would marry me straightway and give me not time to know whether I +wanted him or not, and I refused and he fell into an awful fury and +swore oaths and I could not stop him,--Father, I said I hated him, and +now he so believes, and I would have him think otherwise; yet I would +not tell him for the world. When I meet him, it shall be--with cold +looks." + +"Then how is he to know thy mind?" + +"I know not." Katherine shook her head dolefully. + +"Then when he greets thee, why not smile at him and look thy +feelings?" + +"I know not, only 'tis my way. I shall love to hear him plead again. I +hated to hear it once; but now--'twill be like music." + +"What if he is cold to thee?" + +"If he is cold, I will go to him and ask him to forgive me for what I +have done." + +"Then thou art culpable?" + +"Aye, I fear I am, for he now suffers for my fault, or rather for his +love of me." + +"But if he greets thee with all love and holds out his arms to thee?" + +"Then I shall be most happy, but shall act indifferently." + +"I am afraid thou dost treat a serious matter lightly; for 'tis a +fickle thing; if he meets thee with open arms, thou wilt be cruel; +if he greets thee coldly, thou wilt be indifferent--for fear of thy +maiden scruples. What if he takes thee unawares?" + +"How, unawares?" + +"He might trick thee into a thing thou couldst not recede from. If +thou didst find thyself so placed, wouldst thou forgive him and love +him just the same?" + +"I must always love him, no matter what trick he plays;--but he will +play me no trick. If he should again threaten to lock me up, as he has +done heretofore, I would go to him and say,--'Nay, I will marry thee +now, Cedric!'" + +"God, Kate! Kate!" And the priest threw his arms about her, almost +crushing her in his great embrace. The cowl slipt from his head and +his dark curls swept her face as he bent over her. Instantly she knew +him and straightway fell into a rage. + +"Thou, thou, Lord Cedric, dare to receive confession from one whose +life thou hast no part in. Dost thou know the penalty of such +wickedness? All evil will be visited upon thee for playing the part of +a holy priest. Indeed, of all the sins I had deemed thee capable, I +had ne'er thought of one so wicked as this!" She fell back in +the corner of the coach in such fury, she could not find further +utterance. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +UNPROCLAIMED BANNS + + +"Indeed, Mistress Penwick, I asked not for thy confessions. But now +that I have heard them, 'tis my meed to be punished by thy sharp +tongue for that I could not help. Come, Sweet, forgive and love me. +Have I not suffered enough?" + +"Lambkin, I am out of all humour with thee. Thou art half a termagant, +I admit!" + +"And thou, too, wert privy to this deception. I am truly without +friends!" and the maid began to weep softly behind her handkerchief. +Lord Cedric was beside himself with his folly. + +"If I only could have withstood thee; but how could I with thy tender +words and thy closeness--" + +"There is nothing accomplished but mistakes!" Janet ventured, being +impatient with both Cedric and Kate. + +"--Kate!--Kate! dost not thou know how I have longed for thee; how my +heart has ached in thine absence? Those two whole days I lay abed were +like so many years, and when I thought of thy danger, I fell into a +fever and I arose and leapt upon the fleetest steed and rode until my +fever cooled; and then--when I had thee once more, I could not keep +from thee longer; I resolved upon this plan that I might be with thee, +and ride by thy side. And thou dost murder me outright. Thou dost kill +me, Kate! I was a fool to undertake it, I know; but I thought of two +whole days I should be separated from thee and felt I could not bear +to wait. Thy words, Kate, were so sweet. Kate, come to me once more +and see how loving I can be. Let me dry thy tears,--let thy head rest +here upon my heart and close thine eyes and dream--dream, Kate, of +what we must be to each other, and then wake and find me bending over +thee. Come, Sweet, come!" He sought her elusive fingers and tried to +draw her to him with a tenderness she could hardly withstand; but she +would not unbend, drawing from him, sinking further into the corner. + +"And did Sir Julian know of this ruse of thine?" she asked, haughtily. + +"Janet, methinks the maid speaks with thee!" + +"What is it, Lambkin? I was not listening." + +"I will wait until the storm ceases, perhaps thou wilt find thy +hearing by then." There was a long silence within the coach. The tears +of Mistress Penwick were dried and she sat sullen, deliberately trying +to hate Lord Cedric. There came a sudden burst of thunder that turned +the tide of her thoughts from him to Sir Julian, who rode by her +window constantly. At every flash of lightning she saw his spurs +glisten, saw the foam fly from the bits of his horse's bridle. He rode +there in the storm, heedless of all but her safety and comfort, he +that had wounds on his body that spake of great deeds of nobleness and +valour! Why should he care for her so? Like a flood he swept into +her heart, and she accepted his presence with gladness--shutting out +Cedric as well as she was able. She inclined her head toward the +window and watched the handsome figure of Sir Julian with a new +interest. His form, so like that of Cedric, she began to compare with +ancient warriors she had read about and seen pictures of,--then his +tender and meaning hand pressure recurred to her, and she flushed +mightily. After awhile she fell to thinking of the Duke of Monmouth, +the tender thoughts of whom she had not yet resigned,--such were the +vacillations of the mind of strong, warm, youthful Mistress Penwick. + +The storm grew furious, and the wind blew such a gale it appeared at +times as if the trees swept the earth. They bended and swung rudely, +brushing hard against the windows. In the midst of its severity the +coach came to a stand-still and Lord Cedric threw open the door. Janet +leant quickly toward him,-- + +"I pray thee not to go forth in the storm, my lord; 'tis enough to +give thee thy death." + +"Nay, nay, Janet, 'twill not be summer rain that will kill me, but +cold looks and threatening mien." And he stepped out into the night. + +"What, Lambkin, if Lord Cedric should catch cold and die? 'Twould kill +thee, too; for remorse would give thee no rest." + +"I never so disliked him as I do now. I never want to see him again. +How shall I look him in the face after confessing such things? I shall +die of shame. That is all he wanted to hear me say, and--he heard +it--and that is all the benefit he will get." Again she fell to +weeping, finding she could wring no sympathy from Janet, who sat +coldly listening to her nursling's plaints. + +They reached Crandlemar late the second evening, tired and weary. The +Duchess of Ellswold greeted them with a happy countenance, so pleased +that she could make known to them that her lord was better and the +physicians had given permission to remove him to his own county seat. +Her greeting to Katherine in particular was evidently a forced one; +she feeling sorely distressed at her capricious nature. + +Never did the great old seat look so beautiful as it did in its +midsummer glory. Mistress Penwick had arisen early and walked out upon +the rich greensward. She wandered from place to place, enjoying the +gorgeous fullness of leaf and bloom. She felt a strange disquiet, a +longing for love and knowing not the meaning of her unrest vainly +tried to find comfort in the beauty of the outer world, that only +inclined her heart the more to its desire. She passed from flower to +flower, endeavouring to 'suage the uprisings of Cupid. Suddenly she +heard the organ peal forth, and straightway she entered the library +to hear those great, soothing chords the better. She, being shaken by +love, fell upon her knees and tried to pray for comfort, for she felt +at the moment she had not one to comfort her. Janet had been taciturn, +showing not her affection as had been her wont heretofore. The tears +came, and she wept aloud. Then the organ ceased and a moment later Sir +Julian stood upon the landing of the stairway, looking down upon her. +Without noise he descended and stood by her side. His voice, when he +spoke, appeared shaken as if a storm of love wrought upon it. + +"Katherine! It pains me to see thee thus. Can I not give thee some bit +of comfort?" + +"I am comforted already, Sir Julian; thy music did that." + +"Then why dost still remain with bowed head and thy sobs unassuaged?" + +"I do not know. I must either laugh or cry and--'tis easier to do the +latter." + +"Come! Mistress Penwick, what can I do for thee? Ask, I pray, +anything, for thy happiness--Katherine--" and for the first time in +his life he looked guiltily about him. But no one was near to hear +him, and he continued lowly--"thou dost know, surely, that man cannot +look on thee without loving?" and he raised her from her knees. + +"I am unloved," she answered, the social lie tinging her cheek to a +brighter hue. + +"Not so, for I love thee." + +"Thou, thou, Sir Julian, who art used to spurning woman's heart?" + +"Not spurn, nay! I have not found one yet I could do that to, and on +the other hand I have found but one I could love, and--that is thine." + +"Ah, Sir Julian. I wonder if thou dost love me. 'Tis a great thing to +be loved by one who has fought in great battles." + +"And thou dost not know that the battle of hearts is much deadlier +than that of arms?" + +"I do not know; but thou seemest like a warrior of olden time. And for +thee to love me!" + +"Is it enough? Wilt thou give thyself to me?" There was a silence so +long and unbroken Katherine was made to realize that her reply was +not to be lightly uttered, so she answered with all the strength of a +plaything of caprice,-- + +"If thou wilt have it so, Sir Julian, I will be thine." + +She had hardly finished, when he laid his lips, to her astonishment, +coldly and with formal grace upon her forehead. + +"I will not ask thee if thou lovest me, but will say instead dost +think thou mayest?" + +"But I think I love thee now--" + +"Nay, sweet Mistress, thou dost not--" A look of fear came into her +eyes. Had Lord Cedric told her confessions? Nay, nay! he would not, +she knew. + +"How dost come by so much knowledge?" she said, coquettishly. + +"I have ascertained by subtleness, but--let it pass. Let us talk of +thee now. When wilt thou marry me? If thou art kind, thou wilt say at +once." + +"Nay, I shall not say that--but--whenever thou dost wish it." + +"Of a surety? When I name the hour, wilt thou not gainsay?" + +"Nay, my lord. I will not gainsay." + +"Then--at eleven, Katherine." She caught her breath quickly and cried +forth,-- + +"This day, Sir Julian! Indeed, thou art in haste, I--I--" + +"Thou hast given thy word. At eleven, Katherine." + +"By sands or dial?" + +"Ah, sweet Katherine, both shall have a bridal favour. We will confer +with each. When the golden sand runs out at the eleventh hour, the +dial will be alone and in shadow; for if it please thee, we must be +wed secretly and in haste. I noticed but awhile ago how beautiful the +dial was. So the sands shall give us the hour, the dial the altar, and +the nightingale the nuptial mass." + +"But the priest, Sir Julian--" + +"He shall give us the blessing--" + +"Nay, nay; where wilt thou find a priest?" This was not an unexpected +question, and Sir Julian was ready for it. + +"Lord Cedric's Chaplain can wed us as securely as one of thy church, +and as there is no one else, he will serve, will he not, Katherine?" + +"Until we find a better." + +"Then, not to arouse suspicion, to-night at eleven thou wilt come to +the sun-dial and I will meet thee at the foot of the stair that leads +from thy chamber to the terrace, and then--'twill be soon over and +thou, thou, Katherine, will be--wife. Wilt not regret it,--art sure?" +he repeated as she shook her head negatively. + +"But why do all men appear in such haste to wed? I would have time to +at least think upon it." + +"Dost forget that at any moment may come a courier from the King to +recall thee; and if so, thou wouldst be obliged to go and be separated +from us, perhaps forever? Thou dost not know what may befall thee +at any moment. Thou dost belong to France, and art hostage to +England--thou wilt be ready at eleven?" + +"Aye, at eleven." + +"We will be cautious and not speak above a whisper. The Chaplain will +speak low, too; but he is a good soul and would make us fast wed +whether we heard him or not." Again he kissed her forehead; she turned +rose-red and ran from him hastily. She thought not once of Cedric. Had +she done so, 'tis possible she never would have gone to the dial that +summer night. She flew to her chamber aflame with this new thing she +thought was love. And felt relief that soon Sir Julian, the strong and +brave, would take away all her discomfort. He would fight her battles +for her, go with her to the King and stand by her side and his Majesty +would not dare to offer her insult. It would be a sweet task to +convert Sir Julian to her faith. He would became a great Catholic +leader. Her breast fairly swelled with pride in anticipation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE ESPOUSAL + + +Night had come richly laden with the perfume of many flowers, that the +darkness seemed to make more pungent, and more distinct to the ear +the night sounds. There was no moon, and the thick foliage produced a +deep, dark density, mysterious and sweet. The grand terraces about the +castle were still, save for the buzz of summer insects and the low, +sleepy twittering of birds. There was not a star to be seen and only +the glow-worm lent an occasional lilliputian effulgence to the great, +dark world. All within the castle appeared to have retired earlier +than usual; perhaps for the purpose of an earlier awakening, as their +Graces of Ellswold were to set out early on the morrow morning, aiming +to make some great distance on their journey before the heat of +midday. At a quarter after the hour of ten Janet had kissed her +mistress, leaning over her pillow with even more affection than usual. + +"Good-night, my Lambkin, my child, my precious maid--good-night and +God bless thee!" then snuffed the candles and left her. + +Katherine gave no thought to regret, indeed she went so far as to +smile at Janet's consternation, when she should find out that for +once her "Lambkin" had fooled her. Quickly she leapt from her bed and +dressed herself for the first time alone. Though her fingers were deft +and skillful at the tapestry frame, and neat and clever at limning, +they were slow and bungling when drawing together the laces of her +girdle, indeed 'twas very insecurely done, and when she was dressed +she had forgotten her stays, and but for the lateness of the hour +would have disrobed and donned them. It seemed like an endless task to +try and dress again by the poor light of the single candle, screened +by her best sunshade in the far corner of the room. She had donned +a pale, shimmering brocade. About her neck she twined her mother's +pearls, and took up the opal shoulder knot of Cedric's mother's and +was about to fasten it when some subtle thought stole the desire from +her, and she laid it back in the casket with a sigh. Instead, she +placed a bunch of jasmine as her shoulder-brooch, and extinguishing +the light went forth to meet her husband by the sun-dial. + +She passed out by the door that led on to a small balcony and a-down +the flight of outside stairs that were covered with vines in purple +bloom. Although the darkness was almost impenetrable, she could +distinguish a form waiting at the foot of the stair. For an instant +she paused and whispered timourously,-- + +"Who art thou?" + +"Julian," came as softly back, and a white hand was stretched out to +her. Down she flew, intrepid. + +"Would I send another to meet thee; didst thou think to turn back, my +Katherine?" + +"Nay, I should not have turned back; but 'twas assuring to hear thy +name. I am not afraid, yet--yet I tremble." + +"And 'tis sweet of thee so to do; 'tis maidenly that thou shouldst; +'tis the way of woman. Thou art not afraid, yet thou dost tremble; +thou dost try to be brave, yet thou must be assured, and I am here by +thy side to assure thee ever," he whispered in her ear. + +Down they swept across the upper terrace. Slowly they crossed the +greensward, with fairy-like light of firefly to illumine the way; +speaking as lovers will, with bated breath. The wind blew gently now +and again, casting a shower of petals upon them as they passed. When +the leaves shone white, the cavalier would say: + +"We are so blessed, nature herself doth sprinkle the bridal path with +flowers;"--or, when there fell a darksome shower, Katherine would +press close to her lover's side and say,-- + +"Indeed, Julian, these are petals from those blood-red roses that have +hung in such profusion all summer. It may have some significance. I +believe I must return; 'tis not too late to recede." + +Then the cavalier drew her closer than before, and so tenderly did +plead with her, she forgot her fears. So step by step they neared the +thicket where stood the ancient sun-dial that was well-nigh hid with +bridal roses. + +The Chaplain stood ready; his fragile, pale countenance, hid by the +darkness. There was no faltering now. Katherine did not think to turn +back; that her heart was not with Sir Julian, that she would ever +regret this greatest moment in her life, but stood resolute. + +The Chaplain began the ceremony at once, and so softly one could +scarcely hear a yard away. Katherine was agitated with the thought +that she was really being wedded, and hardly heeded when the Chaplain +raised or lowered his voice; appearing almost like one in a dream, so +blinded was she with the glamour of her new estate. + +At last the Chaplain said the final words, pronouncing the twain as +one, and gave his blessing in a somewhat stronger voice that carried +in it a note of triumph, and was about to step down from the pedestal +of the dial when there flew out from the darkness a young man with +drawn sword, who dashed immediately upon the young husband. Barely had +the cavalier time to draw aside his wife, and drawing his sword as he +did so, when his _de trop_ guest made a fierce attack upon him. The +young husband cried out as he met the thrust,-- + +"Nay, nay, nay, by God nay!" It appeared his antagonist was becalmed +of speech, for he answered not but struggled to do so. Failing to find +his voice, however, he gave a lunge, which was met by a parry that +made him mad, and for a moment ground his teeth as fiercely as he +wielded his sword. The young cavalier threw himself on guard in carte, +which sent his opponent to giving such thrusts that quickly betrayed +his lack of skill and also his deadly intentions. These were met by +quick parries. Then the mad antagonist made a sweeping bend and thrust +at the cavalier's heart. This was met with a disengage. The mad youth, +well spent with anger and want of breath, broke out pantingly,-- + +"Thou wouldst play the honourable as thou playest the part of Sir +Ju--" His last word was cut short by a quick thrust of steel that +felled him to the sward. Mistress Katherine stood as if frozen, her +hands held tightly in those of the Chaplain, who whispered that it +might cost her husband his life should she interfere. He also assured +her, saying that the adversary was no swordsman, as she herself soon +saw. Some one came running from the castle at the same time Katherine +knelt beside the fallen man. But her husband whispered quickly,-- + +"Nay, nay; arise, Sweet; he is unworthy thy solicitude. Come with me. +I gave him but a puny thrust. The Chaplain will look after him." He +put his arm about her and raised her up and drew her away, saying, +much out of breath,--"I must not be seen, dost know?" She took fright, +fearing her lord's danger. Quickly they traversed the terrace and +reached the stair leading to Katherine's chamber. As she laid her hand +upon the railing, she said timourously,--"I would hear how serious is +the wound before I go inside!" + +"But, Katherine," he whispered, "'twas no more than the prick of a +pin; beside, dost not thou have anxiety for thy lover's freedom; hast +forgotten our lord's temper when he finds I have so disgraced his +house by fighting 'neath the very windows? And if the fellow can talk +and tells of the marriage, why, I'm undone, and they will begin a +search." All the while he led her further up the stair, she unwitting, +until they stood fairly inside the threshold and his foot struck +against some obstacle. + +"Sh-sh!" she enjoined, "Janet is within yonder room and will hear +thee; she may already be awake and prying about to know what is astir +upon the terrace!" + +"Indeed, I think thou hadst better hide me!" + +"Nay, I cannot; I know of no place. Dost thou not know of a safe +hiding?" + +"I am safest here in thy chamber, I am sure. I know of no other place. +And if Janet come--which I hardly think possible--thou must fly to her +lighted taper and blow it out, and tell some sweet fib,--say the light +pains thine eyes." + +"A ruse holds not good with Janet. I cannot play upon her wit." + +"Then, Sweet, I will lock the door and--" + +"Nay, nay, she will hear thee, and will come to see if I have been +awakened." + +"Then I had best keep quiet and wait to see what will happen." + +"There is naught else for thee to do, for surely thou canst not go +below, thou wouldst be seen, and--" + +"--and, what, Sweet?" + +"--and be taken prisoner." + +"And wouldst thou be pained, Sweet?" He drew her close, his dark curls +swept her face as he bent his head. Nor did he wait for an answer, but +plied her with another question that the moment and the closeness gave +license to. "Wilt give, Sweet, the nuptial kiss--'tis my due?" She +raised her head from his shoulder ever so slightly to answer him, but +the words came not, for his lips were upon hers. She was thrilled with +his tenderness; 'twas more than she ever could have thought. And as +he held her close, she, not unwilling, declared separation would be +instant death. She wondered how she ever could have withstood love so +long. And he kissed her again and again, saying heaven could not offer +greater favour. "Dost feel happy now, Sweet?" + +She answered not, but stood, her head leant against the rare and +scented lace of his steenkirk, held captive, trembling with an ecstasy +too sweet to be accounted for. + +"Thou dost tremble, Kate; has thy fear not left thee yet?" + +"Nay," came soft and breathless from her full red lips. "I am still +afraid." + +"But what dost thou fear now, so close wrapped?" + +"I know not; 'tis a strange fear. If thou shouldst be taken from me, +I should die; 'tis this I fear most of all, and even for a +separation--nay, nay, I could not live." + +"Oh, Sweet, 'tis excess of gladness that thou art wife--wife, the word +alone fills me with rapturous exaltation. Wouldst be glad if we had +never met thus, should separation come?" + +"Nay, a thousand times, nay, these moments are worth more than all my +life heretofore." + +"Hast forgotten, I must leave the castle before very long, and an +_adieu_ must be said to thee?" + +"I have not forgotten, but 'twill only be for a day. 'Twould be +hazardous for thee to go until everything is quiet about." + +"And until I have quieted thy fears; until I have told thee of a +strong man's love--my love for thy glorious, youthful beauty. Thy +hair, Kate, is more precious than all the amber and bronze the world +holds; 'tis rich, soft and heavy, with glorious waves. Thy face so +filled with love's blushes warms my breast where it doth lie. The +glory of thy eyes that are ever submerging me in their azure depths. +Thy slender, white neck and graceful sloping shoulders. Indeed, Sweet, +thou art wonderfully made. There could not be a more perfect being. +And thou art mine, Sweet; 'tis a wonder that rough man could be so +blest. Thou dost often feign coldness, Kate, and now I wonder where +thou didst find such condition. 'Twas most unnatural, and how thou +couldst so well assume it--but I have found thy true heart. Sweet +Kate, thou hast at last fallen victim to Cupid's darts, and fortune +hath played me fair and put me in the way to receive such priceless +gift, whose dividends are to be all my own." His warm words came so +fast and he was so passionate and tender that Katherine took fright +and thought 'twas not like Sir Julian to be so, and yet to have him +otherwise? nay, she loved him thus, and she remembered the moment he +had pressed her hand as they rode through the forest; aye, he could be +as loving and tender as--as--She did not finish the thought, for her +lord's jewelled fingers had caught her hand and his arm held her +close, pressing her tenderly; his lips resting upon hers until she +grew faint with his ardour. + +At last night paled into dawn. The cocks began to crow lustily. About +the edges of the great windows in the chamber the light began to peep +as if loath to cast one disturbing glance athwart the room. There was +a fluttering sigh from the folds of the maiden's handkerchief as her +lover bent over her, saying,-- + +"_Adieu_, Sweet, _adieu_ once more. Let me kiss thy eyelids close +until they pent these tears that parting hath wrung from thee, and +yet, were they not, I would be without weapon, void of panoply, +equipped not--" + +"But thy urgent tongue and tenderness doth armour thee for conquest!" + +"Aye, 'tis love's armour; but thy tears make me strong to enter strife +with men. I know 'tis love drives thee, and when that love is for me, +I can win all battles." + +"Thou must haste before dawn, or thou wilt be taken; for we do not +know whether the young man still lives; and Lord Cedric will kill thee +if he can." + +"There is no doubt but what he lives. His Grace's physicians have no +doubt healed the burden of his pain long ago. But do not thou think of +him, think only of this sweet night and--dream of our meeting again. +And if his lordship keeps thee prisoner, tell Janet thou art fast wed +and she will help thee to our _rendezvous_ to-morrow. Pray, Sweet, +that the day may be short, for now I see only cycles of time until the +set of morrow's sun." + +Dawn broke into a new day. Sunshine bathed old Earth in golden +splendour. The day grew warm, as higher and higher leapt Phoebus, +until he rested high and hot upon Zenith's bosom, causing all mankind +to pant by his excess. + +Slowly Katherine raised her lazy eyelids until the shining blue +beneath lay in quivering uncertainty. She smiled up at Janet, saying, +sleepily,-- + +"I've a notion not to arise to-day. 'Twill be long and wearisome, and +hot. What is the use? There is nothing in the world to get up for!" + +"Indeed there is a very great deal to get up for. 'Tis a glorious day. +The gardens are aglow with beauty and the air is fine, though warm." + +"I know, Janet, and 'tis thy desire that I arise, but the castle seems +most empty. Their Graces have departed and--" + +"Nay, not so. There has been a great change in the Duke, and the +physicians will not allow his leaving his couch." + +"Ah, I'm sorry! What time did this change take place?" said Katherine +with a feeling of subtleness that for once she had tricked Janet and +knew of great things that had happened in the deep night, when her +faithful nurse thought her in dreamland. + +"Her Grace says there was a great change in him yesterday, that she +noticed it as he ate his dinner." + +"And was there no change in the night?" said Katherine sagely. + +"Speak out, Lambkin, that 'tis on thy mind--if thou dost mean, was he +disturbed when the castle was aroused?--why, no, he was not." + +"But how didst thou know there was an arousal?" + +"I did play the simpering bride's maid, and stood for witness to thine +espousal." + +"Ah! ah! ah! Janet, I can keep no secret from thee!" Quickly she +sprang to the floor. Her foot struck her lover's sword. She stooped +and raised it, and there flashed forth from the jewel encrusted handle +the noble armourial bearings, charged upon a gold escutcheon, of Lord +Cedric's house. Wonderingly, she examined it and swept her brow with +the back of her slender hand. Slowly she spoke, and in a voice vibrant +with portent, her eyes now wide open. + +"This--this doth trend to set my brain a-whirl, and doth connive to +part sense from understanding and mind from body. To be sure, 'twas +dark,--and allowing that I was well-nigh intoxicated with love--my +brain could truly swear 'twas Sir Julian; and yet this he flung aside +doth confute reason, and I must either ponder upon the this and that +in endeavouring to conjoin mental and physical forces to sweet amity +or give over that reaching wife's estate hath made of me a sordid +fool, as hath it oft made woman heretofore. My senses up until I met +one of two at the foot of the stair, I could make affidavit on. The +mould of either could well trick the other, providing their heads were +as muddled as mine, and in this matter I am also clear. 'Twas meet +to speak lowly and the voice was not betrayed. But--there was some +restraint at first; for his words came slow and with much flaunting of +French--indeed 'twas overdone.--And the duel--ah! ah!--'twas Cedric's +'Nay, nay, nay!--' with an oath that had no note of Sir Julian in it. +And hard he strove not to fight, nor did he until the other cried out +to him--I see it all plainly; 'twas Cedric, 'twas Cedric! If I could +mistake all else, I could not mistake his passion; 'twas: 'Kate' this, +and 'Kate' that. Sir Julian never called me else than Katherine. And +his words were over plain, and in truth they became not so slow and +studied, and there was a leaving off of French. 'Twas he! Ah! and he +was so sweet and gentle and near drowned me by his tenderness--'twas +such sweet love--" Quickly she hid her blushing face in the pillow, +for she forgot she was speaking aloud. + +"Hast thou then married mind to body? If thou hast them well mated and +art sure thou art through espousing, I will straightway wed thee to +thy clothes, that thou mayest first pay thy respects to their Graces, +then go out into the sunshine and walk thee up and down for the half +of an hour, where, 'tis most like thou wilt find thy lord, who is too +impatient to remain indoors." + +"Nay, I shall not see him!" + +"Tut, Lambkin! thou wouldst not play the shrew to so noble a lord, +that soon, no doubt, will be a great Duke?" + +"He hath tricked and deceived me. I will punish him for it. Nay; I +have no mind to see him. I could not bear it, Janet. 'Twas this he +meant, for I wondered when he said he had fought two duels and had +been victor in both. Nay; he shall not see me nor I him." And with +these thoughts came others, and thus she fostered malice, promoting +but a puny aversion that she cherished the more for its frailty. + +"Art thou set upon affecting the manners of an orange girl?" + +"Janet, I would not make feint at that I am not." + +"Neither would I, if 'twere me, make feint at that thou art. If thou +hast the name of Lady, I would fit my demeanour to the word. And it +should be an easy thing, for thou art born to the manner." + +"But bad nursing doth corrupt good blood!" + +"And a froward child doth denote a spared rod!" + +"And moral suasion is oft an ethical farce!" + +"A votary of non-discipline is impregnable to ethics." + +"Oh, Janet, dear Janet, I am weary. How is the young man that was +wounded?" + +"The same as ever; save his ardour is somewhat cooled." + +"Thou dost speak as if thou hadst known him." + +"Indeed, any cock of the hackle is essentially commonplace." + +"But he carried the sword of a gentleman?" + +"Thou dost mean he carried a gentleman's sword." + +"Dost thou know who he is, Janet?" + +"I have not inquired." + +"In other words, thou didst see him. And 'twas--I am sure--Adrian +Cantemir." + +"'Twas none other." + +"I will go down now and see their Graces." + +"Art sure thou wilt not see thy lord?" + +"Aye, quite!" + +"Then--here this is for thee." She handed her a dainty billet, +scented with bergamot. Katherine took it in trembling haste, her face +rose-hued. It read: "To My Lady of Crandlemar. Greeting to my sweet +wife, Kate. I await my reprimand and sword. When I am so honoured, I +shall enlist to serve thee with my presence, which, until then, is +held by thee in abeyance. Thou canst not rob me of my thoughts, +which hold naught else but thee; nor yet that dainty girdle that did +encompass thy fair and slender mould. I have it on my heart, close +pressed; but it doth keep that it lieth on in turmoil by such +proximity. I know thou dost love me, even though I tricked thee. Janet +was to tell thee this morning who thy true lord is, for, Sweet, I +would have no other image but mine in thy heart, for soon--soon--aye, +in a very short time--I may be a prisoner in the Tower. Do not think, +Sweet, this is a ruse--but should I be taken where I might not see thy +face, 'twould be sweet to know thou didst hold my image, dear. +Forgive me, Sweet, and--_au revoir!_--Perhaps thy heart will relent +before--before the nightingale sings.--Relent, sweetheart, wife." Kate +pressed the billet to her lips without thinking, then turned her +back quickly to hide the action; but 'twas too late. Janet had been +watching every movement and was satisfied. + +"I wish I had not opened it; such letters are disturbing. Janet, go +below and find if I may see her Grace without meeting any one." When +alone, she devoured again and again the billet, and as Janet returned, +thrust it quickly within the bosom of her gown. + +"His lordship has returned from the terrace and is in the picture +gallery. Her Grace wishes to see thee and waits breakfast." + +For an hour Katherine was with the Duchess, who talked very plainly of +the possible death of her husband and the duties of a great estate and +noble name that would fall to Cedric and his wife to keep up. Nor +did she let the young wife go without telling her into what an awful +condition she might not only lead herself but Cedric, when she allowed +her caprice to manage her better self. It did her ladyship much good, +and she sauntered out upon the lawn and shyly sought the sun-dial and +brought from it a nosegay of bridal-roses and fled, shamefaced, with +them to her own chamber, there to seat herself by the open window to +wait and watch for her young lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CEDRIC IN THE TOILS + + +In the French colony where lay the valuable lands of Sir John Penwick, +there was a lively insurrection of the English. The Papist party, who +had built and lived upon the property for the past ten years, was +strong, having among the Protestants lively adherents who were +Catholics at heart and wore the Protestant cloak that they might the +better spy upon them. The English, being so much the weaker, had been +lead by a few men who were bought by the Catholics. La Fosse had had +to do with these few men only, when he had made a show of settling +Sir John's affairs. These men had heretofore held the secret of the +hostage; but recent events had stirred them to strife and they had +fallen at variance over the spoil. The secret had been let out. The +English rose in arms when the French suggested that such a small +colonial matter should be settled among themselves; 'twas a shame to +bother the Crown. + +Upon the sudden outburst, Sir John made his escape from prison. The +French said he had been stolen by the English and immediate reparation +must be made; his person or a ransom must be had. Or, if they would +give up all claim to the property and child,--the latter being +produced at once--the French were willing to call the matter +settled. Indeed, this was all they wished, and if Sir John could be +conveniently made away with forever, and it proven that the English +had accomplished it, they would certainly be entitled to his +hereditaments. + +Buckingham held the key to the situation. He saw a way to pay a ransom +for Sir John; also a way to gain enough gold from the enterprise to +make himself independent for life. He found Sir John in London, +but not until after Cantemir had gained the former's confidence. +Buckingham took alarm at Cantemir's knowledge and insisted upon Sir +John removing to a place of greater seclusion; it being feared that he +would be murdered. + +Sir John was fond of the Duke, and beside taking his advice, he laid +bare his heart and told him of his great distress over Katherine. +Cantemir had said that she was being held dishonourably by the old +lord's son, who was profligate and only sought her favour without +marriage. + +Buckingham assured him to the contrary, and made him acquainted with +the true circumstances; not failing to tell him of Mistress Penwick's +unsettled disposition; her ambitions, and intractable nature; that +she was refractory and vexatious; petulant and forever thwarting Lord +Cedric's advances. + +The Duke concluded this friendly visit by insinuating strongly--that +Sir John might infer--that the friendship which amounted to nothing +less than love, between himself and Lord Cedric, would alone--barring +the question of a beautiful daughter--suffice to bring the latter to +a full appreciation of Sir John's case. And if a ransom was decided +upon, as being the surest means for his immediate safety, my Lord +Cedric would pay and not feel its loss. + +"And," went on the Duke, "when chance or design brings thee together, +if thou wouldst not be made to feel utterly unhappy, mention not the +matter to him. He is eccentric like the old lord, and would fall +into the spleen, which condition, when entered into by his lordship, +becomes of the temperature of that nondescript bourne the other side +of Paradise." + +Buckingham knew that two emissaries were upon the seas from the New +World. They were coming to interest the King in behalf of Sir John. So +far the Duke had kept everything from his Majesty and must also keep +these "bumpkins" from tormenting him with importunities of so rustic a +nature as "western lands." + +But the Duke had made provision,--should his designs be curtailed by +laches--delegating himself to the post of intercessor, whereby he +could fool both the King and the emissary. Serious injury would be +done to no one, unless Cedric might feel poor for a short time. But +what were the odds; the Duke of Ellswold would soon die and Cedric's +wealth would be unlimited. He would, with a handsome young wife, +forget his finances ever were in depletion. + +Buckingham had already disposed of some of Sir John's jewels and +rare laces, brought over by La Fosse and stored in the chest at +the monastery. There was, however, in the great Duke a vein of +compunction, and for its easement he had refrained from selling some +rare and costly miniatures belonging to Sir John's wife, evidently +handed down through a long line of consanguinity. These he resolved in +some way to return; perhaps he should find it convenient to present +them to Mistress Penwick. + +And so the thick, fierce clouds rolled up and gathered themselves +together, hanging low, over the head of handsome, careless, rich, +young Lord Cedric. + +The village of Crandlemar was indignant that he had allowed to +exist for so long a time the privilege of the monastery. And these +exceptions, with a hint of some foul murder committed at the castle, +reached the nobles roundabout and stirred up a general demur. Beside, +it was whispered in the shire-moot that the woman about to be espoused +by him was a rank Papist and had already placed popish pictures about +the Chapel that was contiguous to the castle. This was all that +possibly could be said against her, as she was known to be most +gracious to the poor Protestants in and about Crandlemar; giving +equally to both factions with a lavish hand. But these matters were +all brought up to militate against his lordship. + +Lord Cedric was already feeling the first thrusts of his enemy, +Misfortune; for 'twas very evident that his Grace of Ellswold was +near his death. Warming-pans were of no avail. He grew very cold; his +extremities were as ice; while the attendants of his bed-chamber were +as red as cooked lobsters from the natural heat of the midsummer's day +and the steaming flannels that were brought in at short intervals. + +Her Grace walked back and forth outside his door continually, Lord +Cedric joining her at times. + +The Castle seemed inured to quiet by his Grace's long illness; but now +there fell a subtle silence that presaged the coming of an unwholesome +visitant. In a room apart lay Adrian Cantemir, weak and sick, but +cursing every breath he drew; excited at times to actual madness, and +saying,--Why had he come a minute too late? Why had he not followed +his own inclinations and broken away from the gambling table at the +inn an hour earlier? such thoughts making him absolutely furious. + +He had arrived some time after dark at Crandlemar village, and, +putting up at the hostelry, he resolved to pay his visit to the castle +early on the morrow. He was now beginning to feel that he was destined +to gain his point, or why had he so far thwarted Lord Cedric, and why +had he escaped the anger of the monks by a well worded and quickly +manufactured tale, and even gained their help by it, when they found +him bound in the passage, left so by Buckingham. So he had felt +somewhat at ease, but love and ambition were strong and stirred him to +leave wine and cards and ride out into the open; and, unwitting it may +be, to the castle gates. He travelled without groom; so fastening his +horse, he entered the avenue a-foot, soon reaching the dark pile of +stone which appeared in absolute darkness. Aimlessly he left the +avenue and sauntered across the terraces. He had heard a peculiar low +murmuring of voices and drew near only to hear Katherine made the +wife of another man; hardly understanding until the Chaplain gave the +blessing. He knew what Katherine did not; that she was the wife of +Lord Cedric and not Sir Julian. He flung himself with all his fury +upon the bridegroom to no avail, as has been seen. + +These inflammable thoughts, as Cantemir rehearsed them over and over, +set his brain afire and before night he was in a fever. The kind and +gentle Lady Bettie Payne, who had arrived late in the afternoon, had +gathered nosegays and made bright his chamber, for she truly had +compassion upon him. He called her Katherine, as she gave him cooling +draughts with her own hand. + +Lord Cedric was somewhat surprised the next evening to that of his +wedding to see the Duke of Buckingham standing in the great hall of +the castle. And when the Duke's business was thrust upon him, there +came also dark forebodings; a separation of indefinite length from his +young wife, should he be taken to the Tower. Great was his surprise +at the Duke's first words, for they were that Katherine's father was +alive and well and in London. He gave quickly the whole story of Sir +John's escape, also the attempt to recapture him. Then came what his +Lordship expected;--a request for a fortune. Of course, while Cedric +thought the amounts asked would not be wholly a loss, yet he knew the +amounts allowed of a great margin of perquisites, and to whom these +perquisites would go, he could guess. However, without question or +complaint, he agreed to give what the Duke asked for; indeed the +matters were settled there and then. + +"If Sir John's life is in danger, I know of no better place of safety +than here. He had better come with all haste--'twould be my wife's +desire!" + +"Wife, so soon?" And the great Duke raised his eyebrows--a small +action, but with him it had a world of meaning in it. "I congratulate +thee, my lord, but--if her ladyship knew the danger that would beset +her father upon such a journey, I feel sure she would wait patiently +a time that must of necessity be of some length. I beg my lord not to +think of bringing Sir John hither. As I hinted before, if this matter +is brought out and he is proven guiltless of those little matters +hinted of, then he could meet her without this heaviness that so +weights him. I am sure if such a thought as meeting his daughter were +mentioned, he would heartily beg for its postponement and--especially +now that she is my Lady of Crandlemar." It stood Buckingham much in +hand to keep Sir John and Lord Cedric from meeting, for he had, not +only told truth, but had heartlessly impugned the former's character +to line his own pocket with the latter's wealth. The truth of the +matter was that he was tight caught in a network of financial and +political intrigue, and this was the only means to disentangle +himself. + +After this first business was settled, a second affair was introduced +and the Duke spoke of his lordship's matters at Court. He said: + +"The King is hard pressed by the nobles--or a portion of them. They +insisted that thou wert aiding the Catholics in such a manner that +the lives of Protestants in this vicinity were in danger. They even +whisper that a plot is being formulated to murder Monmouth. The King +felt it incumbent to send for thee, and as the courier was about +to start forth, he received word that the messenger he had sent in +pursuit of my Lady of Candlemar had been foully dealt with by no other +hand than thine. This stirred the King into a frenzy and straightway +he charged thee with treason and--one comes now to take thee to the +Tower or wherever it pleases his Majesty to put thee. Indeed, he may +have so far forgiven thee by the time thou dost see London, he will +offer thee half his bed or--any unusual favour. So take heart. The +King loves thee." The illness of Ellswold precluded the Duke from +paying any visits within the castle, and he hastened back to London. + +Lord Cedric felt if he could only tell Katherine that her father was +well and in London, it might bring a reconciliation, and his eyes +wandered to the hour-glass, and as he noted the golden sands, he +thought there was yet time for a lover's quarrel and then a sweet +making-up, which should have no limit of time; but, alas! such +blissful moments would doubtless be cut short by the arrival of +the King's messenger. All of a sudden a wicked thought came, as he +remembered how but a few moments before she had turned coldly from him +as he met her in the gallery, and he resolved 'twould be a good time +to make her feel a little of how he had suffered. Separation from her +was all he feared now, and she could not help that. She was fast tied +to him, and he was satisfied; and now why not torment some of those +Satanic whims out of her. "Aye, 'tis the thing to do!" Even as he +thought of her, she had gone with Janet and Lady Bettie to Cantemir's +chamber, for the latter in a lucid moment begged Lady Bettie to bring +her to him. He gave her the letter he bore from her father, requesting +her to come to him at once. She was quite beside herself with joy; +yet, such is human nature, she on a sudden was in no hurry to leave +Lord Cedric. Then she thought he might go with her--but she never +would ask him. So after much thinking and feverish deliberation, she +sent the letter to him by Janet. Cedric compared the handwriting with +the letter he still carried of Sir John's. There was no doubt that the +chirography was the same. He was again thwarted by the Russian. He was +to gain his wife's ear by this very news. But there were other ways, +and he said,-- + +"I have but a few moments to spend with her ladyship; go to her and +tell her so; say that a courier is now upon the highway and--will soon +arrive to conduct me to Tyburn-tree by order of the King--" + +"Good heavens, surely your Lordship is not serious!" + +"I have been forewarned, Janet. Go, tell her the news. Do not mince +the sorry tale. Let her have the weight of it--if weight it be for her +pent affection. Indeed, make it strong, blandish it with no 'ifs' or +'mayhaps' or 'possible chances of a change of mind with the King.' +Thou must make up quickly a whole catalogue of the horrors enacted at +Tyburn. Go, go, hasten thyself, good nurse. I will wait for her here." + +Hardly had Janet disappeared when the door again was thrown open and +the footman announced a gentleman upon the King's errand. 'Twas indeed +his Majesty's guardsman with his order, and Cedric listened with +flushed face and beating heart, not to what he said, but for the sound +of a silken rustle upon the great hall parquetry; and as he heard it, +he raised his voice and said sternly to the courier,-- + +"And this means Tyburn-tree--a farewell forever to my friends--" There +was at these last words a suspicious trembling in his tones that was +not wholly natural,--"an _adieu_ to all this world that begun for me +only--yesterday at the singing of the nightingale--" the sentence was +left unfinished, for Katherine now fell at his feet and embraced his +knees and said with blanched lips,-- + +"What is this horrible tale, my lord? Say 'tis not so!" Great unbroken +sobs made her voice tremble, and there was such extreme misery in her +face and attitude the guardsman was about to utter a protest, for the +order had said nothing of Tyburn, and at such unwarranted display of +grief at a summons--why he would put a stop to it; but his lordship +put up his hand. "Say 'tis not so," she repeated. + +"Nay, I cannot say it, for I know not what lies before me." Katherine +was unable to control her grief, and as it broke out, the guardsman +discreetly walked to the farther end of the room. Cedric had raised +her from the floor and half-supported her as she poured out her grief +in words of pleading and entreaty; but Cedric was as adamant, he would +not bend to offer any hope. This unbending quality she could not +understand, and took it as an omen of ill. In very truth she felt she +was to lose for all time her heart's idol. And when Cedric spoke to +the guard and told him he was ready to go, she cried "Nay, nay, nay!" +in such awful agony he came near relenting. She turned white and would +have fallen, had not Cedric supported her. Janet had already entered +the room and now came running to her mistress, whom she took in her +arms. Cedric turned to the guardsman, saying,-- + +"My wife is ill. If thou wilt return to London, I will follow within a +day or so!" + +"In the name of the King I beg my Lord of Crandlemar--" + +Janet broke in at this and said with a ringing voice,-- + +"Thy order is for the Lord of Crandlemar?" + +"It is, madam." + +"Then I will tell thee, sir, Lord Cedric of Crandlemar is not here. +This is the Duke of Ellswold." She turned to his lordship as she spoke +and saw his face grow white. He loved his uncle tenderly. There was a +moment of palpable silence; the guardsman bowed to the floor, and the +long plumes of his hat swept it in homage, as he raised his hand to +his breast. Katherine had swooned and did not hear Janet's assertion, +nor did she hear the King's other order for the Duke of Ellswold. +The King was aroused and would allow of no mischance. Cedric must go +before his Majesty at once. + +After a few moments in the death chamber, Cedric started for London. +Before they had reached the confines of the city, however, the news of +the old Duke's demise had reached the King, who was in high humour, +and the result was, a courier had been sent to tell Cedric to return +to his castle until after the funeral. So Cedric, accompanied by the +King's guard, rode on to the Seat of the Dukes of Ellswold, where in +the old Abbey there was much pomp in the putting away of the late +Duke. + +It was a great disappointment to Cedric not to see Katherine, and +he was grieved to learn she had not, after so many days, entirely +recovered from her swoon. He was consoled, however, by his aunt's +assertion that her illness was not serious. He turned from Ellswold +and hastened back London way, impatient to know why he was sent for, +and to have matters settled satisfactorily for all time, that he might +with an unburdened heart go to Crandlemar and claim his Duchess; who, +he now knew, would be the sweet and loving wife she should. He was +truly sad at the loss of his uncle, and for this cause alone he rode +into London with downcast appearance. He feared not the evils of the +Tower or Tyburn-tree or the menace of either Catholic or Protestant +party; neither the importunities of Buckingham; had he not now a great +fortune?--ah! but death had brought it him,--and the bitter was mixed +with the sweet. There were other matters to menace his peace of mind +that had not come until that very moment. What if the Crown should +confiscate his property; what was he to do with his wife? There was +his aunt, Sir Julian and Lady Bettie Payne, they would care for her. +Then his thoughts wandered to Constance, and for a while he half +believed he had forgiven her. Then he wondered if she had aught to do +with his present condition. + +The King in the meantime was not to be duped by Lady Constance. She +prided herself upon being discreet, but she was not enough so for the +King's sharp eyes. + +"Odd's fish," said he, "the boy is a woman!" And though he had a +saturnine and harsh countenance, his disposition was both merry and +lenient. He teased her unmercifully, threatening to promote so fine +a lad to a gentleman of his bed-chamber. He bade a woman bring some +clothing suitable for a female and gave the lady into the hands of +female attendants. + +The easy manner of the time gave the courtiers license to taunt her. +This made her very uncomfortable. The queen's ladies' eyes were upon +her. The King's mistresses, not recognizing her as a rival, poked fun +at her from behind their fans. But Lady Constance would bear a great +deal for the sake of gaining her point. She had posted herself upon +the King's affairs with the Duke of Ellswold, and was in a state of +great expectation when she heard that the latter was to be brought to +the Tower immediately after his uncle's funeral. His entire demesne +was out of his hands, he was sadly impoverished; this she bought from +Buckingham's menials. It greatly delighted her, for she had more +wealth than she knew what to do with, and Cedric, seeing her so +pampered by his Majesty, would surely begin to see what a great lady +she was, and perhaps would offer her some attention. She did not know +that Katherine was already the Duchess of Ellswold. She heard from +Monmouth that Mistress Penwick was to be brought to the palace at the +same time Cedric was brought to London, and that 'twas not altogether +sure whether his Grace of Ellswold would be taken to the Tower or be +made a Royal guest, as the King was first cursing, then praising the +new Duke. So Constance began to picture Cedric standing before her, +his face flushed as she remembered it to be, his eyelids that he knew +so well how to lower, then raise ever so slightly, sending forth from +beneath an amorous glance that made her tremble with a sweet thrill +of pleasure. Thus she lived from hour to hour, waiting for his Grace, +little guessing the awful disappointment that awaited her. She fairly +counted the moments. + +To her great joy she saw him again. He was brought to the palace, +instead of to the Tower. When the King saw the Duke, he forgot, or +appeared to forget, that the Duke was a prisoner, and openly embraced +him and had him placed near his own apartments. His Majesty was in +high good humour, hearing from the Duke's own lips that he had nothing +to do with the hiding away of his messenger, and explaining sundry +other matters to his satisfaction. "The Duchess," for so the Duke +spoke of Katherine for the first time before his Majesty, was unable +to arise from her couch, and therefore could not as yet be brought +to the palace. The King said he was pleased that so noble a Duke had +gained his point, even though he had outwitted his King. + +"Odd's fish, and to be separated so soon! it must not be!" + +Lady Constance was joyous when she saw Cedric arrive without +Katherine, but at once it made her very curious to know why the "wench +was left behind; for was it not the King's order?" She sent a maid to +inquire among the servants of the Duke. When the maid returned and +told her that Katherine was the Duke's wife, she fainted away. But +after a few hours of awful depression and heart-sickness she again +nerved herself to battle harder, if possible, than heretofore. + +The Duke's trial was begun, and nothing it seemed could be absolutely +proven against him. It appeared the King shut his eyes and ears to +anything that would incline against his Grace. Not so Constance, who +worked secretly. She was determined, if possible, to see him go to the +Tower, as the only immediate means of separating him from his wife, +who was expected any week at the Royal abode. She informed some of +the nobles that were against him that their principal witness, Adrian +Cantemir, lay ill from a sword thrust at Crandlemar Castle. To be +sure, they had almost forgotten the young man, who had been such a +leader in the beginning. This held the case in suspension and the Duke +still a prisoner; but the King gave him no time for thought; they +rode, walked, drank, theatred and supped together. If 'twere not for +the Duke's love for his wife, and his mourning for his uncle, which +cast so deep a shadow over his natural gaiety, 'twas possible he might +have been drawn by his Majesty into intrigues of a feminine character. + +Constance was ever throwing herself in his path, but he deigned not a +glance her way. She appeared content to watch him, whether he paid her +any attention or not. She was careful to learn of his fortunes, as the +King to appease the Protestant nobles had confiscated the Ellswold +estates and everything else that Buckingham had not taken. But this +sort of thing was a matter of form with his Majesty. His mind was +fully made up. He was not to be frighted or cajoled. He even went so +far as to assure the Duke that as soon as his character was proven, +giving the nobles no chance to gainsay, he should at once take +possession of his estate. The Duke, however, had only his jewels to +borrow on, and that was insufferable to his pride. He had a large +retinue to support, servants that were aged; these he must look after. +Thus matters stood for weeks and months. + +Cantemir was at last able to be moved, and was brought to London, +where he again tried to communicate with Sir John Penwick, but +Buckingham intercepted all letters. There also came word from the new +Lord of Crandlemar, that he was about to take up his abode in England. +This made Ellswold uneasy and impatient; for he had not money +sufficient to place his Duchess in his town house, had he been at +liberty to do so, for the great place had not been kept in repair and +it must be renovated according to her own ideas. If his trial could +only be at once and he could go for her and take her to Ellswold! The +King saw his unusual depression and gained from him a confession of +his troubles, and without letting the Duke know, sent for the Duchess, +who he said should remain at the palace until the Duke should be free +to go. When his Majesty told the Duke--for he could not keep the +secret--the latter was grateful and felt it was the only alternative, +and was much comforted that soon he should see and be with his +Duchess, who, he had learned had regained her colour and was in good +spirit. + +"The King, not caring for the pomp and state his predecessors had +assumed, was fond of exiling the formality practiced by a sovereign +and taking on the easy manners of a companion. He had lived, when in +exile, upon a footing of equality with his banished nobles, and had +partaken freely and promiscuously in the pleasures and frolics by +which they had endeavoured to sweeten adversity. He was led in this +way to let distinction and ceremony fall to the ground as useless and +foppish, and could not even on premeditation, it is said, act for a +moment the part of a King either at parliament or council, either +in words or gesture. When he attended the House of Lords, he would +descend from the throne and stand by the fire, drawing a crowd about +him that broke up all regularity and order of the place." In this free +and unrestrained way he had put his arm through the Duke's and said +confidently,-- + +"The House of Ellswold shall be honoured in an unusual way; that at +least should be a great comfort to thee; but I promise, no matter how +the Council act in these matters of thine, thou shalt soon enjoy the +comfort of thy new estate at Ellswold." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE COCOANUTS OF THE KING'S CELLAR + + +Matters at Crandlemar were comparatively quiet. There was nothing +unusual, unless indeed it was the assiduousness of the young Duchess, +who from morning until night ceased not to offer hecatombs for the +safety and freedom of her lord. She prayed, fasted and sacrificed for +her every desire. She gave alms, offering condolence and sympathy. +In her petitions she threw aside all contumely, calling the poorest, +sister. She allowed not her thoughts to go astray, striving +continually for a pure and meek heart, begging forgiveness for her +untowardness toward her husband. Perhaps one of the most remarkable of +her acts was the one performed at twilight--discovered by Janet, the +wise. + +The nurse went to seek her one evening, and found the young woman in +a dense cloud of blue that emanated from a costly thurible, which she +was swinging before the crucifix in the Chapel. Ascending with the +sweet incense was a psalm of contrition uttered from a truly penitent +heart. A tall candle burned, lighting up the white-robed figure, and +the filmy incense that enveloped it to a saintly vision. Though Janet +watched her mistress thus environed with sacredness, yet the deep +impression was somewhat charged with a sense of humour; "for," she +opined to herself, "people are so much more ridiculous in mending a +breach than they are in making it!" But Janet was not a Catholic, and +beside, she made few mistakes and could condone an offence only when +made by one she loved. Knowing Katherine as she did, she admired the +outward show more than the spirit, and thought of the two the former +was more stable. Katherine often prayed aloud, and Janet hearing her, +caught the burden of her prayer, and there was actual pain in her +voice when she cried out that Cedric might be forgiven for the murder +of Christopher. Now Janet knew that the lad had only been slightly +injured by Hiary and had fully recovered, and she determined to send +for him, and at the Vesper service introduce him into the Chapel and +thereby cause to cease her mistress' plaints. And so it came about in +the late autumn, when Crandlemar was about to receive its new master +from Wales, and the plate and all belongings of the Duke had been sent +to Ellswold, and Katherine herself was to set forth for London within +a few days, she entered the Chapel for her customary devotions. As she +prayed, she was aroused by the opening of the outer door. She looked +up and saw Christopher before her. Janet was surprised at her calmness +and was amazed when Katherine said to him that she had been expecting +to see him all day, as she had heard the evening before that he was +alive and had been seen near the castle grounds. Now it was impossible +to make Katherine think it was a direct answer to prayer, though Janet +did her best. But as it proved, a great weight had fallen from the +Duchess' heart, for she became perfectly joyous and positively +neglected her devotions in the Chapel. She was delighted to set forth, +for the moment had actually arrived, and within a few days she would +see Cedric, and, she hoped, her father also; but the latter's abode +was unknown to her, save only that 'twas in London. + +The night of her arrival at the Royal Palace had closed down dark +and stormy. The King and Queen, with the ladies and gentlemen of the +Court, had repaired to the Duke of York's theatre to see played the +"Black Prince," written by the Earl of Orrery. The King had insisted +upon the Duke of Ellswold accompanying them, but the latter declared +the play would be a torture, when he should be thinking that perhaps +his wife might arrive in his absence. Other thoughts also assailed +him, of which he hinted not to the King; but he was confident +Constance meant mischief, and he was unwilling to give her any chance +to put the weight of her anger on the Duchess. + +The great cream-hued chariot bearing Katherine rolled past the Mall +and up to the palace. The sleet was falling rapidly and the wind +blowing such a gale the sound of the coach was not heard by the Duke, +as he paced his chamber. She was trembling and eager, and heard not +the admonitions of Janet and Angel to mind the ice-clad step that was +let down. She was expectant and eager to see her spouse; but she stood +within her apartment and Janet was loosening her capes when the Duke +came bounding to her side. He took her in his arms and gazed and +gazed, and they minded not the presence of the two nurses, who on a +sudden became busy unpacking her Grace's chests. He kissed her until +her face was rose-red, and she was drunken with love. + +When Lady Constance heard that Katherine had arrived, she became very +impatient to catch one glimpse of her. She had heard many things about +the young wife, and she had her suspicions and upon them she formed +a plan to throw a taunt upon her Grace, bringing both Monmouth and +Cantemir into the case. She resolved to make Katherine as unhappy +as possible. She scrupled at nothing. Now the fair Constance prided +herself upon being a prisoner of the King; but she was not so certain +of his favour that she dare make one single open move against +Katherine. She must taunt her in secret; but how to do this was +puzzling, for she kept her apartment, partly from fatigue after her +long ride, and it may be from a disinclination to go abroad. So she +bided her time and ungraciously as she saw the popularity of the noble +woman grow and grow; she was fast becoming a great favourite. Indeed, +she was constantly visited by the King and Queen, and the greatest +ladies of the Court. The Queen had grown very fond of her, spending +hours in her company and oftentimes taking her for a walk or ride. +Before the Duchess had been within the Palace a month, she was +imitated in every way. Great ladies became so familiar, they would +take up her articles of the toilet and copy the manufacturer's name. +They in a short time were using the same concoction of rouge and +perfumes. Their maids must learn what Janet did for her mistress in +the way of baths, for "never was there such healthful and dainty +complexion." And when the Duke began buying cocoanuts by the wagon +load at an enormous expense, and 'twas known that her Grace drank the +milk of it by the quart, the King's cellar became too small to hold +the quantities that were brought to the ladies of the Court. And 'twas +said many of the young fops also used the milk for their complexion. +Constance had not yet ordered any of this fruit, but she ascertained +where the Duke's were kept and how it might be possible to obtain a +few of them for an object that was at least original. Before, however, +she resorted to the arts of chemistry, there was an opportunity to +give the Duchess a thrust. Two great chests were being unbound in +the corridor just outside of her Grace's door. Constance knew they +contained an elaborate and costly _layette_; so she hurried to her own +apartment and wrote in a disguised hand a billet that threw out the +worst of insinuations, and as a finale she added a _pasquinade_ copied +hastily from some low and bitter lampoon. She returned through the +corridor, and, unnoticed, thrust the paper into a crevice of one of +the chests. But Katherine never saw the billet, she was not disturbed +in the least, and her ladyship soon saw some one else had gotten hold +of it, for there was not a shadow on her Grace's face. This goaded +Constance to a perfect fury, and she resolved upon extreme measures. + +One very dark and stormy day she left the palace dressed as a servant, +and drove in a public conveyance to an old chemist's, who resided in +a remote portion of the city. Here she procured materials that if +properly handled and successively served would bring the youthful +Duchess to her death. She resolved in this case to work slowly and +cautiously, allowing of no mischance. It so happened the chemist did +not have the articles she required, but promised for a liberal sum to +procure them from a certain celebrated physician. This of course would +take some time. But the physician was in France and would not return +for at least a fortnight. So a fortnight went by and another and +another, until Constance' patience was exhausted, and as she went to +the shop for the last time, vowing to wait no longer, if the chemist +had not the things, lo! they were there; and after learning how simple +it was to use them, she hastened to the palace, there to be met by the +news that the Duchess had brought forth a son of rousing weight and +strength. Constance fell into a fever, and was obliged to keep her bed +for some weeks; then she arose and after being seen again among the +ladies of the Court and appearing as unconcerned as possible, when +speaking of the Ellswold heir, she found her way below stair and made +siege upon the King's cellar and looted a good dozen cocoanuts. + +She had procured from the chemist a protrusile instrument for letting +fluid through the hard outer covering, and in this manner intended to +inoculate the milk of the nut with a slow poison. These, of course, +after such treatment, would be returned to their fellows, and the +death of Katherine with that of the young lord would be assured. + +After a few trials she succeeded in obtaining a result that was +entirely satisfactory, if the hole thus made could be effectually +plugged. She filled the aperture with a viscous matter that would in +a few moments harden if placed in the sun, and to this end she opened +the window and laid the cocoanut in the sun's rays upon the sill. + +She was quite alone, yet she feared; indeed, so deadly was her intent, +she jumped at every noise, and upon hearing some sound without, +slipped on tip-toe from the window to the door and listened, then +cautiously drew the bolt and looked without. The corridor seemed even +more quiet than usual. Her fears were subdued and as she turned about +to close the door, a suction of air caught the curtain and swelled +it through the open window, thereupon sweeping the cocoanut to the +ground, where it fell at the very feet of his Majesty. When Constance +saw what the vile wantonness of the wind had done, she fell upon her +knees in wild despair and tremblingly remained thus for an instant +only, for a bit of hope sprang up. She arose and quickly ran to the +window,--she hesitated, then, ever so slowly she peeped over the sill, +and there stood the King with the nut in his hand. "Ah!" she said, +drawing back quickly, for they were not looking up, and she felt +relief that they did not see her, but unfortunately for her, a lackey +was standing some little distance from his Majesty and saw everything. + +Of course treason was suspected. It was thought the nut had been +dropped to crush the King's head; but upon examination 'twas found +there oozed from a small opening curdled milk. The Royal chemist was +summoned, and in a moment all knew that the fruit was poisoned. The +lackey had already told the King from what window it fell. Constance +was cold with fright. She forgot her love, ambition, revenge, her +whole paraphernalia of desires, in this disaster. + +Out she went into the corridor to ascertain, if possible, what was +a-foot below stairs. "Would they be able," she thought, "to find from +whence the nut came?" At the very idea she fled back to her chamber +and gazed about in agony, for there lay every condemning thing in the +floor, and where was she to hide them, for a search would certainly +be made in a few moments. A hiding-place must first be found for +the nuts. She looked at the bed; surely that would be searched. She +thought to sew them in the sleeves of her gowns, but that would look +bulky and there was not time. She flew about in wild anxiety. She +listened at the door to the sounds below, and, seeing a lackey, asked +what the noise meant. He said a cocoanut had been dropped and they +were going to search for the one who did it. Again her ladyship +fled to her chamber and began to look behind chairs and screens and +portable cabinets; but to no avail; she found no safe hiding. At last, +the great, high, nodding tester caught the glance of her anxious eye. +She hastily placed first a small table--the only one she was able to +carry--then a chair upon the bed, and with the one upon the other +was able to see the top of the tester. But alas! it was cone-shape. +Invention, however, was not out of Constance' line, and quickly she +placed a box upon the pinnacle and in it five cocoanuts. There +were yet at least a half-dozen more to hide, beside the poison and +instrument. She thought to place these in one of her great hats +and raise them to the tester also. As she was about to mount the +improvised lift, she heard approaching footsteps. Hardly had she +withdrawn the table and chair and placed the hat--well bent--beneath +the low stool whereon she had been sitting, and arranged the folds of +her heavy brocade like a valance about her, when the door was thrown +open. + +"My God!" said she, under her breath; "'tis the King himself!" + +His Majesty accompanied by a number of gentlemen in waiting, entered +the room. He appeared in high, good humour, and inclined to be +facetious. He advanced straight to her. She, hardly rising from the +stool, made a deep curtesy. It was well done, without disarranging the +full folds of her stiff brocade, that inclined to stand whether she +so honoured the King or not. He laid his hand familiarly upon her +shoulder, bearing somewhat upon it, until she turned quite red, either +from his intent or her own guilt. + +"We are looking for secrets. Hast thou any, my little beauty?" + +"Your Majesty doth honour me greatly; first by thy presence and +secondly by thy thought that I might have a secret--as if woman could +keep even the shade of one from her King!" + +"But sometimes there is more happiness in the shade than in the +substance." His keen eyes did not leave her face. But hers were turned +with an apprehensive stare upon the King's gentlemen, who were looking +and prying impudently here and there about the rooms and closets. Her +gowns were even pressed here and there among their paddings. Tables +and cabinets were opened; the bed was examined. They lifted the heavy +valance and one got upon his knees and prodded beneath with his sword. +As he withdrew with a very red face, some one shook the curtains with +such vigour the tester miscarried and down rolled, one by one, the +cocoanuts. The King fairly yelled with laughter, holding on to his +sides, his gentlemen joining him with mirth restrained somewhat by the +seriousness of the case. + +"Indeed, the young Duchess hath turned all heads by her gorgeous +beauty, and all would be like her, whether or no!" said the King +between great bursts of laughter. Lady Constance' mind was ready and +caught quickly at his words, and she turned to him with a gay laugh +that somewhat veiled her terrible fear and nervousness. + +"Indeed, 'tis the fashion to use the cocoanut milk for drinking and +ointment, and the silly wenches of maids doth steal it dreadfully and +I was compelled to hide them." + +"But 'twill do thee no good, 'tis not thy nature to be round. Hast +thou seen the young heir? He is a lusty fellow; and 'tis well worth a +journey to the nursery to see him," and he took her hand and raised +her to her feet. "Come, we will go and call upon his lordship." + +There was an agonized expression on Constance' face as she was +compelled to move at the King's bidding. Slowly she moved. It +seemed every motion was full of painful effort. All eyes, for some +unaccountable reason, appeared to turn to the train of her dress that +rustled subtlely; even Constance turned to look back and down with +bulging eyes on that silken train, and though she moved ever so +cautiously the bristling folds caught upon the edge of the stool and +turned it over, the cocoanuts, poison bottle and all falling a-sprawl. +The King bent down and picked up the vial, then dropped it quickly, +saying,-- + +"Odd's fish, the female that did don man's attire and flirt about with +foppish airs is trying to play the hen and has made a nest and gone +to setting on spoiled eggs that will hatch nothing but shades, and +wraiths, and mandrakes!" And he lifted a cocoanut, from which the milk +was oozing out slowly and in a curdled state. + +"And who, mistress of the chemist's shop, hath taught thee his art?" + +"'Tis a great and awful thing that hath happened; indeed, oh! King, I +knew not the things were under the stool--" + +"Then 'twas unfortunate thou shouldst remain seated before thy King; +in this case 'twas condemning." And he turned and cried,-- + +"Hi! hi! call the guard! Thou shalt go into durance until I have +sifted this dairy business." Before the unfortunate woman could open +her mouth to plead further, the King was gone and two stalwart guards +stood at either side of her, ready to conduct her behind bolts and +bars. + +Now the King was inclined to be easy with all his subjects, but when +treason lay so open before him, he was quick to punish. Constance, +being a cousin of the Duke of Ellswold, he put the case before him. On +the instant, the Duke gave a solution to Constance' aims, explaining +everything to the King. He also--for he dreaded what the King might +do--said 'twas possible she was not of sound mind. His Majesty saw the +Duke's drift and declared that death should not come upon her, but she +should be imprisoned. This satisfied the Duke, for he was seriously +afraid for the young heir and his wife. + +Now Constance was utterly without hope. She was degraded at Court, +nevermore to rise again, and of course this state of things would be +known at every street corner. Even though she could make her escape, +where could she go? Who would accept her as the noble Lady Constance +again? She would wander up and down the world, friendless; while +Katherine would have love, wealth and honour, all one could wish for, +all there was in life to have. + +"Nay, nay, nay!" she cried in her agony. "I shall have one more +chance." She threw out her arms to the air and ground her teeth and +dragged herself from end to end of her bare and lonely cell. "One more +chance," she cried, "and 'twill be death to her; aye, death!" + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER + + +Sir Julian had been striving for months to make peace with the young +Duchess; but all effort appeared futile, until Providence suddenly +stepped in and aided him. Cantemir had turned religious, owing to the +taking hold upon him of a mortal disease; and though he had not been +about to undo any of his schemes in Cedric's case, yet he intended to +do so as soon as he was able. He was not idle, however, as he wrote +many letters and received visits from the ones who were foremost in +the fight. Nor was he long in discovering that their feelings were +already changed toward Ellswold, for they saw 'twas unpopular to be +striving against the King's desires, and against a nobleman who would +be very powerful when he should regain his fortunes. The Count wrote +to Pomphrey, saying he wished to speak face to face with him. + +At this interview the Russian unburdened his heart of all malice and +hatred, and gave vent to ill-gotten secrets, of which Buckingham's +schemes were foremost. So open and frank was the Count in his +assertions there was no doubt in Sir Julian's mind but what he had +created an wholesome feeling with his conscience; and for himself, +recognized the interview as nothing more nor less than the comely +intervention of Providence. + +Sir Julian determined upon an immediate _rendezvous_ with Sir John +Penwick, to the end that a concerted movement might effectually bring +the Duke to his senses. He loved Buckingham, but he loved the Duchess +of Ellswold more, and for this cause of peace, intended to hedge the +Duke about with an impenetrable wall. + +Buckingham soon saw that the strings were closing about him, and that +'twas Sir Julian who held the taut ends. But the great Duke had still +one more move, a move so venturesome, so involved with hazard, that +when 'twas made, the King himself admired and paid homage to its +projector. + +The Duke knew that Sir Julian, with a whisper in the King's ear, +could send him to the Tower. So at the point of Sir Julian's +sword--metaphorically--he was forced to go to the King and straighten +matters as best he could. This the great Duke did, with the most +exquisite urbanity. He knew well the King's humour, and the most +propitious moment in it, and propinquity played him fair, and there +vibrated in his Majesty's ear the dulcet tones of George Villiers +magnetic voice, saying,-- + +"Oh, King! may I tell thee of what foul issue fulsome Nature hath +brought forth, and what travail I suffer for--" + +"Odd's fish! what hast thou been doing, George, what hast thou--" + +"Oh, King!" and the Duke bowed upon his knee and touched with his lips +the great ring upon his Majesty's hand; "I did engender with a brain +unwebbed by wine, a body ample of strength and health, my soul +absolved, my heart palpitant with pure love and rich intention; but +corruptible Nature hath adulterated and brought forth an oaf, to which +I lay no claim--" + +"Egad! Duke; we'll wager a kilderkin of chaney oranges at four pence +each and a dozen cordial juleps with pearls that thy conscience is +about to bewray thee." + +"Your Royal Highness doth honour me by the assumption that such a +kingly component is mine. I cannot gainsay thy assertion, but who but +my King could touch to life the almost undefined limning of moral +faculty that has been my poor possession heretofore--" + +"And who but thy King would give to thy swart issue a, no doubt, +condign interest; come, curtail loquacity!" + +"Then, your Majesty, to be brief, I have raised for thee the subsidies +thou were too modest to ask the House for--" + +"Odd's fish, and this is thine oaf; oaf, callest thou it, when it +has brought unspeakable joy to thy King? Not so, 'tis an issue that +outshines in weight, point of beauty and actual worth that bouncing +youngster of Ellswold's." + +"But, oh! King, I counted not upon the exigencies of thy love. I +thought only of the pleasure 'twould give thee to have subsidies +without plea, and I have made two of thy favourites my victims. How +should I know that the Duke and Duchess of Ellswold were to become +nestlings in thy cradle of love?" The King's face darkened, but for a +moment only, as the sunshine of full coffers had penetrated the vista +of his needs, and a cloud even though it bore the after-rain was not +to darken his expectations. "I beg thine indulgence to allow me to +presume upon fancy. Supposing Sir John Penwick was alive and had +committed a crime that made it impossible for him to seek the aid of +his beloved King; that the said Sir John has vast possessions in the +New World that rightfully belonged to the English crown as hostage for +his own life, that had been in the hands of the French; that these +matters had been brought to the King's ear, but his Royal Highness had +been troubled with weightier affairs at home, and that one of his very +lowly but loyal subjects had undertaken, without aid of Government, +to secure these possessions for his King, calling to his aid the +generosity of Ellswold, who was willing to give all without knowing +why, save 'twas for his King and--" + +"And Penwick has proven guiltless and comes to his King to claim his +rightful possession;--and the subsidies--" + +"Are still thine, and thou shalt have them within a fortnight, if thou +wilt grant me one small request, oh! King." + +"Thou hast it. Be brief." + +"Of my appointment, a new keeper of the Tower." The King started and +half turned from the Duke, while through his mind ran hurriedly the +names of "Chasel, Howard, Baumais" and "who hath he in mind." Then +like a flash came the thought of Lady Constance, and he turned about +quickly and said with severity,-- + +"Thou hast our word," and with a gesture gave the Duke his _congé_. + +That very night just as the early moon began to whiten the Towers of +old London, the key turned in the door of Lady Constance' cell; but +turned so lazily--either from indolence or an unaccustomed hand--that +her ladyship looked up and saw to her surprise a new gaoler. He +smiled, thereby giving to the heart of its object a great thrill of +joy, for it meant kindliness and kindliness is often predicated of +selfishness or a desire for things one has not. + +"What is thy name, fool?" + +"Just plain Fool," and he gave her due obeisance. + +"And why so?" + +"Is it not enough to be so christened by so great a lady?" + +"Then thou art not a subsidiary but chief factotum?" + +"Aye, the other is ill and I have spent the afternoon in learning +the--names." + +"Thou shouldst be well paid for so short a season.--Is he serious?" + +"I hope so, good lady." + +"Oh! if thou wouldst make profit of thy time, begin by bringing hither +for my supper good ale and wine, with sugar and spices; and I will +brew thee such a horn as thou hast ne'er thought on before. And thou +for each good turn shalt drink a wassail to thy buxom wench and shalt +have money for the basset-table." + +It is needless to say that Buckingham knew his man, and Constance' +desires for one whom she could bribe. The latter's first and only +desire was for means of escape, and to this end tried to bribe the +keeper for man's attire. This was not the Duke's aim, and Constance, +being thwarted, struck quickly upon another means. + +She succeeded in getting the promise of a visit from Cantemir, who was +little able to be about, but he intended to see her of his own accord, +that he might move her to a lively interest in the salvation of her +soul. + +In anticipation of his visit, Constance had obtained through the +gaoler certain drugs of nondescript virtues. These she carefully hid +and made her final preparations for a speedy flight. + +Cantemir stopped for a moment, as he stepped from the chair, and +looked up at the prison walls, that were made grey and indistinct by +the clouded moon and falling rain. Religion had changed him even more +than the ravages of disease. His true self had awakened, and the +beauty of it had devoured the Satanic expression that was wont to lie +upon his countenance. His face fairly beamed with a light that came +from within, where his soul stirred now free from sin's fetters. + +He was conducted by the keeper through the windings of the sombre +corridors to the cell of Constance, who greeted him with the words: + +"Now, Adrian, we can excuse wantonness in the devil, but never +slothfulness in religion. We have no shrines here as abroad; what has +kept thee from thy captive cousin?" + +"I am not late, Constance; thou art impatient, and as for shrines, I +carry one in my heart all the time, and thou must have one, too--" + +"Damn! We have no time to prate. I must get out of this vile +hole.--Hast thou seen the devil Duchess lately?" + +"Aye, yesterday I saw her riding out. She is very beautiful, but she +has changed--" + +"Changed--how?" + +"She has grown fleshy--" + +"Ah! say not 'fleshy' but fat! fat! Now what good fortune is this? The +Duke will be getting a divorce, for he doth abominate a fat woman. +Good, good! I must see her. I shall pay her a visit before I leave for +France." + +"Thou wilt have far to journey, for they leave at once for Ellswold. +The case will be settled within a few days at most." + +"A few days at most? Legal folderol, a mere shade of a trial. Aye; I +must see her Grace. I have a message for her." + +"I will serve thee; Constance, I will take thy message--" Adrian was +interrupted by the entrance of the gaoler, who brought in cordial +juleps. Her ladyship made the fellow drink, before she would allow him +to go. Then, as he left them again, she said,-- + +"Thou canst not; it is a message no one can deliver but me," and as if +to seal her words she poured down a good, round bumper. + +"What dost mean, Constance? Thou art too subtle for me!" + +"Too subtle? Hast thou lost the art of penetration? Then I'll tell +thee, thou--the 'Ranter,' as they call thee. Thou who hast become +Bunyan's squire. I am going to poison my lady or give her a dagger +thrust. She must die." + +"Thou art the devil, Constance; but there is one who can outwit the +devil, and he will do it, too." + +"What hast thou to say about it?" + +"Thou shalt not do it." + +"What wilt thou do to prevent it?" + +"I will put the house of Ellswold on their guard." + +"Thou wilt not help me to escape, and thou wilt run with tales to +Ellswold. Thou wouldst keep me here, that I might soon die, so thou +couldst have my estates. Poor, puny thing, that art upon death's +threshold now. Thou wouldst have me die, so thou couldst live +luxuriously and use as much of my wealth as thou couldst, leaving +behind a paltry residue for the Crown. Thou wouldst indeed!" said +Constance, scornfully, as she fumbled in the folds of her dress for +the small bottle hidden there. + +"Constance," said Cantemir, under his breath, as he lifted one of the +mixtures before him, "thou must not kill. Let me awaken thy better +nature--" + +"Nay; she must die!" + +"I will not remain longer with thee, if thou dost hold such foul +intent. Take back thy words. I will give thee no rest until thou dost. +There is a God who will sweeten thy ill feeling for Katherine--" + +"Shut thy mouth, fool!" and she spoke with such fury Adrian's heart +sank within him, and his head fell upon his arms upon the table. "Thou +wilt have a season of prayer, then; so be it. Maybe, if thou prayest +with thy whole heart for sixty seconds, mine will change," and as she +said the words, she dropped some deadly thing into his glass. + +The wine was not moved nor discoloured, and as Cantemir raised his +head, took hold upon it, and lifted and drank it nearly half. + +"I love thee, cousin, with a Christian spirit, and I cannot see thee +lose thy--soul." A shiver passed through his thin frame, and when +he again began to speak, he drooled sick'ningly. "I say thou shalt +not--kill her--and some one--else says it--I will watch thee in +spirit--" + +Constance wished him to die quickly, that she might not be obliged to +look upon prolonged horrors. She could easily arrange his position, +with his head upon the table, to look quite natural, as if in drunken +sleep, and when the keeper came, she would give him a like portion, +before he could make any discovery, and when they were both +despatched, she would don Cantemir's attire and take the keeper's +keys and be gone. She quickly poisoned another glass, then looked at +Cantemir. So horrible was the glassy glare in his eye, she made as +if to arise from the table, but he leant over and grasped her hand. +Constance' face was livid with fear, and beside, she heard the gaoler. +As the keys were turned in the door, Cantemir's head dropped back +against the chair, and he sat upright, but dead; his hand fastened +tight upon his cousin's. She screamed and fell, half-fainting, across +the table. The keeper sprung to her aid, and took hold of the full +goblet of wine and pressed it to her lips. She tried to recover +herself, seeming to know 'twas not the time to indulge in a fainting +fit; but the strain was too much, her body was stronger than her mind, +and she mechanically took the goblet and poured the contents down +her throat. A thought must have come to her with the rapidity of +lightning, for she jerked the goblet from her mouth, spilling the dark +fluid over her. She glared at the empty cup with distended eyeballs, +and screaming once wildly, fell heavily across the table. + +It had turned out differently and better than Buckingham had thought; +and after making a hasty trip into France, whence he was immediately +recalled by his King--who was luxuriating in the easement of pecuniary +difficulties--he journeyed to Ellswold to present to the young +Duchess certain rare laces, gems and porcelains he had found--so he +intimated--among the Russian Count's possessions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE GARDEN OF YOUTH + + +The meeting of Katherine and her father was a joyous one. As Sir John +pressed her to his heart, Janet knelt at his feet, kissing the hand +he held out to her. And there stood by the Duke of Ellswold and Sir +Julian, the latter having received at last the most gracious welcome +from the Duchess. + +But yet Pomphrey was not happy; his conscience troubled him beyond +measure. So he set about to make himself right with the world. He +argued that adoration should be given to God only, and when one was so +selfish and thoughtless to give it to another being, it was time he +looked to his soul. And for the correction of this serious fault, +he left Ellswold and went into France, and in a short time became a +devout _religieux_. + +Lady Bettie Payne was so wrought upon by this great change in Sir +Julian's life, for a fortnight she remained within her chamber, trying +to feel what 'twould be like to live the life of a nun. But this +season of devotion was suddenly interrupted by a visit from St. Mar, +of whom she was very fond. He asked her hand in marriage and was +accepted. + +In course of time a family of three boys and two girls were born to +the Duke and Duchess. A great christening party was in preparation. +The Duchess was worried about the christening robe, that had not yet +arrived, and she said to Janet,-- + +"Indeed, Janet, this delay reminds me of my anxiety over the chests +that were to bring me my first finery--dost remember, at Crandlemar?" + +"Aye. It does not take much of a memory to think back seven years!" + +"Seven years! Why, Janet, thou art growing old!" + +"Nay, sweet Mistress; but the two generations I now nurse are very +young." + +"'Tis true.--But what thinkest thou could detain the chest? Father +Pomphrey cannot be kept waiting for a christening robe. And to think +of Lady Ann being baptized in a common frock! 'Twould make Bettie St. +Mar laugh; she already feels quite jealous because we are the first +to have Father Pomphrey. And methinks, Janet, now that she is in +expectancy--she will so vibrate 'twixt France and England,--fearing +she will not be near Father Pomphrey for the christening--that little +Julian and François will forget which is home." + +"She need not do that; he could go to France." + +"Nay, not so; for he leaves at once for Rome and will not return to +England ere summer, meaning not to stop at all in France." + +"Ah! that makes me think of what I heard him say to Monsieur St. Mar +in the nursery. 'Twas something about a christening. Monsieur said: +'Thou art expected at Crandlemar Castle?' and Father Pomphrey +answered: 'Aye, sometime before next Michaelmas.'" + +"Then Lady Bettie will remain in England mayhap." + +"'Tis possible." + +"What did he say of the children, Janet?" + +"Of my lord Duke's and thine?" + +"Aye." + +"He said not a word of them in particular, but fondled all alike, +calling each by name, and now I think on't, I wonder he could remember +a dozen or so, when he has not yet been three days in the castle. +'Twas 'Lady Mary' and 'Sir Jasper' and 'Lady Jane' and 'Lady Kate' and +'Lord Ivor'; and for each he had a story. And Monsieur grew tired, and +my lord Duke asked Sir Julian if the children did not tire him also, +and he answered: 'Duke, there is a peculiarly wholesome knowledge +that we cannot obtain save through a child's mind; and while in the +companionship of children, we are surrounded by a field of flowers, +whose glory fructifies the good germ within us, and Wisdom--that +tallest flower, that knows no harvest--springs up at prime, blossoms +forth at compline and grows a fragrant staff, upon which man leans in +the night of life.' Then they walked away, and I heard no more." + +"Dear Father Pomphrey--" Then for a moment the Duchess looked with a +far-away expression out upon the snow-covered landscape, then, on +a sudden, she said, almost pettishly,--"But, Janet, what keeps the +chest?" + +"Perhaps 'tis Providence." + +"What dost mean; how Providence?" + +"Thou hast ordered the robe to be so perfect, so in accordance with +the Royal mode, the child will be in torment. Indeed, I am afraid +'twill make the little lady ill to be so encased. Ah! but thou art +great folk, and, as Dent hath said, such people 'spend their time in +tricking and trimming, pricking and pinning, pranking and pouncing, +girding and lacing and braving up themselves in most exquisite +manner;--these doubled and redoubled ruffles, these strouting +fardingales, long locks and fore tufts;--it was never a good world +since starching and steeling, buskes and whalebones, supporters and +rebatoes, full moons and hobbyhorses came into use.' I doubt not that +Father Pomphrey himself will demur at such cruelty." + +But the chest came in time, and Katherine was satisfied. + +The castle was filled with guests, and the nurseries full of +bright young children waiting impatiently to be taken to the great +picture-gallery, where, under the limned faces of many generations, +the christening was to take place. + +An altar had been raised; and upon it was the golden service, a little +apart the font, and upon either side of the long gallery were flowers +banked 'neath specially honoured portraits. + +At the appointed hour the children defiled down the long room, then +came the other guests, and finally Sir Julian Pomphrey in his robe of +office--Father Pomphrey, so elegant, loving, good; a princely priest. +Then came Janet with little Lady Ann in her arms; the child appearing +like an Egyptian mummy in white bands. The Duke and Duchess looked +handsome and proud, And when the celebration was concluded, all form +was dissipated, the children gathering about the youngster for a +"peep," then scampered to the flowers. And as the elder folk looked +on, some one opined that the human nosegay was more gorgeous of +apparel and glow of cheek than the Ayrshire rose or the twisted +eglantine. Then suddenly the children gathered about a single portrait +of remarkable rich colouring, and little Lady Margaret came running +and saying with a lisp,-- + +"Come, see, Father; 'tis the prettiest picture here, and there are no +flowers 'neath it." + +"What, no flowers?" and Father Pomphrey looked down in feigned +surprise. + +"Why, here _is_ a flower!" and the child lifted a crushed immortelle +from the parquetry and gave it to the priest, who quickly made the +sign of the cross and said something almost inaudible about the flower +being prophetic; and then he leant close to the child's ear, saying,-- + +"Will Lady Margaret do something for Father Pomphrey?" + +"Aye, anything--" + +"Remember always to pray for the soul of Lady Constance Clarmot." Then +raising the flower, he said abstractedly,--"What gems of thought we +find in the Garden of Youth!" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mistress Penwick, by Dutton Payne + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12256 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c3b3d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12256 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12256) diff --git a/old/12256-8.txt b/old/12256-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0651e3a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12256-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10231 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mistress Penwick, by Dutton Payne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mistress Penwick + +Author: Dutton Payne + +Release Date: May 4, 2004 [EBook #12256] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISTRESS PENWICK *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +MISTRESS PENWICK + +BY + +DUTTON PAYNE + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER I +THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL + +CHAPTER II +THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR + +CHAPTER III +THE BALL + +CHAPTER IV +HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL + +CHAPTER V +BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES + +CHAPTER VI +JANET'S PHILOSOPHY + +CHAPTER VII +THE BRANTLE + +CHAPTER VIII +THE ANCIENT MONASTERY + +CHAPTER IX +SIR JULIAN POMPHREY + +CHAPTER X +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUTLERY + +CHAPTER XI +JACQUES DEMPSY + +CHAPTER XII +CASTLE AND MONASTERY + +CHAPTER XIII +AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE CHAPEL BELFRY + +CHAPTER XIV +SERMONS NEW AND OLD + +CHAPTER XV +THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM + +CHAPTER XVI +BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE + +CHAPTER XVII +TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL CONCERNED + +CHAPTER XVIII +AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA + +CHAPTER XIX +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COACH + +CHAPTER XX +UNPROCLAIMED BANNS + +CHAPTER XXI +THE ESPOUSAL + +CHAPTER XXII +CEDRIC IN THE TOILS + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE COCOANUTS OF THE KING'S CELLAR + +CHAPTER XXIV +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER + +CHAPTER XXV +THE GARDEN OF YOUTH + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL + + +"If the ship sails at dawn, then I must hasten to tell my mistress of +the departure, and--of her father's letter." + +"I am loath to let yonder tide take her away so soon, Janet." + +"But my master's words are a positive command to leave Quebec at +once," and Janet's eyes fell to the imperative line at the close of +her letter which read: "In God's name, good nurse, take my baby to +England in all haste." + +"Aye, our noble patron's desire must be carried out!" and the Mother +Superior without further lament went from the small cell. + +When the last echo of her footsteps had died away, Janet Wadham +cautiously opened the inner door and passed to the cell adjoining, and +to the low couch upon which lay her mistress in sound slumber. + +Fondly she noted the beauty of her charge; the heavy waving hair +gleaming in the fading light a bronze-like amber, the white forehead, +the arched brow, the glow of health upon lip and cheek, the slender +neck, the slope of shoulders, and the outline of a perfect form. + +Then the maid stirred and opened her eyes. Her whole body thrilled +with the awakening. + +"Ah, 'twas like the bursting of a bud! How dost feel now, Mistress?" + +"I am not ill at all. I am a martyr to thy imagination. Dost remember +the time, Janet, I drowsed in the chapel and thou didst make me drink +bitterwort for a fortnight?" and the girl's voice rung out in soft +laughter. + +"Aye, I have not forgotten, nor why thou wert drowsy either, Mistress +Penwick." + +"Nay, thou didst not know." + +"I did so. Thou hadst a book of tales and read nights with the candle +shaded by thy mother's landskip fan, and I gave thee aloes for thy +folly." + +"Thou dost always find me out, Janet; I shall be glad when I become a +woman as big as thou." + +"Thou art a woman to-day, and thou wilt never be as big as I; so, +having age and not a hulking servant's body, be content. I have a +letter from my master, and in it is much that concerns thee--" + +"Isn't there always much that concerns me?" + +"But not such important concernings. He has gone on a long journey and +proposes one for thee, my lambkin." Katherine raised herself in bed. +"Nay, thou must not stir or I hush my tale! Thy father has provided +thee with a guardian and 'tis to him I take thee. We go to England +by the first boat,--nay, lay back, calm thyself or I take my wagging +tongue away; if thou dost so much as stir again, I leave thee. Thou +art to go to a great house over there and see grand folks with fine +airs and modish dress. Wilt be glad to see outside of convent walls? +'Tis nine years since I brought thee here a babe of six, and have +nursed thee well to this hour, and thy strength and health and beauty +show the care given thee." She suddenly arose and went to the window +to hide if possible her agitation; but when she looked forth on the +snow-covered city and on beyond at the long range of forest that lay +low and black against the arctic sky, she turned from the gloomy scene +and went again to the couch, quickly suppressing all thoughts save +those that were purely selfish: she would be glad to bid adieu to this +great, still northern world and leave behind forever old Quebec, even +though she must divide her treasure. + +"I have been a mother to thee, child, and now I must divide my rule +with a cantankerous Scot--" + +"Nay, a Scot and lives in England?" + +"He lives in England and thy father speaks of bending somewhat thy +quick temper to the mould of self-control as a safer parry to Scotch +thrust; so I conclude the gentleman must be a Scot." + +"Janet, 'tis these awful men that wear skirts like women. I remember +many years ago when I was in Sister Agnes' room, of seeing some of +those dreadful pictures of skirts and bandy-legs. They are unseemly +things for men to wear; it is as though one were uncivilised. I hate +him already for it!" + +"Lambkin, thou must remember thy teachings. Sister Agnes would +admonish thee for saying hate. Besides thou dost not know the man, he +may be a second father to thee and cajole and pamper thy whims. He +may even eschew plaid frocks and don modish garments--that would +hide bandy-legs still less! Thy father said I must enjoin upon thee +respect, for his lordship's age; regard, for his wishes, and thou art +to obey his commands, as 'twas not possible for him to direct thee +otherwise than good. If at any time he should find thee in fault, be +the matter seemingly beneath notice, acknowledge thy wrongness, for he +hath a temper and might goad thee to greater blunder. His blood flows +hot and fast, and thou must cool and swage it with thy gentle dignity. +Inasmuch as thy moneys and estates are in my Lord Cedric's control, +thou art to receive such income from him without question. Thy father +further directs perfect submission to Lord Cedric in matters of +marriage, as he will bring suitors of high degree for thy choice and +thou wilt find among them a lover to thy liking." The rosy red flew +into the maiden's face and she trembled with a sweet new emotion she +did not understand. + +"This is the first time thou hast ever spoken to me of lovers, Janet. +Indeed very strange things seem to be happening to-day. I feel like a +bird about to fly forth from its cradle-nest, I have forgotten how the +world appears. 'Tis broad and vast; it makes me dizzy to think between +these cramped walls that never seemed so narrow heretofore!" She +lay for a moment in deep thought, then,--"Where didst say father +journeyed?" + +"He said not, but intimated 'twas a place of safety where he was +happy to go from political intrigue and war, and where he shall meet +friends." + +"Why did he not inscribe some words to me?" + +"He speaks of an epistle of welcome--and farewell to be given thee +by Lord Cedric upon thy arrival in England. 'Twill give thee greater +pleasure then." + +"But Janet; a Scot! A blustering, red-faced Scot with petticoats! Hast +ever seen one outside of pictures?" + +"Aye, Lambkin, and 'twas the unseemly kilt that was the better part; +for I have met a blustering red-faced Scot as thou sayest; and he +was boisterous and surly, giving vent to a choleric temper by coarse +oaths; and 'twas his plaid denoted a gentleman of high rank withal. +The long hair that swept his shoulders was as florid as his face, as +was also his flowing whiskers and mustachio, the latter being bitten +short and forming a bristling fringe over a slavering mouth,--what is +it, Mistress, thou art pale, has pain taken thee?" + +"Nay, 'tis nausea, an awful loathing; I wish to remain here. Send at +once my desires to my father. I will not go to England, Janet!" + +"'Tis better thou shouldst think of something else beside my Lord +Cedric, for instance, his great demesne, Crandlemar Castle, the most +beautiful of his several seats; the splendid horses and equipages; +and, thyself, Lambkin, think of thyself bedecked in gorgeous hued +brocades; be-furbelowed in rare lace and costly furs. And thou wilt +have a maid to build thy hair, tie shoulder knots and make smart +ribbons and frills, and furbish bijoux and gems. And thou wilt wear +perfume, and carry a nosegay and fan. And thou wilt sweep the most +graceful courtesy and queen it everywhere with thy sweet graciousness. +Thy father says thou shouldst become an idol to the old man's heart, +as my lord is without wife or daughter." + +"If his demesne be in England, 'tis but right he should become as far +as possible a genuine Anglo-Saxon, and if I can turn him, I will. How +soon does the boat sail?" + +"Within forty-eight hours we shall be upon the sea and thou wilt +have begun to whimper and bemoan its awful swell. 'Twill have more +evacuating power than teeth-curtailed mustachios upon thy heretofore +staunch stomach." + +"Nay, I will not believe my Lord Cedric such a man; and yet thou hast +drawn a picture that will be ever before me until I see him. Sister +Agnes would say,--'there is a sinfulness in doubt and anxiety, +inasmuch as such thoughts lash the soul to uneasiness and draw it +from celestial contemplations. Think not on it!' neither will I, +but rather, I will fancy the morrow's sun glinting upon myriad +white-capped waves; the bosom of the ocean swelling with emotion +and--didst say 'twould make me ill, Janet?" + +"I am afraid of it, 'twill be glorious if thou art not; for 'tis a +wonderful thing to see the rise and fall of sun and moon, and witness +storms that seldom fail to lend their fearfulness to the voyagers of +so long a journey." + +"Wilt thou be afraid, Janet?" + +"Nay, not I; 'twill be the elixir of ambrosia to breathe salt air +again, and the stronger and more mist-laden the better to knock out +foul exhalations sucked in these nine years from musty walls. 'Twill +be sweet to have the wind rap from us the various fungi that comes +from sunless chambers. Ah, a stiff breeze will rejuvenate thy fifteen +years one month to a lusty, crowing infant and my forty all-seasons to +a simpering wench." + +"How splendid, Janet!" Katherine threw out her arms and drew a long, +deep breath. "'Twill be glorious to breathe pure, free air!" + +"Aye, my Lambkin, and thy chest will broaden and be larger by two good +inches ere we see chalk cliffs and English waters. Thou wilt open +like a rose to the sunshine of the outer world. But, we are +anticipating--let us speak of the present. To-night we go to vespers +for the last time, and thou must bid thy friends adieu before I tuck +thee in thy cot as we arise and are off before day-dawn. Let thy +farewells be briefly spoken as if thou wert to be gone but a day. +'Twas thy father's wish thou shouldst not grieve at parting with thy +companions, or the Sisters or Mother. 'Tis best to leave them the +remembrance of a face happy, rather than one steeped in sorrow. Say +to them what thy heart dictates, but with a quick tongue and bright +countenance; 'twill tend to suppress tears and numb the pain at thy +heart. When thou art thus engaged I will prepare us for journeying. +Wilt thou wear thy Sunday gown?" + +"'Tis none too good! couldst put on a ribbon to relieve its greyness?" + +"Ah, Lambkin, thou hast begun already with thy fine lady's notions! +thou wilt be crying for high-heeled boots and built-up hair and stays, +stays, Mistress, stays wilt be thy first cry--oh, Lambkin, thou art +heavy-hearted and I am turning myself into a fool to physic thy +risibles;--I wish we were upon the sea at this moment; if it were +possible I should have taken thee while thou wert in sleep; but nay, +I could not; for thou art a maiden grown and art plump and heavy with +all. If I had taken thee so, thou wouldst have wept anyway, perhaps; +for 'tis thy nature to have thy own way. 'Twould be a cross to thy +father could he see thee now. I doubt not 'twould turn the Scot's +bull-scaring face to ashen hues, 'tis possible--" Katherine's soft +rippling laugh interrupted her, and at its sound Janet leant and +kissed the maid's pink-palmed hands as they lay upon the coverlet, +and taking them within her own fondled them, saying,--"And thou +wilt surprise my lord and his friends by thy rare playing of the +clavichord, and 'tis possible so great and wealthy a man will own a +piano-forte of which we have heard so much; and mayhap thou will be +presented at Court, and in great London town thou mayest see many +musicians from France, for 'tis not improbable they are brought over +the channel at the instance of his Majesty. Is it not grand to think +of all these things, Lambkin?" + +"Aye, 'tis glorious! But Janet, let me up and dress me--ah, it seems +an age until the morrow!" + +'Twas with greater care than usual Janet made ready her Mistress. And +after sundry admonitions about cold corridors and draughts, opened the +door and watched her in silence as she passed through, and down the +hall to vespers. And when evening prayer was over and Katherine had +gone to say adieu, Janet began to pack the chests for their early +flight; her heart exultant, save for the sorrow of not seeing her +master again as she believed and having some little fear of the new +one she was about to encounter. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR + + +The adieux had been said, the night had come and gone, and with the +dawn the tide drew away carrying with it a large vessel upon the deck +of which stood Janet and Katherine wrapped in long traveling capes. + +"'Tis the most wondrous sight I ever beheld! Thinkest thou the +Bethlehem Star could have been more beautiful than yonder Lucifer. +Indeed it seems, Janet, we see in all nature the reflection of the +Christ; the birth of dawn; the presence of the star; these black +waters. 'Tis awesome! Listen, Janet, thou must acknowledge thou +hearest something more than plaint of ocean. 'Tis something more than +sound. It fills me with an exultation I cannot analyze. Dost feel it, +Janet?" + +"I cannot tell what I feel, Mistress." And Janet covered her mouth +to smother her laughter; first of all because she felt seasick, and +secondly the child's words stirred in her no such youthful enthusiasm. +She was not yet rejuvenated. + +"And with all this glory of nature filling me I can less understand +Sister Phelia's words at parting. Her eyes seemed to burn to my very +soul as she said: 'Dost not feel as thou art leaving these sacred +walls that thou art passing from a retreat where the Blessed Virgin +ever guides thee?' 'I have felt her presence ever, said I. 'But 'tis +better to renounce the world and have strength to live in seclusion,' +she answered. I made bold and replied that I thought it required much +greater strength to go on the battlefield of the world and be good +than live within the impenetrable walls of a cloister where bin cannot +come. 'But, child, thou wilt see beautiful things made by the hand +of man that will fill thy heart leaving not room for the Divine +Presence.' 'Nay,' said I, 'I shall see God's work in every beauteous +thing and I shall trust Him for the gift of penetration to see through +filthy rags and distorted body the beauty of the soul.' 'Twas her wish +that I should write her once a year of my spiritual condition and to +think of her as being happy in her isolation. And with this strange +light about us, the farewell recurs to me and I wonder that human +beings could shut themselves from so beauteous a thing as Nature in +their fear of contamination by sin!" + +"My Lambkin, 'they talk strongest who never felt temptation;' thou +art going into a world thou hast not seen, much less, felt its +power. Sister Phelia is right. We acknowledge the Divine Presence is +everywhere; she intimated thou wert leaving a place where sin was not, +to go where it abounded. There is one place, however, we may always be +sure of finding the divine atom whether we be in seclusion or abroad; +'tis in our own heart and called before the ages, 'Holy Ghost.' Many +of us fail to recognize it; others cry 'insolvency'; but the better +part draw on it with confidence. It honours our call and gives us +on demand, conscience, with which we can withstand all sin if we so +desire." + +The second day upon the water Janet fell a victim to _mal-de-mer_, and +'twas Katherine who turned nurse; and after four or five days +Janet grew better and was half ashamed, veiling her confusion with +self-accusation: "'Tis good enough for me, 'twas wrong to be eating +pork, 'tis positively forbidden us. I lay it to that! I gave myself +over to eating to make up for a fast of nine long years. Thou hadst +not a qualm because thou hast been fed on wine and porridge and beef +gruel and whey. The clearness of thy body speaks for a pure stomach. +Let the awfulness of my condition warn thee. Thou must never grumble +when I take from thee weightier food than thou hast been used to. But, +Lambkin, we have had a glorious voyage inasmuch as we have had both +calm and storm; had I been privileged to do the ordering, we could not +have had better weather." + +Janet and her mistress walked the deck when 'twas possible, from rise +to set of sun, and Katherine expanded until her convent dress became +straightened, and she retired to her bed while Janet let out seams, +augmenting it to her mistress' further comfort and development. + +It was almost with regret that they espied land; for Janet was +anxious, and Katherine was apprehensive of the Scot, and as the white +cliffs appeared to rise higher they each wished the sea journey had +just begun. + +At last they stood upon English soil, and so bewildered was Katherine +she could only cling to Janet's dress like a frightened child; there +was such a clamour, 'twas like pandemonium. The poor frightened thing +was inclined to believe that the people were mad and raving, and was +hardly called to concentration of thought when Lord Cedric's Chaplain +stood before them dumbfounded by her beauty. + +He was a pale, little man, who managed with difficulty to collect his +senses and lead them to an equipage of imposing richness that stood +not far away. And immediately after chests and sundry articles of +travel were placed upon the coach, the rolling wheels carried them +through the town and on beyond, over plains and hills and lonely +moors, through forests of oak and beech, coloured in the grey of +winter. Nor did the ponderous vehicle stop save for a hurried +refreshment or a short night's rest at some wayside inn. + +Lord Cedric's orders were not being strictly carried out. The Chaplain +was to bring back to the castle Janet Wadham and baby. Here was the +first-named, but where was the child? The little man was fearful he +had made some mistake, and grew exceedingly nervous when they at last +spied the battlements of Crandlemar Castle, and the child for whom he +had gone must be accounted for. + +Night was falling as the equipage bearing Mistress Katherine and her +attendants passed between the massive stone pillars of the gate +into the long avenues bordered by leafless trees; and when yet some +distance from the castle, the occupants could catch glimpses of many +lighted windows. Katherine lay back on the cushions tired, timid, +half-fearful, wondering. Not so Janet; she craned body and neck +fearful lest some small detail of the visible grandeur might escape +her. In a moment more they had stopped at the great entrance, and +immediately the ponderous doors were thrown wide by two ugly little +dwarfs in magnificent livery. Out trooped other menials of perhaps +less age and greater dignity, quickly gathering from the equipage the +chests and bags and other articles of less cumbrousness. Mistress +Katherine, with Janet by her side, was so blinded by the glare of +lights and furbished gildings, she saw naught, but followed on up +winding stairs, stepping twice upon each broad step; through corridors +and alcoves and winding halls, and in her ears was the sound of men's +and women's soft laughter, and she breathed the perfume of flowers, +and inhaled as they passed some half-open door, the odour of _paudre +de rose_ and jasmine. + +A woman older, less comely than Janet, and having the smirk of a +perfunctory greeting upon her flabby face, stood within the room +assigned to Mistress Katherine. As her eyes fell upon the maid, she +stepped back surprised, and with a confusion she essayed to hide in +her coarse voiced acknowledgment of their presence. + +"The child, madam, where's the child? 'is Ludship sent me to take +charge of the hinfant and 'er nurse." + +Janet's voice rang like steel as she said,--"Thou canst fondle me to +thy heart's content, but the 'hinfant his' a maiden grown and well +able to look after her own swathings; 'twould better serve thee and us +to get thee below and prepare thine 'hinfant' grown some meat and +wine with etceteras, and plenty of them, for she hath a lusty and +ever-present appetite. But stay, where wilt thou cradle thy babe's +nurse, in this room beyond the closet?" With a superhuman effort, as +it were,--the woman, confident of the importance of her position, +and the forbearance such an one should have in dealing with the less +consequential,--suppressed her choler and raised her eyebrows, and +spoke with the coldness of her betters. + +"Thou wilt sleep there for a time, at least until 'is Ludship's guests +'ave gone; the nurseries 'ave been turned into guests' rooms,--'is +Ludship 'as Royalty beneath 'is roof and bade me take the--the child +to the furth'rest room and keep hits squawking 'ushed!" With a +deprecating gesture, she shuffled from the room. + +'Twas a great square apartment, with low ceiling, a small hearthstone +and an immense bedstead with tester and outer coverings of flowered +chintz. The light from the two small candles upon the high +mantel-shelf were dimmed by the greater light from the hearth. + +With a long, heavy sigh, which ended in a quiet half-hearted laugh, +Katherine flung herself back in a huge chair and said,-- + +"Art not afraid to lash tongues with a trusted servant of my Lord +Cedric? She may give thee an ill name." + +"Nay, rather, if I had boxed' er hears' 'twould have been better. +Indeed, if thou hadst been absent I should have brawled it with her. +'Ludship'--'tis the cant of a pot house wench,--'is Ludship' to me, +who has been consorting with Sister Agnes and Phelia and Drusah and +the Mother Superior of the Ursuline. Wilt let me dress thee now?" + +"Nay, Janet, I will cleanse my face and hands, have my supper--for I'm +nearly famished, and jump into yonder bed that hath a lid--" + +"Why, Lambkin, that is a tester, 'tis the first thou hast seen! But, +Lambkin, I would have thee don thy pretty white dress and go down to +more cheerful surroundings." + +"Nay, Janet, I could not raise courage. Have my supper brought up!" + +"My blessed Lambkin, I will take thee down and see that they give thee +proper food for thy coach-jostled stomach. Thou shalt have a room and +table to thyself. I'll see to it. I thought upon it coming up to this +sky-begotten chamber. The toddy would freeze stiff and the pheasants +grow to clamminess on so long and frigid a journey. I will dress thee +and then will find my way down and make things ready for thy comfort +and privacy." + +'Twas a soft, white, clinging gown, high-necked and long-sleeved, with +the perfume of incense in its folds, Janet vested her mistress in. The +thick rolls of hair framing her face glinted with bronze and amber +sheen. Her warm youthful blood coloured her countenance with the tints +of the peach blossom. Thus she stood gloriously beautiful; ready for +conquest. + +Janet went below, nor was she gone long ere she came again to her +mistress' side. + +"Didst see any signs of petticoats. Janet?" + +"Nay, mistress," and her voice was sober and intense. "I tried to find +a servants' stairway, but it seemed all were grand and confusing. And +every moment lackeys rushed by me bearing trays of smoking viands, +and not even so much as looking my way. At last I found one I thought +would take the time to answer a question and I asked him the way +below. He answered me civilly and conducted me saying the while, that +'twas a grand party his Lord Cedric was having; members of the Royal +family being present; he even mentioned the Dukes of Buckingham and +Monmouth. The boy was so filled with good sense I am sure, Mistress, +he spoke truly and that we are within a very great man's house. I +found old flabby, and she took me to a cosy little room with a table +ready spread. So come, my Lambkin, when his Lordship finds not a baby +but a rare gem for his costly setting, his heart will bound with +pleasure and he will regret he did not prepare for a great lady +instead of an infant." + +Timorously the maid followed Janet through intricate windings to the +broad stairway. + +"Janet, take me through the servants' passage for this once!" + +"Nay, thou art a lady, and as such must keep to the grand aisles." So +on they went traversing lofty corridors. In one of these they suddenly +came upon a young gallant of youthful beauty; a mould of elegance and +strength; his countenance was flushed and shaded by curling black hair +that fell loose upon his shoulders. In his shapely, white, bejewelled +fingers he held a blood-red rose, and as his eyes fell upon the most +beautiful face he had ever beheld, he caught his breath and held the +rose to his face to hide his devouring glances as she swept by him +under the soft light cast by the sconces above her head. In a moment +he was upon the stairway, breathless and panting, and leaning over, +dropped the rose at her feet. Her face grew as rosy as the thing +itself, but passing on made none other sign. + +"'Tis a conquest thou hast made the first hour, and thou acknowledged +thy victory with naught but a modest maiden blush. But, Lambkin, his +body was not a match for thine; 'twas inclined to be too slender. I +shall pick for thee a beau like Sir Williams's Romeo." + +They had now come to where the table awaited Katherine, and Janet +bustled about handing things for her mistress' convenience; then +hurried out to send in the warm food from the oven. + +"Janet, didst say the bird was a pheasant?--'Tis grand tasting!" + +"Aye, Mistress, and there was a score of other things that I would not +let thee eat; 'twould make pimples on thy snowy neck and shoulders." + +"Dost think perchance the young man upon the stairway was the Duke +of Monmouth? He was very handsome, Janet, I think he was very, very +handsome." + +"Thou dost have the names of the great upon thy tongue as commonly +as thou sayest Janet; 'tis more than probable he is a country squire +and--" + +"Dear Janet, go get thy supper and get back to me, for I would rather +remain here alone than in yonder chamber. 'Tis grand to live in so +great a house, 'tis better than--than the convent. How soon shall +I have fine frocks and jewels and--a beau like yonder one on the +stairway?" + +"Thou art becoming exercised prematurely; his Lordship may not +condescend to visit his puling babe before his guests depart. In such +case, thou wilt have time to cool thy haste. I will go now. Do not eat +too much, Lambkin." Janet looked back admiringly as she left the room; +her eyes upon her mistress' daintily ruddy face, smiling at her from +between two tall candles. + +Every appointment of room and table was essentially English, and +Mistress Katherine cast her eye about wondering if 'twas so, or, were +they Scotch? She inclined to the former, and a sigh of relief and +happiness escaped her. + +Suddenly there was a sound of hurrying footsteps with an accompanying +one of broad Scotch oaths in no low key. A lackey carrying a bag-pipe +rushed into the room and out again without noticing its occupant. +At his very heels was a big Scotchman of large and ridiculous +proportions; red hair, red face, red whiskers, red mustachios, and +bandy-legs, petticoats and all; and a tongue ripping out hot oaths. +In a moment Katherine was upon her feet, her eyes flashed forth +indignation. The keen eyes of the Scot saw her at a glance. He looked, +stared, then bent almost to the floor before her and waited thus for +her to speak. She, not accustomed to the masculine courtesies of +polite breeding, thought his attitude was too prolonged for either a +bow of homage or humiliation; and she straightway in a voice that was +tremulous with emotion, said: + +"Has the bitterness of thy tongue taken root in thy stomach?" Quickly +he raised himself at her first word and gazed with enamoured looks at +the amber folds of hair, her glowing face; and with panting breath his +eyes rested upon the round fulness of her form as it palpitated with +rightful perturbance. + +"Betake thyself before I inform Lord Cedric of thy presence!" And +she rapped smartly her knife-handle upon the table. "Betake thyself, +begone!" He did not stir nor find breath until she stood forth from +the table and he saw her beauteous being from head to dainty toe of +convent sandal. Then he found voice, and in broad Scotch begged her +clemency, advancing toward her the while and almost kneeling in his +humility. + +"If I did not know the queen--" + +"'Tis presuming for thee to speak of knowing her; thou dishonourest +the noble plaid thou wearest. Begone from me, sir, instantly. Begone, +I say!" + +"Nay, I shall not begone. Tell me who thou art, I know thee not!" + +"Tell thee? Nay, 'twould displease my lord if he knew I held converse +with thee thus. He would no doubt send thee from the castle." + +"But who is thy lord, pray?" + +"Lord Cedric of Crandlemar!" + +"Ah, ah,--but it does not displease him. Lord Cedric says thou shalt +talk to him the balance of his days." The maid shrunk further from him +in sheer loathing. At the moment Janet entered, and the rough Scot +turned upon her, and in a voice of command, said,-- + +"Who is this maid, woman?" Janet scanned him for a moment and a bit of +truth flashed upon her. + +"'Tis the honoured daughter of Sir John Penwick," and she bowed to the +floor. + +"Ah! ah!!" He retreated in dismay and for a moment was silent, +encumbered with emotions of surprise, admiration, wonderment and +doubt. "Then thou art my ward and thou hatest me already--" + +"Thou, thou Lord Cedric, the master of this great house?" And +Katherine in the confidence of Janet's presence, laughed in scorn and +swept from the room disdaining his commands to remain longer. For a +moment he stood stunned as it were; then started toward the door and +looked after their retreating forms, exclaiming the while,-- + +"Ah!--ah!! Thou a convent baggage ordering the lord of the castle from +thy presence. Never have I been so talked to before. Damn me, I love +thy gorgeous self, thy beauteous body; thou my ward to have and to +hold. I may if I choose say to thee, thou shalt, or thou shalt not. +Hey, hey, there, Christopher!" He knocked loudly upon the panelling +of the door. A lackey entered trepidated. "Go and bring in haste from +Wasson the letter written by Sir John Penwick. Haste thee, mind!" He +turned to the table as if the shadow of her being still rested there +and spoke the continuation of his thought. "'Tis a bit of paper, +Mistress Katherine, that has become of more worth than a king's +ransom. The last will and testament of Sir John Penwick bequeathing to +my father a priceless property,--Thou wert slow, Christopher, but I +forgive thee." He tore the letter from the lackey's hands and sat upon +the chair drawing the candle to his convenience and read aloud: + +"'Cedric: When we parted twenty odd years ago 'twas in anger. I hope +thou hast forgotten it as I have.' My poor father had forgotten and +yearned to tell him so. 'I'm upon my death-bed and my consolation is +the remembrance of our mutual faith plighted to each other a short +time before our quarrel. 'Twas the bit of Scotch blood in thee that +brought us to contentious wrangle. I 'minded thee at the time thou +wouldst grieve for thy hot words, and 'tis a balm I send thee for thy +grieved heart; 'tis my baby Kate'--Baby, baby of course I thought +her so and sent her to a nurse's nookery at the top of the towers +to silence the wench's squawkings, and gave Stephen the care of the +freshest young heifer, that the youngster might not lack for proper +food, 'now under her nurse's care in the Ursuline Convent at Quebec. +The child has been environed with all that is pure and good, and will +come to thee with the sweet incense of the cloister clinging about +her. I have heard but once of thee, and 'twas that thy young wife died +leaving thee without heirs. If such be so, thou wilt find a solace in +my baby. Guard her as thine own. I have only enough gold to send her +with her nurse to thy protection.' She will be obliged to come to me +for all things, and I will spoil my own pleasure by giving her before +she asks. 'In my epistle to Janet Wadham I spoke of moneys and estates +being in thy hands. 'Tis a lie that will bring to thy mind more +vividly than aught else my personality--_suppressio veri_; but if thou +findest a like propensity in my babe, thou wilt deal gently but firmly +with her for its correction. I give into thy keeping more than house, +lands or titles. I would direct clemency toward my beloved servant; +she has proven most faithful. My wife truly loved her and at her +child's birth was constantly tended by the vigilant Janet; and 'twas +her desire she should remain always with the babe. Enclosed thou will +find a letter to be given to my daughter upon her arrival to thy care; +'tis a letter of both welcome and farewell. Some day thou must tell +her I am gone on my last journey, tell her when she is surrounded by +pleasant distractions that she may not grieve. She knows naught of +trouble, neither would I have her know. 'Tis possible she may have +some religious ideas that are not identical with thine. She may be +laden with all sorts of shrines, picture-books, candles, crosses and +beads; these religion's playthings thou of sterner mould wilt hardly +consider. My last wish and the one of greatest import to my child is +that thou find for her a spouse of rank and fortune; 'tis my desire +that she marry early to such an one. Ah, Cedric, if thou had hadst a +son, their union would have been our delight; for when thou seest my +Kate thou wilt see the most beautiful thing in life.' + +"Aye, she is the most beautiful thing in life. She is mine, my very +own, her father gives her to me for marriage--marriage, and 'tis a +speedy one he asks, and she shall have it. I love her, love her, my +whole being throbs with mad desire. She is the sweetest maid on earth, +and I drink from the cup upon which her rich, red lips have rested; +ah, 'tis sweet!" He poured a bumper and drank, then flung from the +room with great strides. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BALL + + +Meanwhile Mistress Katherine sat before the fire in the tower nookery +while Janet unpacked the luggage. + +"'Twould not be fitting for Lord Cedric to have such a man within his +house as guest!" + +"Neither has he, Lambkin; 'tis his Lordship himself." Her voice rang +truth and Katherine turned dismayed,-- + +"Nay, Janet, the man was a drunken fool! Surely, surely thou dost not +mean thy sayings. He is not a fit person to be in so great a castle. +Thou art shamming!" + +"I mean every word; 'tis my Lord _en masque_, for to-night there is to +be a great and magnificent spectacle." + +"And what does that mean, Janet?" + +"It means there is to be a masque ball, and my Lord Cedric is in his +costume, and he does not look like that at all. We may be sure he +appears quite the opposite when apparelled in his usual dress." + +"But his tongue, he cannot change that!" + +"Thou wilt have to wait and see for thyself, and fortune favours, for +now thou wilt not have long to wait. I saw his wicked young eyes--too +young for so old a man, as it appeared--directing enamoured darts upon +thee." + +"But art thou not afraid of so oath-beladen tongue? He is dreadfully +profane!" + +"He has already seen his peril and will drop his oaths like jetsam and +wilt come to thee with flotsamy oglings and tender nothings and bow +and smirk; and thou wilt find thyself an old man's sweetheart." + +"Janet, can we not find some point of observation where we may look +upon the maskers unseen?" + +"Thou art speaking my own mind. I will look about and find some +seclusion that thou mayest look and sate thine eyes upon Royalty; and +thou wilt gaze and gaze and make mental annotations, and to-morrow +thou wilt begin to preen thy feathers preparatory to flying forth; but +first thou must lie down and sleep three full hours, 'tis then the +ball will be at its height, and thou wilt feel refreshed and ready to +amuse me with thy observations. 'Twill be the grandest sight for thee. +I have seen many but none so gorgeous as this is to be." + +Janet went upon a tour of exploration and finding what she desired in +the way of a quiet corner returned for Katherine. They passed down +flights of steps, through halls, and came to a large corridor that +opened upon a gallery which encircled the ballroom, save where it was +cleft by a great stairway. As they stood looking over the railing, +'twas like looking down upon an immense concave opal, peopled by the +gorgeously apparelled. Myriad tints seeming to assimulate and focus +wherever the eyes rested. Gilt bewreathed pillars, mouldings, +shimmering satin, lights, jewels, flowers, ceiling, gallery and +parquetry appeared like a homogeneous mass of opal. Mistress Katherine +could not speak, her perturbed spirit was silent, she held to Janet +and the curtain that hung at the arch, and breathed in the perfume. + +"Canst see thy lord yonder?" + +"Nay, I see all collectively, but nothing individually; my eyes fail +to separate this from that." + +"Perhaps if thou couldst whip them to his ugly frame, 'twould prove an +antidote." + +"'Twill come in time,--I can now discern that 'tis the folk that art +moving and not the flowers and lights. I see a red figure seeming +to hurry among the dancers, looking this way and that, peering and +peeping; he has lost something." + +"'Tis more probable he is looking for what he has found; 'tis thy +stairway-beau with the rose; he has retrieved it and is hot upon the +chase again. He is looking for thee.--'Tis vain my lord-devil, thou +hadst better use the time to swathe thy feet in asbestos-flax." + +The music of the passacaglia floated up and Katherine drank in its +minor sweetness. Presently the dance changed into the chaconne with +its prominent bass theme, again turning to the poetic and stately +sarabande. + +"Now I do see the Scot; he is by far the most homely figure anywhere, +and yet, he is graceful, and it must be a very great beauty with him. +How could the master of so great a house look so?" The music changed +into a sprightly gavotte, Katherine's ears fairly tingled with the +confusion of sound. She lay her head upon Janet's bosom as if drunk +with the surfeit of music. + +"'Tis more than I could have dreamed. Didst ever see anything so +beautiful before? It seems years ago since we were within convent +walls!" + +"'Twill bring thy seeming nearer if thy lord proposes a speedy return +to the cloister." + +"Nay, I would not go." + +"Ah, then, enjoy the present and think of moments and not cycles. Here +thou shalt sit on this low divan, behind this tripod of roses; there, +thou canst hear what they whisper when the music ceases." They sat +ensconced in flowers and drapings of satin brocade, looking down +upon splendidly and wonderfully dressed princes and dukes, lords +and counts, with their ladies dancing the gavotte. There was the +perfection of beauty and stateliness and romance. The few unmasked +faces were smiling and bright with powder and rouge; dainty hands +flourished fans; and there was the low click of high heels upon +the parquetry. Jewels flashed and brocades gleamed; a shimmering +accompaniment completing the symmetry of the brilliant dance. It was +not long before Janet called her companion's attention to the lord of +the castle. He was dancing now with a very beautiful woman, even more +so than the one before. + +"He steps lightly, being so bandied. Now I think on it, 'twere +possible his legs were cushioned thus to hide a senile thinness! +'Tis human nature when badgered by excess of limit to flounder into +limitless excess. Look upon the Burgomaster at thy feet with a surfeit +of good round legs, he is unfortunate for being in excess, he cannot +whittle down. 'Tis a queer being with whom he dances,--here comes a +queen, see, she stops beneath thee,--sh--'Constance,' my lord devil +calls her, 'Constance'; what thinkest thou, is she not beautiful?" + +"See the bones in her neck, Janet, they protrude like pulpy blisters, +and she looks flat of chest for a waist so abbreviated." + +"I see thine eyes are ever upon nature, and 'tis best if thy gaze can +penetrate the heart as well." + +"Surely we have intuition, and I like not Constance." + +"How about my lord with the rose?" + +"I like him." + +"Oh, impressionable youth! 'thou art the gilded sand from which the +kiss of a wave washes every impress.' Tune thy myriad atoms to imitate +the rock, and gird thyself with strength to meet the battery of +onrushing breakers that grind against thee! Be careful, my Lambkin, +fall not in love with the first handsome face thou seest." The music +ceased; there was naught of sound, but a babble of voice and soft, gay +laughter. The guests passed up the grand stairway, and between the +pillars that guarded the entrance to the vaulted gallery beyond. +Immediately beneath, where Katherine and her nurse sat, were Constance +and her Mephistophelian consort. The former was saying: + +"And thou dost say she is extremely beautiful? In what particular is +this queen of thine so entrancing, is it in face or form?" + +"Her face is divine, and her form ravishes one with delight." + +"She is indeed fortunate to be such a goddess. If she is a +lady-in-waiting to the Royal suite she will depart to-morrow!" and +there was relief in the supposition. Constance continued: "I saw my +kinsman's list of invitation, and among them all there was not one +fitting thy description of this paragon, Adrian!" + +"She had the bearing of a princess; she must be a person of note!" + +"Adrian,"--and she grasped his arm tightly,--"dost think, thou knowing +the ways of men, Cedric could have some bright being here to keep +him from the dumps, and when guests are present, hides her in some +remoteness?" There was more in Constance' meaning than what she said. + +"Nay, nay, any man would be proud to--yet, if Cedric loved he would be +very jealous!" + +"Thinkest thou so?" + +"I am positive. To-morrow, Constance, I will watch the departure of +the guests, and, if I find not the maid, I will let thee know, and we +will pounce upon my Lord Cedric and have him bring her to our notice." + +"Nay, Adrian, I'll tell thee a better way. If she departs not with the +company to-morrow, I will search the castle and find her; for I know +every cranny. I will bring about a meeting, so thou mayest beau her +privately and win her love before Cedric knows aught; 'twill be a +grand joke to play upon him, and 'twill pay him back for trying to +hide from us the gem of his castle." They looked into each other's +eyes but an instant, and they each understood the other. + +"'Tis a compact, Constance. 'Twill be sweet to meet her in secret. +God grant she may be a member of my lord's household!" Like a prayer +Constance uttered after him, as they traversed the room to the great +stairway,--"God grant it may not be so!" + +"Unlike Hamlet's prayer, their words and thoughts both fly up, and to +such a prayer they will undoubtedly receive an answer; but whether +'twill be satisfactory to the one or the other, remains to be seen, +as the destination of their supplications was a long way this side of +heaven--" said Janet, as she wrapped her mistress in her grey convent +cape and led her without the gallery. + +"Is it possible I was the object of discussion, Janet?" + +"'Tis probable. The first trophy thou hast gained without appearing +upon the field." + +"And what is that?" + +"A woman's hate; thy rival hast given thee the first token of +success." They had reached the tower chamber and Janet began to +prepare her mistress for bed. + +"I cannot understand thee, I cannot grasp thy meaning." + +"Neither would I have thee understand; for if I took from thee thy +innocent mind, I would deprive thee of thy best weapon. Thou hadst +better chatter of thy poor, grey frock thou wilt don on the morrow." + +Katherine stood before a small mirror divested of her outer garments. +The soft white thing that bound her graceful, sloping shoulders, had +fallen loose displaying her glorious white neck and bosom. Janet +caught the mirrored reflection and understood and answered,-- + +"Nay, thou hast no pulpy blisters, neither shalt have while I feed +thee on pap and rub thee with oil; nor yet a flat chest for thy +shoulders are sunk from prominence by its fulness." + +"Shall I wear a low bodice thus, Janet?" + +"Aye, Lambkin." + +"And high-heeled boots and stays,--I must have stays before I appear +at my lord's table." + +"Thou shalt not have that 'twould squeeze thy beauteous mould." The +faithful Janet unbound her nursling as if she had been a tiny babe and +swathed her in a soft, warm thing, and bade her get to bed. Katherine +jumped to the middle and lay panting, with happy eyes that had naught +of sleep in them, until on a sudden Janet's voice rung like a menace +on her ears. + +"Thou hast forgotten thy rosary; thou hast neither said an _Ave Maria_ +or a _Pater Noster_ since our arrival. Thou wouldst neglect thy +religion, and 'tis thy own, sweet precious self that will pay the +penalty." + +"Nay, nay, Janet, I will say them ten times to make up for my +forgetfulness." She sprung from her bed. + +"To bed, to bed; thou shalt not kneel upon the floor in this ice-bound +chamber. Here, take thy beads and say them once and close thy azure +eyes." Janet watched until the wax-like lids drooped, then softly made +fast the doors. She flung herself into a great chintz-covered chair +and fell asleep before the bright fire. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL + + +She did not waken until aroused by the grinding of wheels upon the +gravel beneath the window. A servant brought coals and wood and +built a roaring fire that warmed her chilled bones. She ordered her +mistress' breakfast for eleven o'clock, and locking the door upon the +retreating lackey, settled herself in the chair again and fell asleep. +She was next awakened by a smart rap upon the door. The servant stood +upon the threshold gazing at the vision of beauty that had raised upon +her elbow in the bed, and was looking with inquiring eyes. + +"His Lordship begs Mistress Penwick to step to the library after her +breakfast." + +"Step, to be sure, thou hadst better bring a chariot to cart her +there, and 'twould be out of the question for her to go before getting +anything into her stomach to strengthen her for the journey." + +"Shall I tell him so, mum?" said the servant, with a look of roguery +in his eyes. + +"'Twould become thee better to tell him without asking if thou +shouldst. Avaunt, get thee gone on thy mission." Then turning to +Katherine,--"'Twould have to come sooner or later and 'tis best sooner +I'm thinking," and Janet stepped to draw the curtains to let in but a +sickly grey light. "Ah, there is a great snowstorm! and there seems to +be a large party about to set forth a hunting." And indeed there arose +to their ears a great noise of baying hounds and the tramping of +horses in the courtyard, and voices were raised high and merry. There +was a rattle of spurs and champing of bits; and as the two women +looked from the window the party set forth. + +"Thou wilt go with me, Janet?" + +"As far as the library door. I will listen and peep through the +keyhole when no one is passing." + +A lackey came to conduct Mistress Katherine below. He looked surprised +at Janet as she followed them, neither was his curiosity appeased when +Mistress Penwick passed through the library door, and the severe-faced +Janet sat down upon a ponderous chair in the corridor just outside. + +'Twas a great room with enormous fireplaces, and in front of one of +them stood Lord Cedric. There was a smile on his face as he noted +his ward's surprise. She looked upon him with interest and finally +spoke,-- + +"Lord Cedric sent for me; he is not here," and she retreated as if to +leave the room. + +"Nay, do not leave until thou hast become acquainted with Cedric of +Crandlemar." He held out his hand to her longingly, pleadingly, and +stood thus before her; his figure of an Adonis silhouetted by the +flames that reached above his head in the great chimney behind him. +His face and form was a match for her own. A hunting-coat wrapped his +broad shoulders; his beauteous limbs were encased in high-field boots, +showing well his fine masculine mould. + +"How many lords of Crandlemar are there?" she asked, almost +contemptuously. + +"One, only," and he still held out his hand with a gesture of +entreaty. "I was the ill-humoured, boisterous man in Scotch attire +last night. I beg thee to forgive and forget it. Come--come--thou art +my ward." + +"But my Lord Cedric is an old man, as old as my father, and is +Scotch." + +"Thou art speaking of my father; he has been dead five years. Thy +father did not know of his death when he sent thee to England. And +my mother"--his voice trembled--"died when I was born. I was reared +without a woman's love. Angel was too old to teach me tenderness. She +has tried to guide me; but Kate--thy father calls thee so--I have had +no one to love me like thee. I have lived a wild, boisterous life in +Scotland most of the time, and after father died I went to France. +I have lived wickedly, Kate; I have given myself over to oaths, +and--and--and--drink;--'twas so last night when I saw for the first +time the woman I loved; who was as fair in face, form and soul, as all +I had ever pictured or dreamed. Wilt thou forget my course tongue and +try--try--to--to--to love me, Kate. Thou wilt say 'tis soon to speak +so to thee; but why keep back that 'tis best for me to say and thou to +know?" She could not mistake the ring of truth in his voice that was +now so pleading. + +"Come, come,"--and as if a happy thought occurred, reached into his +pocket and drew forth a letter;--"here is thy proof that I am Lord +Cedric; thy father's letter," he held it toward her. She came and +reached her hand for it, timidly. His Lordship was one of the most +passionate of youths, nor could he restrain his ardour. He caught her +hand and drew her to him, meeting her graceful body with his own; his +hot breath was upon her hair, and he panted forth;--"Kate, Kate, I +love thee," his arm was reaching about her, when she called Janet +stoutly. The door was flung open and the nurse's face looked upon the +youth like an ominous thing of strength,--then surprise broke over it +and she spoke forth,-- + +"Who art thou, perfidious youth?" + +"I am Cedric of Crandlemar, and I was saluting my ward." Janet took +her mistress from him as he half supported her, and sat down, drawing +her into her lap. Katherine fell to weeping. + +"What has happened to thee, Lambkin?" + +"I don't know," sobbed Katherine, "assure me if 'tis Lord Cedric." + +"We will accept him, anyway, for 'tis a better subject than my Lord +Scot of last night." Thereupon Cedric fell upon one knee at Janet's +feet, and bent his handsome head to Katherine's hand and kissed it. + +"Nay, nay, thy lips burn me, and I hate thee for it!" She wiped her +hand upon her dress, and turned her head from Janet's bosom and cast a +scornful glance through her tears. + +"I love her, Janet, and she hates me. Her father gave her to me to +love and guard and--marry, 'tis in the letter so; and she shall--" + +"Thou talkest too strong to so young a maid; thou must remember that +she is but fifteen, and never used to beaux. Thou art the first man +beside her father to so much as touch her hand." + +"She fifteen, 'tis not possible!" and his enamoured glance swept her +form,--"'tis not possible." Mistress Katherine's colour blenched and +heightened, for the ardent masculine eyes made her like and hate +in turn; his countenance glowed with warm youthfulness which both +attracted and repulsed her; and she hid her face again upon Janet's +shoulder. + +"'Tis rather young to become wife, but I cannot live away from her, I +must have her." + +"Nay, thou must wait until she is past sixteen, and knows her own +mind." + +"I cannot wait, Janet, I am too inflammable, she consumes me with her +beauty." + +"Then I had better take her where thou canst not see her." + +"Nay, nay, she shall not leave me for a day nor hour. She is mine +absolutely, and I'll have her. I have found what is more precious +than all else to me." As Katherine's eyes were hid, Janet placed her +fingers upon her lips, enjoining silence upon the passionate man +before her. 'Twas a simple thing, but Cedric knew from that moment +he had gained a powerful ally. He rose to his feet, and, in softened +tones, continued,--"'Tis the first time I have ever loved, and 'tis +natural I should be impetuous;" then in a tone that was full of +magnanimity,--"I will give thee time to rest from thy long journey +before we buy the wedding garments, I will give thee a whole week." +Then 'twas that Katherine spoke,-- + +"A whole week, indeed, I shall not marry thee at all, never, I hate +thee. Thou wilt give me my heritage and I will go from thy house; my +father gave it and me into thy father's care not thine, I will write +to him at once and tell him of this terrible mistake." + +"Thy father is--" he caught himself in time. + +"Thy father is--what?" And she looked at him closely. + +"Is too far away over seas, and--might be hard to find." + +"Then I will go to him." + +"Thou wilt remain where thou art." + +"Thou talkest like foolish children. 'Twould better become thee to +prattle of frocks and fixings for my Lady Penwick. Your Lordship will +see to it at once?" It was a happy suggestion. Cedric leant over +Katherine. + +"Come, tell me what thou wilt have from London town? thou shalt have +all thy heart asks for." + +"Thou art generous with my belongings." 'Twas an unfriendly cut. + +"Come, Mistress, what will thou have, make out a list and I will send +it by a courier." + +"I prefer to go myself." + +"I have guests and cannot go with thee at the present,--and thou canst +not go without me; but thou shalt have the more for this very cause. +Come, tell me thy heart's desire. Be good to me Kate, I love thee so; +I must tell thee, it cuts me to the quick to have thee so set against +me. Thou wilt espouse me some day, sweet one?" Katherine stood up and +shot a withering glance full upon him. + +"Nay, nay, nay,--thou wilt let me go from thee!" + +"I beg thy pardon, Mistress Penwick, I will urge thee no more now; but +tell me thy wishes. Thou will have first of all, a beautiful hat with +feathers reaching to thy shoulder-tips, and dainty brocade gowns with +boots of the same hue, and jewelled fans, and ribbons and laces and +all kinds of furbelows, and I will give thee to-day some jewels, +rings, and--" + +"And a necklace like Constance has?" put in Katherine, unthinkingly. + +"Constance--where didst thou see her?" His voice and manner showed +annoyance. "Where didst see her, Kate?" There was a blush on her face +as she answered, + +"At the ball." + +"Thou wert not there," he said, incredulously. + +"Janet and I looked on from the gallery, and Constance stood beneath +us. 'Twas a beautiful thing that encircled her throat." + +"Aye, they were pearls; but thou shalt have a circlet that wilt not so +hide thy pink hued neck. To-day, Kate, I will give thee some gems +and thou shalt go with me to the great chests and see the laces they +contain;--and thy colours, Kate, what are thy favourite colours?" + +"I love white and violet." A happy smile covered Cedric's face. + +"'Tis my mother's choice and by that I hit upon thy fancy as thou +shalt soon see." Cedric racked his brain for more pleasant things to +say. "And thou shalt have a horse and learn to ride." + +"Oh, Janet, to have a horse all my own! 'tis too good to be true; 'tis +a thing I have dreamt of." And the delighted girl flung herself at +Janet's feet and embraced her knees from sheer ecstasy. It seemed +peace had come to stay; and for a moment Cedric looked upon her with +eyes full of admiration and, yes, heart full of love; then,-- + +"Art sure thou hast thought of all thou wouldst have, is the list +complete, Janet; canst thou not suggest something more? I will send +it to one of the court mantua-makers and if thou sendest the proper +measurements our lady will soon be a modish butterfly." At the word +modish a sudden thought came to Katherine and she leant over and +whispered in Janet's ear; then Janet said: + +"She must have a pair of stays with each frock." + +"Nay, nay, she shall not have stays to pinch so fair a mould; she +shall not have stays, nay, nay, sweet Kate." 'Twas then Mistress +Penwick flew into a passion. She clinched her fists and her face grew +scarlet; she shook her head and threw glances like sword-thrusts at +Cedric, and said not a word but stamped her foot. As she did so, she +saw that in Cedric's eyes that made her calm her passion on a sudden. +'Twas steel against steel. It was Janet's voice that drew Katherine's +attention; for it had in it something it never had heretofore; it was +full of reproach. + +"Lambkin, thou art too young for either stays or such a show of +passion. I beg thee to quench thy evil spirit, it does not become +thee." Katherine bent her head and turned from them toward the door. +Cedric called, + +"Do not leave until we have all things settled! Kate, dost hear me +speaking?" She pretended deaf ears. "Kate," he said, with emphasis, +"dost hear me? Mistress Pen wick, hear me, heed, heed!" he thundered, +and stamped his foot, the spurs rattling upon the hearthstone. She +turned about reluctantly and rested her hand upon the great oaken +table, looking at Janet as if it had been she that had spoken. Cedric +drew himself up proudly, and spoke in a firm, full voice, + +"I am thy father, brother, guardian, anything that love could be to +thee, and all that I have is thine, and when thou art with me thou +mayest do as thy heart dictates, but when thou shalt cross yonder +threshold thou shalt conduct thyself as becomes a daughter and +mistress of the castle. I have beneath my roof guests--my kinswoman, +Lady Constance, whom I have bidden to remain indefinitely, she being +so near of kin has been mistress here; but, from the moment thou +didst enter the portal of Cedric's house, 'twas thou became mistress, +thou--thou mistress of my home, and heart as well; thou wilt accept +the former mission, and I will fight with all of cupid's weapons until +thou dost accept the latter. 'Tis a pragmatic duty to follow my words +and understand them and demean thyself accordingly. To-night thou +wilt come to the drawing-room at the prandium hour, and 'twill be my +pleasure to seat thee at table, and 'twould be best if I acknowledged +our espousal." + +"Nay, nay, I will not come then." + +"Thou shalt come if thou art in the castle," Janet's scowling +face under cover of the high-backed chair stopped his lordship's +impetuosity, "hast a frock, Kate? thou shalt go to the chest and find +for thee some bright thing and I will send from Crandlemar a woman to +help thee with thy attire. Angel will come to take thee to see the +jewels, and thou shalt have those thou carest to take. I would see +thy choice, Kate. I can almost guess it now. So come, Kate, the storm +without should insure good cheer within; and with thy bright face the +castle will be aglow. Come, say _au revoir_, Kate." She held out her +hand and faltered forth _au revoir_. There was the language of the +convent in that one word and it rung sweet upon her ear. He took her +hand between his own and bent and kissed it tenderly, "_au revoir, au +revoir_" he said, then turned quickly from her. + +Outside stood old flabby-face, as Janet pleased to call her, when +alone with Katherine, but designated by the servants as Sophia. + +"His Ludship ordered Mistress Penwick's room changed." + +"Thou dost mean, rather, he advised a change of room; 'twould be +difficult to convey the tower chamber elsewhere." + +It was a beautiful room into which Sophia led them and beyond were +others belonging to the same suite, all in white and gold, with +mirrors and painted walls garlanded with cupids and floral wreaths, +and silken curtains at bed and windows; and cushions and beautiful +venuses and rare potpourri. And when they were quite alone Janet +strutted up and down the rooms enjoying the fulness of her cup. + +"'Tis more than thou dreamed again, eh, Lady Pen wick? Thou hast +fallen heir to a queen's portion without the ennui of satiety." + +"Truly 'tis a wondrous castle; but Janet can Lord Cedric espouse me +because he is my guardian?" + +"Nay, child, but he loves thee, and he means to win thee if 'tis +possible. He is young and self-willed and passionful, and he will have +his own way. Dost like him, Lambkin?" + +"Somewhat, but I hate him most." + +"Thou wilt impeach thy sweet tongue by that viscid 'hate'; thou hadst +better indulge in less of devil's warfare and leave room for digestion +of gentle peace. Thou hast bloomed into a beauteous maid, but thy +temper hath blown also. My lord hast seen many beauties that he could +have for the asking, and they are doubtless meek and gentle creatures +with soft and ready answer; but if thy cantankerous untowardness +continues he will set thee down as a shrewish wench and will heartily +dislike thee." + +"Nay, I would not have any one dislike me." + +"Then cease thy uprisings." There came a low knock, and an old +grey-haired woman stepped into the room with that in her face Janet +stood up to honour. She advanced to Katherine and in a trembling voice +said, + +"Thou art my lord's ward,--ah, I remember thy father well; thou art a +Penwick over and over again, I could see it with half an eye. I knew +thy father when he was a mere lad, so high; he had as bonny a face as +one cared to see. They tell me thou didst expect to see here my poor +master; is't so? Aye,--well thou hast found his son, the blessedst man +that walks the earth. He has a wicked, bad tongue at times, but he +means nothing. I nursed him and his father, and am longing for a wife +for his lordship." Then: "I am Angel Bodkin, and have come to conduct +thee to the vaults." She led them forth, talking all the while. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES + + +Lady Constance had exhausted every means of procuring the desired +information concerning the strange beauty in her kinsman's castle; and +she became fretted and annoyed and was about to give up all hope, when +she came suddenly upon the object of her search in the corridor; and +the beauteous maid, grey-gowned and sandal-shoon, flitted by without +deigning so much as a look. And my Lady Constance swept by with hate +of this formidable creature in her evil heart. She felt it was almost +understood that Lord Cedric would espouse her; she, Lady Constance +Clarmot. To be sure, she was somewhat of riper years than he, but that +counted for naught since they had always loved each other. She was +of a great family and proud and had of her own, titles and estates +and--yes, beauty. She fell to thinking of the many ways in which +Cedric had shown his love for her. He had consulted her on all +occasions upon the most trivial matters until the present instance. +"Could it be possible she is some soft-natured wench that hath fallen +beneath his eye and charmed him, and he has brought her here? Nay, +nay, he would not bring such an one beneath his roof while I remained, +and yet I have but just come and he hath kept her hid; 'tis possible +he will send her away at once." She soliloquized thus until the +candles were brought, and the curtains drawn to shut out the storm, +and she sat beneath her maid's hands heeding naught save her bitter +thoughts. "What had become of Adrian? Why had he not been in to see +her; surely by this time he had learned something being out the +whole afternoon hunting, perhaps side by side with Cedric." Thus +she fretted, and scolded her maid until it was time to go to the +drawing-room. It was a picturesque scene; the ancient castle with +its crenellated tower, from which now pointed a tall flag-pole, +the British Royal Ensign bound closely about it, its colours being +distinctly visible through its casing of ice; for an immense +quadruple-faced light was placed high up in the fork of a tree +opposite the great window of the vaulted saloon, casting its beam to +the very pinnacle of the ensign-staff; lighting the castle from end to +end upon its northern side, where the great avenues converged. A shaft +reluctantly and gloomily effused the near density of the forest; +another ray gladdening the expectant eyes of the guest from Londonway; +while yet another broad gleam sped the departing traveler over the +threshold of the forest into the gloom-environed pathway beyond. Upon +every shelving projection of the unhewn stone structure was ice. The +entire walls scintillated with a fairy brilliancy, and the trees as +they swayed back and forth propelled by the unceasing wind caused such +a coruscation of sparkles it fairly blinded the spectator. Beneath +the spreading branches were a host of men, horses and dogs. The gay +costumes of the huntsmen showing resplendent in the ice-bespangled +light. The horns were lowered, and there was a confusion of tongues +between groomsmen and lackeys; and there were shouts of welcome from +the wide-open doorway of the servants' hall; for 'twas here the game +was brought and laid upon the stone floor or hung upon pegs on the +wall for the inspection of the guests. Lord Cedric leapt from his +horse, throwing the reins to a waiting groom; strode into the hall +with rattling spurs and flung through the rooms and up the stairway to +his Lady Katherine's bower, and rapped smartly upon the panelling of +the door. The vision that met his amorous eyes sent him hot and cold; +and 'twas with difficulty he restrained himself from encircling her +full, glowing body. + +"The hours I have been from thee have seemed weeks, and I was of no +use in the field; my gun would entangle in the low-hanging boughs; +and on the wold my steed's feet were caught in the dry gorse, until I +could not get near enough to shoot anything. On the other hand, Cupid +has arrowed me to the death, and I come,--a shade for thee to put life +into; and the sight of thee is a life-giving thing." Katherine's face +flamed with his warm words, and the consciousness of the beauty of her +new adornment; for she stood before him in an amber shimmering stuff +that clung to her lithe limbs, hiding not her slender ankle and her +arched satin shoe, as her dress caught about a stool that held it. The +short round waist betrayed the fulness of her form, and Cedric turned +his eyes away from sheer giddiness, drunk with love. He spoke to +Janet with quick breath:--"Bring her down to see the game."--Then, +suddenly,--"Where are thy jewels, Kate?" He espied a casket, and +hastening to it took from it rings, fitting them upon Mistress +Penwick's tapering fingers, until her hand was heavy. Of other jewels +she'd have none. "But thou must have a shoulder knot," said Cedric, +and he took from the casket a glittering shoulder brooch of opals and +clasped it in the satin of her frock, and drew from a tripod of white +and gold a flaming jacqueminot and gave it into her hand and led her +forth, followed closely by Janet. Down the great stairway he led +her proudly, through corridor and passage, until they reached the +servants' hall, where the clamour of voices and baying hounds was like +pandemonium; and at the sound Mistress Penwick drew back with fear. +For a moment Cedric was sorely tried to keep from bending to those +rose-bowed lips. She saw him hesitate, and stammered forth: + +"Lead on, my lord!" + +He swung open the door and instantly all eyes were set upon his fair +ward. First his Lordship's face was exultant, then seeing Mistress +Penwick's glances that pierced every masculine heart, and her dazzling +beauty drunk in by all; his face grew dark, and jealousy possessed +him, and fear crept in, and he vowed to wed her at the earliest +moment. + +"'Tis Sir John Penwick's daughter, Mistress Katherine Penwick, my +father's ward," and he led her to their midst. + +"She is a wondrous beauty," many murmured as they saw her. + +"Dazzling, by God!" whispered some of the masculines that stood apart, +and there were others that spoke not a word, but stood spell-bound +at her majestic mien. A gorgeously apparelled figure swept to his +Lordship's side, and a little hand crept into his and black flashing +eyes looked up, and a soft voice whispered,-- + +"Thou didst never speak of--this, the most charming of thy +possessions, heretofore, Cedric. I knew not thou didst inherit so +beauteous a being from thy father. But Sir John,--England has not +heard of his death--" + +"Sh! sh! she does not know," Cedric answered. + +"Not know--ah!" and Lady Constance drew from him and looked at +Katherine with malice and thought evil; "'tis not Sir John's daughter, +'tis some trick Cedric plays upon his guests and me; it goes to show +that his relations to her are ill, and his intentions are to raise her +to our level. Nay, nay, Cedric, I will lift thee beyond such a thing. +When he has time alone, I will gain his ear and taunt him with a +debauched youth; free from heart or conscience; a rake to betray; and +I will win him from beauteous, youthful Bacchante. 'Tis his pleasure +to swear and swagger; but at twenty-three he should not begin to +carouse with female beauty. 'Tis time, and I will tell him so, for him +to bring a lady as wife to the castle. I will speak to him at once. He +has gone too far." + +Lord Cedric drew Katherine to inspect the trophies of the chase, and +explained their kind and the mode of capture. She with others followed +him; the gentler folk raising frocks from pools and streams of blood, +thereby displaying high-heeled shoe and slender ankle and ruffles of +rare lace; and they gathered close about Mistress Penwick, drinking in +her simple convent ways of glance and gesture and fresh, young spirit. + +Then his Lordship led them to the grand saloon. It was the glory +of the castle, this great room of forty feet in width and sixty in +length. The ceiling supported upon either side by slender Corinthian +pillars, was panelled and exquisitely frescoed with nude female +figures that were reflected in the highly polished floor of marquetry +woods. The walls were covered with old tapestries and rare pictures. +There were two immense windows; the one at the south end of the room +was quite twenty feet square of Egyptian style. The one to the north +reached from floor to ceiling and from side to side. It was draped by +a single ruby-coloured velvet curtain that was so artistically caught +by rope-like cords of silk that, by a draw, could be lifted upward +and to either side in luxurious folds, exposing the entire window. At +present the great saloon was lighted by seven immense lustres of fifty +candles each, and with twenty sconces each bearing fifteen candles. +The effulgent gleam cast from these myriad flames upon polished woods, +busts, statues, unique bric-a-brac, gildings, glass and ruby velvet +produced the perfection of old-time splendour. And now, as the gallant +beaux led in fair maidens, it gave the picture life. The great +north window disclosed the ice-bound trees in all their primitive +ruggedness. The snow and sleet were vigorously driven by the wind that +howled continuously. The light from the forked-tree cast through +the window rays that resembled moonlight, as they mingled with the +radiance within, while outside it twinkled with the sprightliness of +old-fashioned humour. + +Cedric of Crandlemar was noted among beaux old and young of his +intimate acquaintance for the spicy diversions with which he +entertained his friends, when they were so fortunate as to be present +at his stag parties. Arriving home after a long absence, he opened +his castle upon St. Valentine's eve with a ball, wherein his guests +appeared in full court costume, in honour of the Royal guests. The +weeks following had been filled with stately entertainment; and now +his Royal and formal guests had departed, and the throng that passed +into the great saloon were youths and maidens of neighbouring +counties; some college friends and kinsmen. They entered with gay +abandon. The beaux were whetted to great curiosity, for 'twas +whispered among them that after a short evening with the ladies, there +were to appear a bevy of London-town dancing girls, who would give +them a highly flavoured entertainment; and, as if Bacchus had +prematurely begun to disport himself in brain and leg of each beau, he +set about to ogle and sigh and wish and--pull a stray curl upon some +maiden's forehead or touch her glowing cheek with cold fingers, and +some began to illustrate the _modus operandi_ of taking certain game, +while another danced a clog or contra-dance or Sir Roger de Coverley. +The maidens caught the spirit and answered back glance for glance, and +being equipped for conquest let go the full battery of their woman's +witchery. It made a charming spectacle of young and noble blood +indulging in the abandon of the hour. There were dames that set the +pace for modest maidenhood, that ogled with the younger beaux,--(as +they do to this day). Lady Bettie Payne swept her fingers over the +keys of an Italian spinet, that was ornamented with precious stones, +and sat upon a table of coral-veined wood; she sung soft and tenderly +of the amours of Corydon, and neither her voice nor the low tinkling +of the spinet reached to the further end of the room where Adrian +Cantemir played upon the grand harpsichord a dashing piece that was +intended to charm at least, the beauteous Katherine, who stood near. +Lord Cedric leant over and begged the Russian count to change the tune +to a gavotte. He did so, and Cedric brought forth Katherine and placed +her fair to watch his step till she might catch the changes. Thus he +trained her carefully and with precision, and when Cantemir saw the +trap that held him where he was and gave Lord Cedric the upper-hand, +he fell into the spleen and played out of time, and Cedric flung +around and caught his spur in Dame Seymour's petticoats, and he swore +beneath his breath, and Katherine smiled at his discomfiture and her +own untutored grace, and she made bold and took a step or two on her +own dependence. Then there chimed eight from the old French clock of +black boule that sat upon a cabinet of tortoise-shell, and it stirred +the swains to think of donning 'broidered waist-coats and high-heeled +shoon preparatory to the prandial hour, when fresh game and old wine +would strengthen stomach and head; and they bowed low over tapering +fingers and cast a parting dart at female hearts, and climbed the +great oaken stairway to don their fine beaux' dress. + +'Twas eleven o' the clock when the gay company again entered the +saloon; gentlemen in fresh curled periwigs and marvels of laces and +'broiderings. They were gay with post-prandium cheer and flushed with +wine. + +Lord Cedric clapped his hands and immediately from some curtained +passage or gallery there was music; each instrument seeming to lead +in contrapuntal skill. His Lordship led forth Katherine and others +followed in the movement of the passacaille. Mistress Penwick was +beneath a great lustre that shone down and set her shoulder knot +ablaze with brilliancy, when Lady Constance passed and noted it. +She bit her lip from sheer pain, for 'twas Cedric's mother's prized +brooch, and through her heart fell a thunderbolt of fear; for now she +knew he would not allow a baggage to wear a thing so valued by the +mother whose memory he so loved. She began to fear this beauteous +thing could not be ousted so easily from her kinsman's castle; and her +heart rebelled at thought of losing him for spouse. She raged within, +reproaching herself for not hastening in woman's way his avowal; then +she trembled and grew sick at heart, as she saw his glances that were +so full of love; glances for which she would give the world to win. +She, on a sudden, was famishing for this love she had heretofore held +aloof from and yet would rather die than loose, aye, die a thousand +deaths. In her heart she vowed vengeance on that 'twould come between +them, and the thought strengthened her for battle, and when again she +saw Cedric's eyes gazing with ardent desire upon Katherine, it was +with comparative calmness. There appeared also a strange thing to her, +that this beauty did not appear to notice Cedric--that is, with the +notice due so handsome, rich and titled beau. There was not another +in the room with so elegant and fine shape; of so great vigour and +strength; none that could be so shaken and yet tender with passion; +none that could so command with a look; none that had such pure, noble +blood. And strange to say, for the first time she saw his weaker side; +she saw he was both jealous and selfish; she could find a thousand +matters pertaining to his lands and estates that she could find fault +with. He was exacting and heartless with his tenants; not providing +for their welfare as he should, being so great a lord. He hardly +allowed them religious privileges. The church was attached to the +castle by a passage leading from the landing of the stairway in the +library, and he had complained that the singing and preaching annoyed +him, and had frequently closed the chapel for this cause, and yet +a woman that held sway over such a man's heart could mould him to +anything. Why, why had she not married him ere this? She would set +about it at once and bring all these matters concerning his estates +to his notice; 'twould look so noble; 'twas time the castle had a +mistress, and who would better grace it than the fair Lady Constance +of Cleed Hall? And in Adrian Cantemir she had an ally, for he was +madly and desperately in love with Lord Cedric's ward. "I should like +her for cousin; she would make Adrian a fine wife, indeed I think I +should become quite proud of her," said Constance, as if the matter +was already quite settled. + +After dancing the stately gavotte, it appeared that the whole company +became heavy and wished for retirement; it might have been a ruse on +the part of beaux, and the fair ones fell into the trap; be it as it +may, the ladies retired. Janet had been waiting at the top of the +stairs for her mistress; but her smile of welcome turned to one of +disgust as she saw her appear with Lady Constance' arm about her. + +"Thou art commencing early, Lady Judas; I have not preened my eyes +for nothing, and this I well know, thou art hot in pursuit of my Lord +Cedric, and thou shalt not have him. 'Tis Mistress Penwick that will +queen it here and make a noble consort for his Lordship," said Janet. + +"May I come in a minute? Thou hast learnt I am Cedric's cousin, and I +feel as though I must know thee at once for his sake." + +"Aye, thou art most welcome, Lady Constance," replied Katharine. +And they sat over the fire laughing and chatting. Katherine was all +excitement and full of clatter, for 'twas her first "company," and she +was a young lady and could now boast of tender looks and words from +beaux. And her volubleness led her to tell of her convent life, of her +sudden surprise and pleasure of coming to England; and on and on; and +blushing, she thought with Constance that Adrian Cantemir was indeed +very charming, and having become better acquainted with him, she felt +sure she admired him quite as much, or more than, any one else; and +she was so fond of music he fairly entranced her when he played. + +"To-morrow he is to teach me battledore and shuttlecock in the +library." + +"'Tis great sport and a game that requires some skill," said +Constance. And thus they talked for one good hour, and in the +adjoining room Janet fumed and fretted; for 'twas far past her child's +bedtime. + +"Such late hours are not conducive to youthful roundness and a clear +colour," she grumbled. Constance yawned and declared she must retire; +but she was thirsty and must have a drink, and yet she supposed she +must do without, for all the maids and lackeys were abed. + +"But the more I think of it, the more I want it. I will get it +myself." + +"And I will accompany thee, for I would like not to go alone in so +great a house, when there is no one astir," said Katherine. + +They started forth adown the stairs; and following silent, noiseless +like a wraith was Janet, expectant, eager; for she felt she was to +see the opening of a great battle. Constance led the way, carrying a +taper. As they traversed some passage, their ears caught the sound of +music. They listened a moment, then Constance proposed they snuff the +candle and draw near the sound; "for very like the beaux were having +an orgy," she said. And Katherine, full of adventure and deeming it a +fine, young lady's trick--she had heard talk of such things among the +older girls at the convent--opined "'twas the thing to do." And +they followed the passage until an arched and curtained doorway but +screened them from that 'twas within the grand saloon, and Constance +made bold to draw aside a finger-breadth of the sweeping curtain and +peep within. + +"Ah! ah! 'tis a beauteous sight!" and she turned from what she saw +and drew the curtain to a generous opening; and the two with heads +together looked through. + +Every candle had been snuffed and through the great north window came +the rays from the light in the forked tree that fell like moonlight +athwart the saloon. In the centre of the broad gleam was a sylph-like +form, keeping time to the music in a sort of phantom style of +movement; twisting, shimmering folds that appeared to effuse a +scintillation of opal shades. 'Twas the chaconne; slow, graceful and +full of romance, the full major lifting and seeming to float, at last +dying imperceptibly into the minor passacaille. About were seated, +carelessly and after the manner of men who had pulled at the bottle +for hours in the hunting field and were now somewhat overcome by +warmth and _ennui_, beaux old and young, 'suaging their appetite of +mouth and eye by wine and women. + +"'Tis the King sets the pace!" said one, close to the curtain. + +"Egad!" said another. "He not only sets it, but carries it along. He +has fine wenches at his beck and call." 'Twas evident 'twas but the +beginning of revelry; a sort of bacchanalian prelude to what might +come later. No sooner was this dance finished than another began. +Some lithe creature came forth to dance, in bright scarlet, the +passacaglia. The glasses were refilled and the noise became more +boisterous; and the scandal more flagrant. The candles were set aglow +again and tables were brought for those wishing to gamble. And one +richly dressed and full of wine sprung upon a table and held aloft a +glass and called forth: + +"Here, here is to his Lordship of Crandlemar and to a long life of +free and easy celibacy." Now 'twas said Lord Cedric could drink more +without becoming undignified than any other man of his company, but it +seemed he gave himself to the spirit of the moment and had drunk deep. +When the young blood upon the table offered the toast, Cedric sprung +as if shot to the table, where he staggered and would have fallen, had +it not been for the youth who bore him up. Holtcolm, in his drunken +anxiety for his neighbour's steadiness, stood near him and with +tender, maudlin solicitude began to flick the grains of bergamot +scented snuff from the lace of Lord Cedric's steenkirk. At the same +time from the glass he held there spilled on his Lordship's brocaded +coat of blue and silver a good half-pint of wine. Cedric upon being +balanced had forgotten what he wanted to say, and turned to his +supporter. + +"What was it Holt-colm--I was goin' to shay?" Neither could remember, +so his Lordship continued with what seemed to weigh upon his mind: + +"'Tis thish: 'tis my deshire thish should be made a memorable--a night +worthy of remembrance. I'm about to espoushe my fair ward--and this is +positively my lasht appearance _en bout_--I know and am fully aware +_abondance de bien ne nuit_ until a better comes. To-night will be my +finale de-bauch--sho; tell the red beauty to come here." He sat down +upon the table and gazed with heavy, drooping lids upon the dancing +girl that came toward him. "Thou art a saucy baggage; but--hic--thou +art false of colour and--hic--flesh. Thy lips and cheeks are stained +with rouge--hic--and thy flesh--is--hic--pushed to prominence by high +stays--by God, it turns my stomach to--nausea." And he turned over and +lay flat upon the table. "Bring on another--shay--we must have the +moonlight beauty again." Katherine was well frightened and made +several efforts to persuade her companion to go away. It was part of +Constance' programme to cause Katherine's disgust at sight of Cedric's +wantonness. She felt it had been accomplished, and as there were other +matters to be about, she turned with her and together they groped back +up the stairs in the darkness, and found Janet feigning sleep in a +chair before the fire, Constance yawned and declared herself to be +tired out, and bade Katherine _adieu_. Janet closed the door after her +and in haste began putting her mistress to bed. And after giving her a +bath and rubbing, she snuffed the candles and went to her own room to +slip out again and go below stairs and find the curtained doorway, +there to watch and wait for that which was to come. She had seen as +much as Constance and Katherine, and she determined to see even more. +She would know how Lord Cedric appeared in his cups. There was nothing +anomalous in what was before her; 'twas as she had often seen in the +grand house in which she had served as maid; the same licentiousness, +wild riot and debaucheries that have been since the world stood. She +saw 'twas Cedric that drank as deep as any, and could rip out oaths +as trippingly as his swollen tongue would allow; but he was neither +vulgar nor lewd. Janet looked with pride at his clear flushed face, +so handsomely featured; his jewelled hands and fine round legs that +tapered to slender ankles. 'Twould be a fine pair when he espoused her +mistress, and she would help him to it as soon as he liked. Her heart +went out to him the more when she saw he cared not for the favours +offered him by the dancing wenches as they touched his flowing black +curls with caressing hands. He turned upon his stomach on the table +and hid his face in his hands and remained thus until the candles were +again snuffed and a maid came out into the improvised moonlight in +gipsy dress and a fortune-teller's cup and wand. She wore a masque and +veil tight wrapped about her head. She danced with less skill than +any that had come before. She lisped forth 'twas her trade to tell +fortunes, and thereupon a fop reached forth and pulled her to him, and +she began a startling story that had somewhat of truth in it; and to +each one her assertions or predictions had so much of truth in them it +provoked interest among them all. Lord Cedric called from the table: + +"The wench tells ear-splitting truths; send her here, she shall give +my pasht, present--and future." If they had not been so blinded by +wine, they might have noticed her haste to go to his bidding. She +looked closely at his hand and the sediment of his wine-cup. + +"Thou art madly and blindly in love!" said she, lispingly. + +"Good! good!" was sent forth from those about; and Cedric struck his +fist upon the table,-- + +"'Madly'--yes; but by God not 'blindly'! haste on, wench." + +"She loves admiration--" + +"She would not be half a woman if she--" + +"She is in love with one of Russian birth," went on the gipsy. Cedric +frowned and held quiet. "There is one who hast loved thee from early +childhood--a--a kinswoman--she would make thee a noble spouse and love +thee well with a warm nature to match thine own." + +"Thou tellest false, for I know not such an one. I have loved many +kinswomen since childhood, and they have loved me, but not to +espousal!" + +"'Tis here--her name--'tis--C-o-n-s--" + +"Constance, by God! but there thy lisping tongue prattles ill, for she +loves me as a brother, and I love her as if she were my sister." Now +the gipsy drew back as if the man before her had stricken her, then +hastened to cover her emotion with a sudden look into the cup and an +exclamation of-- + +"Ah! ah!" + +"What seest thou?" said Cedric. + +"A thing that means more to thee than aught else; 'tis an awful thing +if thou shouldst choose wrong!" + +"Haste, wench, what is it?" Cedric was growing impatient. + +"Thy kinswoman will bring thee a fine heir--" + +"By God, the other will bring me a dozen then!" + +"Nay, 'tis not so, she--" She stepped close to his ear and whispered. + +"Thousand devils, thou infernal, lying pot-house brawler--" and Cedric +glared fiercely upon her and bent forward, his hand falling upon his +sword-hilt; then he grew red at his hot action, and looked about to +see if 'twas noticed. "Get thee gone, thou saucy, lisping minx." The +poor thing was well-nigh distraught with fear of this man whose anger +came like a thunderbolt, and she fell heavy upon the lackey who +conducted her forth. She slipped through the corridors like a fast +fleeting shadow, and Janet followed her close and saw her enter a +certain chamber apart where she was met by one of the dancers; and +'twas Lady Constance that threw from her the gipsy attire and put a +bag of gold in the celebrated Babbet's waiting fingers; and with a +warning pressure of finger-on-lip, she came forth and fled to her own +grand apartments, and Janet watched until the latch clicked upon this +great mistress of beauty, title, wealth and virtue. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +JANET'S PHILOSOPHY + + +"This world of ours hangs midway 'twixt zenith and nadir: the superior +and inferior: the positive and negative; and 'tis a pertinent thought +that susceptible human nature takes on the characteristic of the one +or the other. One is away up in zenithdom or away down in nadirdom, +one is not content to go along the halfway place and see the good that +lies ever before them. But, again, there are natures that are not +susceptible to extremes; as a simile: a maid whose soul is ever +vibrant with the ineffable joys of the world to come, walks by the +seashore and mayhap beholds the full moon rise from the water and cast +to her very feet a pathway of gold, and she will quickly join herself +to those who see like visions, and pathway will lie against pathway +and produce a sea of gold; on the other hand, if she be a foolish +virgin and looks not before her, but tosses high head in pride or +walks with downcast eyes and smiles and blushes and smirks and flings +aside thoughts of deity, until she becomes submerged; on a sudden +Gabriel will blow and the world will cease revolving, and then--where +wilt thou be, oh, maid that hath fluttered from sweet to sweet and +forgotten thy prayers?" There came a great happy sigh from the +testered bed-- + +"Thou hast powerful breath, Janet, and 'twas an immense bitterwort +bush thou were beating about. I am sorry I forgot my prayers. I will +say them twenty times to-day, to make up." + +"And it's the heathen that repeateth a prayer oft; thou hadst better +say 'God, have mercy upon my untowardness!' once, from thy heart, than +to say thy rosary from now until doom with thy mind upon a bumptious +Russian." + +"What is the day, Janet?" + +"'Tis as bleak and stormy as one could wish." + +"What is the hour?" + +"Eleven." + +"Eleven? and I was to meet Count Adrian at this very hour. He is to +teach me battledore and shuttlecock." + +"'Tis a fussy game, played more with the heart than hand; canst give +it up; let me rub thee to sleep again?" + +"Nay, for I would not disappoint him or--myself." + +An hour later she stood opposite the count in the great library, +swinging the battledore with grace. There was much soft laughter and +gay repartee; and Adrian followed the movements of Katherine's lithe +form, clad in the soft, clinging grey of the convent. She became +remiss; for Adrian's glances were confusing, and intentional laches +were made by him, that he might come near her, almost touching her +hair in bending to recover the ball. She was flushed and eager, +triumphant of a fine return, when the door flew open and in came a +number of gallants, among whom was Lord Cedric. His face flushed a +warm red and he shot a glance of jealousy at Adrian as he bent low +over Katherine's hand. After a few commonplace remarks, they passed on +up the stairway to the broad landing, on which was an arched door that +led to the passage opening into the organ loft of the chapel. In a few +moments there came the sound of the organ. Katherine swung low her +battledore and breathed forth: + +"Let us listen; 'tis sweet, who plays, dost know?" + +"'Tis St. Mar, a fine fellow; a soldier, duelist and gallant." + +"'Thou dost flank duelist by two words that should scorn being so +separated!'" + +"'Twas a happy wording; for if thou shouldst meet him, thou wilt +fall but two-thirds in love, whereas, if otherwise worded 'twould be +altogether." + +"Thou art giving my heart an evil reputation; for after all 'tis not +so easy won." + +"'Tis true, as I know, more than any one else, for my heart misgave +me from the moment I first set eyes on thy beauteous countenance; and +since I have been in wild despair, not knowing if thou hast a heart +for any save thy nurse and my Lord Cedric; for 'tis to them thy heart +seems bent." There was neither shadow nor movement of fair expression +on Mistress Penwick's face, as she answered calmly,-- + +"Thou sayest well. I love my nurse--she has been mother too, and I +honour Lord Cedric as a good man should be honoured, and one whom my +father chose to be his daughter's guardian and holder in trust of her +estates." + +"Estates"--'twas a grand word and went straight to Cantemir's heart; +for 'twas something to espouse so beautiful a maiden that had demesne +as well. + +Katherine was listening to the chords of the organ, and she bent +forward eagerly. Her thoughts flew back to the convent where she had +enjoyed a pure religious life undisturbed by the trammels of the great +outer world. + +"Let us go," said she, "I would see who 'tis that plays!" + +She led the way up the broad stairs and through the passage into the +organ loft, and at first sight of her Cedric was well-nigh beside +himself with delight; for he took it, she had come to be with him. +There was a young fop at the organ in rich and modish attire, but +otherwise of unattractive and common appearance. + +Katherine cast upon him her entire attention, and there came that +in her face that drew the glance of every eye. 'Twas as if she was +entranced with the player, as well as the sounds he brought forth from +the organ. Cedric be-thought him 'twas an unfortunate oversight to +have learnt not to thrum upon some sort of thing wherewith to draw the +attention if not admiration of such a maid as this. And he straightway +made avowal to send at once for tutor and instrument; a violin, when +played as he might learn to, would perhaps be as successful in its +lodestone requirements as any other thrumming machine. "'Twas an +instrument could be handled to such an effect. A man could so well +show white, jewelled fingers; display a rare steenkirk to pillow it +upon; and withal, a man could stand free and sway his body gracefully +this way and that; yes, 'tis the thing to do; she may yet look at me +as she now looks at St. Mar!" so thought Cedric. The piece was soft +and gentle, with a pathetic motif running through it. Katherine became +so rapt she drew closer and closer, until at last she stood beside St. +Mar. He became confused and halted, and finally left off altogether +and turned to read the admiration in the azure blue of her eyes. + +"Thou art from France, and dost thou know many of the great +musicians?" + +"Aye, a great many--" + +"Hast thou met the great Alessandro Scarlatti? I understand he created +a _furore_ as he passed through Paris from London." + +"'Tis true, and I was most fortunate to hear him play portions of +'_L'Onesta nell Amore._' Queen Christina herself accompanied him to +Paris, and wherever he played she was not far away." + +"We used much of his sacred music at the convent; 'tis such warm, +tender and sympathetic harmony. He must be a very great man!" + +"He hath a son, Domenico, not two years old, who already shows a great +ear for his father's music; and they say he will even be a greater +musician than his father. It is possible Alessandro will visit +London." + +"'Twould be wondrous fine! I will go and hear him play, surely +"--Cedric interrupted their musical converse,-- + +"'Tis cold for thee, I fear, in this damp place; I beg thee to allow +me to lead thee to the library." And without further words he led her +away, through the library and on beyond to the saloon, where he begged +her to favour him with songs he was quite sure she could sing, naming +those he most wished to hear. + +Then in came Lady Bettie Payne with three or four others, and they +babbled and chattered, and as Lord Cedric stood near he heard them +speak of Lady Constance' indisposition. + +"Ah, poor Constance, I was not aware she was ill!" said he, and he +went forth to inquire of her condition and find if aught could be done +for her enlivenment to health and spirits. When he returned and +saw Katherine so surrounded, and his guests engaged at cards and +battledore and music, and some in converse as to whether they should +ride forth to the chase, he was somehow stirred to think of Constance +lying alone in her chamber; and there recurred to him the tale of the +night before; 'twas she that loved him. He felt sorry for her if such +a thing were true; but 'twas not possible, and to convince himself he +would go to her and give her the brotherly kiss as heretofore, and +take notice if there was aught in her manner to denote verification of +the miserable gipsy's story. He would put an end to such feeling, if +'twere there. He sent word if he might see her for himself, and be +assured her illness was not feigned, in order she might shirk the +duty--like a wicked sister--of presenting her fair face for the +enlightenment of the gloom that seemed about to penetrate, from +without, the castle walls. + +Constance lay propped amongst pillows, in a gorgeous _peignoir_ of +lace, arranged for the moment to display advantageously her plump arms +and a slender white neck encircled with pearls. Her brow was high and +narrow; her dark hair was carefully arranged in wavy folds upon +the pillow; her eyes, under drooping lids, glittered coldly and +imperiously. The nose was straight, and too thin for beauty. Her lips, +touched with rouge, were also thin and full of arrogance. There she +lay, impatient for the love of this one man, who was e'en now at the +door. + +When Constance was a baby, she had watched Cedric upon his nurse's +knee taking his pap, and a little later amused him with her dolls. She +had played with him at bat and ball; had ridden astride behind him +upon a frisking pony; had learned and used the same oaths when none +were by to note her language but grooms and stable-boys--always when +Angel, the head nurse, was not about. She would outswear the young lad +and then tease him because he could not find words to equal hers. +They had played at "Lord and Lady," and rode about the terraces in +a miniature sedan chair, and cooks and scullions winked and nodded, +wisely and predictively. And when they came to man's and woman's +estate, Cedric's regard for her was as a brother's; but hers for +him, alas! was deep love. It seemed to her as if the world was just +beginning; a bright, glorious world full of untold wealth of love, +when she thought perhaps she might yet win him for her own; and indeed +she thought, as already possessing him. On his part there was +being born in his heart a great joy: that of a new and first love. +Heretofore he and Constance had known all things in common, and now +suddenly he was satiate of her. But Katherine, he had thought, was +so young and bright and beautiful; a child that had lived within the +cloister and had grown to maidenhood in sweet innocence. 'Twas like +finding in some tropic clime, embowered and shaded by thick, waxy +leaves, a glorious, ripe pomegranate, which he would grasp and drink +from its rich, red pulp, a portion that would cool and 'suage a +burning thirst; while Constance, by the side of Katherine, was like a +russet apple, into whose heart the worm of worldly knowledge had eaten +its surfeit and taken all sweetness away, and the poor thing hung low, +all dried and spiritless upon a broken bough to the convenience of any +passing hand. "Nay, nay; give me only the rich, ripe pomegranate; my +Katherine, Kate! Kate!" and blinded thus by the fever of desire to +possess only his sweet Kate, he swung wide the door of Constance's +room and passed to the bedside and leant over and kissed her. + +She flushed red as she met his eyes--now cold and +unimpassioned--looking into the very depths of her own. He saw the +sudden scarlet that mantled her face, and knew--knew she loved him. +And his heart went out to her, for he was attached to the russet +thing, an attachment heretofore unnamed, but now--now suddenly +christened with that parsimonious appellation--pity; the object +of which is never satisfied. But he had naught else to give, for +Katherine had suddenly impoverished him. + +"'Tis generous of thee, Cedric, to break from thy gay company; what +are they engaged in?" + +"Various,--some at cards, others at music--" + +"And what was thy pastime that thou couldst sever thyself so +agreeably?" + +"I was listening to Bettie, and she on a sudden remarked of thy +indisposition. I straightway came to note thy ailing. I have talked +not with thee in private since thy arrival, and there is much news. +Hast seen her, Constance, to talk with her?" + +"Whom meanest thou? There are many 'hers' in the house!" + +"The beauty that flew to me over seas, of course; whom else could I +mean?" + +"Oh! oh! to be sure; the maid from Quebec. Aye, I talked with her +some. Thou sayest she is Sir John Penwick's daughter?" + +"Aye, and she's a glorious beauty, eh, Constance?" + +"But how camest thou by her?" + +Cedric reached to that nearest his heart and drew forth Sir John's +letter and gave it opened into Constance's hand. She read it with +blazing eyes and great eagerness; for 'twas a bundle of weapons she +was examining and would take therefrom her choice. She flashed forth +queries as to the probability of this or that with a semblance of +interest that disarmed Cedric and made him wonder if this woman +loved to such an extent, she could fling aside her own interests +and submerge all jealousy, all self-love into the purest of all +sacrifices, abnegation? + +"What! no estates? That looks ill, for at one time Sir John was +affluent, for Aunt Hettie has told me of him many a time." + +"But he lost it all, as I've heard ofttime from father; he has spoken +not infrequent of Sir John's high living; he had great demesne, a +great heart and great temper; and 'tis the last named that has fallen +clear and uncumbered to his daughter; and the heart will be found by +careful probing, no doubt; and the demesne she will have when she +condescends to take me as spouse." + +"Thou, thou espouse her?" and Constance feigned surprise, as if 'twere +a new thing to her, when in reality she had suffered agony from its +repetition. + +"Aye, and why not, pray? Am I not of ripe years and know my mind?" + +"And why so?--because thou shouldst wed one of high degree and fortune +and worldly wisdom." + +"Nay, thou art wrong. 'Tis enough that she is of noble blood from +father and mother; and I have fortune for us both; and worldly +wisdom--bah! Constance, dost thou expect her to know all the intrigues +of court, when she is but lightly past fifteen?" + +"Fifteen?--Now by heaven, Cedric, thou wouldst not lie to me?" + +"Nay, Con, I would not--I have no object in this case, 'tis a truth." + +"Fifteen, and indeed she is well-formed for such youth!" + +"And what a beautiful and innocent face she has, too?" + +"Beauteous, admitted; but innocent of what?" + +"Innocent of all we know; she knows naught of this great world. Janet +keeps all evil from her. We cannot conceive of such innocence in any +one. The child has eaten the simplest things all her life; milk and +gruel and beef-whey; 'tis no great wonder she is so pink and strong; +Janet says in hand-to-hand battle in their convent chamber, the child +hath thrown her oft in fair wit of strength;--such rough sport was not +indulged in openly and Janet taught her thrusts and flings to broaden +her chest and strengthen hip and back; she is stout and strong, and +yet she makes one think of a beautiful flower until she falls in +anger; then she shows a stout temper as well, and is wilful to all +save Janet, who governs her by some strange method I ne'er saw before; +for 'tis odd to see servant lead mistress. But, 'twas an awful thing +happened me; I knew not, or had forgotten rather, the arrival of the +babe Sir John speaks of. As thou knowest, I came home unexpectedly, +and I found the letter here. It had arrived some time before, and +I read it hastily, told Wasson my duty and passed the letter to a +convenient pocket, and thence until the night of the _masque_ forgot +all about the arrival of the infant. I was masqued, mad and raving at +Christopher for not mending my bag-pipe, and I rushed swearing after +him and Mistress Penwick heard my oaths, my broad Scotch ones thou +knowest I love to use when in anger. She hates me for it, and I can +do naught to win the confidence due me as her rightful guardian. So I +have settled upon an immediate espousal--" + +"Immediate? Thou marry a child,--'tis unseemly--" + +"Nay, 'tis not unseemly; 'tis the most proper thing to do. Janet +says so, too, and will urge her to accept me as soon as I wish to +wed--which shall be at the earliest moment." + +"Janet, indeed! What right has a servant to forward the doings of +master and mistress? Thou hadst best wait and have her Grace of +Ellswold present her at Court and give the child at least one season +in London to improve her convent ways." + +"Nay, Constance, if she were to grow one whit more beautiful, 'twould +kill me dead." + +"I am afraid thou art easily slain; indeed, I never knew beauty was so +murderous before. Thou art surely beside thyself; she here alone in +this great castle without a mother's love to guide! No one to whom she +can tell her troubles! How must the poor child feel to be forced into +a marriage she most like--hates;"--and her ladyship's voice took +on such a tone of pity one would think she was about to break into +tears,--"'tis a barbarous act for thee to talk of marriage so soon to +a helpless being." + +"There is nothing helpless about Kate, she can take her own part. She +hath wit and temper for a half dozen." + +"But thou wilt acknowledge if she will have _her_ way she must leave +the castle; for thou art bent upon _thy_ way--thou wilt not listen to +reason; so, see to it, and wed her straightway if--if thou canst." He +was about to answer her with an oath, when suddenly Katherine stood in +the half-open door smiling over the top of a great bunch of roses. +On Constance' face was a look of triumph, as she noted Cedric's +confusion; but Katherine's words put Cedric at ease. + +"I was told thou wert ill and that Lord Cedric was uneasy and had come +to thee; and I reproached myself for not coming earlier to see if thou +wert in need of aught." She placed the vase of roses on a table close. +Constance thanked her and took the tapering fingers and hugged them +between her own. Katherine looked down upon her thin, arrogant lips; +and as there always comes to the innocent--when dealing with those of +other mould--a warning, a feeling of repulsion, took possession of her +and she withdrew her hand, and, in a moment, her presence. + +"'Tis a vision of loveliness more refreshing than the nosegay she +brought, thinkest thou not so, Constance?" + +"Thou dost see with lover's eyes. How soon wilt thou espouse her; +thy house is somewhat taken up by company, who are to remain for +the summer, and how wilt thou get through the irksomeness of grand +ceremonies without great preparation, for much will be expected of thy +wealth and rank?" + +"Damme, I'll have no pranks and ceremonies and entertainments; I +have not time. I must wed her at once. Canst thou not see, under the +circumstances, scandal-mongers will make eyes and prate of wrong for +me thus to have a young maid here alone?" Now indeed this thought had +not occurred to Constance in just this way; but now it struck her with +a mighty force, and she shot at him a piercing glance through the +half-closed imperious eyes. + +"I had thought of it, but determined mine should not be the first +breath to breathe forth scandal, even in private converse with thee; +'twas an awful thing for her to come here knowing of thy youth." + +"But she did not know, as that letter and thou thyself can testify." + +"But the world--the Court where thou wilt go to hold sway--they know +not the circumstances." + +"Now, by God, Constance, one would think thou wert an alien to King +Charles' Court. If Charles knew I had here this maid and had not yet +taken her to wife--why--why, he would take her away himself and laugh +me to scorn for my slothfulness. But all London knows by now, as I +have sent a message to my solicitors." + +"But if she be set upon not marrying thee. What wilt thou do?" Lord +Cedric hung his head, as if in profound meditation; then, without +raising it, but remaining in a hopeless attitude, said: + +"I will guard her from all evil. I will stand between her and harm and +wait. And thou must help me, Constance. Wilt thou persuade her?" + +"Have I not always taken thy part, even--when thou wert in the wrong?" + +When Cedric left Lady Constance, he sought Janet and poured into her +willing ears his woes. He feared lest some gallant should win his +Kate's love, and Janet must tell him of some way to win it for +himself. + +Janet now loved Lord Cedric as if he were already Katherine's lord; +and she, knowing 'twould be one of the best matches in all England, +vowed 'twas best for them to marry at once; beside, Kate, being wilful +and having a tendency for men of foreign birth, with nothing in their +favour but a small share of good looks and some musical ability, might +see fit to plant her affections with such, and 'twas plain mischance +would kill Cedric outright, for he was passionate to self-destruction; +so when he said: "'Twould be instant death to me, Janet. What wouldst +thou advise me to do--thou dost so fully understand her?" she answered +him: + +"'Tis somewhat the way with maidens to sigh for that not easily +attained, and it might serve thee to put forth an indifferent air and +incline thy attentions toward another and act a mighty cold lord and +coddle not her desires." + +"That would take so long a time; I cannot wait. I will speak to her +once more, then I will be cold and indifferent as thou sayest. When +shall I have an opportunity to speak with her?" + +"How soon dost expect the chests with my lady's raiment, my lord?" + +"On the morrow they should be here." + +"'Tis then she will think of thy goodness, and I will put in a word +for thee, and perchance thou wilt come to see if all things came, and +'twill give thee opportunity to speak of other things. She is wanting +many things for the Chapel; she wishes to reopen it; and 'tis in +matters of religion thy hot tempers will clash, for Mistress Penwick +is a Roman Catholic, and thou art of the English Church." + +"Thou art a wise Janet! I will turn the people, and they shall become +Catholics." + +"Nay, if thou dost undertake it, thy people will rise in arms against +thee." + +"So be it, let her have her way. I'll bother her not in her simple +ideas of religion." + +"Not so simple, my lord. Thou hast not seen the teachings of nine +years take root and spread and grow as I have. Dost think she would +allow thy Chaplain to bind thee to her? Nay, she will be wed by none +but a priest. But she is kindly intentioned and feels sorry for thy +poor Chaplain, who hath so hard a time to keep his flock together. +I look any day for her to carry in a cross and hang it behind his +pulpit, then--then he will faint away from fright of her." + +"Nay, Janet, he will fall down and worship it, and--her." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BRANTLE + + +Mistress Penwick sat in her chamber, trying to calm herself to reason; +for the chest had come from London-town laden with splendid raiment; +all had been unpacked and examined, and 'twas enough to cure all +grievances, the very sight of such adornings; but her ladyship +was disappointed that there were no stays. Janet for the time was +distraught and said: + +"I would that had been sent that would mend thy untowardness and bring +thy temper to a comelier mould. 'Tis past time for thee to clothe +thyself in that in which thy noble lord hath seen fit to purchase for +thee; I heard some moments since the arrival of the hunters and it's +time--" There was a sounding rap and 'twas his Lordship's lackey +begging the admittance of his master. Janet bade Lord Cedric enter. He +came forth in riding-coat and field boots and rattling spurs. Mistress +Penwick vouchsafed a nod of recognition and turned her eyes away. The +hot blood mounted Cedric's face and at a look at Janet understood all +was not well; he essayed to speak with coolness: + +"Art not happy with the contents of thy chest, Kate?" + +"'Tis more than one could expect, but--sadly it lacked that I wished +for most--a thing that marks one as lady and not child in grown-up +people's clothes." + +"And what might that be, Kate?" for indeed he had forgotten about her +order that stays be sent. + +"Simple, modest, commonplace stays, my lord," and she said it slowly +and with a mighty air. + +"Nay, nay--stays they did forget?" and he stamped his foot in seeming +wrath and broke forth:--"I'll thrash that damned lackey blue for +so forgetting!" and he turned as if to quit the room, but Mistress +Penwick ran to stay his hurry. + +"Nay, thou wilt not hurt him, 'twas not his fault, 'twas not by his +hand the order was writ." And Cedric feigned further show of temper, +and Katherine's tapering fingers ventured upon either lapel of his +lordship's velvet coat, and he turned red and white and could hardly +contain himself with delight. Janet, fearing a confusion of her +master's words, put forth her arms and drew away Katherine's hands and +said, softly: + +"His Lordship will not thrash the lad, if thou wilt don thy most +beautiful frock and forget the stays." + +"That will I, if 'tis his desire; and--" she looked up into his +Lordship's face with a look that was almost tender--"thou wilt say no +word to the boy?" His voice was soft and pleading as he answered: + +"Anything thou wouldst ask of me thus, thou couldst have it without +the asking." + +"Then, my lord, when there is aught I would have, I may take it +without thy spoken yea?" + +"Nay, not so; that would be highway robbery; for thou wouldst take +from me the dearest thing that has yet happened to me; 'tis thy sweet +pleading for that 'tis already thine." + +"'Tis a generous thing for thee to say, but if I might have perfect +freedom to do all things as I desire--" + +"And what are the 'all things' that thou wouldst desire?" + +"I should like to have many changes made in the Chapel, and bring one +who is well able to play on the great organ. And 'twould be a wondrous +good thing to bring from the village of Crandlemar youths for the +training of a choir, such as I have heard are of much repute among the +poor lads for strength and sweetness of voice; and after all things +are made ready, have the Chapel opened again with pomp of priest and +solemn ceremony." + +"If such are thy desires, I will put forward the work at once." Now +indeed Katherine forgot the sad lack of stays and for the moment +forgot all else save that the handsome Cedric stood before her flushed +and eager to gratify her every whim. He, one of the richest noblemen +in Great Britain, whom she could have for a look; the stretching out +of the hand. And she quite well knew that he was ready at the first +opportunity to renew the subject of marriage, and for this very thing +she turned from him thinking that some time she would consider his +proposal. So again he went from her presence with a throbbing in his +breast that was half-hope, half-despair and knew not what to do. + +'Twas the last ball at Crandlemar Castle, for the hunting season was +over. A goodly company gathered from neighbouring shires, and Mistress +Pen wick was the mark of all eyes in a sweeping robe of fawn that +shimmered somewhat of its brocadings of blue and pink and broiderings +of silver. She had decorously plaited a flounce of old and rare lace +and brought it close about her shoulders and twined her mother's +string of pearls about her white throat, the longer strands reaching +below her waistband and caught low again upon the shoulder with a knot +of fresh spring violets. Cedric stood apart with his kinsman, his +Grace of Ellswold, who enjoyed the freedom of speech of all Charles' +Court; indeed it appeared that not only looseness of tongue but morals +also held sway in the most remote as well as the best known portions +of the kingdom. And at his Grace's first sight of Katherine he uttered +an oath and some other expression that savoured of common hackney; for +Cedric had been telling him of the soothsayer's words. + +"The soothsayer spoke false and I'll wager thee the East Forest thou +hast coveted against thy Welsh demesne. I tell thee, Cedric, a jewel +hast thou found. Never have I seen her equal. And that is John +Penwick's daughter!" and he took a great pinch of snuff and looked +at Cedric. "She will make thee a fine wife,--but who is the man that +dangles after her now? Indeed, I would say thou hadst better watch out +for him. I do not like the look in his eyes; he is--" + +"Egad, uncle! I would as soon think of being jealous of--of thee. He +is Constance' cousin from Russia, and as she is staying here for some +time, at her request I asked him also. Bah! I could never imagine him +as a rival!" + +"Well, so be it; but how about the wager of the East Forest?" + +"Thou art on the winning side. So thou couldst not wager without an +opponent, and 'twill be futile to find one, lest thou dost charge upon +some landless bumpkin." + +"And how soon wilt thou espouse her?" + +"At the first moment of her consent--" + +"Consent 'tis thou art waiting for? Thou hadst better keep her close; +for if his Majesty gains inkling of such fresh, young beauty and finds +her out of bans, 'twill go hard with thee to sword thy way to a lady +in waiting or--perhaps----" + +"'Sdeath, by God! I had not thought of that! 'Twould be too bold +and out of place, she being under my guardianship, to press her to +espousal without fair consent;--but I know best; 'twould be for her +own safety, is it not so, uncle?" + +"If she knows naught of the frailties of all mankind and the Court in +particular, I should say as thou art her rightful guardian and the +suitor chosen of her father, and 'twas thy wish for her immediate +espousal, 'twould best serve thee to use all manner of means to gain +her consent, and if this prove abortive, I would abduct the maid and +have thy Chaplain ready to marry thee to her; and after he pronounces +thee man and wife, what can she do but love thee straightway for thy +strong handling; 'tis the way of women. I would marry such a beauty in +haste, ere another takes the vantage." + +Lord Cedric chose Mistress Penwick for the brantle and led her forth. +They moved with such majestic grace, they attracted all eyes. It +seemed Cedric could not contain himself for love of Kate, and he vowed +to gain her ear this very night and know for a certainty if she would +ever marry with him. + +It pleased Mistress Penwick to dance with Cedric, for she was more at +ease with him than any other, and she was hardly pleased when he bade +her rest and took her to another room, where they were quite alone. +But she would not sit down, and stood fanning and smiling up into his +face, saying half pettishly: + +"Thou art soon tired; the brantle has just begun." + +"Kate, hast thou patience?" + +"Aye, but 'tis of dwarfish mould." + +"Kate, dost love any human being?" + +"Aye, 'tis a poor thing that loves not." + +"Dost love me, Kate?" + +"As a father or brother and as one should love her father's best +friend." + +"Then--give me a--kiss as thou wouldst give thy brother." The hot +blood suffused her face. At sight of it, Cedric's heart leapt with a +mighty gladness. + +"Not having had a brother, I know not how to give that thou +askest;--and 'tis unseemly of thee to ask for that that makes one +blush for very shame to be questioned of." + +"Blushes are not always for shame--'tis for love, sometimes. Kate, +'tis time I knew thy heart, for thou knowest I am about to die for +love of thee. Dost not understand that thy father wished thee to marry +at an early age and to marry the son of his bosom friend to whom he +gave his daughter's keeping?" + +"Nay, he said naught of my marriage with thee, as he knew not thou +wert in existence." + +"Aye, of a truth he hath done so; it is here next my heart," and he +drew forth Sir John's letter. "Wilt read but the lines I show thee; +for there are secrets belonging to thy father and me alone?" He marked +the lines with his jewelled finger, his love locks falling against her +cheek as she read: "My last wish and the one of greatest import to my +child is that thou find for her a spouse of rank and fortune. 'Tis my +desire she marry early to such an one.--Ah! Cedric, if thou had hadst +a son, their union would have been our delight--" + +"Ah! ah!" and Katherine's eyes grew wide. "Thou hast said naught of +this--as it appears here before me now; and it might have been too +late." + +"Too late! What meanest thou?" + +"The noble--nay, now I cannot tell thee, for 'tis a secret but half +mine." + +"My God! who dares have secrets with thee save thy nurse and guardian; +whose damned heart hath played the lover to thee?" His hand fell upon +his sword and he drew it half way. "What guest hath so dishonoured +name as to make profit of that I have already made known as my +espoused? Tell me, Kate!" Seeing her frightened eyes, that were justly +so, he pushed back the jewelled hilt and threw his arm about her and +drew her close, so close she was well-nigh crushed by his warm and +passionate embrace and choked by pulverulent civet as her face was +pressed against the folds of his steenkirk. She felt the tumultuous +beating of his heart, and 'twas a great, new feeling came to her and +she trembled and swayed, and loved and hated both, in one brief moment +and drew from him and looked with angry eyes. "Kate, Kate, what saidst +the false lover; tell me every word. Did he ask thee for espousal?" +Now Mistress Penwick faltered and flushed, for she dare not tell him +who her suitor was and thought if she told him well what was said, +he would not press her for name, and 'twas meet she should tell him +truthfully. She feared his hot temper not a little, for she had heard +that one time he locked Lady Constance in the tower for two whole days +for telling him a falsehood. + +"Aye, he asked me to espouse him." + +"And what didst thou say?" + +"I said him nay, 'twas too soon to wed, 'twould be wiser to speak a +year hence." + +"And what answer did he make thee?" + +"He said the king's sister, Princess Mary, when but ten married +William, Prince of Orange, and--" + +"And what?" said Cedric, leaning forward his hand upon his sword, a +curse between his white teeth and a line of light from between +his half-closed lids like the flashing of a two-edged sword. +"What--'sdeath?" And Kate trembled forth-- + +"And fifteen was none too soon to wed." + +"And did he say naught else appertaining thereto?" + +"Nay, I know naught else he could say!" and the innocence of her +inquiring face proved his evil imagining a perjury. He caught his +breath in a flutter of sheer heart's-ease. + +"Now who is this swain who hath taken advantage of my invitation and +come up from among the rustics yonder to make love to thee? I will +run him through the first time I meet his insolence. Who is he, Kate; +what's his name?" She vouchsafing no answer, aroused his suspicion. + +"'Sdeath! what ails thy tongue? Haste thee, what is his name?" and he +glared at her, furiously, 'til she was well nigh cold with fright. + +"Sooth, thou art strong with temper for the very meagre cause a maiden +will not bewray a poor man's name." + +"Poor, indeed, when such as thou bestoweth upon him the priceless +gift of thy heart as a locker for his secrets; by God! give his name, +quick, ere I slay a dozen for one paltry fool that would rob me!" +She read aright the steely light 'neath his half-closed lids and was +distraught, for she dared not give him the name of one of his guests; +for the noble Russian Adrian Cantemir had pressed his suit and was +upheld by Lady Constance, who told him of Katherine's vast demesne, +knowing well he could not marry one without estates, as his were in +great depletion. And the noble Cantemir had well nigh won her heart by +his voice and music, and now that he was in danger of Lord Cedric's +anger, he became an object of commiseration, and not for her life +would she give his name to this raging man with murder in his heart. + +"Nay, nay, my lord; give me grace. I have told thee truly all else, +and now I beg--" + +"Dost thou say thou wilt not give his name? Then, by God, I will cut +my way to his black heart!" He drew his sword and strode forth to +slash the curtain that barred his way, and Katherine caught his +upstretched arm and fell upon her knees, bursting into tears. At sight +of tears and touch of fingers he dropped his sword and raised her +quickly, saying: + +"Nay, nay, not tears. Dry them, Sweet, they wring my heart to greater +pain than all thy secrets, and for this one thou boldest I will take +thy shoulder-knot instead." She looked up surprised at the sudden +surcease of storm, and seeing his handsome face becalmed, she +wondered at the magic that had caused it, and her heart smote her for +withholding aught from one that loved her so. She hastily drew from +her shoulder the knot of violets that were still humid with freshness; +and as she drew the fastenings the lace fell from her shoulder, +disclosing her too-low cut bodice, and Cedric's quick eye saw why the +screen of lace was used, and with trembling fingers caught up the lace +and drew from his steenkirk a rare jewel and pinned it safe as deftly +as her maid. He touched her hand with his warm red lips, saying in +a voice resonant as music: "God bless thee, Kate, for thy sweet +modesty!" He thought if the modish beauties in yonder rooms could +boast of such perfect charm, 'twould not be hid by a fall of lace and +a shoulder knot of violets. And he pressed the nosegay to his heart +and left them there, folded within her father's letter. A calmness +settled upon him, such as had not come to him heretofore, and +trembling with happiness he led Katherine forth in the brantle; she +feeling quite like an heroine for being able to hold her secret from +this passionate man. + +For all the convent had environed Mistress Pen wick with sacred +influences, and she had absorbed its most potent authority, religion, +yet even that was not efficacious to the annihilating that 'twas +born within; and one can but excuse the caprice and wantonness of a +coquette, when 'tis an inheritance. She adhered pertinaciously to the +requirements of a lady of title, and loved opulence and luxury and +admiration. She foresaw--young as she was and reared as she had been +with all simpleness--an opportunity, being a noblewoman and the ward +of a wealthy titled gentleman, to become a favourite at Court. This +idea, however, was not altogether original; for Lady Constance +had given her a graphic description of her presentation, and the +requirements due to all ladies of note. And while Katherine fully +intended to carry out her father's wishes for an early and noble +marriage; yet she felt there was no haste; she was sure it would be +his desire for her to enjoy one of those seasons at Court she had +heard so much converse of. 'Tis not much wonder, having been so short +a time in the great world and having won the hearts of two noblemen, +she should wish for fresh fields to conquer. But now was not the time +for a trip to London, for spring was upon them and there was much to +look after in Crandlemar. His Lordship had sadly neglected his duties +in keeping up the village and looking after the poor. The church +must be built up. It had not occurred to her that there were other +religions beside the Catholic; and when Lord Cedric's chaplain made +known to her the difficulties of arranging Catholic orders in a +Protestant Church, she could not understand. Janet explained to her +what she would be compelled to surmount to bring her religion to be +the accepted one in Crandlemar. Again her mind was turned to Count +Adrian, and she thought 'twould be well to wed with one of her +own faith, and he was as warm a Catholic as herself. Cedric was a +Protestant and a very poor one, indeed it seemed he had no religion. +And yet he had told her that he petitioned not to God for aught; +but 'twas his diurnal duty to thank Him for His benevolence and +chastening; ever deeming chastisement the surety of his alien thought +or action, and he speedily mended his ways or made an effort to; but +what great sin he had committed that her love should not be given him +was more than he could tell, and he should keep on trying to find out +what his faults were, that he might receive that he wished for most. +He wrangled not of religion, but ever kept the divine spark in his own +heart alive, if not fanned to flame. Indeed so indifferent was his +Lordship to the great questions of the times, he thought not of the +ancient monastery in the depths of the vast forest upon his estate, +where still resided recluses. 'Twas seldom he thought of these simple +monks. They lived in seeming quiet, enjoying the freehold of their +castle. But there was a storm brewing, and in its midst his Lordship +was to be severely reminded of their presence. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ANCIENT MONASTERY + + +Lord Cedric's guests all departed after the Saxon dance, save their +Graces of Ellswold, Lady Constance, Lady Bettie Payne and Count +Cantemir. And with their exit spring seemed to burst forth in sward, +bourgeon and bud, and the clinging tendrils upon the castle walls grew +heavy and pink with their greedy absorption of carbon dioxide from the +warm atmosphere. It seemed the unfolding of nature brought ten times +more pain and uneasiness and mad love to Lord Cedric's heart. He had +not yet learned who had been talking to Katherine of love. Janet +had mentioned Adrian Cantemir; he had laughed at her. Constance +had pointed to Lord Droylsden, a man of distinction and strong +personality, whose estates joined his own. This appeared more +plausible than the suit of Cantemir, and his Lordship watched +Katherine when she was with these two and soon found, so he thought, +it was for the latter she cared; indeed 'twas hard for him to follow +the trend of her vacillating mind. + +'Twas a glorious, warm spring morning. Mistress Penwick had ridden +forth, attended by a groom, to the village. She spent the entire +morning in visiting the poor and sick and did not fail to note the +dilapidated state of the cottages. She rode home flushed and eager +with plans. She made known to Lord Cedric her desires to build up +these poor cottages. Without question he doubled the amount of money +she asked for, and paid her a large sum for immediate use among the +poor. Katherine's heart was touched by his goodness to her, and spoke +with more warmth than 'twas her wont and opined 'twould be a glorious +afternoon for their ride in the forest! He had kept his eyes +steadily from her; for 'twas his mood to play the disinterested and +unconcerned; but at this innovation on her part he raised his eyes and +spoke indifferently: + +"Aye, if this weather continues, we will have roses in a fortnight." + +"Speaking of roses reminds me; as I started forth this morning I saw +a gardener upon the upper terrace trimming about some bushes of +wonderful grace and beauty, and as I stepped among them I saw an +ancient sundial; 'tis the first I've yet seen, and I made bold to ask +him to plant some rare rose near it, that its leaves and blossoms +might enfold its cold marble whiteness and warm it to greater beauty." + +"And didst not thou suggest some choice?" + +"Nay; just so 'twas healthy and prolific of bloom." + +"Then as thou hast named a rose, I will name its kind!" + +He smiled significantly, and the hot blood flushed his cheek. She came +a step nearer and bent toward the table before him, her riding dress +wrapping her perfect mould. + +"One thing more I would ask thee; 'tis that I might have a bolder +steed, the one thou gavest me is not near spiritful enough for one who +wishes to ride well and gayly. I would have one that shakes his head +and rattles his bit and stamps about uneasily." This was more than his +Lordship could stand, and he broke forth in a mirthful laugh,-- + +"Thou shalt have the most buoyant palfrey can be found; he shall have +a wicked black eye, and--an honest heart for his mistress." Cedric +arose and bent gracefully to the fingers of Katherine as she held +them out to him, then turned quickly to the fire and crushed a +half-famished ember beneath his heel as he heard her cross the +threshold. A moment after he strode out upon the upper terrace to the +gardener, who stood with bared head as his Lordship gave command to +plant by the dial a bridal rose. + +The afternoon was glorious with the scent of a million shooting +sprouts, and delicate with the perfume of violets. But the sunshine +of the day was not to stay, for the party from the castle were scarce +three miles within the confines of the forest when the sun became +overcast. But they rode on, however, taking delight in the fine air, +and caring naught of cloud and threatening weather. + +They soon came to intricate windings of the forest path, where two +might not ride side by side, and as the Duke of Ellswold rode in +behind his wife, he suddenly reeled and would have fallen had it not +been for his groom. They all turned quickly save Mistress Penwick and +Adrian, who had made the sharp turn and were galloping forward. Cedric +bade a lackey ride with all speed to the castle for a coach; and as +the anxious group waited, they wondered somewhat that Katherine and +Cantemir did not return. And Cedric's heart, while well-nigh taken up +by his uncle's state, had still room for jealousy, and he grew hot +with anger that for once he kept hid under the semblance of anxiety. + +His Grace was tenderly lifted and taken to the conveyance that waited +upon the broader road some distance away. The little caravan moved +slowly, and before it reached the castle the wind began to blow +furiously, bringing heavy showers. + +The physician from Crandlemar had been summoned, and after a hurried +examination gave them encouragement, saying that the duke had probably +been riding too fast and his condition was not dangerous. + +A courier had been despatched for his Grace's physicians and all +things done for his comfort; and Cedric for the time relieved from the +anxiety of actual and impending danger concerning his kinsman, now +felt the full force of his disappointment in Mistress Penwick's +absence with Cantemir. He determined to ride forth in quest; and with +a groom laden with all sorts of cloaks for her protection from the +storm, that now raged furiously, started, feeling naught but the pain +at his heart. + +The Catholics and Protestants being at variance throughout the +kingdom, and there were passing constantly under cover of forests and +unfrequented highways groups of riotous men of both parties; for the +life of him Cedric could not tell with which party he would rather his +Katherine would come in contact--she unattended save by a modish fop. + +After reaching the depths of the forest, 'twas no easy matter to find +the exact paths they had traversed in the afternoon. The groom carried +a lantern, but 'twas Lord Cedric's order not to light it. There were +shooting lodges and forester's cabins, other abodes there were none +save the old monastery, and to which of these places to go was left +altogether to the toss of a penny. Beside, they were not sure of +finding a shooting lodge, should they start for it; the night was so +black and the paths so numerous and winding. Very often Cedric would +stop and listen for the tramp of horses' feet; but there was naught +save the occasional cracking of twigs as some wild thing jumped from +the roadside frightened, or the stir of the high wind in the giant +trees. On they rode, and Cedric's heart was first sorry for his +kinsman's ills, then--he would rant because Katherine had taken no +notice of his importunities, and he swore under his breath in good, +round Scotch oaths for his allowing her to go thus long without +espousal; and again he looked at the matter dispassionately. She was a +very young maid, without the protection of womankind of her own rank +or an aged guardian. Then began to find fault, and on a sudden saw she +loved admiration, and this sin became unpardonable and he became +so wrought upon, he swore he would lock her in the tower until she +consented to their espousal. Then he thought of Janet's words as he +left her but a short time before: "I would vouch for her innocence +with my life! Be not harsh with her, my lord!" and he ground his teeth +in rage for his _espionage_ of her. Then he thought of the king and +what if she came under his eye,--"Ah, 'sdeath! 'twould make me mad!" +and he laid spur to his horse and galloped on with hot curses in his +throat. + +How long or how far they had ridden 'twas impossible to tell, until +suddenly they saw a light and at once Lord Cedric knew they were at +the monastery. He halted instantly and dismounted. Throwing the reins +to the groom, he crept cautiously forward alone. To his astonishment +he beheld a great number of horses about the enclosure, and he became +still more cautious. "'Tis a Catholic _rendezvous_, by God!" said he. + +He followed close to the wall, and was about to reach the window when +the door was thrown wide open and a group of three stood upon the +threshold. Two of them, Cedric saw, as the light from within fell upon +their faces, were noted leaders of the Catholic party, the other was a +monk, and 'twas he that was speaking. His voice was low and intense: + +"If his Majesty has but one glimpse, he will pitch the Castlemaine +overboard. This one is a religionist of no common order and will do +much for the cause; and when she has done this thing, I shall do all I +can to withdraw her from further communication with Charles. She shall +not become one of his household, she is too good for that." + +"'Twas rare luck that brought her to thine abode this afternoon, for +our case was well-nigh hopeless, and soon it would have been too late, +for once Sir John gets to this country--sh! Didst hear something stir +hereabout?" + +"Nay, 'twas naught but the wind; but when thou dost speak of Penwick, +thou hadst better whisper." + +"'Twas a pity we came not earlier according to agreement, and we +should have feasted our eyes upon the beauty." + +"If thou hadst been one-half hour sooner, thou wouldst have seen her +with the gay youth that will give her little peace 'til she doth say +the word. I tell thee both, the Virgin Mary doth plead our cause, and +no doubt 'twas through her agency the rain came upon the maid and +drove her here. We offered special prayer to Holy Mary this morning. +And the youth with her is also of the only religion. Mistress Penwick +was greatly frightened of my Lord Cedric; for she would go forth in +the heart of the storm, fearing a longer stay would bring uneasiness +to the castle; so I gave her protection, a guide and a promise to +receive her in a few days for the confessional and some religious +direction; and I feel sure she will visit me within the week." + +"'Tis an easy way to reach the king's heart; he doth so love a pretty +face and fine parts; and we may be able to use the youth as well--eh?" +They said a good-night and passed on to their steeds, mounting and +riding away. + +The monk returned to those within, and Cedric hurried away, anxious +only to see Katherine once more,--to behold her once again with his +own eyes and never, never again would he allow her to leave him. He +would not be turned aside again from his purpose, she must come to his +terms at once. Then he fretted and fumed, fearing she had fallen under +the stormy blast and had taken cold, and perhaps would have a fever. +Then he grew hot and angry with her for riding so fast and beyond +ear-shot of the company. And jealousy and all evil passions took +possession of him. + +Meanwhile Mistress Penwick had arrived at the castle, and was grieved +when she heard of his Grace's condition, and sorry she had ridden +ahead and was so late getting home. + +Janet had hurried her to her chamber and disrobed her of wet garments, +and bathed her in hot and cold baths, and was rubbing her with +perfumed olive oil when Lord Cedric arrived. + +He went to his uncle's bedside, and finding him resting, quietly +hastened to his own apartments and sent to inquire of Mistress +Penwick. + +'Twas Janet's pleasure to answer her lord's inquiry in person, and +after swathing her lady in fine flannels, she hastened to Lord +Cedric's presence. + +She found him standing in satin breeches, silk hose and buckled +high-heeled shoes, and shirt of sheer white lawn and rare lace. He +raised his drooping eyelids lazily, and looked at Janet as he lifted +from the dressing-table before him rings--rare jewelled--and adjusted +them on his white fingers. At his side was a valet, placing fresh +sachets filled with civet within false pockets of the satin lining of +his lord's waistcoat. The cold, proud gleam from Cedric's dark orbs +daunted not Janet. She courtesied with grave respect. There was that +in her eyes, as she raised them, that called for the dismissal of the +lackeys. As they passed beyond to the ante-chamber, she approached and +spoke low in tones vibrant with suppressed emotion. + +"My lord, as I am with thee in the chiefest thought of thine heart, I +make bold to inform thee of a virulent action that is about to be made +against thee; one flagrant of state intrigue and court duplicity." + +"Damme, what now?" and his Lordship leaned heavily upon the table; +the conversation at the monastery recurring to his mind with force as +Janet proceeded. + +"Not being able to contain my anxiety for Mistress Penwick, I wrapt +myself and went forth in the storm to watch and listen for aught of +her return. I passed some little distance within the confines of the +forest, and was soon put upon my guard by the approaching tramp of +horses' feet, and then, low-keyed voices, and in very truth I thought +my lady was come; instead, three horsemen came within a few feet of my +hiding and one said,--'We are even now hard by the Castle courtyard; +'tis possible the lackeys are waiting for the beauty who is perchance +now started from the monastery. Didst ever see such beauty?' They +halted and dismounted some distance from the open road. Then one +said,--''Twill send his Majesty to madness when he sees before him +such perfect mould, suing for his most gracious clemency toward our +cause.' ''Tis a wonder my lord of Crandlemar does not take such beauty +to wife,' said another. 'He may bid her farewell when once her fame +reaches the Court; and 'twill be there in less than two days from this +hour. Who will remain with the despatches while we find that rascal +Christopher?' ''Twill best serve for one to go, and two guard the +horses and bags. Thou hadst best go, Twinkham, thou art as subtle as +the wind. Prod the villain Christopher to haste and enjoin upon him +secrecy in the name of His Most Catholic Majesty, the Pope,--and do +not thou be hindered by some scullion wench.' These things I heard, +well-seasoned with imprecation against the king. I hastened from the +_rendezvous_ to my chamber and thought upon it, and--and there is +naught can be done, unless thou wed Mistress Penwick straightway." + +His Lordship fell into furious rage, and vowed he would sever +Christopher's head from his rotting body with a cleaver, and honour +him not with a thought of Tyburn Hill. He would burn yonder monastery +and all within to ashes for the wind to carry away; and he would lock +Katherine in the tower with his own hands; and he started toward the +door, half-dressed as he was, and flung it wide open. + +Her Grace of Ellswold stood upon the threshold with a warning finger +raised. + +"Thou hast a clamourous tongue, Cedric; the doctor hath enjoined +silence, as holding for the moment the greatest good for his Grace." + +"Now God forgive me! I was so wrought upon by foul communication I am +well nigh distraught.--How is his Grace?" + +"He is resting quietly; but I thought but now, as I heard thy +voice--indistinctly, 'tis true,--his pulse did flutter extraly." + +"Dear aunt, forgive; thou shalt not be thus annoyed again." He turned +and strode up and down the room with bent head. + +Janet watched him narrowly, wondering the while that any female, of +whatsoever age, could withstand such fine mould, masculine grace and +handsome features; such strong heart and hot blood. What maid beside +her Lambkin would not be overjoyed to see him so mad with love of her? +Who could resist kneeling before him and pleading, and watch his anger +take flight; and feel his strong arms raise her and fold the maiden +bosom to his heart, where 'twould throb and flutter as he held it +close pressed--ah! 'twas not his anger that would kill, nay! nay! +'twas his tender passion. + +"Janet, these are troublous times come upon us. They have come within +these walls. We have traitors about us. That knave Christopher shall +die by the hand of the lowest scullion in the kitchen; for 'twould +dishonour a better to mix with blood of swine. And thou wilt take thy +mistress to the tower and there be bolted in, and 'twill be given out +that her ladyship is ill and must needs have quiet--" + +"If my lord values her health, 'twould be best to put her in a less +windy chamber; the room is large and ill-heated for damp, spring +days." + +"Canst keep her safe where she is?" + +"Aye, leave it to me, my lord." + +"And thou shalt allow of no communication with those outside, save +her Grace, and Angel thou canst rely upon--stay--thou mayest allow +Constance to keep my lady company." + +"Nay, my lord, I would refute the idea of safety in my Lady +Constance." + +"'Sdeath, what meanest thou; art thou also turned from serving me?" + +"My lord, dost remember the night thou didst have dancers from London? +Lady Constance sat late with Mistress Penwick, and at last complained +of thirst and they two stole below stair and I followed, and as if by +accident Lady Constance brought Mistress Katherine to the curtained +archway, and she saw thee swaying in thy cups, and after a while my +lady led mistress to her room while she hastened away to a room apart +and donned the garb of one of the dancing maids and came to thee as a +gipsy, and she told thee false things concerning Mistress Penwick--" + +"Is what thou sayest true, or is't thou art going mad?" + +"'Tis true, my lord, as Mistress Penwick will tell thee if thou carest +to ask." + +"And Constance would do such an act?--" he spoke half aloud and +incredulously,--"Nay, I cannot and do not believe it! Thou must have +dreamt it, Janet,--and yet,--I did have like visions!--Thou art right; +no one shall see thy mistress, no one, mind, but Angel and her Grace. +'Tis possible the king may send for me within a few days; and if so, I +must go and leave thee to fight the battle alone. Art able, Janet?" + +"Trust me, my lord." + +"I can trust thee, good Janet. Look after her health; keep the windows +open for fine air, but let her not go from her chamber. How thinkest +thou she will take such imprisonment?" + +"She will be angry, but so proud she will not petition for freedom; +she may even brag 'tis to her liking to be so rid of thee." + +"'Sdeath, Janet, thy tongue can cut! Dost believe she cares a jot for +my anger?" + +"Nay, not a jot, for 'tis the outcome of love, and 'tis my noble lady +Innocence that is well aware that thy anger will fall to spray when +she hath a notion to turn the tide." + +"Nay, not again shall she win from me aught but cold looks 'til she +hath a mind to espouse me;--and yet my mind was made up to marry, +whether she consented or not; for the time has come when the one who +waits will wait still, and the one who rushes on, will take the prize, +whether by foul or fair means;--but nothing can be done to-night. In +the meantime I will steel my heart to harsh deeds, and, by God! I will +bear out my course. Janet, go now to thy mistress, and should I be +despatched for before I see thee again, there will be no one here +to defend her as thou canst do. Thou must not allow the servants to +attend upon her; thou must do it all thyself--a sweet duty! so, 'tis +left thee to defend with thy quick wit." + +'Twas near noon the next day that Mistress Penwick arose and would +prepare her for a ride to the village, when Janet told her of the +imprisonment imposed upon her for safety. She at once became angry and +accused her nurse of being a traitor and tool for Lord Cedric. + +"Nay, Lambkin, in truth, there are dark deeds abroad. Those monastery +celibates, who are well equipped to bandy with their equals, are mere +braying bumpkins when they have to do with embroidered waistcoats +and amorous hearts. They have surreptitiously corrupted one of Lord +Cedric's lackeys and the fellow is condemned to die." + +"Condemned to die! and who hath done the condemning, pray?" + +"His master, to be sure!" + +"Ah! if he should put forth the accomplishment of such a deed, 'twould +be the act of a barbarian. What are the charges against him?" + +"Just what it is I know not; but my lord deems the charge most grave +and--he may be even now dead." + +"Janet, thou dost so frighten me. Does the matter concern my lord's +person,--is his life in danger?" + +"Not his life but his love; 'tis for thy sake he does it." + +"For my sake!--then it shall not be done; I will see to it. Let me go +to Lord Cedric straightway." + +"His orders would not permit it." + +"For shame, Janet; to save a man's life? Let me go; I am not afraid of +his anger." + +"'Tis impossible; he would send me away if I disobeyed him." + +"Then thou must bring him here, Janet." + +"'Twill do no good to see him; he will not come. He is thoroughly out +of all patience with thy perverseness,--thou wilt never find another +such a noble lord and one 'twill love thee with such love;--and for a +face and figure--well, thou art surely blind to masculine beauty;--and +should his Grace go hence, my lord will be his Grace of Ellswold, and +second to none in the realm; he will become as much to the king as the +Duke of Buckingham, and will far outshine Monmouth and Shaftesbury." + +"Nay, Janet, he will ne'er become great when he doth so confuse +justice with viciousness;--but, nurse, I would have thee haste. Tell +my lord that I beg his presence, if for a moment only; he surely would +not refuse so trifling a request." + +"But it is not trifling, as he well knows thou art upon the keen edge +of want before thou wilt so much as smile upon him." At the moment +there struck upon Mistress Penwick's ears the tramp of horses' feet, +and straightway she ran to the window and leant out and saw Cedric +about to ride forth. + +"My lord, my lord!" she cried, and dropped a rose to attract him. His +horse sprung aside and trod upon it; but Cedric looked up and saw +the anxious face embrazured by ivy-clad sill; and with involuntary +courtesy he speedily uncovered and waited thus her pleasure. + +"May I have a word with thee, my lord?" + +"Indeed, Mistress, it doth rack me with pleasure to accord thee so +slight a service," and he dismounted quickly and strode into the great +hall and bounded up the oaken stairway. It seemed to Mistress Penwick, +as she heard his rattling spurs, that 'twas a sound of strength, and +she felt a happy, exultant tremour, knowing her cause already won. +But for once there was not wisdom in her conceit. She made a sweeping +courtesy as he entered. He bent low before her, waiting her first +words. + +"My lord, wilt thou permit me to inquire somewhat of thy mercy?" + +"Thou dost make me insolvent of such a quality when thy keen +penetration doth not discover, without inquiry, its existence." She +was not daunted by his severe answer, but flushed slightly at his +imperturbance. + +"Then, if thou dost acknowledge thyself so pampered, I beg thou wilt +conjoin to justice its semblance and forgive thy poor servant the +penalty of death." + +"Ah! ah! and 'tis Christopher's cause thou art pleading. Happy +Christopher!" he sighed deeply. "If the King would thus condemn me, +Mistress Penwick wouldst thou thus care for me?" + +"The query is of that so premature 'twould be impossible to frame a +reply,--hence I beg to continue converse upon an affair thoroughly +elaborated and arranged." + +"'Twould grieve me to say at once 'nay'; for that would end at once +for me these supreme moments in thy presence; however, I will repeat +the adverb of negation with a rising inflection that thou mayst +continue with amplification." + +"Dost thou mean to discontinue converse with me?" + +"Nay, I beg not." + +"Then thou meanest thou wilt not forgive thy poor servant, and wilt +impose such extreme penalty; and further importunities would be +useless?" + +"I forgive the dead all things." + +"My lord, he is not already dead?" and she fell from him aghast. + +"Nay, but soon will be." + +Mistress Penwick saw no softening in Cedric's manner, and she became +alarmed and threw some tenderness in her voice and spoke softly, that +she might lead or manage her lord by gentleness and tact. + +"My lord, do not look so cold and hard." She drew nearer and her voice +became more pleading. "'Tis a little thing for thee to grant me this +one desire. I beg with all my heart for thy servant's life." + +"Nay, I have given order for his despatch before sunset." + +"Nay, nay, my lord, I beg." She came close to him and laid one hand +caressingly upon the silver fastenings of his coat and he turned white +and trembled and caught her hand within his own and bent down and +pressed his lips to her fingers. She saw her advantage and followed it +close. + +"Wilt grant me this one thing, my lord, and I will hold myself--ready +to--hear thy suit renewed--if thou so will it?" His voice vibrant and +low with passion he could hardly restrain, broke forth,-- + +"Kate, Kate, I could not call so base a life worthy of thy +consideration, and I could not grant thee that 'twould sully thy sweet +tongue to barter for." + +"Thou art most unrelenting, my lord!" The maid was angry for having +offered her lord the privilege of renewing his suit; which he didn't +seem inclined to do; and finding her pleadings were of no avail, and +being angry and annoyed, she broke into tears, knowing of a certainty +she would now have her way, even though her dignity was lowered. +Cedric could not stand and see her thus; he turned from her +quickly and was about to leave her, when she called to him almost +impatiently,-- + +"My lord, wilt grant his life until the morrow?" He hesitated, then +turned and bowing low, murmured, + +"Until the morrow, Kate," and left the chamber. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SIR JULIAN POMPHREY + + +"Now time is something to have gained! Janet, thou must go to yonder +monastery and bring a priest to shrive Christopher." + +"And how didst thou know Christopher was shriveable?" + +"'Tis unseemly of thee to make jest of divine ordinances." + +"Nay, I would not jest but know where 'twas thou learnt of his +religion?" + +"All of the Catholic faith know one another by intuition; 'tis +God-given." + +"Then thou didst also know him to be a rascal?" + +"Neither do I know it now. Wilt thou not find some way to bring a +priest hither? Pray, Janet, do; for if I let it go past, 'twill bring +me miserable thoughts and wicked dreams. Janet, thou didst once love +me and hadst a fond way of anticipating my desires; but thou hast on +a sudden forgotten thine whilom usages. Beshrew thee for falling away +from thine old friends and taking up with new ones. Lord Cedric's +nurse watches him from morn until eve and deigns not to cajole him or +win his desires from their natural bent." + +"'Tis wisely said; for his desires are inclined in the right +direction. 'Twas but last night when he was well-nigh distraught with +thy absence with the Russian Jew that doth ogle thee, that Angel +brought his riding-cloak and threw it over his shoulders as he tore up +and down his chamber; and she said, lowly,--'Go, my lord, 'twill ease +thy mind to ride,' and he flew to horse. She is ever helping him to +thee." + +"And now I would have thee to help me to my lord's good graces and my +desires; but thou art evil bent." + +"Nay, my precious Lambkin, if I could I would help thee this night to +the nuptial altar; but as to helping thee to thy desires, 'twould be +helping thy peace of mind and him to utter ruin; and such calamity +would render thy young life incomplete; for without this noble lord +thy perfectness will be unfinished." + +"Cease carving epitaphs, Janet, and help me assist this poor +unfortunate. How long will my lord be gone?" + +"He has only gone to the village to meet the workmen who were to +renovate the nurseries and ride home with Lady Constance, who rode +away early this morning when thou were dreaming of Russia." + +"Then I will write him my petition, and thou shalt give it to Angel +to give my lord, immediately upon his return." She sat down with +parchment and quill and wrote rapidly; and as Janet noticed not, she +wrote two letters instead of one. The first she folded evenly and put +beneath a book, the other she gave to Janet, who took it and left the +chamber to seek Angel. Mistress Penwick, thus left alone, wondered how +she should convey her other letter to Count Adrian. She approached the +window, and lo! upon the upper terrace paced her Grace of Ellswold and +Cantemir. 'Twas not the first hour that day the latter had so paraded +the sward, ever and anon casting glances toward Mistress Penwick's +windows. Again he glanced up and saw her wave a white paper and +immediately leave the window. He guessed at once 'twas something more +than indisposition that held her to her room. Again she looked; they +had turned from the window. She flung forth the paper and it floated +down as Janet came into the room. + +'Twas late that evening Katherine sat in _peignoir_ and unbound hair, +ready for retiring, when there came a soft rap and a pleading voice +asking for admission. Now Janet was not one whit afraid of double +dealing when she was present, and being proud of Mistress Penwick and +not wishing it to appear that she was a prisoner, she opened the door +and in came Lady Constance smiling and shy, a hollow-hearted creature +of the world. Now it so happened that Lady Constance had kept herself +from Katherine for some little time, wishing not to be disturbed by +the maid's beauty; as it usually stirred her to frenzy and she wanted +perfect quiet for calm reasoning. It took some time to plan her +campaign that was already full started, and she now came forth from +her chamber refreshed, the course of her slothful blood hastened; her +eyes gleamed with impatience for action; her whole being changed, +rejuvenated, filled with a new life. She came also with a full +knowledge of all that had taken place in the _interim_ of her absence +from Katherine. She came well prepared for a bout, and blushed not at +the subterfuges and mean, paltry artifices, aye, a full battery of +chicaneries that awaited her use, as she crossed the maid's chamber +threshold. "'All is fair in love and war,'" she quoted--"'Tis an +egregious platitude adopted alike by king and fool!" + +"I could not sleep without first seeing thee and knowing thy +condition. It must be more than hard for thee to keep thy chamber?" +said Constance. + +"Nay, thou art wrong; the convent doth inure one to quiet and +solitude." + +"Dost think thy ailments will allow thee to go abroad on the morrow?" + +"I know not, I am at Janet's mercy and I cannot leave my seclusion +without her permission. I feel quite well, but Janet says I am ill." + +"Oh! that I had a nurse to so fondle me; indeed, she has kept all +looks of illness from thee; thy face is as clear as if thou hadst been +fed on wild honey all thy days;--and such hair! Dost leave it thus for +the night?" + +"The tangles would never submit, should I so leave it." + +"'Tis my delight to fuss with hair and thine is so beauteous--" she +arose and went to Katherine and smoothed the amber threads--"See, when +I turn it thus, 'tis like rare bronze, and when I place it to the +light, 'tis a glorious amber. May I plait it for thee,--I should love +so much to do it?" + +"If 'twill give thee pleasure thou mayest assuredly plait it," replied +Katherine. Janet now watched for a whispered word or some sign of +intercourse; but her vigilance was of no avail, for Lady Constance +deftly placed a tiny paper in Mistress Penwick's hair and plaited +tightly over it. + +"'Tis such a pleasure to fuss with hair--and such fine threads, too; +indeed, I have half a mind to become a _peruquier_,--there, 'tis +finished!" + +"How is his Grace, Lady Constance?" + +"He bids fair to pass a comfortable night,--'tis too bad his +physicians cannot arrive before the day after the morrow. They have +also sent for Sir Julian Pomphrey--a favourite of the duke and an +intimate and college fellow of Lord Cedric. Sir Julian is a most +wonderful man. When but nine years of age, he entered Eton school, +and having pursued his studies there with great success for one of +such light years, he was sent to travel upon the continent, where he +studied in Geneva for some time; thence he went to Florence, remaining +there many months,--afterward visiting Rome and Geneva and other +continental cities of note. He returned to England a scholar, a +soldier, a gallant, a conqueror of female hearts,--in brief, he holds +all the requirements of a charming cavalier of King Charles' Court. +He has modish habits that so completely masque his strong will and +determination that before one is aware they are caught and wound in +the meshes of his duplicity. He is a literate, poet and musician." + +"Thou dost indeed stir me to great interest, Lady Constance; he must +be a wonderful man. It seems we seldom have so many great qualities in +one human being. He must be quite along in years?" + +"Nay, not at all! His very youthfulness is what makes him such a +wonder. If I remember rightly, he is but two years senior of Cedric, +and I will venture there is not ten pounds' difference in their +weight. They are very much the same mould, and their voices blend as +one, but Cedric has the handsomer face. Sir Julian, however, has a +countenance of no common order; 'tis like a rock of strength already +well lined and marked by the passions that have swayed him to battle +and death or--perchance a lover's intrigue. He is in great repute for +his smile that is transcendent in its beauty, but one can never tell +what note it rings, whether true or false; its condiment may be of +malice, hate, reserve, flippancy, deception. And one looks on and +fears to take part in his mirth, for the reason one knows not what +lies beneath in Sir Julian's heart." + +"Indeed, and he is to arrive soon?--Sir Julian Pomphrey--I like the +name!" + +"It is one of the best names in England. I shall be very glad to see +him, and hope he will come soon. When he gets word his Grace is so +ill, he will probably come as fast as the ship and post-horses can +travel. He is at present a special emissary to France. He did write +Cedric some time since that he was about to return to England, that +his work there was nearly finished." + +"He will doubtless be playing fine French airs, and have much gossip +of the composers and will perchance bring music with him that will +stir us to greater study of execution." + +"It may be, and it mayhap so move thee; but I am foreign from the +rudiments of counterpoint and technique and such lollipops of +harmony." + +"Then it must be wearisome to hear me prate of the divine art, and +much more to hear my poor drummings on the harpsichord, I am sorry--" + +"Nay, be not so. I am more content when thou art at practice than at +all other time, save when I am with thee thus, alone." And there was a +covert meaning in her flattery. "Now, my dear Katherine, if thou art +thus beset on the morrow, I will engage to come at thy retiring hour +and dress thy hair; 'twill give me such pleasure." + +As Lady Constance retired from the chamber, Mistress Penwick stretched +her lithe body and yawned and expressed a desire for the bed. Soon +she was left alone, and she stole from her couch and knelt at the +hearthstone and read the missive eagerly and flushed not a little +at Count Cantemir's warm words of love that were a prelude to the +weightier matters appertaining. She crept back noiselessly and lay +pondering of many things. It seemed to her as if all earth breathed of +love; that she was the nucleus around which all flowers and perfume +and everything beautiful revolved. And now she was about to open a +mystic shrine, into which she would step and see and know and feel +with youth's ecstasy a strange development of essential existence. And +after wondering and speculating upon the affairs of love, she entered +into prayerful thought of Lord Cedric's servant, and soon fell into +sound slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUTLERY + + +"'Behold thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thou hast +dove's eyes within thy locks; thy hair is as a flock of goats, that +appear from Mount Gilead. + +"'Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which come +up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren +among them. + +"'Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely; thy +temples are like a piece of pomegranate within thy locks. + +"'Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armory, whereon +there hang a thousand buckles--'" + +"Nay, nay, Janet, thou must not idolize me thus, 'tis--" + +"Beshrew thy conceit. 'Tis Solomon I repeat. Thou were not thought of +when 'twas writ." + +Katherine raised upon her elbow and looked surprised at Janet, who +knelt by the bed. + +"Thy tongue is sharp, Janet, for a day yet in its swaddling hours." + +"Aye, 'twill be whetted two-edged e'er the day waxes old. 'To +everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the +heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a +time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to +heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, +and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to +get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a +time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love and a time +to hate; a time for evil communication to be thrown from young maid's +window, a time to look for answer to a pleading letter sent to a +justly angered lord; a time when his Lordship deigns not to give +answer; a time when a young lord to a tender parchment pregnant +with importunities says: 'Damme, she would set one thief to shrive +another;' a time when his Lordship slams with a bang the outside cover +to a book _blasé_ of many turned leaves." + +"Dear, dear sweet Janet; where is Lord Cedric? And has he said nothing +of Christopher?" The nurse averred that his Lordship had ridden forth +early, without giving his destination, and had left no word concerning +the servant. + +"Perhaps my lord's better nature hath prevailed, and he will keep the +poor fellow in durance yet for a time," said Katherine, hopefully. + +"Nay, his decision is irrevocable. He is not dealing in hearts now, +Lambkin." + +There was no doubt in Mistress Penwick's mind but that his Lordship +would kill, or cause to be killed, the condemned lackey, and Janet +knowing, 'twas his Lordship's temper and not his heart that vowed the +death, dissembled and impressed upon her mistress that the deed was as +good as done. + +Katherine's wit was sharpened by the exigency, and she managed to use +the window again as a post, only fearing--from Janet's anomaly of +Solomon's words--that some one waited below to capture the flying +missive. This issue was accomplished as the nurse was listening to the +Duke of Ellswold's message; when, late in the morning, the duke after +swallowing a stimulant declared he must have the more substantial +refreshment of Mistress Penwick's beauteous countenance. + +The duke was too ill to remain up long; and though Katherine was less +than an hour from her chamber, the day was much shortened by the +diversion. As night approached she became more and more anxious about +Christopher. Indeed, it seemed to her as if the moments were hours +after candle-light. And she moved restlessly about her chamber and +listened and sighed for the return of his Lordship. Surely the silence +was more pronounced than usual; it became ominous to her, and she +spoke out quickly in a voice that was peevish: + +"The castle is very quiet to-night. His Grace is not suffering again, +I hope? Wilt see, Janet? I'm in a perfect fever of impatience!" + +"Nay, he is very comfortable. Her Grace is with him. Lady Constance, +Lady Bettie and the Russian are at cards." + +"Will my lord arrive soon, dost think, Janet?" + +"I know not. Why art thou so solicitous on a sudden of his outgoings +and incomings?" + +"I would make another effort to save Christopher, if I could but +converse with my lord." + +"And what wouldst thou give him in exchange for the fool's life?" + +"Everything, Janet,--all that I have to give should be his." + +"Then that includes thy heart, Lambkin?" + +"Nay, dear nurse, my heart is already given." + +"Of all the powers that be! And what knave hath attempted to steal +that that thou wert born without?" + +"'Tis unjust of thee to speak thus. I have a mind not to tell thee!" + +"Thou wilt tell me straightway, for thou wilt turn all colours when I +say Adrian Cantemir," and quickly Mistress Penwick turned her back, "I +am aggrieved at thy folly. What hath he said to thee? Tell me every +word, Lambkin." + +"He hath said more than I could tell thee, Janet, in a whole hour." + +"It is impossible! And what were all of these hour sayings,--love +pratings?" + +"If I told thee, thou wouldst then know as much as both of us, and +there are but two in a marriage contract; so I will have to begin +barring secrets from thee." + +"And did he tell thee what marriage meant to two people knowing not +their own minds?" + +"He said 'twas a most perfect life. All was sunshine and flowers and +great happiness. First of all, he will take me to Russia, as 'tis his +pleasure to hasten home with me. Then we will visit the French and +English courts, and we will see all the beauties of this life. I shall +become known among the musicians and meet--" + +"And said he naught of home-life, and the extent of his riches?" + +"Nay, we are to live at Court always, free and happy, consorting ever +with kings and queens--" + +"Did his High-mightiness ever consider that court dignitaries consort +not with a rogue who hath entrapt an angel for spouse?" + +"I will not listen to thy rough tongue, Janet," and she straightway +closed her ears with her tapering fingers and walked up and down as a +spoilt child would do. + +The prandium hour was past, and the evening far spent when Mistress +Penwick desired to retire. + +"'Tis most likely his Lordship will not return to-night, Janet?" + +"He has gone on a journey of some import, as Angel hath just said; so +I could not say when to look for his return." + +Janet had been asleep some time when she was aroused by some subtle +thing that brought her upright and from thence to the floor and from +the floor to the closet that connected her apartment with that of her +mistress. The door was locked; this was an innovation that startled +Janet to a keen alertness. She rattled the knob and knocked upon the +panelling. Stooping, she saw the key was turned in the door. She +hurried from the place to her own room and into the hall, and from the +hall to a small corridor, and from thence to the grand corridor, where +opened the door of her mistress' ante-chamber. In she flew, and tried +the inner door. 'Twas fast locked, and the key gone. It seemed she +sped on wings as she descended the oaken stairway in her trailing +gown. She reached Lord Cedric's bed-chamber with trepidation and not a +little daunted; for should his Lordship be within 'twas possible his +anger would know no bounds; and while she loved his good hot temper, +she feared it when so justly aroused. Within the ante-chamber was +a steward and two or three lackeys, all asleep; she passed them +silently, and without hesitation opened the door. Lord Cedric sat +before the table in riding boots and spurs, divested of coat and +waistcoat; writing, and looked up surprised and amazed at one +who dared to so enter his presence; but he read that in Janet's +countenance that brooked not at delay. + +"My lord, Mistress Penwick hath deserted her chamber, and I know not +where to find her, nor can think of where she may be gone." Lord +Cedric stood before her still and white as marble, his face glistened +with the cold sweat of fear. + +"By God, Janet, thy tale doth take from me all strength!" Even as he +spoke he sunk down upon his chair. Janet brought from a stool hard by +a posset-pot and pressed it to his lips. He drank gurglingly, as if +his throat was paralyzed. + +"Janet," he breathed forth, "call the lackeys." He had somewhat +recovered, and stood upright while his valet buckled on his sword. He +took from the table a polished dagger and placed it in his belt; he +called for candles and bade the lackeys lead on. Janet was well-nigh +distraught at this awful cloud of anger that was about to break forth +in the thunder of his tongue and stroke of sword. The steward of the +household was aroused, and keys were brought to unfasten Mistress +Penwick's door, that they might ascertain if she had fled afar. +Her hoods and hats were all in place upon the shelves of the +dressing-closet, but there was gone a white camelot cloak. The footman +near the outer entrance said none had passed since Lord Cedric's +arrival. + +"But, my God! I have just arrived; who passed before?" + +"Not one soul since nightfall, save the village doctor, your +Lordship." + +Lord Cedric had enjoined perfect silence, fearing lest some noise +might disturb his Grace of Ellswold. + +The lackeys bearing lighted tapers--behind them the young lord of the +castle, with the attendant Janet--moved solemnly like a procession. + +They passed thus from room to corridor, from hall to gallery, and +through passages; examining secret exits and closets. They traversed +the long banquet-hall and were upon the threshold of a carved and +lofty doorway, when Janet espied upon the parquetry a cobweb bit of +lace protruding from beneath the tapestry of a chair. Lord Cedric's +keen eyes marked her movement as she essayed to reach it without his +notice. He turned quickly and fierce upon her, knocking his sword with +a loud noise upon the chair's carving. + +"Give me thy treasure, Janet!" She gave it to him with something like +a sob; for 'twas her mistress' handkerchief, and she feared mightily +her lord's anger. + +"Your Lordship! If it so turned out that she be holding some +_rendezvous_ with thy Russian guest--" + +"Ah, 'sdeath!" he interrupted. + +"I beg thou wilt forgive much, she being of such slender age and +knowing not the great wrong of clandestine--" + +"Ah! ah! she holdeth court here in the chief butlery." + +The door before them had been thrown open by the lackeys. They stood +upon either side for his Lordship to pass through. Beyond, framed in +the dark embrasure of the archway, stood Mistress Penwick in gleaming +white. Her hands behind her rested upon a table from which long leaves +depended to the floor, upon either side, her camelot cloak was thrown +carelessly upon the further end, its long fulness draping to the +floor, and in the centre of the polished top of the table rested a +tall, silver candlestick with lighted taper. Upon the hearthstone +there shot up a cheerful blaze, for the night was damp and chilly, and +the flickering light sent Mistress Penwick's hair first amber, then +bronze. Her face was still and white, and her eyes flashed wide and +boldly. Her heart beat high and her breath came fast and hard. + +For a moment only his Lordship's glance fell upon her, then it swept +the room from end to end, and from ceiling to parquetry. Then occurred +a strange thing to them all; for 'twas ever Cedric's way to swear +and curse, using holy names and blasphemous phrases; and it startled +Katherine more than all, as he spoke low and calmly, holding out his +jewelled hand to her: + +"Come, Mistress Penwick, I will escort thee to thy chamber; 'tis a +childish trick of thine to seek bread and butter at such unseemly +hours." + +"But, my lord, I am not yet begun." + +"Ah!--with one pair of shapely hands unused to spreading butter, it +doth take long in preparation." The snowy whiteness of his Lordship's +waist reflected upon his face, where now came and went its wonted +colour, as doubt and certainty fought for supremacy. He stepped nearer +and glanced behind her upon the table. + +"Thou hast not even brought forth bread. I will aid thee," and he went +to 'the cupboards that lined the room, and opened and looked within +each large door, until he was satisfied of his search, and those about +stood watching and trembling, fearing lest some one should be found in +hiding. + +"I find naught here of bread or butter, Mistress Penwick; we will have +to seek elsewhere!" + +"And thou wilt not have far to seek, my lord; my whey sits freshly +made upon the cellaret in yonder closet adjoining; if thou wilt be so +kind as to bring it hither, Janet will provide me with bread," and +Katherine looked triumphant. + +"I would first learn whom I follow. Who hath so cavalierly concocted +it for thee at this late hour? Where is the person, my lady?" + +"One who is in the habit of following thy orders; but at mine he hath +made it; 'twas Tompkins." Her voice rung with so much of truth, his +Lordship was satisfied and looked at her with a lighter heart; then, +as she pointed toward the door--a mute command for him to bring the +whey--he frowned and drew back and spoke,-- + +"Hiary will bring it thee, for 'tis said a hand put forth by an angry +heart doth curdle that it toucheth and--I am of no mind to be either +kind or courteous." At these words, the colour that had come into +Katherine's face a moment before, left it. + +As Hiary turned to do his lord's bidding, a door opened and Tompkins +entered with a lighted candle and large basket. Seeing the unexpected, +coughed to hide his confusion; indeed he knew not which way to turn, +when his Lordship walked to his side and raised the cover of the +basket and looked within. + +"It appears that 'twas a feast thou wert preparing;--everything +suitable for a full meal. Here is fowl and cheese and mutton tarsal +and bread and ale,--Egad! we shall not want now, shall we, Mistress +Penwick? Set the table, Tompkins!" + +"Ah!" came in an asperate tone from the now trembling and frightened +maid. His Lordship heard it and saw her turn white and tremble. Slowly +he walked to the hearthstone, eyeing her askance, then he swept his +brow where the cold perspiration lay in beads;--then turned to her +again with a world of love for her in his eyes and a great crushing +self-pity; and the menials looked away from the abject misery they +beheld in their lord's face; Tompkins fumbled nervously with his +burden, daring not to look up; Janet leant forward, intent, pained, +sorrowing, scanning the two countenances she loved best on earth. His +Lordship stretched forth his arms and with a great sob that broke upon +that one word "Kate," he took a step forward and essayed again to +speak, but the words would not come. Then with a great effort he +seemed to fling all tenderness from him and spoke most harshly,-- + +"Where hast thou hid thy lover, Mistress Penwick, tell me where he +is!" She drew herself up quickly to her full height and smiled, for +this was one thing and she had thought another, and the reality was +better than her fancy. And she said, as she drew a long, relieved +breath,-- + +"He is safe, my lord!" + +"Nay, nay, by God! he is not nor ever will be again. He hath so dealt +with me and my honour, even though I stand within mine own threshold +'twould be heinous to allow him to leave it with life in his accursed +body. I tell thee now, there is nothing of hell or heaven that can +take thee from me. Dost hear--dost hear, maid?" He again wiped his +brow and looked about him. "It does somewhat appear as if my brain +were turning!--Janet--bring thy maid here to me! Janet made a step +forward, but was checked by Katherine's warning look. + +"Mistress Penwick, remove thyself from the table; Tompkins, set it, +set it, set it quickly I say!" Tompkins put the basket upon the table +and turned to a linen closet and brought therefrom a cloth and made +as if to spread it upon a small table near him. His Lordship saw his +move, and broke forth in angry tones,--"The table of honour, there, +there Tompkins!" As he shook his fingers toward it, his hand fell back +upon the hilt of his sword. + +"Nay, I forbid him to do it," said Katherine. + +"By all the foul fiends! raise the leaves or I smite thee down," said +Lord Cedric to the frightened Tompkins. And he drew and leaned forward +his body well nigh to the floor. His eyes were wild and bloodshot. As +Tompkins raised the leaves Mistress Penwick threw herself between his +Lordship and the table. With one bound Cedric swayed aside and like +one frenzied, gazed beneath the table, and there looked out to him the +white face of Christopher. + +His Lordship broke forth into such a wild laugh, even the affrighted +and condemned servant crept from his hiding and looked on amazed. +Finally, when his laughing had well-nigh ceased, his Lordship drew +from his belt the dagger and threw it across the room at Hiary, +saying,--"There; stick him as thou wouldst a wild boar--no probing, +mind; but death!" + +"Nay, nay, my lord! my lord!" broke from Mistress Pen wick, and Janet +ran to her crying,--"My lord, not so harsh a deed before my lady's +eyes!" + +"Ah! ah! and she hath carved my heart to pieces! Commit thy office, +Hiary!" The lithe lackey sprang upon Christopher and drove the knife, +it appeared, to the hilt, and with a gurgling cry the lad fell. + +Mistress Penwick looked on wild-eyed with terror. His Lordship came +near and leant close to her ear and said,-- + +"Thou hast turned thy charms to ill account, thou stirrest me to evil +deeds. Didst thy love help thee to this _rendezvous_, and was he +satisfied to leave thee when he heard my sword flap upon the chair +without to fight thy battles alone, or did he sate his desire on thy +innocent face and fled aforetime to prepare for a greater sating? Now +by God, none shall wrest thee from me again. Arouse the chaplain! +Come, Mistress, thou shalt have a husband who loves thee within the +hour, and the morrow's sun will look in on a sweet young wife with a +light heart." + +He laid hold on her without violence, she drew from him even more +frightened than heretofore. + +"Come, we will wed straightway and before dawn thou wilt have +forgotten my haste and stout urging," and he started forth drawing her +with him by force. She struggled wildly and cried,-- + +"Nay, nay; I'll not marry with one who would strike down and kill the +unfortunate; nay, nay!" and she screamed again and again. + +From the doorway came a voice of thunder, its power seemed to crush +out all other presence. 'Twas but one word, but it rung and vibrated +and stirred each breast with its vehemence. + +"Cedric!" + +His Lordship let go the maid and turned and sprang to the open arms of +him who called. The awful tension of his nerves relaxed and he uttered +in rapid succession,-- + +"Julian, Julian, Julian!" and fell to sobbing, his form trembling with +his emotion. + +"Hath gore of _canaille_ sapped thy noble blood and impregnated in +thy veins vile clots to turn thee purple with choler?" and he pushed +Cedric from him. "What doeth this _couchant_ dog here?" He turned and +stirred the prostrate form of Christopher. "'Tis ill to so fall upon +the seething caldron of thy passion, the noxious fumes of which +penetrate yonder to our kinsman's couch of suffering--and at the same +time thou dost pound to pomace the heart of yonder Junoesque figure." + +"Julian, thy tongue hath an awful strength, it doth goad me to +something like reason. I was indeed rough, but I was looking after +mine own. The maiden there is plighted to me for espousal and I was +taking her to the chaplain." + +"It may be thou dost take her rightfully; but if 'twere me I would +bring her to it by soft and gentle words, not by handling. It doth +take away the sweetness." + +"Indeed, Julian, I have used all things worth using to gain her. I +have played all parts and have asked and sued and prayed, aye, begged. +I have honoured and loved and pampered her every whim; I have coerced +and threatened,--all to no avail; indeed, I have gone mad for very +effort to please." + +"Hast thou tried cold indifference and haughtiness? It oft haps that a +maid is won by a lofty and arrogant mien." Sir Julian Pomphrey glanced +askance at Mistress Penwick, who lay with her face buried upon Janet's +ample bosom. "Methinks 'twould be a good beginning, if thou wouldst +renew thy suit by sending the maid to her chamber and let her espouse +Morpheus and 'suage her grief upon a bosom thou needst not be jealous +of." Janet arose and led forth Katherine. Lord Cedric stepped after +them and held out his hands and sobbed,-- + +"Kate, Kate, forgive, forgive!" She deigned not a backward look. + +As they passed from sight, he fell upon his knees and shook with his +great emotion and groaned aloud in his misery. + +Sir Julian Pomphrey dressed as a gentleman of France in riding +apparel; his overhanging top-boots displaying a leg of strength +and fine proportions; the curls of his periwig sweeping his broad +shoulders; his hands, half-hid by rare lace, gleaming white and +be-jewelled; a mustachio so flattened with pomade it lay like a black +line over his parted lips, through which shone strong white teeth, +was veritably a man of noble character and distinction. He was the +counterpart of Lord Cedric in all save visage and temperament. + +Gracefully he strode across the room with the confidence of one +who had already mastered the situation; planned for his Lordship a +complete victory, and there was naught left to do but carry out the +methodical arrangements thus quickly formulated. He placed his hand +lightly upon Cedric's shoulder. His touch was like magic, for his +Lordship started. + +"Cedric, I have rid hard and would seek my bed. Come with me and calm +thyself. Yonder maid thou shalt have, so sure as thou dost do my +bidding; and she will sigh and draw quick breath and preen herself +to gain from thee one amorous glance; and will do penance for her +untowardness and offer hecatombs as high as zenith will allow." + +"Dost think so, Julian? It gives me hope to hear thee thus speak." + +"Indeed, I may say--'tis done--even though 'twere precipitately +avowed;--but oft, 'tis the premature babe that doth become the most +precocious child, and 'tis well to foster that 'tis fecund." + +"But, Julian, she hath another lover,--and now that I think on't, +didst thou meet a knave upon horse, perhaps, attended by a swaggering +groom as thou cam'st through the village or thereabouts?" + +"Thou hast said it. A half-league beyond Crandlemar there past me at +furious speed a devil-upon-horse. I hallowed once and again to no +avail, so I prodded the fellow with my sword to assist his respiratory +organs, as he flew by. 'Twas a kindly act, for he immediately found +his breath and--swore." + +"And didst notice his livery?" + +"Nay, for the trees were too ostentatious and flaunted their new, +green finery impudently and hid Neptune's satellite or--'twas cloudy, +I could not see. Come, come, I must and thou, too, have sleep if +the God thereof doth not wantonly spend too much time with thy +mistress;--but thou shalt soon offset him and I may have, for one +night at least, his undivided attention." + +"Ah, heaven, that thy words may prove true. 'Tis hard to bide the +time. Come, let us begone from this foul nest that reeks of blood." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +JACQUES DEMPSY + + +To Katherine's untutored vision of social and religious matters, +all appeared like a placid sea; but beneath, political dissension +complicated by religious wrangling produced a vigorous under-current +into which she was to be drawn. + +The exegencies of poverty and exile through which King Charles had +passed made him resolve not to "go again upon his travels," and for +this cause he tolerated the Episcopal religion, of which system the +cavaliers were votaries; and they supported the royal prerogative. +Being an alien to honour, truth and virtue, he was not stirred to +a wholesome interest of importunities, save when a voluptuously +beautiful female solicited his attention. Now 'twas Lady Constance' +plan to forward Count Cantemir's suit with Mistress Penwick and hasten +a marriage that could only be clandestine, owing to Lord Cedric's +vigilance. If this scheme should prove abortive, it was her intention +to bring the maid to the king's notice. Here were two lines of battle, +each surrounded by skirmishing detachments. She was subtle in the +extreme, and arranged warily these side issues, which had more of +death and utter destruction in them than an open onset. + +Rigidly she had kept from Cantemir the knowledge of Mistress Penwick's +insolvency, likewise the death of her father; knowing the condition of +the count's fortunes, she feared he would retreat; his love for the +maid might be of such a nature 'twas possible he would not take +part in the ugly skirmish against her. So Constance had set +about systematically to bring Mistress Penwick and Adrian to an +understanding of each other. + +He believed Katherine to be a wealthy heiress of Sir John Penwick, who +was being held as hostage at some point in America. At her marriage +her estates would be placed in her own hands. All these things Lady +Constance could vouch for, as she had read the letter herself that Sir +John had written Lord Cedric. Mistress Penwick was at a marriageable +age, and her father being ill and hopelessly bound by ties of war +never expected to see her again and had made provision for her future +happiness. Knowing these things, and being in love beside with so +beautiful and youthful creature, Cantemir was well-nigh mad to win +her, without any urging from Constance. + +On the other hand, Mistress Penwick never forgot his slender grace and +pale, patrician features, as she beheld him first upon the stairway +the evening of her arrival. He had ingratiated himself into all her +thoughts of music and court life and religious duties. Being like her +a Catholic, he sat by the hour and spoke of their ill usage by the +nobles of England, and insinuated that the cavaliers (Lord Cedric +being one, of course) were combined to rout out the Catholics and +confiscate all their properties, both public and private. + +At one time Lady Constance said to Katherine that her father, Sir +John, was an Episcopalian and she had made answer,--"'Twould be absurd +to suppose him anything else than a Catholic." Upon this, Constance +spoke to Adrian, and he, casually as it were, asked Mistress Penwick +if she were not afraid her demesne would be seized by the Protestants. +Thus she had come gradually to know of the chasm between the two great +religious orders, and had even written her father of the dangers in +which she believed she was placed. These letters of course were kept +by Janet. The seals remained unbroken and the missives were carefully +laid aside until Mistress Penwick should know the truth. And neither +she nor Janet receiving news from him, stirred her to confide her +fears to Cantemir, who questioned her of the letter which her father +wrote, bidding her to depart for England. She became startled and +uneasy, when she remembered that Janet had refused to show her the +letter and having promised herself to Cantemir in marriage, she spoke +of the matter to him. But her love of and confidence in Janet was +deeper than she thought, and at his first words against her, she fell +from him. He said 'twas possible Janet, being so great a Protestant, +she would undoubtedly take his Lordship's part against her, should any +serious trouble arise. He even went so far as to suggest that perhaps +there was a-foot a ruse to get from her those possessions her father +had written of. Katherine rebelled at these insinuations and thought +that "dear, good, sweet Janet would never take a pin from her Lambkin +to save Church or State. And Lord Cedric, too, even though he would +condemn his servant, he would never take her property, he loved her +too well for that; beside, he was a gentleman of honour, even though +his evil temper did goad him to fearful deeds." She tried to make +herself believe that she truly loved Cantemir, and 'twas her religious +duty to marry him; but when he spoke either against Cedric or Janet, +she was quite sure she hated him. + +In pursuance of Lady Constance' diplomacy, she had assisted Cantemir +in arranging the _rendezvous_ for himself first, and finally for +Christopher, who was to escape with provision for a long journey, as +'twas not certain what Lord Cedric would do if he found him at the +monastery. And Katherine had this night pledged to wed the count in +three days' time. Even as they were arranging their plans Cantemir's +valet had rushed to him saying that his Lordship's page had come to +his apartments, and finding him gone his master had vowed death to any +who would intrigue at such hours with his promised wife. Cantemir, a +polished, hollow-hearted, selfish sycophant and coward, made more so +perhaps by Constance' influence over him, at Katherine's command, as +it were, had taken flight. + +Constance listened eagerly the next morning, as she sat 'neath her +maid's hands, to every detail of the evening's adventure; but her +disappointment at such mischance was greatly allayed by the unexpected +presence of Sir Julian Pomphrey. He was second only to Lord Cedric in +her affections. Her greatest desire was to gain his Lordship's love; +if she could not have that, then she would try for the king's favour +whereby she would be able to live at court and be ever near Sir +Julian, whose mistress she had been and might be again. + +She had begun well to bombard for the accomplishment of her first +desire. + +As soon as possible she rode forth, passing beyond Crandlemar village, +where a short way from its confines she came upon a certain innocent +looking tree that had some six feet above its broad trunk a loosened +knot, which could be removed at will. She plucked it forth and looked +within. It was empty and barren of even a bird's nest. Constance had +no compassion for its loneliness when she laid therein a small, white +piece of paper and filled the orifice with the rough knot. She rode +away content and doubting not that Count Cantemir would soon have her +letter. + +He had halted some five leagues beyond Crandlemar at an inn remote +from the highway, the landlord of which was a monk, dissembling his +name to Jacques Dempsy of the Cow and Horn, and his religion to +anything that was the king's pleasure. + +The two sat in the deserted drinking-room; their heads bent together +and speaking in subdued tones. Cantemir's hand rested upon his leg, +that had been freshly washed and bound by the landlord. + +Sir Julian's sword-prick had goaded Cantemir to an anger that was +'suaged neither by good old wine nor the council of the monk. +He fretted for an opportunity to thrust his assailant in the +back--anywhere. "Surely," said he, "the day is not far when I shall +kill that devil Pomphrey," His groom had seen Sir Julian full in the +face at a small opening in the trees. + +"Sh!" said Dempsy, "there is other work for thee now. 'Tis best for +thee to bide here awhile, at least until a courier shall return from +the tree, where thou sayest thy cousin will place the billet. And if +everything is well, then there will be found for thee a guide to lead +thee through the forest to the monastery, where thou shalt first sign +thyself for the strict carrying out of our plans; then thou shalt be +wed, if there is no remissness, and carried safely to London, where +thou shalt remain until thy lady has audience, and gains that we seek +of the King. Ah! there are times when we sigh and almost weep for +those good old _pro_-Reformation days, when such ecclesiastical bodies +as ours took their grievances to--Rome. Bah! to have to bribe a +profligate king for--the signing of his name. What does he know about +bequests and inheritances--" The count started and Dempsy all alert +broke in with,--"and freeholds. Thou dost know, count, the monastery +is a freehold in the very centre of Lord Cedric's lands; but--I am +telling secrets; forget what I said." The count fell back listlessly, +a gap made in his thoughts by the sudden disappearance of a clue. + +"Charles treats us as mendicants; but if he should chance to see the +coffers of our order, he would know we had received something else +beside a crust for shriving." The count looked up again so quickly, +Dempsy caught himself and wondered what he had been saying, and what +his last words were; for he had been thinking aloud, as it were. + +"Aye, aye, I was saying if Charles could see the riches of our +coffers, he would know the sale of Indulgences had not been a little. +Thou seest, count, we have here at the monastery great treasure, our +coffers are filled with priceless articles of virtue that will, no +doubt, be carried to Rome and be laid in the reliquary of Santa Maria +Maggiore or St. Andrew Corsini or St. Peters. We have some priceless +bones--" Adrian shuddered and relaxed his attention--"they have brought +us great, good fortune; we have bits of clothing--thou dost well know +most of the saints were plainly attired--that some day will be worth +much, perhaps not in my day nor thine, but when age comes, when we +grow a little further from the saints. Ah! I see, thou hast not much +interest in my converse--treasure is nothing to thy love-sick heart, +eh! count?" + +"Nay, not dead men's bones, indeed thou hast rare wine for such +cumbrous relics that can be turned to naught! And didst thou shrive +the saint for the use of his bones a hundred years hence?" + +"Thou art growing facetious, count. Dost think of no virtue but thy +maid's? And art thou sure she will not fall back from her promise to +thee?" + +Cantemir, filled with his own ideas, gave perfunctory acquiescence and +continued in his own line of thought. And what with a busy brain that +was not over-strong, and a ride of some length and dampness, with a +sore leg, he became feverish and the monk took him to bed in great +haste, where he remained for the best part of a week; the seriousness +of his disease not a little augmented by the desire for immediate +action. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CASTLE AND MONASTERY + + +The next morning after Christopher's sudden disaster, the castle +seemed to have awakened from a long apathy. The servants clattered +under breath of their wounded fellow. The arrival of his Grace of +Ellswold's physicians held gossip in the castle in abeyance, as all +were anxious of their decision; but the presence of Sir Julian seemed +to fill the sails of the becalmed household with a stiff breeze, which +at a favourable moment would raise anchor and fly forth on a joyous +sea. + +The physicians gave out that there was no immediate danger, but his +illness was serious and there must neither be noise nor excitement. It +was out of the question to move his Grace either to his own estates or +elsewhere for baths or sea air. + +Lord Cedric and Sir Julian sat with him an hour after the doctor's +examination, Sir Julian, conversing of the freshest gossip at court, +without the usual condiment of inflammables which would be apt to +rouse his Grace not a little. + +There being now no traitor--unless perchance Constance might be termed +one--in the house, and no danger of Mistress Pen wick being left +without the close surveillance of Janet, she was no longer kept +prisoner. And, while she was greatly wrought upon by the sad havoc of +the previous night, her youth and gay spirits and Janet's exhortations +upon the age, giving license to all sorts of uprisings and display of +temper and unwarranted vengeance, somewhat quieted her, and she arose +as sprightly as ever, all the more determined to free herself from +Lord Cedric. If she had stopped for self-analysis, she would have +found that she was bent on gaining her independence at no matter +what cost; regardless of consequences. That her desire was more of +adventure than ambition. And she also would have found that she cared +naught for Cantemir and a very great deal for Lord Cedric. She had +never given thought to a separation from her beloved Janet; while even +classing her as antagonistic to her desires, she never ceased to love +her; for this woman had made herself a mother in every respect, aye, +even more watchful and exacting. While acting in a servant's capacity, +doing the most menial of service, she developed in the maid those +seemingly trifling motives of mind and soul which in the end make up +the character of a life; and very few mothers ever have the tact to +so understand these very minute details that so develop a child's +passion. Janet had ever developed in her charge an inclination for all +beauty; not failing, however, to show wherein weakness crept; where +grace of countenance oft screened defect of character. Indeed this +maid was one of Janet's own creation, save in flesh and blood, and no +one knew any better than she, herself, the vanity to rout the faults +and frailties inherited. She strove the harder to overthrow such +imperfections by perfecting and cultivating the maid's receptive mood. +She was ever fencing with her in words, working out in detail exchange +of thought wherein Katherine might, if 'twere in her, make a clever +reply. At times Mistress Penwick would pick up such threads of Janet's +teaching as would bring her to a semblance of conscience of present +environment, and she would see in a vague way the right and wrong of +things. For the moment she would read all in Cantemir's handsome +face that it masqued and would turn from it only to become lost in +contemplation of what life would be if she were free from Cedric's +guardianship, never thinking of the greater bondage of espousing a +knave. Ever and anon her eyes sought the young lord of the castle, +forgetting she was his ward--and there would come to her such a +feeling of overwhelming conviction she was for the moment submerged +in ecstasy, and with the hot blush still upon her face she would flee +from him as if he were an evil tempter. He brought her near to that +great unknown, upon whose threshold she stood trembling and expectant, +eager to know what was before her. And so, not understanding her own +mind, and being of such tender years, drifted along with the tide that +was carrying her to destruction. Her mind was set upon her own way, +and sheer perversity deigned not to let her see the hands stretched +toward her. + +The afternoon sun fell aslant the black oak parquetry where sat her +Grace of Ellswold, Lady Constance and Mistress Penwick, engaged with +limning and embroidery. Lord Cedric and Sir Julian entered, attired +in the most modish foppery of the time. The latter was saying, as he +soundly rapped his pouncet-box,-- + +"His demeanour is too provincial, too provincial--ah!"--and he bent +low with grave formality to Mistress Penwick as Cedric presented him; +then turning to the duchess continued,--"I was saying, your Grace, +that Dryden is provincial in his demeanour, when compared to his Grace +of Buckingham." + +"Indeed, Julian, thou dost speak lightly of such gigantic genius; +beside, 'twould not be fair to compare sun and moon; and how could we +do without either the one or the other?" + +"To which dost thou comparison his Grace?" + +"The moon, of course!" said the Duchess. + +"And to what planet is my lord a satellite?" + +"Nay, I know not; thou dost question of one who knows little of +astronomy; but I think perhaps Mars, as the planet doth resemble earth +more closely than any other." + +"Bravo, 'tis a rare simile; and I take it thou didst speak in +derogation;--no matter how true the _inuendo_, it is ever the material +we most appreciate and enjoy, and the sun being nearly ninety-three +million miles from the earth, 'tis too remote to be interesting." + +"Indeed, Julian, Dryden in five minutes' converse will stir one to +seriousness by his fancy, to tears by his pathos, and to thoughts of +deity by his sublimity." + +"'Tis only a great, good, noble nature like thine that could be so +stirred; believe me, your Grace, thou didst dissemble these emotions +from pure charity." + +"Well, well, we must all admit that 'tis not his character that +commands our respect and esteem, but his prose and poesy. We all love +Buckingham, but in our appreciation of him we must not exclude reason +and put him before all others,"--and her Grace turned abruptly to +Mistress Penwick. "Here is an admirer of Dryden's compositions, she +clings pertinaciously and with all the ardour of strong youth to his +satire of 'Absalom and Achitophel,' although 'tis a bitter lampoon on +Monmouth and Shaftesbury; two men she heartily admires." Sir Julian +leant over the Duchess and spoke softly,-- + +"I was not aware Mistress Penwick had been presented?" And his keen +eyes scanned every lineament of her face and mould. Lord Cedric was +watching askance, and his face grew red with a stroke of passion as +he noted Sir Julian's look of evident admiration, and jealousy for +a moment swept the young lord's heart, and he cursed in thought +the wicked feeling that in connection with his noble friend could +predicate of naught but the foul fiends. Indeed, so open were Sir +Julian's glances that the maid herself became confused and said, with +some embarrassment,-- + +"My imagination is ofttime profligate, and I indulge--in fancy--in +exchange of word and thought with those great and exalted personages +whose noble compeers I have the good fortune to consort with daily." +And she laid her hand caressingly upon the Duchess' arm. + +"Then 'twould serve thee greatly to place thee within the shadow of +Whitehall, aye, Mistress?" + +"'Twould be a great happiness, Sir Julian." + +"Dost know of any greater, my lady?" It seemed his eyes would pierce +her very soul. + +"I must admit it; I have a great desire," and her face grew rose-hued +and her heart fluttered with the bold words she was about to utter-- + +"Ah, thou dost wish for, or have a desire to enter the--" + +"The distinguished service of a Lady of Honour." As one looked upon +her great beauty, 'twas a wonder she was not born a queen. + +Upon hearing the maid's words, Constance in jealous rage fell to +inordinate laughter and shook her work to the floor, and as Lord +Cedric stooped to regain it he whipped out,-- + +"And why, pray, art thou so amused; 'tis most like Julian to promote +this idea, and she will straightway wish to leave us. I am sure one +glimpse of her would set the whole court on fire." + +"Such startling metaphor, unless indeed thou dost allude to the colour +of her hair!" She spoke with so much malice and hate Lord Cedric was +stirred to amazement, and for the first time his eyes were opened to +Constance' hate of one whom he loved beyond all else on earth. He had +thought her merely jealous of the maid, but now he saw 'twas hatred. + +Sir Julian paid no heed to aught save Mistress Penwick's brave colour +as it came and went, and the fervour of her eyes as they looked into +his. He came nearer to being shaken than ever before in his twenty odd +years of slow and fast living. + +"If I might be so honoured by the privilege, I would present thy +desire straightway to the Duchess here, who would no doubt place thee +at once at court." Mistress Penwick arose, unable to contain her +perturbed spirit, and said,-- + +"Sir Julian, how can I ever--" and she stopped, so stirred was she +with her emotion; very much as a child is wrought to wonderment by the +sight of a marvelous toy. Julian offered his arm, and they sauntered +up and down the room, Sir Julian boldly playing his part. If Katherine +had been less innocent, she might have seen that he was not sincere. +He said: + +"I see no reason why thou shouldst not begin preparation at once +for thy journey. The Duke is progressing finely and her Grace could +perhaps accompany thee as well now as at another time. Wilt thou +prepare at once, Mistress Penwick?" If the king had already sent for +her, he could not have talked with more confidence; but there was +something he must know. As he insisted on an immediate journey, she +turned scarlet, and bit her lip, and frowned. + +"There are a few matters I must see to; I could hardly leave within a +week;--there is no hurry!" + +"On the contrary there is a great hurry, for I must leave at once, +and I would escort thee. I think I shall leave by dawn to-morrow." +Katherine's brow puckered still more as she stood upon the seesaw of +duty and ambition, perplexed to know which way to turn. It appeared +the better quality was innate and her brow cleared, as she said,-- + +"'Twould be impossible to go so soon. I could not ask her Grace to +leave when the Duke is so ill; for, beside a long journey, much time +might be required ere I should be presented. I must have time--a lady +should have a great number to attend her--" + +"Thou hast a host in thy nurse, Janet; she is quite enough for the +journey, and at London there will be a matron for each finger of thy +hand. I can see no reason why thou shouldst not start at once, if the +Duchess so decides." They were quite alone now, and Katherine, +being well cornered and being young and given to confiding, felt so +irresistibly drawn toward this man at her side, she looked up into his +face and said,-- + +"Canst thou not guess, after all thou didst see last night, why I am +kept from going?" + +"I cannot; methinks 'twould be a happy moment to say _adieu_ to such +scenes." + +"Then thou dost not know I am to wed Count Cantemir, Lady Constance' +cousin?" + +"I think thy heart an alien to love; for if thou wouldst sooner become +a Lady of Honour than wed one to whom thou hast 'trothed thyself, 'tis +sure thou hast no love; 'tis caprice or--what one wills to call it, +and thou hadst better fly from a marriage that has not love in it." + +"But I know not what to do. I have given my promise to wed, and I want +to go to London." + +"Then I beg to assist thee to thy heart's desire as soon as thou +hast found what its desire is; and I insist thou dost examine the +weather-vane of thy mind and discern its bent. I am by thy side, +groping in darkness for that thou wouldst have. I am bound to serve +thee." + +"Sir Julian, thou dost nonplus my understanding of myself absurdly. +I agree I have more minds than one, and 'tis disconcerting to try in +haste to ascertain which is the best. Indeed, I do not wish to make a +false step and do that 'twould make me sorry ever after." + +"'Twould be well to have one to guide thee in thine uncertainty. I +should aspire to such an office with alacrity, if thou wouldst but +give me one encouraging glance." For a moment they looked into each +other's eyes, then Katherine's lids dropped and she became as clay +in his hands. And before she was aware, she had told him all things. +These matters were not altogether new to Sir Julian, for Lord Cedric +had discoursed at length upon them, but the nucleus he sought was +found, and he listened perfunctorily to all else, feasting his eyes +upon her face and listening only to the music of her voice. + +"Then why, may I ask, didst thou discard Cedric's suit?" + +"He is tyrannical and cruel, and even though my heart should incline +toward him, 'twould not be meet for me to wed with one of another +faith." + +"'Tis possible thou couldst win him to thy way of thinking." + +"Nay, I should not try it; for I have cast all thought of him aside." + +"Then thou dost acknowledge having had a tenderness for him? 'Tis well +thou dost so fling him aside, he is unworthy of thy consideration." + +"Not so; he is most noble, but--but--I know not what,--he is haughty +and full of temper and given to harsh language--" + +"Yet he is not a fit companion for thee, sayest thou?" + +"Thou dost greatly misunderstand me; he is on the contrary a most +delightful person to converse with and every whit fit to be a +King;--but we are not suited to each other." + +"Was it not thy father's desire for thee to soon wed and to this man?" + +"Even so; but he knew not my Lord Cedric but his father; beside--" + +"Well--" + +"I am expecting to hear from my father in the near future--" + +"Ah!" + +"--and 'tis possible he will come to me or send and make some change. +I have asked him to appoint another guardian for me and my estates." + +"'Twould be a wise thing to do, no doubt; but 'tis possible Cedric has +used already thine inheritance." Mistress Penwick flushed hotly. + +"Nay, thou dost judge him ill; he is above such a thing." And Sir +Julian knew what the poor maid knew not herself, and he felt 'twas a +safe thing to carry through his adventure. + +"Then there are two things that weigh upon thee. Thou knowest not +whether to wed or become a Lady of Honour. I will warn thee that thou +must not dwell long upon them, for 'tis possible if thou dost +not decide very early, I will be able to help thee to nothing +but--myself." + +Mistress Penwick flushed warmly and smiled back at him; and her desire +for admiration drove her on and on, and she soon forgot all else save +the man by her side, and it appeared that no matter how he tried to +break the spell of her witchery, he could not leave her for a moment. + +It fell out that before three days had passed, they were deep in +admiration of each other. Cedric was racked by doubt and fear, yet +never for an instant letting go his faith in Julian. Constance was +happy that Katherine was so diverted, keeping thereby Cedric from any +rash moves, and giving herself time to visit the tree that often held +so much of importance. And she managed to outwit the ubiquitous Janet +and hailed with joy the day of the great battle when Mistress Penwick +was to be removed from her pathway forever. + +The disappearance of Adrian Cantemir was not spoken of--as if 'twere +a matter of too small import;--and yet he hovered ominously in their +minds; and Katherine most of all desired to forget her promise and +every word she had spoken to him, and Constance understood and would +not let her forget, planning night and day to bring them together +again.... + +To look back from the lower terrace at the castle was to see a +gorgeous display of blossom. The ivy-clad walls stood a rich +background to the splendour of tinted flower. Indeed, the scene +appeared not unlike an enormous nosegay lying upon a hill of moss. The +night had brought showers, and from every minute projection of twig, +leaf or petal glistened limpid drops, some swelling with honey +and falling like dew upon the young sward. The birds twittered +ceaselessly, and some young thing preening upon a light blossomy twig +scattered down, anon, perfume upon some shy young fawn, and he leapt +away frightened by so dainty a bath and plunged knee-deep in crystal +pools and sent the stately swans skimming hurriedly to a quiet and +sheltered cove. + +From the Chapel came indistinctly the sound of the organ in a prelude, +it would seem, to the day. 'Twas Sir Julian's wont to rise early and +draw--it may be--inspiration from the full vibrant chords of sweet +harmony. + +From an upper casement leant forth Mistress Penwick with a face as +delicately tinted as the blossoms of the peach that flaunted their +beauty at some distance. She appeared to be arranging violets--that +still sparkled with rain--in an oblong porcelain box that lay flat +upon the casement. Her white jewelled fingers flitted in and out of +the blue depths. Her small white teeth were but half eclipsed and +there fluttered forth from her parted lips a low humming that keyed +and blended with the organ. Her soft white dress enveloped her mould +loosely; her long flowing sleeves, prefaced by rare lace, displaying +her pink, round arm. She wore not the look of care; for she had thrown +all such evil weight upon one who played in yonder sacred shrine +so tranquilly, as if nothing but his own sins rested--and they but +feather-weight--upon his soul. On he played, and she arranged her +flowers, and up the avenue came horses' feet and Lady Constance +unattended came riding near the castle and called up to the vision of +beauty that leant from the window,-- + +"'Tis a glorious morning for riding forth. I have had a fine jaunt and +met nothing but the post-boy,"--and here she showed a billet and rode +close to the wall and hid it neath the ivy--"and a famous adventure +which I've half a mind to pursue, after--I've 'suaged my hunger. If I +ride thus every morning, I shall soon have an arm as pink and round +and perfect in mould as thine own. Hast thou broken fast?" + +"I have had my simple allotment, and have been down on the lower +terraces and gathered these violets, and am now hungry again and +Janet has gone for a wing of fowl and some wine." At these words Lady +Constance looked about her cautiously and spoke in low tones,-- + +"Everything is ready for thy flight. I saw Adrian this morning. He is +handsomer than ever and eager to see thee, and counts the hours 'til +nightfall. If 'tis possible thou art to escape unnoticed to the +monastery, where the nuptials will be performed at once, then thou art +to depart immediately for Whitehall, where thou wilt be made much of +by the King and he will more like detain thy husband under pretext, +and mayhap offer him some honour for the sake of keeping thy beauty +in England."--With a wave of the hand Mistress Penwick bade Lady +Constance depart as Janet stood within the door. + +The castle was astir early, as if there was naught but a glorious day +before them, and they would make it of much length. It seemed as if a +great peace had settled upon those ivy-clad walls, or it might be the +calm that is the solemn presage of storm, and Sir Julian himself quiet +beyond his wont seemed to portend the calamities that were to ensue; +and after his breakfast stood at a window watching the dripping trees +and whistling so softly one could not tell whether 'twere he or the +birds chirping without. Cedric and Lady Constance played at battledore +and shuttlecock. Mistress Penwick sat apart, busy with thought and +needle. His Grace of Ellswold sat up that morning, his wife and +physicians by his side, and all were happy with the great improvement. + +Meanwhile, at the monastery all was commotion. The day there would be +far too short to accomplish all that was to be done. Three couriers +had arrived since dawn with important dispatches. In the midst of +the monks, who sat upon long benches that flanked either side of a +spacious gallery, sat Adrian Cantemir, reading the last message. +Opposite, at the table, were three monks apparently engaged upon their +own affairs, but subtly watching the puzzled countenance of their +guest. Finally their patience seemed to have run out and Constantine, +the monk directly _vis-a-vis_ to Cantemir, coughed, cleared his throat +and in low gutterals said,-- + +"Thy countenance is unfair; 'tis a perjury on thy happy heart." Adrian +looked up with a start, so lost was he in contemplation. His letter +was prophetic of evil, and he was afraid. + +"'Tis ill news, and thou wert not far wrong to bring forth thine +arms. The secrets to be intrusted to my wife it seems have already +reached--" + +"The King?" and with the words it appeared each Abbé was upon his feet +and leaning forward intent. + +"Nay, but the arch-fiends Buckingham and Monmouth. And with the King's +consent they leave for a hunting bout and they ride hither. It says +that the former in masque saw my meeting this morning with Lady +Constance, and he followed and made love to her." The Abbés stood in +utter dismay and dejection. At last, Dempsy of the Cow and Horn began +in deep, full tones the first movement of the "Kyrie eleison, Christe +Eleison, Kyrie eleison," and one by one every voice leapt up in a +God-have-mercy, and the walls echoed and without the birds seemed to +take it up, and it was carried to a listening ear not far from the +shadow of the wall. Then the prayer ceased and La Fosse--half soldier, +half priest--spoke in ringing tones. + +"And what else does thy billet say? Why are we to be attacked; are we +not upon our own ground?" + +"It is mooted that should my wife gain the King's ear, she will +influence him to consent not only on this thy matter but others of +great importance that now pend. It is said that Buckingham has boasted +of rare sport in routing a full score of knaves; taking treasure--" +Cantemir's eyes swept keenly the visage of Constantine--of great +value, beside the beauteous maid that is to arrive; for he says 'tis +sure she will be worth as much to them as the King. He refers to +himself and Monmouth, who mean to take my wife prisoner this very +night." + +"'Tis enough," said La Fosse, with a deprecating gesture. "We must put +on the armour of strength and gird ourselves for battle. We have all +to fight for that that is honourable: home, virtue and religion. What +more could we ask for to strengthen us?" + +"'Tis well said," quoth Constantine. "Judging from thy billet, we are +not to be attacked until the maid hath arrived. Is it known, also, at +what hour she is to come?" + +"If they know so much, they perhaps know even all." + +"Then we must hasten the hour by two, and 'twill incur no disadvantage +save to bring the maid to a greater discretion and show of wit; for +'twill be harder for her to escape at nine than eleven." + +"Methinks 'twill be a greater task to warn the maid of the setting +forth of the hour." Adrian looked up hopefully; for he was of no +mind to meet his wife upon the threshold of a battle, and two hours +earlier, 'twould be time and to spare, and he spoke out bravely,-- + +"I'll see to the message," and he was guilty of a low-bred wink at +Dempsy. + +"Then 'twill serve to set aside this matter for the next," and La +Fosse looking at Cantemir and speaking softly and deferentially bade +him leave them for the present. + +Adrian left the room by the door he had entered it, and passing +through a hall reentered the chamber that had been assigned him. + +The Russian, though a coward, was wary at times and allowed it to +carry him into danger, and as an example he changed his riding garb +for his cavalier costume, discarding his spurred boots for high-heeled +slippers and deigning not to don coat or waistcoat started forth in +search of--he must think what? He was without servant, as 'twas safer +to leave him at the Cow and Horn;--especially one who has corners on +his conscience. He must search for--the kitchen. This place was below +stairs, and he stole this way and that to find a flight of steps. +Treading softly, listening intently and looking ravenously for +opportunity to plunder, for there was treasure somewhere about the +monastery, this was certain, and he might as well have part of it as +Buckingham and Monmouth to have it all. And in case of any mischance +and Mistress Penwick be lost to him, he must have something to live +upon. Constance would never forgive him for allowing the maid to +escape him, and consequently would not give him large loans as +heretofore. But if he should gain the fair prize, some day he would +give back to his church even more than he had taken. As he thus +thought, he forgot for a moment his present surroundings and was +suddenly reminded by a touch on the shoulder, + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE CHAPEL BELFRY + + +He started quickly and looked up shuddering, and saw a tall, slender +monk with cowl so drawn not a feature could be seen. The Abbé spoke +low and hoarsely, as though a cold prevented better utterance,-- + +"What seekest thou?" + +"The kitchen," Cantemir answered, with a great show of bravery. + +"And what there to find, my young man?" + +"Pen and paper. I must write to Mistress Penwick." + +"Ah yes, ah yes, my son. I had forgotten. Curve thy sentences to the +point, without being so broad in assertion another might understand. +Thou hadst better put it this way--" + +"Indeed I thought I had my meaning well covered. I had proposed to +say--" + +"Ah, we are not alone; step this way." The monk turned to a panelling +that gave way by a touch, and to Cantemir's surprise they were alone +in a dark and vaulted passage; indeed they were unable to discern +aught. Quickly the Abbé drew his companion from the panelling through +which they had passed; and 'twas hardly done when three monks followed +with lighted candles. The foremost was Constantine, carrying an +enormous bunch of keys. Their long robes swept Cantemir's feet. He +drew a quick breath, and before it sounded his companion placed his +hand over his mouth. Now this hand smacked not of holy mould or +monastic incense, but rather of rare perfume; but Cantemir was +frightened and did not notice the worldliness of the admonishing hand. +The monks proceeded down the passage; stopping near the centre they +lifted from the floor a trapdoor. A ladder was brought and swung down +the opening and the three descended. + +"Now, my son, thou hadst better write thy billet, and if thou dost not +find one to carry it, I will be along directly and do the service for +thee. I must visit the village and the tree, my son. Now I'll give +thee a bit of advice. Never again go about looking for anything where +'tis supposed there is treasure. If it had not been for my timely +interruption, my brothers there would have found thee and not +so easily forgiven thy inclination for discovery. Go, go in +peace--remember always, that discretion is the wit of safety." + +Cantemir was frightened, and glad to get away, for he feared the +Abbé's smooth tones masqued treachery, and he slid through the +panelling and in very earnest sought the kitchen. + +The deceitful monk hastened toward the open trap and kneeling gazed +for a moment below. There came up a foul odour that made him flinch +and draw back; he drew his handkerchief and placed it to his nose and +leant again and looked. There was a faint glimmer that showed in which +direction the lights were. He lay flat and putting his head beneath +the opening, saw the priests leaning over a chest. Quickly he prepared +to descend and was upon the second rung of the ladder, when the +panelling again opened and a half-dozen faces looked through; anger +and indignation upon all but one, and that was the Russian's, which +bore joy of a discovery. He had gone to the refectory with good intent +to write his letter; but finding a small company of monks gathered +there and they appearing much perturbed, he asked the cause. One +said there was a strange Abbé in the monastery, whose hands were as +bejewelled as any fop's, and that a number had gone in search of him. +The false monk's hand had betrayed him, as 'twas seen from a window as +he uncovered it to open the door. Now Cantemir thought it a good, safe +moment to become a hero and straightway told of his encounter; saying +he was in search of the refectory and had lost his way; making a +plausible story. He was carried forth with the party in search and +now came toward the opening in the passage with drawn sword, his face +wearing the masque of bravery. + +The man upon the ladder was the same that had listened to the "Kyrie +eleison" from without, and before it concluded had made his way +inside: the Duke of Buckingham. + +He jumped like a cat under cover of his pursuer's noisy entrance and +slipped away from the opening. Quickly he drew from him the robe and +cowl and flung them down upon the ladder and drawing his sword stood +waiting and almost eager for a fight. He did not forget, however, +that there is often a practiced and keen thrust from the folds of a +priest's habit. But they were confident the false Abbé was beneath, +and with less noise and more subtleness moved toward the opening. As +they did so, his Grace swung round and cautiously approached the wall +where the panelling was. "Aye, aye," he heard, as the foremost man +found the robe. Straightway they all rushed below stair, and as +the head of the last man disappeared, his Grace went through the +panelling, and within five minutes stood safe in the forest, happy +with the knowledge he had gained. + +It was near the hour of five when Lady Constance rode forth alone. She +left the courtyard unnoticed and hurried to the village and through it +and on beyond toward the tree and passed it and galloped some distance +beyond, then seeing she was not followed made a quick turn and +retraced, But there came from a bend in the road a horseman that rode +warily. She again turned to see if any came, and seeing no one stopped +at the tree and brought from its cavity a letter. As she replaced the +knot, there was such a sudden sound of horses' feet behind her she +dropped the billet and her unknown squire leapt from his horse to +recover it, and stood uncovered before her with such a long, low bow +of homage he had most time to read the missive. Lady Constance was +flattered and felt surely that one with such courtly dress and bearing +could be nothing less than a Duke and his wearing of a full masque +made her doubly sure of it. She flushed and reached out her hand for +the letter and spoke in her most seductive tones,-- + +"My lord,"--he looked up and saw on her pretty, though characterless +face a smile that warranted a further acquaintance. He placed the +letter in her hand slowly, then caught her hand and held it firmly; +indeed their hands touched and lingered together with such intention +it conveyed much more meaning than words. Constance had all the +outward show of a great lady, but at soul she was putrescent. There +came such a heartrending sigh from her cavalier she spoke in a most +tender tone,-- + +"And why such sighing?" + +"Is it not enough, sweet lady?" + +"I am at a loss?" + +"Nay, rather 'tis I that am at loss; for I had sought to gain thy +favour undivided, and I meet with thee only to give into thy hands a +trysting billet that lifts thy glorious orbs above me." He bowed low +in mock humility. Constance' heart fluttered at his ardent words. + +"I would fain know who thus sues for a woman's love; 'tis possible--" +He lowered his masque. "Ah, his Grace of Monmouth!" She well-nigh +prostrated herself upon the saddle, in lieu of the fine courtesy +she would have swept had her position been more favourable. His +words--such gloriously sweet words when uttered by the lips of a +Duke--fed her vanity. Her face flushed as she thought of what his +love must be. He saw his vantage and drew nearer--it may be a hair's +breadth over the line of respect--indeed 'twould have been an +innovation had he not done so, as the time warranted nothing else but +a show at virtue. + +"Your Grace finds a maid that is heart whole; but I would aid others +to their desire. I but act as post-boy 'twixt tree and castle." + +"Thou art cold and cruel. I can see well thou dost hold tightly to thy +bosom thy billet; thou art afraid 'twill betray thee. Thou art the +maid herself that doth own it?" Constance had a burning curiosity to +know why Monmouth was in the neighbourhood of Crandlemar, and though +he insinuated he had come purposely to see her, yet she was not blind +and wondered what diplomacy she could use to gain from him the desired +knowledge. Could it be possible he had come on behalf of the King, +and if so, for what business? The Catholics surely had not been so +indiscreet as to allow their affairs to reach the King's ears? And if +so, why should he send to them? It was not at all likely any one knew +of the monastery so hidden away in a dense forest. Could it be that +the beauty of Mistress Penwick had become notorious at Whitehall and +that the Duke was hunting for her? These thoughts passed speedily +through her brain, while the ogling Monmouth waited for her answer to +his accusation. She spoke with a shy little twist of her head, vainly +trying to blush like little innocence. + +"How can I hold out against thee, Duke? Thou dost steal my secret; +here, then, read it for thyself." With a lightening glance he finished +reading what he had begun before. + +"I was right, sweet Katherine; 'tis a trysting letter, and thou art +to go to him to-night at nine? Thou shalt not; I'll have thee for +myself." Now they had made a great mistake. Constance thought to +convince the Duke she had no lover. He misunderstood and believed +her to be the Katherine he had come after. She, thinking to gain his +secret, allowed him to think so, and quickly took up her new part. + +"Thou dost embarrass me, Duke!" + +"In very truth," said he, "we have heard of thy great beauty at +Whitehall, and have come hither to claim thee for ourselves. Thou +shalt be my very own, sweet Katherine. The King was about to send +forth to Crandlemar to enquire of his Grace of Ellswold. We asked for +the service, that we might gain sight of thy rare beauty. We are about +to pay our respects to the Duke who lies yonder, and at the King's +order bring him important news. We have heard, however, his condition +is most critical, and we cannot see him until high noon to-morrow, as +the midday finds him stronger. And I must see thee, sweet one, again +before the night is over. I cannot wait for the morrow's noon." He +caught her hand and pressed his lips to it, resting himself against +the horse, his arm thrown carelessly across Constance' knee. She +deemed it an honour to be in such close proximity to the royal Duke, +and grew red with his amorous glances and soft-spoken words and the +familiarity of his arm upon her. + +"Indeed, it doth seem to me also like a very long time to wait," and +she sighed heavily. At this Monmouth drew her down and kissed her upon +her thin, arrogant lips. She, well-nigh beside herself, exclaimed in a +thin, high voice,-- + +"Ah, ah, Duke, thou dost kill me--I must hasten away from thee. I must +go." She spurred her horse; but the Duke caught the rein and held it +fast. + +"Nay, nay, thou shalt not yet be gone. Wouldst thou be so cruel to +leave me now at Love's first onset? I will not have it!" + +"But I must hasten,--I am riding alone, and some one will be sent for +me if I do not soon return to the castle." + +"Thou must give me promise first, sweet one!" + +"Promise,--promise of what?" and she listened eagerly to his next +words. + +"Dost thou not covet a Prince's favour?" Constance' heart fluttered +mightily, and she thought--"A fig for Cedric's love of me. He loves +not at all, compared with this man's warm passion. Cedric loves me not +at all, anyway. I will be a Prince's favourite," and she answered,-- + +"I never covet that which is beyond my reach." 'Tis often a true thing +that when we sit within our dark and dismal chamber without comfort, +hope or happy retrospection, there stands upon the threshold a joyous +phenomenon of which we have never so much as dreamt as being in +existence; and this had come to Constance. If the Duke loved her, what +would it matter if Cedric did love Katherine? She could not compel him +to love her. + +"Ah, sweet Katherine, how can one covet that they already possess? I +would teach thee to enjoy all that such beauty as thine is heir to. +Thou wilt come to me to-night?" + +"To-night!" and Lady Constance fairly gasped. + +"To-night, fair one, on the stroke of nine thou wilt pass through the +postern door of the castle and fall into my arms,--here, take this, +sweet, to pledge thyself." He slipped from his finger a ring of +marvellous beauty and essayed to place it upon her hand. + +"Nay, I cannot. I should be seen to go forth at so early an hour,--and +I know thee not!" + +"Thou art not afraid of me? Nay, I am one of the most gentle and +tender--" + +"But where wilt thou take me, your Grace?" + +"I will take thee to my heart, and if thou art unhappy, thou mayest +return when thou desirest; but 'twill be my pleasure to keep thee with +me alway; we will go to London." Constance, having read the letter, +knew it would not do for her to leave the drawing-room at the same +hour with Katherine, and she hardly knew what to do. + +"Indeed, I have no wish to see a duel upon my Lord Cedric's grounds, +thou must come later. My love will perhaps wait an hour,--thou mayest +come at twelve." + +"And allow him to come first and steal thee; nay, I protest." +Constance felt somewhat dubious. The Duke saw it, and hastened to +reassure her. + +"If thou wilt sit near the window on the stroke of nine, I will let +thy lover go; but if thou dost pass from my sight, I will run the +fellow through; and thou mayest come to me at twelve!" + +To this Constance agreed, and allowed him to place the ring; and he +kissing her again with fervour, let her go, exultant. + +'Twas a glorious, clear, warm night. The castle was aglow and merry. +Lady Bettie Payne and Sir Rodger Mac Veigh and Sir Jasper Kenworthy +and sundry other shire folk had come to while away a spring night. The +gentlemen were playing at cup and ball; Lady Constance and Lady Bettie +were gossiping of Court scandal, when in swept her Grace of Ellswold +with Mistress Penwick, the latter such a vision of loveliness the game +was suspended for a moment, and Constance and Bettie looked up to see +why all eyes were turned from them. + +The maid wore a pale-hued brocade gown of sweeping length of skirt, +and short, round bodice and low-neck and long sleeves that tightly +encased her plump, pink arms. Her mother's pearls lay glistening about +her slender neck, and falling low was caught again by some caprice +of mode high where met sleeve and waist, and here a rare bunch of +fragrant violets shone bravely as a shoulder knot. + +Lord Cedric saw her first, and was well-nigh drunk with her beauty, +and he advanced and bent low, kissing her hand that trembled in his +own. He raised his eyes to hers, she looking fairly at him with a +ready smile. + +"Kate, Kate--" Such a flood of emotion came upon him he was bereft of +speech. She looked at him surprised, and wondered if he knew aught. +Could it be that Sir Julian had found out anything and had spoken to +Cedric? She was sure she had kept this last secret safe from all save +Constance, and had not been with Sir Julian for a whole day, fearing +he would find out by looking at her. Nay, he knew nothing,--beside, if +he did, he would shield her from Cedric's anger by keeping so great +a secret. And yet it almost seemed as if the young lord knew of her +desperate act; 'twas written on his face, she saw the pain upon it; +and yet, how could it be? These thoughts flashed through Katherine's +brain, and she tried to move from him, but an inscrutable presence +held her, and she felt she must not leave him, perhaps forever, with +that face so full of pain, and she spoke out a word she had never +used before and one which touched his Lordship as nothing else could, +'twas: + +"Cedric." He caught his breath with sheer excess of joy, and bent +again and whispered,-- + +"What, Kate; what is it?" 'Twas enough, she laughed quietly and turned +to Sir Julian, who had come to her side. Lady Constance was not long +in finding an opportunity to speak alone with her. + +"Oh, sweet," she said. "I haven't had a chance to talk with thee of my +adventure," and she drew the maid aside and began volubly to speak +of her encounter of the early morning. "He was most certainly of the +Court. I cannot possibly mistake his manner. Indeed, I am certain +he is a noble lord, and no doubt is here to bear Cantemir +escort--perhaps--" and she leant close to Katherine--"it might be the +King himself, who knows?" Her listener flushed and thought-- + +"Was it possible she was to receive such honour, and why not?" She had +heard from Constance and Cantemir himself that his house was a very +wealthy and important one in Russia and that the English royalty and +nobles made much of him. She, with her poor knowledge of the world, +thought Constance spoke truth. + +"I'll tell thee why I thought he was the King. He was the form, grace +and elegance of his Royal Highness and kept his masque securely tied. +I'm sure it was he. And this evening,--ah, ah, how can I ever tell +thee, Katherine, the honour I felt! Indeed we do not know how +important Adrian is until we see those with whom he consorts. To-night +I met--who dost guess it was, Katherine?" + +"Nay, I could never guess, for I know not whom Adrian's friends are; +but if thy friend of the morning was the King, 'tis certain the +setting sun brings thee one less titled." + +"'Tis so, but one who may be a King. Thou wilt never tell, Katherine?" + +"Nay, never." + +"'Twas the King's son, his Grace the Duke of Monmouth." + +"Ah, ah, a Prince! Thou art indeed favoured. And how came it about? I +am very curious." Lady Constance related part of her interview with +the Duke, embellished and with many deviations-- + +"He said they were to be at the monastery as witnesses and intimated +that the King had heard of thy wonderful beauty and grew so impatient +to see thee he must either come himself or send some one he could +trust. Monmouth said thy request was already granted in the King's +mind, and he only waited to see thee to give it utterance. Thou dost +know what a good Catholic he is, and hearing they were to send thee to +ask certain things of his clemency, he has sent the Duke with other +special guard to render speed and safety to thy journey to Whitehall, +where great honour will be shown Adrian's fair bride." Constance so +entered into the very soul of her lies, she half believed them as she +gave them utterance. + +The young maid was well-nigh beside herself with pleasure at the +honours that were to attend her, and she gave up all idea of a +backward step. And when Constance proclaimed she was to accompany her, +her heart leapt up with joy. She gave no place to doubt now, 'twas an +unknown quantity, and her voice trembled as she said--"It makes me +perfectly content, if thou art to accompany me. Thou wilt go with +me to the monastery, Constance?" For once her ladyship answered +truthfully, but she did not know it: + +"Nay, I am to join thee some time after twelve; I know not just when +or where; but we are to be together. I owe this especial favour to the +Duke. I am so glad thou art espoused, or will be in a short while, or +I should be insanely jealous. Look, Katherine!" and Constance under +cover of her handkerchief showed the ring. + +"Isn't it beautiful?" said Katherine. + +Mistress Penwick, like many another of her beauty and age, was +inclined to be of ill-spirit when another of her sex seemed to be in +favour; and at Constance' sudden acquaintance with the King's son, +and able to wear his ring, she was piqued, and almost wished it was +herself instead; for in such intimacy there could be nothing else but +a very near and exalted position at Court. The poor child--innocent +of all evil seeing naught in the gaining of Royal favour but the +achievement of all that was high, holy, beautiful and perfect--now +for a brief moment scorned her own poor estate and fell to envying +Constance, and was of a notion not to go at all to the monastery;--but +if she didn't, then her religion would suffer; for who could go to the +King in her place? She knew she was beautiful, and knew its influence, +and was sure the King would not refuse her. Now if Lord Cedric had not +forbidden her going to the monastery for confession, she could have +known what they wished and gone openly with Lady Constance or Sir +Julian, or perhaps just with Janet to his Majesty and gained his +favour and at once have become a Lady of Honour. But no, 'twas not +thus, and things were as they were, and she could not change them or +retrace. + +She would not engage in any game, but played upon the harpsichord and +sung some of her sweetest songs; Lord Cedric ever coming to her side +to turn her music or offer some little service. He was aflame with +hope, for had she not called him "Cedric"? + +How dear it sounded; if he might only hear her say it again. He came +to her side and whispered,-- + +"'Twas sweet of thee to call me Cedric!"--His hand for a moment rested +upon the violets at her shoulder,--"Kate, why didst thou not wear the +opal shoulder-knot instead of these violets?" + +"Because--I value it more than aught else, and I would not wear it on +all occasions, for 'twas thy mother's choicest brooch." + +"Indeed, I love it, also, Kate, for the same reason; but I would +rather see thee wear it, for I love thee, Kate, thee, thee, thee." His +voice was like a sob stirring her to a pity that made her sick and +weak, and she turned from him hastily and began singing softly,-- + + "When love with unconfined wings hovers within my gates; + And my divine Althea brings to whisper at the grates; + When I lie tangled in her hair and fetter'd to her eye; + The gods that wanton in the air, know no such liberty. + + "'Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage; + Minds innocent and quiet take that for an hermitage; + If I have freedom in my love, and in my soul am free; + Angels alone that soar above enjoy such liberty!'" + +"Thou dost sing the words of the beautiful and amiable Richard +Lovelace; I have heard my father speak of him with great affection. +The lines to Althea--his sweetheart--were written in prison. She +thought him dead and married some one else. He loved her more than +life,--dost believe in such love, Kate?" + +"Aye, why not?--Ah, Sir Julian, hast finished,--who was victor?" + +"I am modest, my Lady." + +"But never too modest to hold thine own." As she spoke thus to Sir +Julian, the sands of the hour-glass ran out and nine tolled from the +Chapel belfry. Before the bell had ceased, Constance had drawn Cedric +and Julian into a game of cards, she placing herself opposite the +window, and Katherine had stepped into an adjoining passage, and +taking up her camelot cloak, with flying feet and beating heart +hastened to the postern-door and slipped bolts and bars and stood +without in the calm, warm night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SERMONS NEW AND OLD + + +"The reign of Charles the Second seemed to be impregnated with a free +and easy moral atmosphere that engendered lewdness in human product. +It is said by a great historian that Thomas Hobbes had, in language +more precise and luminous than has ever been employed by any other +metaphysical writer, maintained that the will of the prince was the +standard of right and wrong, and that every subject ought to be ready +to profess Popery, Mahometanism, or Paganism, at the royal command. +Thousands who were incompetent to appreciate what was really valuable +in his speculations eagerly welcomed a theory which, while it exalted +the kingly office, relaxed the obligations of morality and degraded +religion into a mere affair of state. Hobbism soon became an almost +essential part of the character of the fine gentleman. All the +lighter kinds of literature were deeply tainted by the prevailing +licentiousness. Poetry stooped to be the pander of every low desire. +Ridicule, instead of putting guilt and error to the blush, turned her +formidable shafts against innocence and truth. The restored Church +contended indeed against the prevailing immorality, but contended +feebly, and with half a heart. It was necessary to the decorum of +her character that she should admonish her erring children, but her +admonitions were given in a somewhat perfunctory manner. Her attention +was elsewhere engaged. Little as the men of mirth and fashion were +disposed to shape their lives according to her precepts, they were yet +ready to fight for her cathedrals and places, for every line of her +rubric and every thread of her vestments. If the debauched +cavalier haunted brothels and gambling houses, he at least avoided +conventicles. If he never spoke without uttering ribaldry and +blasphemy, he made some amends by his eagerness to send Baxter and +Howe to gaol for preaching and praying. Thus the clergy, for a time, +made war on schism with so much vigour that they had little leisure to +make war on vice." + +"Charles the Second wished merely to be a King who could draw without +limit on the treasury for the gratification of his private tastes, who +could hire with wealth and honours persons capable of assisting him +to kill the time, and who, even when the state was brought by +maladministration to the depths of humiliation and to the brink of +ruin, could still exclude unwelcome truth from the purlieus of his +own seraglio, and refuse to see and hear whatever might disturb his +luxurious repose. Later in life, the ill-bred familiarity of the +Scottish divines had given him a distaste for Presbyterian discipline, +while the heats and animosities between the members of the Established +Church and the Nonconformists, with which his reign commenced, made +him think indifferently of both. His religion was that of a young +prince in his warm blood, whose inquiries were applied more to +discover arguments against belief than in its favour." + +"The wits about the Court, who found employment in laughing at +Scripture, delighted in turning to ridicule what the preachers said in +their sermons before him, and in this way induced him to look upon the +clergy as a body of men who had compounded a religion for their own +advantage. So strongly did this feeling take root in him that he at +length resigned himself to sleep at sermon-time--not even South or +Barrow having the art to keep him awake. In one of these half-hours +of sleep, when in Chapel, he is known to have missed, doubtless with +regret, the gentle reproof of South to Lauderdale during a general +somnolency:--'My lord, my lord, you snore so loud you will wake the +King.'" + +"He was altogether in favour of extempore preaching, and was unwilling +to listen to the delivery of a written sermon." (Indeed, if we had +more people like him in this day, we would hear far more of the gospel +and far less of politics and jokes which so demoralize the pulpit and +take away all sacredness. The King was right, as all mankind will +agree, in his idea of preaching.) "Patrick excused himself from a +chaplaincy, 'finding it very difficult to get a sermon without book.' +On one occasion the King asked the famous Stillingfleet 'how it was +that he always reads his sermons before him, when he was informed that +he always preached without book elsewhere?' Stillingfleet answered +something about the awe of so noble a congregation, the presence of +so great and wise a prince, with which the King himself was very well +contented,--'But, pray,' continued Stillingfleet, 'will your Majesty +give me leave to ask you a question? Why do you read your speeches +when you can have none of the same reasons?' 'Why truly, doctor,' +replied the King, 'your question is a very pertinent one, and so will +be my answer. I have asked the two Houses so often and for so much +money, that I am ashamed to look them in the face.'" + +"This 'slothful way of preaching,' for so the King called it, had +arisen during the civil wars; and Monmouth, when Chancellor of the +University of Cambridge, in compliance with the order of the King, +directed a letter to the University that the practice of reading +sermons should be wholly laid aside." + +There was much ignorance in the seventeenth century; but 'twas of the +people's own choosing; 'twas not of necessity. Lewdness was preferable +to purity; it was easier had. And when the King led the pace, why not +they of lesser rank and fortunes? But was there ever a thing created +in all the world without its right and wrong sides? It seemed there +was no room in Charles' time for aught but evil. "The ribaldry of +Etherege and Wycherley was, in the presence and under the special +sanction of the head of the church, while the author of the Pilgrim's +Progress languished in a dungeon for the crime of proclaiming the +gospel to the poor." + +As time waxed, even the vigilant persecutors became passive, relaxed +themselves into indifference; but before immorality was aware the +still, small voice was heard. The seed that was twelve years in +planting had taken root and Pilgrim's Progress became known and John +Bunyan stood without the prison gates to preach and pray at will, to +keep on extending that influence that lives to-day. And for once the +King did not go to sleep when, through caprice or curiosity, he went +to hear him preach. + +"When Bunyan went to preach in London, if there was but one day's +notice, the meeting house was crowded to overflowing. Twelve hundred +people would be found collected before seven o'clock on a dark +winter's morning to hear a lecture from him. In Zoar St. Southwark, +his church was sometimes so crowded that he had to be lifted to the +pulpit stairs over the congregation's heads." He strove not for +popularity, as could be seen in the one little circumstance when "a +friend complimented him, after service, on 'the sweet sermon' which he +had delivered. 'You need not remind me of that,' he said. 'The devil +told me of it before I was out of the pulpit.'" + +"Charles Doe, a distinguished nonconformist, visited him in his +confinement. 'When I was there,' he writes, 'there were about sixty +dissenters besides himself, taken but a little before at a religious +meeting at Kaistor, in the county of Bedford, besides two eminent +dissenting ministers, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Dun, by which means the +prison was much crowded. Yet, in the midst of all that hurry, I heard +Mr. Bunyan both preach and pray with that mighty spirit of faith and +plerophory of Divine assistance, that he made me stand and wonder.'" + +The sweet spirit of a minister is treasured and kept green in the +memory of his flock, no matter how recalcitrant they may be. This is +shown by the reading once a year in Bedford Church of John Gifford's +letter to his parish people, written over two hundred years ago. It +says: "Let no respect of persons be in your comings together. When you +are met as a church, there's neither rich nor poor, bond nor free, in +Jesus Christ. 'Tis not a good practice to be offering places or seats +when those who are rich come in; especially it is a great evil to take +notice of such in time of prayer or the word; then are bowings and +civil observances at such times not of God." It was the "holy Mr. +Gifford" that was often in conference with John Bunyan; "the latter as +the seeking pilgrim, the former the guiding evangelist." With such +men as these the sweet spirit was kept aflame and eventually changed +England and made her the great country she is. But in those licentious +days this sweet spirit shone from its impure surroundings like the +_ignis fatuus_, and 'twas a great, wicked world that Mistress Penwick +stood all alone in that early summer night. + +A nightingale sung afar in some bowery of blossom, and for a moment +she listened. + +"'Tis an ode to the night he sings, 'tis too clear and high and full +of cadence for a nuptial mass,--nay, nay, I shall not marry to-night, +I will go and see what dear father Constantine wishes and return to +this home that has never seemed so fair to me before;--and my lord is +handsome and so, too, is Sir Julian and I'm fond of their Graces of +Ells wold and Janet,--Janet, I love her best of all. Nay, nay, I'll +not be married. I will go and see and return. Janet will not look for +me above stair before eleven at least. I shall be home again ere I'm +missed." She thought thus as she hurried on through the courtyard and +beyond, where waited Father Dempsy. + +In a second, it seemed, they were galloping away, Mistress Penwick +throwing back a long, sweeping glance at the great, stone pile behind +her. The train of her brocade skirt hung almost to the ground; her +fair, sloping shoulders, her exquisite face framed in a high roll of +amber beauty, made a picture,--a rare gem encircled by a gorgeous June +night. + +On they rode without converse; Dempsy was a brave man, yet he feared +and justly, too, that Mistress Pen wick might be taken from him before +they reached the monastery, therefore he enjoined silence, and the +best speed of their horses, and kept a hand upon his sword. + +He drew a sigh of relief when he beheld the dark outline of the +cloister that appeared quiet and undisturbed. + +As they approached, Cantemir came from the open door and lifted +Mistress Penwick from her horse in a most tender fashion, and would +have held her close and imprinted a kiss upon her forehead had she not +drawn from him and raised her hand to his lips. + +"'Tis a cold greeting, Katherine, after these long, weary days of +separation." + +"Nay, not so. 'Tis thy warmth that is premature." And without deigning +further opportunity for converse, she swept over the threshold of the +monastery. + +There was much business to be attended to before the ceremony could +take place, and the time was limited; for in one hour it was believed +the cloister would be attacked by the Duke of Buckingham and his +party, and the maid must be far on her way before the attack. + +There was none but Mistress Penwick, herself, that thought else than +that a marriage contract was to be sealed. She on a sudden felt a +great repulsion for Adrian Cantemir, and she resolved not to wed him. + +As she stood in the large hall that served as council chamber and +for all functions of importance, she cast her eye about for those +answering to the description of his Grace of Monmouth and that +other--was it the King? She felt sure she would know him; but upon the +long benches there were none but sombre cowled figures with crucifix +and--aye, swords gleamed from beneath the folds of their long gowns +and touched the floor. Her eyes flashed wide with surprise, and she +felt proud and loved the bravery of her religion. But to what it +portended she thought on for a moment seriously and concluded Royal +personages must be present, or why else such precaution? + +As the business had to do with Mistress Penwick only, Cantemir was +asked to withdraw. As soon as the business was entered upon, the +maid's doubts of the surrounding company were dispelled and she knew +none of the Royal party would dare be even an unknown guest at such a +meeting. + +At the conclusion of the council she held an important secret, more +important to herself than she dreamt. It made her bold, and she +straightway arose and spoke out clearly,-- + +"If the reverend fathers would agree upon a certain matter, I will +start at once upon my journey. I feel my mission to the King to +be more important than all else to me, and for the success of my +undertaking I deem it best I should go as maid and not wife to his +most Royal presence." This was a startling but most acceptable +assertion. It had been much spoken on by the Abbés but by common +consent they agreed if the maid wished to marry the Russian, why--they +would offer no objections; so they had left the matter. + +"Dost think, Mistress Penwick, thou canst settle readily the case with +the Count?" + +"'Twill be easy and quickly done. Call him hither!" said she. The +Russian came with eagerness and some impatience, for he feared a delay +might plunge him into a lively skirmish. + +Katherine went to his side, and placing her fingers upon his arm, +said,-- + +"Thou wilt escort me to the King?" + +"Most gladly, and where else in life thou shalt choose to go." + +"'Tis the present that indicates the future,--wilt come at once +without ceremony?" + +"Nay, nay, I protest. I must have thee as wife, first, Mistress +Penwick!" + +Constantine leant toward them from the table and looked with purpose, +a frown emphasizing his shrewd glance,-- + +"We have not time for further controversy, and if the maid will say +the word, the ceremony will be performed now." The Abbé knew the maid +would give in to circumstances sooner than the determined Count, and +thus hastened her. All eyes were upon the two, and Katherine hearing +in the priest's voice a tone of insistence, stood for a moment +motionless and evidently debating her course. + +As she opened her lips, there was a sudden sound of horses' feet. + +In a moment a thundering knock upon the door's panelling demanded +admittance. + +"Who seeks an opening so roughly?" thundered La Fosse. + +"Cedric of Crandlemar!" + +"The devil!" cried Cantemir, as he fell back in consternation and +fear. Indeed he would rather meet the King of devils than this +hot-headed Cedric. Katherine was not at a loss to read Count Adrian's +countenance, and straightway bade them open the door. La Fosse spoke +as his hand rested on the locker,-- + +"Art alone, my lord?" + +"Aye, quite alone!" came in a voice so shaken Katherine fell to +trembling in very fear. Cedric threw wide the door and stood within, +facing them all. His face gleamed like marble, so colourless and still +it seemed. His body swayed by love and anger, knew not which way to +turn, but appeared to sway from side to side. His breath came +in quick, sharp pants. His hair, damp as if from fine rain, was +dishevelled. His dark eyes shot forth sparks of angry fire that burnt +all who fell beneath their glance. + +"Who brought hither the maid? Did yonder pandering fool? Aye, 'twas +thou. I see it plain. Come, come, draw fool; draw ere I run thee +through and dishonour sword by attacking thee, unarmed; draw, I say, +fool!" + +Count Adrian's face was ghastly. Lord Cedric raised his sword and made +a lunge at him. La Fosse was too quick for Cedric. He sprang between +and parried the pass with astounding dexterity. The monk intended it +for a finale stroke; but not so Cedric. He began a fight that was not +to be so easily ended, and he drove his sword in fury. The good monk +only wished to parry; but alas! he caught the spirit of battle and +fought. Constantine made as if to draw the maid from the scene, while +others sought to interfere with the combatants. 'Twas of no avail. +Katherine could not be moved from where she stood, white and still +as a statue; neither could they interpose between the Abbé and his +Lordship. Sorrow and dismay were written on every face, for 'twas sure +one or the other must fall of those two masters of the sword. Already +there fell at La Fosse's feet drops of blood. When Katherine saw them, +she sprang forward and cried,-- + +"Stop, stop in God's name, stop!" As she was about to fling herself +between them, Cedric fell heavily to the floor, a stream of blood +flowing from his breast. With a wild scream Katherine fell upon her +knees at his side and pressed her dainty handkerchief to the wound, +and began to fondle him and speak in his ear that she loved him. Aye, +she was sure now, there could be no doubt, and as she pressed her lips +to his cold, white face she saw his eyelids flutter. She looked up +quickly into the priest's face; he answered her look with wholesome +words. + +"The wound is slight, my child; he will recover." She fell back, +blushing with shame for her bold avowals, and knew not which way to +turn to hide her confusion; for she was sure all present had marked +her warm words and actions. + +Immediately Lord Cedric was carried to an inner room, and Katherine +turned about to look for Cantemir, as did a half-dozen others; he had +disappeared and where he stood were a score of masqued figures. When +they saw they had the attention of the company, one lifted high his +sword and cried,-- + +"Hail, merry monarchs of the Sylvan Chapel! We have come to escort +the maid to the King!" While this avowal struck the Abbés with +consternation, they had expected a different mode of attack, and +they were not displeased that it had taken another course. They had +expected the treasure would be demanded of them with all their papers. +These they would fight for. The secret for which Mistress Penwick was +to visit the King, the Abbés were now sure the Royal party knew not. +The papers she carried could give them no clue even though they gained +possession of them, and the maid would never divulge what she was to +say to his Majesty. + +"Her escort is provided," said La Fosse, who stood nearly exhausted, +leaning upon the table, his sword still in his hand. + +"Ah, but if we choose to offer her a more honourable one! Indeed the +knave of a Russian, who lies without, has but just put the matter in +our hands. He was to escort her, but at sight of blood he faints and +begs us take forthwith his promised wife to Whitehall." One could not +mistake the courtly grace and fine figure of his Grace of Buckingham. +Behind him was a form equally imposing, and the handsome mouth and +chin of the Duke of Monmouth could be seen as he tilted his masque for +a better view of the maid, whom he supposed was the same he had met in +the evening. But with half an eye he saw his mistake. Never was he so +moved at first sight of a face before. He drank in her loveliness in +rapturous drafts, and swayed from side to side examining with critical +eye the outline of her fair mould. She had thrown her cloak from her +and stood slightly in front of Constantine, as he, holding a candle +at her elbow, leant close to her ear, whispering and holding a small +paper for her to read. As she read, her eyes flashed, her bosom rose +and fell neath the covering of her short, full waist; and Monmouth's +eyes seemed ravished by it. It had been his misfortune, he thought, to +see long, modish, tapering stays that bruised his fancy as it did +the wearer's body, and to behold such slender waist crowned by full, +unfettered maiden roundness, pedestalled by such broad and shapely +hips was maddening. He had not dreamt of such beauty when his Grace of +Buckingham had suggested the trip into the forest. + +"We will have some sport finding a beauty and a secret. If it pleases +your Grace, I will have the secret and thou the maid," said he to +Monmouth, and the latter had come all the way from Whitehall, for +he knew the Duke would waste no time looking for aught but a King's +portion. Never was there another such a beauty; she would be the gem +of his seraglio. She looked up, her dark orbs casting a sweeping +glance upon those about. + +"I will return to Crandlemar for the night; call my escort!" said she. + +Now it was plain this was a ruse of Constantine's own making, and had +whispered it as she had pretended to read. Buckingham laughed cruelly +and scornfully, provoking smothered mirth from behind the masques of +his followers. + +"Thou hadst better set out directly, if thou wouldst gain audience +with the King ere he leaves Whitehall." + +"I am in no hurry, to-morrow will do as well. I like not advice +unsought. I'll have none of it. I will go where, when and how as I +please!" + +"And coercion smacks of a power residing not in these parts. I am +delegated, Mistress Penwick, to bring thee straightway to the Royal +presence." + +"And why, may I ask, am I so called to his Majesty?" + +"Thou art a hostage!" and Buckingham took a pinch of snuff with as +much ease and grace as if standing in a crowded drawing-room. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM + + +"I--I, a hostage! and who gave me as such, pray?" + +"There is not time for further inquisition; we have a long journey +before us. Come, Mistress!" + +"Nay, nay, I protest; I'll not go with thee--" + +"Mistress Penwick, I beg thee in my own behalf,"--and the Duke bowed +before her so courteously, he half won her good will, then--"and I +command thee in the name of the King," and with these words he put +forth his hand as it were to take that of Katherine. A sword swept +lightly over the maid's fingers, at which the two Dukes drew back with +haughty indignation, which meant that reparation must be immediate for +this insult to those who came upon his Majesty's affairs; for indeed +they feigned well that they were carrying out the King's orders. La +Fosse, having now regained his breath and some strength, essayed to +draw Mistress Penwick from the scene that was about to ensue; but a +young man flung himself between them and drove back the monk at the +point of his sword, thus beginning the fight. + +Katherine was well-nigh fainting from actual fear and apprehension. +If she were a hostage, 'twas her duty to go and it might favour her +cause. Doubtless these men were gentlemen, and what matter now who +accompanied her to the King? Adrian had proven himself a knave. Poor, +dear Cedric lay ill of his wound and he could not attend her if he +would. These things flashed through her mind as she watched the flash +of steel. Then on a sudden it came to her who these masqued figures +might be. Her heart gave a great bound, and she sprang into the midst +of those fighting and raised her voice, crying forth,-- + +"Cease, cease, fight no more; I will go with thee." A priest near her +whispered,-- + +"'Tis thy honour we fight for now, hold thy peace; 'tis not best for +thee to go with them, 'twould be thy utter ruin and the undoing of our +affairs!" His warning came too late; all had heard Katherine speak; +and although two forms already lay upon the floor, there were other +motives stronger than the thirst for blood, which on a sudden seemed +quenched, and faces pale and blood-stained turned upon Buckingham as +he coolly and with much dignity lifted Katherine's cloak from the +table and placed it about her shoulders, then had the audacity to +offer his arm. She ignored it, turned to Constantine and fell upon her +knees; he blessed her, then whispered hurriedly in her ear. She arose +and passed down the bloody aisle, which was flanked on either side by +an array of shining steel. As she approached the door, it was flung +wide by a figure that startled her, so like was it to Lord Cedric's, +but the light fell aslant his countenance and as she swept by saw +'twas Sir Julian Pomphrey. + +A chaise stood some little distance from the cloister, into which +Katherine was placed with great courtesy by his Grace of Buckingham. + +She sunk back among the cushions with half-closed eyes; heeding not +those that rode at either window of the equipage; she was trying to +collect her thoughts and by degrees they shaped themselves and she was +thinking of that that had but transpired. First of all, she consoled +herself like the selfish girl she was: Cedric would not die; 'twas a +sweet consolation, and she smiled; her thoughts dwelling not for a +moment on her own conduct that had brought him to suffer such pain. +Then she lay back even more luxuriously as she thought that Sir Julian +would not have opened the door for her, had she been going into +danger. To tell the truth, she sighed happily in contemplation of +further exploit. She grew bolder and bolder, fearing naught but some +slight mischance that might prevent her being a Maid of Honour; for +never, never could she go back to Cedric after she had made assertion +of love in his ear, and his eyelids had trembled. Nay, nay, she could +not bear to look him in the face again. Alas! she made vow she never +would. If she was not made a lady of her Majesty's household, she +would seek the patronage of some titled woman, who could help her. +Not for a moment did she think of the perils that surrounded and grew +closer about her unprotected self with every turn of the wheels that +carried her on. + +It appeared now as if all barriers to the King's presence had been +levelled and Katherine's hopes matured to confidence. She drew her +cloak about her with sedulous care, as if in so doing she wrapped and +hid from the whole world her own poor cunning. She found in her +lonely condition no embarrassment, conceiving that her position as +intermediary between her Church and the State was sufficient reason +for her abrupt leaving of home. Sir Julian would doubtless explain +matters to the Duke and Duchess, whom she believed were more than half +of her faith. They would see she had been highly honoured by being +entrusted with a great secret. + +It appeared as if the chaise would never cease to lung and swagger +over rough, unused roads, and when at last it did mend its way, +Katherine had ceased thinking and fallen fast asleep, nor did she wake +during hours of travel, until the great coach came to a sudden halt. +She looked through the window. Dawn streaked the East with uncertain +intention, knowing not whether to open the day with rain or sunshine. +A little to the left was the dark outline of an inn, nestling upon the +threshold of a forest, from the window of which fell aslant the way +a line of light. The door of the equipage was opened, and a stately +cavalier stood to assist her down the step. She leapt lightly to the +ground, taking the proffered arm, as the way was dark and uneven. + +Within the large, cheery room they entered, burnt a crackling fire; +for the morning was damp and chilly. Katherine stole a glance at her +companion and saw the handsome features of Monmouth. He had removed +his masque and now stood uncovered before her. + +"I hope Mistress Penwick has not suffered from her long ride?" + +"Nay, sir; on the contrary, I feel refreshed." Her manner told him +plainly his address was not displeasing to her. His eyes rested +amorously upon her; for 'twas naught but strong, healthful youth +could predicate such reply and vouch for its assertion by such rich +colouring of cheek, such rare sparkling of eyes and such ripeness of +lips. + +She sat at the chimney-nook, her satin gown trailing at her side, +her cloak thrown over the back of the high chair. Their Graces were +engaged aside with the landlord and servants. + +"We will rest here until noon, anyway," one said, "and if they have +not arrived we will set out without them." Katherine heard and thought +'twas Constance whom they were expecting; and when a table was drawn +close to the fire and covers laid for four, there being but three to +sit down, Katherine looked askance at the vacant place; the Dukes +exchanged glances and his Grace of Buckingham turned to her quickly, +introducing himself, then Monmouth, and explained that at the last +moment Lady Constance had been prevailed upon to accompany them to +London and was expected every moment. + +Mistress Penwick had flushed at the presentation of two such noble +names, but at his following assertion, which corroborated with +Constance' own words, made her not a little jealous; for the handsome +young Monmouth had already shown his regard (God pity her innocence) +for Lady Constance by giving her a valuable ring, and now had +contrived to make her of their party that he might be constantly with +her. + +She straightway became very sober-minded, vouchsafing no remarks and +inviting none. Her pique would have given way had she but heard the +Duke's conversation a few moments previous. + +"Damme!" said young Monmouth, "I have kidnapped the wrong girl. +'Tis not my fault; thou saidst, Duke, to take any pretty girl from +Crandlemar castle, and I have captured Lady Constance, whom, I took +it, was the girl in question; and I made up my mind thou shouldst not +choose beauty for me. I shall throw her on thy shoulders to dispose +of." + +The Dukes, bent on provoking the maid to her former manner, began +witty tales of wayside inns. Their demeanour was so noble, their +stories so terse and pretty, their converse of such elegant and pure +wording, she relaxed and fell into their mood and told what few +convent stories she could boast. Their Graces were charmed by +her beauty, her sweet resonant voice and the simple and innocent +narratives, and not a little pleased by the result of their diplomacy. + + * * * * * + +When Mistress Penwick had gone from the grand salon the evening +before, Lord Cedric was not long in discovering her absence; for his +eyes and thoughts ever sought her. He had been greatly stirred by some +unknown thing, perhaps that we call premonition ('tis God's own gift, +if we would but heed its warning), but the game being well under way +and Constance calling his attention to an immediate and imperative +move, he was dissuaded from his inclination to arise and inquire of +the maid's absence. It was not for long, however, either the game or +his kinswoman's cunning could hold his Lordship from seeking her. +Quietly he beckoned a lackey and whispered aside. A few minutes +elapsed when the servant stood by his master, while beyond in the +doorway was Janet, who for once in her life was quite pale. Swiftly +Lord Cedric strode to her, saying,-- + +"Hast thou looked for her everywhere, Janet?" + +"Aye, my lord, in her own chamber and--" + +"But perhaps she has gone to the kitchens or pantries, for hunger doth +assail her not infrequent and at unusual hours." + +There was a bit of bitterness and sarcasm in his voice and he ground +his heel as he turned about to give orders. In a moment servants +were hunting in every direction throughout the castle. It was soon +ascertained she was not within the great house. Cedric grew wild with +passion and tore up and down like one gone mad. Sir Julian could not +restrain him, a thing that had not happened heretofore. Angel, his old +nurse, was called; she bade him ride forth for her. + +At this a horse was made ready, and his lordship mounted and rode +away. Sir Julian protesting all the while. + +As the clatter of horses' hoofs had fairly died away and Sir Julian +stood just where Cedric had left him, debating with his several ideas, +a soft touch was laid almost tenderly upon his arm; had it been the +soft, slimy trailing of a serpent, 'twould not have so startled +him. He turned suddenly and caught the slender hand, with no fine +affection,-- + +"I see it all quite plainly, thou art the cruel spider that hath woven +a silken mesh for that innocent child, and thou shalt tell me before +the sands of the hour-glass mark ten moments of time, where has flown +Mistress Penwick,--so speak, speak quickly, Constance!" + +His voice and manner brooked no delay, and her ladyship thinking that +even now Katherine was Cantemir's wife, spoke out with a semblance of +injured dignity that melted under Sir Julian's scathing contempt +to silly simpering. The noble character of Sir Julian seemed to +silhouette that of her ladyship in all its ugly blackness. + +"She is, I presume, by now, the Countess Cantemir--made so by an Abbé +at the monastery." + +Pomphrey was a-road; the clatter of bit and spur brought a smile to +Constance' face, and she cried forth with all the venom in her poor, +foul being: + +"Two mad fools,--both gone crazy over a convent wench, who is now my +Lady Cantemir--my cousin,--the wife of a fortune hunter!" She fled +within doors like one pursued and stopped not until she reached her +own chamber. + +Midnight approached phantom-like, and as stealthily Lady Constance +crept to the postern door. Behind her fell a shadow athwart the floor, +a shadow that was not hers but of one that moved as warily. She +listened as she held the door ajar, fearing to look back. As she +thrust the door wide, a figure from without moved toward her. + +"Who is there?" she whispered. + +"Monmouth!" was the answer; and out she stepped, well pleased to +be free from that shadow she felt was pursuing her. Her hand was +immediately taken and eager eyes sought the ring. It was hardly +visible, so dense was the shadow of the trees. + +"Come this way, Lady Penwick," came in a voice that was not that of +Monmouth's, which had sounded so much like music to her a few, short +hours before, or that had spoken the word "Monmouth" even that moment. +She, drawing back in her uncertainty, was captured by strong arms, a +hood was thrown over her head, and she was lifted and carried in hot +haste to a chaise, and helped therein without much formality. As her +escort leapt in behind her, there swept in the other door another +figure, also intent upon being accommodated by a seat in a London +equipage; and before any one was aware of a _de trop_ comrade, the +doors were shut with a bang and horses started at a gallop. Under +cover of the noise her ladyship's vizor was lifted and she, half +smothered, drew breath and stared about her in the darkness. + +"Thou didst bring thy servant with thee, Lady?" + +"Who doth dare inveigle me from the protection of my cousin, Lord +Cedric?" + +"I, my lady; a simple gentleman of his Grace of Monmouth's suite,--and +at his order." + +"Ah--" 'twas long drawn and somewhat smacked of satisfaction. "Who is +this female?" + +"Is she not thine?" + +"Nay, not mine. She doth play the hocus," said her ladyship. + +"Who art thou, then, woman; how came yonder door to pamper thy whim?" +The surprised guardsman rapped smartly upon the window, then pulling +it up leant out and asked for a torch. As there were none a-light, +he waited some moments; as he did so, there came an answer from the +figure opposite,-- + +"I am Mistress Penwick's waiting-woman." The answer was satisfactory +to the guard. + +"'Tis Janet, as I live," interrupted Lady Constance. She was not sorry +to have a companion of her own sex, and Janet would make herself +generally useful, if the ride was long and her ladyship should fall +ill, as she was certain to do. She knew also Janet's motive for +following her. She was interested in nothing but her mistress. + +As the road seemed rough and endless, Constance became anxious of her +destination and began to inquire, as if in great anger, why she +was thus taken and for what purpose. All questions being answered +perfunctorily, she relaxed into silence. At last she asked broadly,-- + +"Where are we to stop for refreshment, man; I am near dead with +fatigue?" + +"We stop at Hornby's Inn, my lady, there to meet his Grace." + +Janet sat quiet, nor did she speak again until she stood before +Mistress Penwick at the inn, where she sailed in as if nothing in the +world had happened, but inwardly she fairly wept with joy to find her +nurseling happy and unharmed. + +The rain was falling heavily as Lady Constance entered the room where +sat Katherine with the two Dukes. Dawn seemed to have gone back into +night, for 'twas so dark candles twinkled brightly and lighted up the +maiden's face as she spun a story of convent ghosts. Hate flung open +gates through her ladyship's eyes and fell a battery upon Katherine's +face. 'Twas but a thrust of a glance, but their Graces noted it as +they arose to greet her. Katherine was answering in an undertone +Janet's questions as Monmouth spoke aside to her Ladyship. Constance +was not to be delayed, even by his Grace, and she hastened to the +table and greeted Katherine as Lady Cantemir. + +"Nay, not so!" said the maid; whereupon Constance gasped, covering +her defeat by a great show of wonder and surprise. She fell to +questioning, her inquiries being overthrown by Buckingham, who +adroitly turned the conversation upon another matter. + +Monmouth was wild with delight over the prize he had captured, and +as they sat at meat he was pondering upon where he should hide the +beauty, for he feared his father's predilections, and 'twas sure he +would not run the risk of any such mischance and he tossed about in +his mind the advisability of taking her to London. As these thoughts +crowded upon him he grew grave and frowned. Constance, feeling her +disappointment most keenly, saw the tangle upon the Duke's brow. It +arrested the quick pulsing of her own discontent and turned her mind +into a channel of evil even more treacherous than any ideas that +had assailed her heretofore. It meant, in case of defeat, her own +downfall. She would barter, if need be, her own soul away. Of such +character were her ladyship's ambitions. She was impatient for the +final bout that was to settle all things. + +Even the haughty Duke of Buckingham was moved by Mistress Penwick's +youth, beauty and innocence. And yet he thought 'twas pitiful she +should go unclaimed by Court. Her secret must be had at whatever cost, +and seeing the maid was neither dismayed nor at loss by being thrown +with the king's son and the famous Buckingham, 'twas certain nothing +less than extreme measures would draw from her her secret. Whether +these measures were foul or fair was not of much consequence to him. +If the maid was to favour any, he would withdraw, giving place to +Monmouth, providing of course 'twas in his power to do so. And that +'twould be his power he did not doubt. + +Mistress Penwick saw Monmouth's frown also, and looked up at him +smiling and asked,-- + +"Thou must not ponder upon ghosts.--When do we journey, your Grace?" + +"When thou art well rested and say the word." His face broke into +sunshine and the maid could not fail to see the admiration that fell +upon her from his Grace's eyes. She flushed rose red. He caught her +hand as they arose from table, and pressed it warmly, and with a +tenderness that was apparent to Buckingham and Constance. Should he +press his suit upon her now or wait? He thought best to wait, as Janet +quickly came to her mistress at a motion of the hand that the Duke +reluctantly released. He allowed her to pass to her chamber without +his escort. Constance passed unnoticed by him from the room, and being +well-worn by her long ride, also went above stair, where she tumbled +upon her bed in tears, most unlike Katherine who was rubbed and +swathed in blankets by the faithful Janet. + + * * * * * + +Sir Julian Pomphrey had sent to the castle and procured conveyance and +Ellswold's physicians for the young lord, who lay very white and weak +at the monastery. Owing to his serious wound, they had moved very +slowly, reaching home near three o'clock in the morning. The Duchess +was greatly shocked by Cedric's condition and most indignant with +Mistress Penwick and Constance. + +The matter was blown about by servants, and before the dismal rainy +day was ended, all Crandlemar knew of the goings-on at the castle +and were greatly stirred that their lord had been so used by the +Catholics. 'Twas inflammable matter that meant the possible uprising +in arms of the whole village. It was said the Protestants were +aggrieved that Lord Cedric had thus long allowed the monks freehold, +and now that he was helpless they would take it upon themselves to +drive them away at the point of the sword and see if, by so doing, +greater fortune would not fall to them, for such bravery would +certainly bring them to their lord's notice and mayhap he would build +up many of his houses and do better by them than heretofore. + +Over the ale mugs at the village inn 'twas whispered by the landlord +that the day before two men, wearing masques, had left the place +together, one bearing under his saddle-bag a monk's robe; and a +crucifix had fallen from his pocket as he mounted. + +The men grew more and more excited and fell to pledging themselves to +clean out the ancient monastery before another day should close. + +A pale young man in fashionable attire sat apart, drinking deep and +listening with satisfaction to the village swains and their elders' +talk; his eye in imagination upon the dark passage in the monastery +that hid the trapdoor and--no doubt the treasures of the cloister that +lay beneath. + +'Twas Cantemir; he had escaped unharmed from the clutches of +Buckingham and Monmouth. The former had caught him hastening from the +monastery and seizing compelled him to give the information he sought +and to give up all papers on his person; which he did cheerfully. +Finding him a cowardly knave, the Duke flung him from him with +disgust. Buckingham had heard, to be sure, that the maid they sought +was a hostage; but whether this was true, or would lead to matters of +more consequence, he had yet to learn. + +Buckingham, after a few hours' sleep, left Hornby's Inn, returning +to the village of Crandlemar. He wore no masque this time and boldly +entered the inn to refresh himself and prepare for a visit to the +castle. He took little heed of the slender young man who now lay, very +much drunken, upon a long bench; but ordered the best wine and sat +down before a table that was already accommodating some half-dozen +men. He appeared not to hear their excited whispers, and feigned +preoccupation until he was quite sure his manner had been noted, then +as if modesty held him, he spoke,-- + +"Is there not in these parts a monastery upon the estates of the +noble Lord Cedric of Crandlemar?" He hardly raised his eyes, so +indifferently did he put the question. + +"There is, sir," one said. + +"Then where hath flown my lord's religion?" + +This struck consternation upon the group; for 'twas certain they +loved their patron's good name, even though he did forget their +importunities, and this sudden thrust struck home. One whispered +aside,-- + +"Perhaps 'tis one come to spy upon our lord's intentions and take him +to the Tower." At this one honest, brave man arose and leant with +rustic grace across the table toward the stranger and said,-- + +"His lordship lies ill yonder," pointing over his shoulder toward the +castle, "and we loyal subjects to his Majesty, claim the right to +drive from Protestant soil the shackles of Catholic freeholds, +and 'tis our intention to come upon them--what say you, fellows, +to-night?" + +"Aye, aye!" rang from nearly a score of tongues. + +"'Tis well," said the cavalier, "for to-morrow might have been too +late." + +"What might that mean, sir?" + +"It means that Catholic lands and holds are sometimes confiscated and +in some cases the boundary lines are not known, and some good King +might send some noble lord to the Tower to search for the required +limitations of his demesne." + +Every man's hand sought a weapon and eye met eye in mutual concourse. + +"To-night, then, to-night we'll put to rout the enemy!" they cried. + +The cavalier, pleased with the reception of his hint, asked for his +horse. + +He arrived at the castle to be most cordially received by the Duchess +and Sir Julian. If Buckingham was ever unbending, it was to Sir +Julian. + +As they met, Buckingham bent lower than his wont to hide a guilt that +was not perceptible to any one else but Julian, and the latter was not +slow to note it. The Duchess, not knowing who had carried off either +Constance or Mistress Penwick, was very free in her conversation and +spoke at once of Lord Cedric's injury and of the naughty beauty that +had driven him to it. Buckingham's countenance was changed by the +assumed expression of either surprise or regret, as was necessary and +suited. + +Upon his arrival he was not allowed to see either the Duke or Cedric, +and as his business called for a speedy return to London, he must +leave early after supper, adding that he regretted the importunity +of the hour, as it detained the king's business with his Grace of +Ellswold. + +This of course changed the physicians' minds, and Buckingham was +allowed to have converse with the Duke and finished that he came to do +at the castle. + +But Sir Julian had somewhat to say, and ordered his horse to accompany +the Duke on his return journey. + +This was not unlooked for, and Buckingham, fearing no _imbroglio_, +intended to hasten Sir Julian's speech, as there was no time to spare. +They started forth 'neath the dripping trees. + +"Where is Mistress Penwick, George?" + +"With her nurse, Julian." + +"And where the nurse?" + +"At Hornby's." + +"Where is Monmouth's place of hiding her?" + +"That is more, I dare say, Julian, than he knows himself." + +"How long will they remain at the inn?" + +"Until I return." + +"Then--?" + +"Then, London way is my desire, and I doubt not 'tis Monmouth's also." + +"Dost love me, Duke?" + +"Aye, as always. What is thy desire?" + +"Canst thou keep the maid safe for thirty-six hours?" For a moment +there was no answer; then calmly and cold came the word "No." + +"By God! is it so bad that you, you George, cannot take care of her?" + +"'Tis the worst of all!" + +"Is she safe then now--now?" + +"If the eye of the nurse doth not perjure its owner, I would say she +was safe for all time." + +"Good--" + +"But, Pomphrey, one would wonder at thy devotion to Cedric?" + +"I loved him, first." + +"That does not say thou lovest thy second love better, eh?" + +"By heaven, I love her, there--thou hast it." Buckingham gave vent to +his natural inclination and laughed boldly. + +"Then, follow her. We may presume she will be safe kept 'til London +gives her rest and wine and finds a locker for her nurse." + +"Then my errand is finished. I will bid thee _adieu_." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE + + +Buckingham, returning to the village, where his escort met him, then +went to a small unused cabin in the thick woods beyond. Here he +changed his attire, making ready for a quick journey and one fraught +with some adventure. + +As he donned his clothes, ever and anon he paused to hear the low +murmuring of voices that came up from the village. 'Twas evident the +mob was gathering. + +An hour he waited impatiently, when his servant entered, saying that +the mob had started and were hurrying along the high-road at great +speed. + +The Duke mounted and rode after them, quite far enough in the rear +for them not to hear his horse's step or see as he passed where some +cottage light fell aslant the road. + +By the time they came in sight of the monastery, he was exasperated +beyond measure to be so held behind and was in no mood to wait the +mob's leisure. He leapt from his horse and threw rein to his man. + +No light was to be seen. It appeared the monks had either deserted +their dwelling or fortified it by fastening with boards the windows +and doors. The latter was the case. The besiegers with all sorts of +sticks, stones and bludgeons began at once to bombard the building +that stood dark and seemingly impregnable. Buckingham stood some +distance from them, as if indeed he were of different mould and could +not mingle with their steaming, smoking, foul-smelling bodies, that +reeked of gin and poor tobacco. He waited only for an entrance to be +made, that he might pass in without the labour of making an opening +for himself. Indeed, his arm, unused to such rough strength, would +become unfit to handle the sword of a gentleman. + +He was leant upon one knee behind a strip of iris that bordered a +forest path, when suddenly he heard the crash of glass and heard a +triumphant yell from the mob. He sprang from his hiding and crept +toward the place. A window had been broken in and the fight had +already begun. The monks were well equipped for battle with weapon, +strength and stout hearts and a good stone wall for shelter, but their +numbers were weak. + +The siege was destined to be a long and bloody one, unless the +ponderous door could be broken, for the mob could not enter fast +enough through the small casement. Should this be done, it was evident +the monks would be obliged to either take flight, surrender or be +foully murdered. + +Buckingham could not enter the window without taking part in the +fight, and mayhap run a great risk to his person. + +He was not long in discovering, however, that the doorway was being +bombarded successfully, and soon the massive door must succumb. + +At last there was a thundering crash, and broken oak panels flew +through the air. + +The men rushed in. Buckingham in a moment was in their midst and +fighting his way through them. He flung himself aside and escaped the +fighting mass by a small door that led him to a passage, where he +regained his breath and looked out for his bearings. + +He found his way through many winding passages to the panel. This he +opened and quickly strode through to the trapdoor, which stood agape. +From beneath came the sound of voices. He knelt and looked down. There +was no light to guide him. Cautiously he descended the ladder, finding +his way warily toward the place where he had seen the chest and whence +now came the voices. One was saying: + +"It's gone, the damn knaves have secreted it; we must have a light, +Anson, or the horde above stair will be upon us, and all the fires of +hell could hardly show us out of this dungeon." Whereupon the flint +was struck and the forms of three men were dimly outlined. + +They began running about nervously in different directions to find the +chest; his Grace keeping from view by following in their shadow. Back +they went again to the spot where it had stood, and as the light +fell full in their faces Buckingham recognized the pale, chiselled +countenance of Cantemir. There were two servants with him, which, +judging from their eagerness, evidently expected perquisites. + +The sound above stairs was growing more and more noisome, as if the +monks were being pressed back in the direction of the secret passage. +'Twas evident the Abbés intended this move; for unless there was +egress 'twould be a veritable slaughter hole and from the first they +had kept together, preferring the direction of retreat. + +Suddenly one of the men in front of Buckingham leant down and traced +with his finger on the dusty stone,-- + +"They have moved it in this direction, and there is no mistaking it," +and he pointed from the ladder. + +They followed the direction, holding the light low, and came at once +upon what appeared to be a solid stone wall. Inadvertently the man +bearing the lighted taper rested his arm for a moment against the +stones. Instantly a blaze flared up and showed a very cleverly +concocted wall. A canvas had been padded in shape of unhewn stone and +painted in imitation; the oil in the paint had ignited and despoiled +the illusion. + +The blaze was quenched in a moment, the canvas door pried open and the +three men passed beyond, carefully closing the door behind them. + +Buckingham was close upon them. + +They fled rapidly along, Cantemir following his servants and ever +glancing behind with eyes staring with fear. + +Buckingham was not to be caught by fear-staring eyes and kept well in +shadow. + +The passage was narrow with many windings and appeared to be +interminable. + +The men began to run, which was very incautious under the +circumstances, for in a moment they were precipitated into a small +chamber occupied by two stalwart monks. The latter had barely time to +throw themselves upon the defensive ere they were attacked. + +Cantemir had the advantage, as the monks were encumbered with their +long robes. + +Then ensued a short fight, in which Cantemir's men won the day--he +remaining well in the background. + +One of the servants was wounded and lay helpless upon the floor, his +head falling against some object that held him in a semi-upright +posture. Cantemir turned with the torch he had taken from the floor, +and looked about him, stumbling over the prostrate bodies of the monks +as they lay wounded. Noting his injured servant's position, he ran to +him, and seeing the thing upon which his head rested, kicked his body +from the chest, as if the fellow had been his enemy's dog, instead of +his own serving man. + +With a cudgel he and his comrade opened the chest, after first finding +it too heavy to carry at speed and for an indefinite distance. + +Cantemir's eyes waxed big with greed and delight, as he looked +within. He spread out his long fingers, as if to grasp all the chest +contained. + +"These small caskets must be filled with jewels. Anson, fasten the +torch somehow and put these in the bags. Here are some rare laces, +looted from some dead Croesus, I warrant,--put those in too;--those +infernal papers--they can be of no consequence--" + +"Then I will take them, my lord," said the servant. Cantemir eyed him +with no fondness and slipped the papers within his own bag. + +Buckingham, watching them from his little cove in the rocks, caught a +sound that made him start. It was very distant and indistinct, yet he +was quite certain some one was coming, and without further delay he +cried out and drew his sword upon the man nearest him, which happened +to be Anson. + +The fellow used his sword fairly, but no match for his adversary. + +Buckingham run him through before the Russian had regained his +presence of mind. + +As the unfortunate Anson fell, the Duke turned to Cantemir, who was +separated from him by two prone figures and the chest. The Count held +the advantage and meant to use it by springing ahead into the opening. +There was no opportunity for Buckingham to either reach him or head +him off. Cantemir had caught up the filled bags and was smiling +insolently across at him. Buckingham was exasperated, not by the +fellow's triumph, but at his own helplessness to cut him off. But +there was no time to be lost; those other sounds were growing nearer. + +The Duke made a bound toward the opening. Cantemir, with an exultant +laugh, sprung also toward the opening, but his laugh was turned into +a yell of fear, as his leg was caught in a death-like grip by the +servant he had kicked from the chest. + +In an instant Buckingham was upon him and binding his arms tight +behind; the poor, cowardly knave begging at every breath for his life. +He was completely undone with fright, his heart melted and his knees +bent. + +"And would it not be thy meed to run thee through also, for serving +thy wounded knave with a kick? 'twas inhuman--by God! 'tis a pity it +takes a man with a soul to suffer the tortures of hell, for thou wilt +never get thy deserts!" He looked down and saw the poor servant's eyes +raised to his pleadingly. The Duke drew from his pocket a flask of +wine and gave it to him; then gathered the bags that lay filled by the +chest and hurriedly looked at their contents. As he did so the wounded +knave feebly raised his voice,-- + +"I will be killed if I am found here." + +"Nay, a gentleman--" and he cast a scornful glance at +Cantemir,--"would not kick thee when thou art down; say nothing of +our most noble fathers putting to flight what small life thou hast in +thee. What is thy name?" + +"Christopher," came in weakened tones from his pallid lips. + +In another moment the Duke was gone with his looted treasures. + +He flew along at a most undignified gait, bearing his pack as a +labourer. His shoulders, unused to such burden, grew tired. He +began to wonder if the passage would never end. He was growing more +exhausted than he cared to own, and beside, he apprehended he was +pursued. + +At last he felt almost compelled to leave one of the bags behind, and +stopped to think which, one he should leave. Yet he was a-mind to +carry them all if he broke his back; and beside, it was so dark he was +unable to tell which was the more important. + +As he stood undecided he heard distinctly the fast approach of +footsteps. He gathered his strength and bags and flung along, somewhat +refreshed by the change of burdens. As he made a turn, the fresh +outside air blew upon him. He grew cautious and moved more slowly, +listening now in both directions. He might not be overtaken, but some +one might be at the opening of the passage. There was no light or +sound beyond, and soon he stood in the deep darkness of the outer +night 'neath dripping trees. Warily he stepped, lest some cracking +twig exposed his presence. + +He ascertained his surrounding was a thicket, and was about to make +his way into its labyrinthine density, step by step; for the way +was difficult, when there was a tramping of horses' hoofs upon the +rain-soaked road that appeared to be in close proximity. + +Under cover of the noise he swept hastily and boldly through the +briery bushes that were thickly entangled, and was able to make +considerable headway whence he had come, when the noise ceased and a +peculiar whistle rang out; then there were a few moments of quiet, as +if those who signalled were listening for an answer. + +There appeared to be a chaise with several outriders, as Buckingham +thought, by the tramp of horses' feet, and a creaking of wheels +pulling heavily along. + +As he gazed anxiously in their direction, a torch was suddenly set +a-glow and a horseman rode up with it to the mouth of the subterranean +passage. He leant from his steed and examined the ground closely, +noting doubtless the footprints that led away from the road and +directly to the place where the Duke stood. He turned abruptly back to +the group upon the highway and conversed in low tones. + +Buckingham was not a little perturbed, for a horseman could with less +trouble than it takes to tell it, track and overtake him in a moment's +time. He fain would have a few minutes to ease his burden, but his +peril was great. There was no doubt but what these men were monks, +come to assist their fellows with the chest and convey them to a place +of safety. + +Indeed, the secret of the chest must be royal, but whether in jewels +or papers he did not know, nor was it the time and place to find out. +If he only knew in which pack was the bone of contention he would +certainly lighten his burden. + +Again he lifted the bags and strode on lightly, for he still could be +heard to the highway, if one should listen. + +He had not gone far, however, when there was a shout from the +subterranean opening and much confusion following upon it. + +The Duke was now thoroughly aroused. Doubtless the monks within the +passage had at that moment arrived at its mouth, there to make known +to their comrades the robbery of the chest's contents. They were in +pursuit; he could hear the bushes crackling beneath horses' feet. +Never before had the wily Duke felt so hard pressed. He could afford +to be taken himself, for he was sure of a release sooner or later; +but his whole being revolted at the idea of losing the riches of his +burden and above all--the secret, the secret that would make his +fortunes thribble, the secret that would make him more powerful than +heretofore. The King's favour would be boundless. And George Villiers +turned abruptly and--fell into a swollen ravine that was throbbing +with its over-filled sides. He straightened himself to his full height +and thanked God for the stream, for truly 'twas life-giving water. + +He waded in and found it hardly came to his waist in the deepest part. +After crossing to its farthest bank, he kept the watery path for +nearly a league, thereby throwing his pursuers effectually off the +trail. But where his course trended, 'twas impossible to tell, as +there was no moon, and the stars were veiled by thick cloud that +vomited forth rain in gusts. + +The leather bags were very near rain-soaked and had become so heavy +'twas impossible for anything less than a beast of burden to carry +them further, so leaving the friendly stream, he walked some little +distance from it, gaining to his surprise an open road. This was not +what he wished, and was turning from it when he stumbled and fell +prone. Being hot with anger and fatigue, he reached for the obstacle +that had so unmanned him to damn it. 'Twas a large, round knot. It +struck his memory, as he held it, with a thought of the morning +before. + +"_Eureka_!" he cried, as he felt the very presence of the tall tree by +the public highway that led from Crandlemar, London way. He arose and +reached for the aperture. + +"Egad, 'tis there!" + +Fortunately the royal tree was not far from the unused cabin that had +afforded him accommodation some hours before. He immediately sat down +upon the bags and rested. + +There passed him several horsemen and a chaise; whether they were his +whilom companions of the thicket or not he did not care. It was +sure they were in haste to leave the village as far behind them as +possible. + +When the sound of the horses' hoofs had died away, he again donned his +leathery burden and made for the depths behind him. + +He was not long in reaching the _rendezvous_, and was met by his +anxious servant, who had but just arrived from seeking him. + +The exhausted Duke gave orders for one hour's rest, then fell upon a +pile of blankets that were spread upon the damp and open floor. + +An hour later saw the Duke astride his horse, that stood with flaring +nostrils, caring not a whit for his extra burden of saddle-bags and +flew along the wet road, regardless. + +Hours after his master jumped from his back at Hornby's. + +The morning was far advanced and Mistress Penwick was fretting under +the delay. + +Monmouth had plead that the weather was too wet and Lady Constance was +too ill to proceed until the following day. + +The maid had demurred, saying Janet might remain with her ladyship; +but Monmouth was not quite at liberty to take Katherine without first +seeing Buckingham, whom he thought should have arrived early in the +morning. + +As Buckingham came into the great room of the inn, Katherine proposed +they set out at once, as she would reach Whitehall, if possible, +before Sunday. + +It was not the Duke's wish to proceed further without resting himself +and horse; but being anxious to please Mistress Penwick, he said +'twould be his pleasure to start at her convenience; whereupon she +relaxed her ardour, finding no opposition, and asked him if he thought +the weather would permit. He answered that the weather must permit, +and that they could easily reach their destination without killing +more than three relays. + +"Nay, nay, your Grace, if one horse only were to die, I would not +permit such hurry!" + +Suffice it; the Duke had his rest, and being of no mind to remain +longer, at five o'clock in a gale of wind and rain set forth. + +They had but common post-chaises as any squire would have, as these +travelled about without drawing the attention that a London coach +would. They rattled and slid along at their own convenience on the +muddy road, and the postilion were soon reeking with mire thrown from +the horses' feet. + +For five hours the chaise jostled Constance, until she declared she +would go no farther. Buckingham, who rode with his secret in the +chaise that followed, said if they stopped to rest over night, they +could not reach Whitehall before the King should leave. + +This was a ruse planned by himself and Monmouth, as the latter had +settled where he should take Katherine, and the former, not having had +time to examine the contents of the bags, was loath she should see the +King ere he had done so. + +Katherine, seeing that Constance' lips were blue and her face pale, +and forgetting her ladyship's evil ways, agreed they should stop at +the first inn and there lie until the next morning; Janet having +declared privately to her mistress that she should not waste any time +with her ladyship. + +Though the night was black and the road uncertain, yet they maintained +a fair pace over the open downs, having left the shadowy trees behind; +but there were no lights ahead and the prospects of getting shelter +for the night were dubitable. + +Constance became more and more impatient, pulling up the window every +few minutes to inquire if any lights were to be seen, each time +letting in a shower of rain that deluged her dress. This dampness was +soon felt by her ladyship, whose temper could hardly keep her warm, +and she called for blankets. There were none. At this knowledge she +grew worse, and cried that she was in a chill and must have aid from +somewhere. + +For a truth, her teeth were chattering and her hands were cold, but +it was nothing but mimosis brought on by the evil caldron that boiled +within her wicked body. She had heard Buckingham tell Katherine that +the King would be gone from Whitehall if they were delayed. Her plans +were now made, and this sudden illness was a ruse to detain the maid. +No, she must not see the King. She must now, first of all, become +Monmouth's mistress, then Cedric in his wild despair would turn again +to her; his playfellow, his old love, Constance. + +Whether the postilion were in their master's confidence or not is not +certain, but just before midnight they plunged into a narrow, miry +road that traversed wastes and low coppices; the plash of the horses' +feet showed the tract to be marshy and full of pools. Her ladyship +looked out across the dreary fen and exclaimed,-- + +"I'll be damned, they have set us out like ducks!" At her words +Katherine drew from her with disgust. It was the first she had heard +her swear; but she had not yet seen her true nature. + +On a sudden the chaise made a lunge and stopped in a deep rut. Some +one plodded laboriously to the door and thrust in a rain-soaked +visage, saying,-- + +"Their Graces beg your patience, as we cannot move until help comes. +There is a light ahead, and we hope to get on directly." + +It was hours, however, before the lumbering equipages were pried out +and started on. The light beyond had paled as dawn broke. They were +once more upon the causeway, and the horses' feet beating with loud +and even step upon the wet road. + +Constance had calmed, and with the other occupants slept through the +long delay. Nor did she wake until they had entered a thick wood where +the branches of the trees swept tumultuously against the window. Then +she opened her eyes with a start and saw Katherine still sleeping, +her head pillowed on Janet's bosom. Her limbs were stiff from their +cramped position. Vainly she essayed to stretch, and cried out as a +rheumatic pain took her. She swore roundly and vowed she would alight +at the first hut they should come upon. + +It seemed hours before they came to a long, low stone building, +evidently an old-time lodge. It was covered with ivy that trembled and +glistened in the wind and rain. + +The chaises stopped at the door, which was thrown open by an outrider +who knocked up the locker with his whip handle. + +The opening disclosed great, high-backed pews and an altar and pulpit. +It was indeed a place of refuge to the weary travellers. It was dry +and clean and afforded rest. Katherine stepped inside first, and +immediately knelt and crossed herself. Monmouth did the same, knowing +that the maid's eyes were upon him. + +They took seats not far from the altar and settled themselves +comfortably; for the servants had gone to find food and fresh horses. + +Katherine was stirred by the sacredness of the day and place, and +took little part in the conversation that was becoming more and more +animated, as the Dukes and Constance drank heavily of wine brought +from Monmouth's box in the chaise. And when meat, bread and cheese +were brought and more wine was drank, her ladyship became maudlin and +cast her eye about for diversion. + +It fell upon the pulpit, and she tripped up to it, passing over the +sacred altar in vulgar _insouciance_. + +It pained Katherine to see the place so lightly esteemed, and she gave +a little cry of "Oh!" as Constance threw open the Bible and began to +preach in mockery of the Methody parson. + +Buckingham's face was as stolid as Janet's; Monmouth's bearing a smile +that was bastard of mirth. + +Hardly was her ladyship started, when a tall form, strong boned and +sinewy, strode through the open door. His ruddy face disclosed what +appeared to be a stern and rough temper. His forehead was high; his +nose well set over a mouth moderately large. His habit was plain and +modest. The rain dripped from his red hair and the bit of mustachio +that he wore on his upper lip. His quick, sharp eye noted the men and +women that sat apart, and then turned like a flash upon the woman in +the pulpit. + +As Constance saw the man full in the face, there was a bathos in her +zeal, and she stopped, open-mouthed, and closed the book. + +Neither Buckingham nor Monmouth could see the countenance of him that +entered, so they held quiet and wondered at her ladyship's behaviour. +Katherine had bent her head upon the back of the seat. + +The tall man proceeded up the aisle, his eyes upon the titled woman +whose face was now covered with a genuine blush. For the first time in +her life she felt ashamed. She felt a presence near her that was not +altogether of this earth's mould. + +At last regaining a semblance of her usual _aplomb_, she stepped from +the pulpit and made toward the door, where others were entering. She +looked back when half-way down the aisle and beckoned to the others of +her party to follow. As she did so, there came from the pulpit a voice +so rich and sweet, so penetrating the soul, the woman trembled and +listened. + +It was the "Kyrie Eleison" sung in a new tune with clear, strong +English words, and they rung and rung in Constance' ears, as they +continued to do for the rest of her days. + +"He is a Ranter. Let us stay and hear him?" Monmouth said. + +"Nay," said Katherine; "I am without covering for my head. Let's +begone, the meeting is gathering. What a glory is in his countenance, +and his voice is like music!" + +"The lack of a bonnet need not hinder. Thou art a lady and +privileged." + +"Nay, nay. I would know who he is?" Monmouth plucked the sleeve of +a passer-by and inquired. The man answered with a question put in a +whisper,-- + +"Hast never read 'Pilgrim's Progress'?" The Duke threw back a glance +at the form in the pulpit, then strode forward and jumped into the +chaise. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL CONCERNED + + +The house stood surrounded by a beautiful lawn that sloped gradually +to the river. Trees in full leaf and woody perennial plants in full +blossom, dotted the sward. The long, low stone building was covered +with vines that hung in rich purple bloom. All was quiet, refined, +subdued--without pomp. Not so was the chief inmate of this charming +abode. She stood gowned in filmy white, waiting for Janet to spread +her repast, but the nurse moved at leisure, resolving to give the maid +meat for thought, as she did for the body. She said: + +"When a maid is without father or mother, and away from her rightful +guardians, and has presented her such frocks as thou dost wear, 'tis +the maid's duty to find out whence such gorgeous and unmonastic +apparel comes." + +"But, Janet, I do know. The Abbés have made provision for me. They +bade me leave the castle without incumbrance, and the chest was sent +for my necessity. I mean to pay it all back when I return--or when I +send to Lord Cedric." + +"And when will that be, Lambkin?" + +"When the King gives me audience." + +"And thou art expecting the Duke of Monmouth to bring the word from +Whitehall?" + +"He said 'twas his pleasure so to do." + +"Now God pity me this day; I would I had never seen it!" + +"Why wearest thou so sorry a face, Janet?" + +"For thy too fat zeal. Is it not enough to make an ingrowing visage?" + +"How so?" said Katherine in feigned _insouciance_. + +"A surfeit of good, like a too-full cup, boils over and falls to ill." + +"Then, Janet, surfeit sin 'til it bubbles up, runs over,--perhaps a +better cup to fill." + +"Alack, alas, for youth's philosophy!" + +"At what art thou driving, nurse; thou canst neither affect +Shakespeare nor the Bible!" + +"Have I not always loved thee, Lambkin; search thy memory; did I ever +tell thee lies or use the veil of falsehood to cover from thee that +which I would not have thee know?" + +"Nay; but thou hast used artifice 'til it is threadbare, and I now +behold its naked warp." + +"But hast well served, thou canst not deny. It has made thee the sweet +innocent bud thou art, and we will enshrine its shade, though it hath +no soul to join it hereafter, and I will resort to vulgar frankness, +employed by the truculent commonplace, and say we live in an age of +swaggering, badgering, immoral-begotten, vice-ridden, irreligious +decrepitude--" Katherine made a hissing noise with her teeth, as if +she had been suddenly and severely pricked by a pin, then put up her +hands and stopped her ears--this day, Mistress Penwick thou shalt know +the character of thy King--Nay, thou shalt know. I will tell thee that +'twill poison thy mind of one of so great station--" + +"Wouldst thou assail his morals, Janet?" + +"'Tis impossible to assail that a man hath not." + +"Then 'twould be a field for sweet mission to teach him morals." + +"And wouldst thou delegate thyself to such an office?" + +"Aye, why not?" + +"Because he would steal thy knowledge ere thou hadst found his heart, +and thou wouldst find thyself insolvent of virtue." + +"Thou hast overreached artifice, Janet, and gone back to Bible days +and corrupted them by borrowing parabolic speech to waste upon +deaf-eared seventeenth century maid." + +"Ah, Lambkin; with closed ears thou dost not becalm sight and wit, +they cease not to fructify under suasion of childhood impregnations. +I fear not for thee, if thou art forewarned. If thou art taken to the +King, he will straightway be enamoured of thy beauteous face and will +wish to have thee near him, and because he is of so great a title, he +will expect to mould thee to his desires, whether 'tis thy will or +not. He may perhaps overawe thee, and thou wilt feel flattered by his +approaches, which will seem sincere to thy untutored perceptions. +'Twill be thy first meeting with a King. There is one thing most sure, +thou wilt not think him handsome; he has not the rich colouring that +so marks Lord Cedric's face, nor yet the clearness of countenance. The +King is most swarthy, gross featured and unfitted to thy fancy. +And how wouldst thou like such to approach thee and fondle thy +hand--perhaps imprint thy cheek with a caress, or his long fingers to +go a foraging on thy slender neck?" + +"Nay, nay, Janet; I should most surely hate such an one. I am sure I +should hate! hate!" + +"But 'tis surely to what thou art coming." + +"But, Janet, the Duke of Monmouth is the King's son, and his Grace of +Buckingham his friend; and with these two at my side, what harm could +come to me?" + +"Should the King propose to keep thee with him, could they lie like +slaves or dogs across thy threshold in the dead hours of night to keep +unwelcome visitors from thy door?" Katherine's eyes appeared on a +sudden to open wide upon a thing she had not dreamed of before. + +"Indeed, Janet, I think I see the trend of thy parables. He is then +debauched and given to entering rooms not his own at any hour he +chooses. I will be most careful and avoid spending the night." + +"But he may insist on thy presence, and no one dare gainsay the Royal +will." + +"I am for the time of his dominion, but we can claim at any moment +King Louis' protection, and therefore I may defy him if I wish?" + +"'Twill be like jumping from the river into the sea. I understand, +Lambkin, thou art bent upon paying well for thy popish idolatry. If +his Majesty sets black eyes on thee, thou art undone. If thou art +determined to go, we must have some way to prevent his falling in love +with thee. Thou wilt be willing to do this for me and--thyself, Love?" + +"Then I might not become that I so much wish--a Lady of Honour!" + +"That phrase, my Lambkin, is paradoxical--'Lady of Honour.'" + +"Janet, thou dost turn all sweets to bitterness!--Then I will mottle +my face and wear a hump and be spurned outright. 'Twill ill serve me. +'Twill not accord a safe issue." + +"Thou must not forget the King hath a tender heart for distress, and +now I think on it, 'tis possible, if thou didst so disfigure thyself, +thou wouldst gain his reply the quicker. We will mottle thy face with +leprous spots and cover thee with old woman's clothes, placing a hump +upon thy shoulder. And no one shall be privy to our scheme but his +Grace, and my lord of Buckingham, if they are to attend us." Janet +felt satisfied with the turn affairs had taken. + +"I think I shall enjoy it hugely. 'Twill be fine sport to so puzzle +the King, and when he sees me as I am--" and Mistress Penwick turned +proudly to a mirror--"he will be pleased!" + +"We will not think of that now, Lambkin. When dost thou expect her +ladyship?" + +"She did not say, but I think perchance she will come before the Duke +of Monmouth returns." + +"And he will not come before the morrow, didst thou say?" + +"When I demurred at not going straight to his Majesty, he said 'twould +be meet for me to remain here until he should first see him; then +he should return in a day. Those were his words, Miss Wadham, +_verbatim_,--now thou dost know everything I do, but--the church +secret; and if thou wert not insolvent for ways and means, thou +wouldst have had that." With a sudden step, the maid flung her arms +about Janet, who ever felt hurt when called Miss Wadham. + +Katherine sat to her evening meal with many flutterings of pleasure in +her young and guileless heart. Her first thought was of Cedric. He was +going to live and doubtless would follow her as soon as he was able, +and she would again see his handsome features and hear him admonish +her with a tenderness she was sure he would show after being so +frightened by her absence. It did not come to her that she should be +in sackcloth and ashes for causing him such woeful pain and misery. +She only tried to remember how he looked, as many a love-sick maiden +hath done heretofore. She pictured the rich colouring of his cheeks +and how his dark eyes had looked into hers; and she remembered how +once he had thus beheld her, his glance sweeping her face, then he had +taken her hand and pressed his lips to it passionately. Her face grew +rose red and she trembled with ecstasy. She, so perfect in mould +and health, was capable of extravagant and overpowering emotion; a +rapturous exaltation that filled her and took possession of her whole +being. She tried to turn her thoughts to Sir Julian, and wondered +vaguely why he had not come to London. He had intended leaving the +castle before this; and why had he not found her? He might know she +would like to inquire of those at home,--the Duke of Ellswold and the +others that were ill. The thought seemed to grow upon her, and she +wondered more and more why no one had been sent after her, and how +very welcome Sir Julian would be. Could it be that Lord Cedric was too +ill for him to leave? + +The Dukes had fairly left Constance and Katherine at the very door of +this villa belonging to one of Monmouth's friends, and proceeded at +once to Whitehall, where they needs must report of their visit to the +Duke of Ellswold. The King detained them near his person, much to +the annoyance of Buckingham and serious discomfort to Monmouth. The +latter, so anxious for the companionship of Mistress Penwick, could +not help but show his uneasiness and hurry to withdraw, which made his +Majesty still more obstinate. + +Two days Katherine had been thus alone at the villa, little knowing +the idea of bringing her cause to the King's notice was the most +foreign to either Buckingham or Monmouth, the latter wishing to +promote his own cause with her until she should become satisfied to +remain at his side, without seeking further Court favour. The former +gentleman had among his looted treasures certain papers that made +necessary, for his own personal aggrandizement, the strict seclusion +of Mistress Penwick. + +Lady Constance had been so thwarted--her mode of battle proving so +abortive--she resolved to fight as things came in her way, without +method or forethought. There was only one settled arrangement; that +was the full and complete destruction of this woman that had come +between her and Cedric. She had gone, after a few hours of rest at the +villa, to the mercer's for silks and velvets and furbelows to array +herself for conquest and take--now that she had fair hold on Royalty +itself--some masculine heart; if not the heart, the hand without it; +if not Cedric's, be it whose it might, so it were titled and rich. She +also sought Cantemir and news from Crandlemar. + +As she stood at the polished counter in the mercer's shop, she glanced +without and saw--or thought as much--Lord Cedric himself, pale, yet +stepping in full strength from a chair. She quitted the counter and +hastened to the entrance and looked up and down the busy street with +longing eyes. But there was no sign of my lord's handsome figure. +After securing her purchase, she repaired at once to Lord Taunton's--a +kinsman of Cedric's--'twas possible he would be stopping there. But he +was not. + +She rode from place to place, hoping at every turn to see him; but to +her chagrin she found him not, even at a certain inn in Covent Garden, +where he had been wont to stay. She drove in her cream-hued coach to +the Mall, but he was not to be found. + +Her first act after reaching London had been to dispatch a letter +posthaste to the castle, telling of her abduction by the Duke of +Monmouth, who, she believed was determined to bring herself and +Mistress Penwick to the King's notice, as he avowed Court was not +Court without such faces. She, being so widely known and so well +connected, had been allowed her freedom, on condition that she +returned promptly and keep their hiding place a secret. Then came that +she felt would touch Cedric. + +"I overheard some converse about your Lordship, a hint that some knave +gave thee a slight wound. Now, if this be true, if thou art hurt at +all--which I cannot allow myself to think--tell me, tell me, Cedric, +and I will fly from Court and all the world to thee, my sweet cousin, +my playfellow, my beloved friend, now." + +This letter fortunately did not reach Cedric in time to give him a +relapse, as he was on his way to London when the courier arrived at +the castle. + +He had drawn rein at Tabard Inn, Southwark. It abutted on the Thames +and was opposite the city, and it suited his fancy to stop here, +rather than ride into London. His business was private and not far +from his present quarters. His wound had healed enough to give him no +trouble, and action kept his mind easy. He had seen Constance with +as fleeting a glimpse as hers had been of him. It was quite enough, +however, he wishing never to set eyes upon her again. + +That evening he went to seek Buckingham at the Royal Palace. He had no +austere regard for the pomp and splendour of the Court at best, and +now he was almost unconscious of his surroundings. His azure-hued +costume was magnificent in its profusion of embroidery and precious +stones. There were none more handsome of face or figure. Courtiers and +wits abounded, but none more courtly or witty than he, when he was +moved. None bowed before his Majesty's dais with more grace, appearing +more a king than he who filled the Royal chair. He erred not in the +most minute detail of demeanour. There was no one in the realm that +held more of his Majesty's regard. + +After being detained some moments at the Royal chair, he went to seek +Buckingham, whose first words smote him foolishly. + +"It is said, my lord, that Love hath Cupid's wings, and I verily +believe William was right, or else how couldst thou have fluttered +from a couch of painful wounds to London either by chaise or a horse? +Ah!--Love is nascent; after cycles of time it may become mature enough +to be introduced into Court--eh!--my lord?" + +"Contemporary chronicles relate that the mind is capable of greater +suffering than the body, and when both are affected, if we give +precedence to the employment of the mind, the body is at once cured; +hence my sound chest. Hast thou seen Sir Julian?" + +"He is with Monmouth in his chamber. They have been drinking deep, or +at least the Duke, who is pouring out in Pomphrey's ear confidences +almost too maudlin to be understood;" and there was a covert sneer +on the haughty lips of his Grace. At the name of Monmouth and the +knowledge that he was not with Katherine, Cedric's great tension +appeared to snap asunder. For a moment Buckingham gazed at his +companion as if in him there were undiscovered mines. Then suddenly +his mind and eye returned to the tangible, and he run his arm through +that of Cedric's and drew him away. When they were quite alone, the +Duke, without the shadow of compunction, said,-- + +"You, my lord, are ambitious of nothing but domesticity. Is it not +so?" His Lordship looked up with a start. If there was one thing he +hated more than another, it was intrigue. And though he was ever +environed by it, yet 'twas not his business now. He had come seeking +Buckingham for the purpose of asking his assistance with the Duke +of Monmouth, and at these words, so foreign from his interests, he +frowned slightly and answered,-- + +"'Twould be difficult to say at what I aspire, seeing the thing I +coveted most is taken from me. If that were mine, it might open up a +vista of aspirations I had ne'er thought on heretofore I see only one +thing at the present worth possessing." + +"And to possess that--thou art one of the richest nobles in the +realm--eh! Cedric?" His Lordship thought he saw the trend of his +Grace's mind, and felt better. + +"I'm rich to be sure, egad! What's the game, faro, loo, crib, +langquement or quinze?" and he tapped his pouncet-box nervously. + +"We have always been good, true friends, my lord. Your father and mine +have shared in many and continued vicissitudes, and for this cause +alone, barring our friendships of more recent years, I would give thee +a secret of which I am only half owner." + +"And what is this secret, your Grace? I am interested." + +"A secret cut into is only half a secret, and--" + +"Ah! ah! how stupid I have grown! By all means, we are dealing in +fractions, and to get the other half I must either pay or go a-hunting +for it." + +"And thou, being hot-foot after most precious game, methought 'twould +best serve to give thee a clue, as to the value of the secret, that +thou couldst determine whether 'twas worth the finding;--whether 'twas +worth the leaving off pursuit of that thou art after,"--and the Duke +threw open his waistcoat and revealed its lining of rare satin and a +pocket that contained a paper written upon in a writing that made Lord +Cedric start, for he recognized it as Sir John Penwick's. And there +recurred to him the conversation he overheard at the monastery, when +one said,--"and once Sir John gets to this country." But nay; his +very last words in his own waistcoat pocket? So he spoke out +disdainfully,-- + +"And thou dost embroider thy facings with dead men's autographs?" + +"They are the better preserved, my lord," said the Duke, with a smile. + +"Then I am to understand the secret doth nearly concern Mistress Pen +wick, and if I should show her favour, I would pay well for a sequel +to that thou art about to unfold, eh! Duke?" + +"Aye, pay well; for the demand will be more than thou dost imagine," +and he took the paper and gave it into Cedric's hands. + +At a glance Cedric saw that the outside paper only was written on by +Sir John; the inner document, containing the whole story, being made +in a strange hand. And Cedric said to himself,--"Aye, 'tis a ruse. +Sir John is dead and I'll wager on't." + +"Thou mayest occupy my chamber, which for the present is here." The +Duke left the anxious Cedric to read at leisure. + +Lord Cedric knew 'twas not his Grace's way to waste time on things of +no moment, and he therefore apprehended evil and his fingers trembled; +his dark eyes grew large as he read; his face changing from red +to white as the different emotions were awakened; his white teeth +crushing his lips. Sir John Penwick had left England, taking all his +worldly goods--which were of no mean value--with him. He settled his +possessions in the New World. These in time became very great and he +was known as one of the wealthiest men in the locality in which he +lived. After six years of married life, a great grief came upon him; +his wife died, leaving him a baby girl of five. This so unsettled +him--having loved his wife beyond measure--he turned again to warfare, +having interest and inclination for naught else. He sent his baby +daughter with her nurse, Janet Wadham, to the Ursuline Convent +at Quebec, where they remained until coming to England. Sir John +travelled about from one country to another, engaging in all kinds of +intrigue and war. One Jean La Fosse--a Jesuit priest--had been for +many years the tried and true friend of Sir John, having been in his +early years a suitor to Lady Penwick. This friendship had grown so +stout that when they met again in the New World, Sir John put his +possessions, in trust, into La Fosse's keeping. When Sir John was +taken prisoner, a sort of treaty had been entered into between the +French and English, and hostages were required for prisoners of +importance. La Fosse was now holding high office in the ranks of his +adopted country--England. Therefore, when hostage was asked by the +English for Sir John Penwick, La Fosse saw the chance he had waited +for for years, and his John was every inch an Englishman, and since +being prisoner of the French, determined as far as possible to place +his belongings with his own country. He had thought it all out and +wrote his desires to La Fosse. Of course, what belonged to Sir John +belonged to England, but his possessions were on French soil and his +daughter in a French convent. And now Sir John felt 'twould be an +opportunity to place his child forever in the hands of his own +country. La Fosse had so shaped affairs, that Sir John was at his +mercy, and at Sir John's proposal that his child should be held as +hostage for himself, he had answered that the babe was of too tender +years to be accepted unless accompanied by lands, tenements and +hereditaments. This was a happy thought to Sir John, and his old trust +of La Fosse came back. "After all," he thought, "the French would +rather give up my child than a man, but my possessions they would +never give." So, not suspecting La Fosse's duplicity, he gave him +legal right to place his property as hostage also. The child was to +remain at the convent, unless England preferred to have her under +their own _régime_. La Fosse was sure Sir John would never again be +free and could never, of course, claim his lands. He went so far as +to make sure--as sure as was in his power--that Penwick should not be +released. He, being a man of shrewdness, at once manipulated affairs +without the knowledge of his sovereign or the higher powers about him. +In a very short time these possessions were built upon by the Jesuits, +who, through La Fosse, claimed all right and title. But La Fosse was +forgetful. He never gave the babe a second thought, it being of no +consequence whatever. It would, no doubt, sicken and die without a +mother's care. He was aware of its whereabouts, but even that in time +was forgotten, his mind being occupied by more pertinent thoughts. +This was a great victory for the Catholics, whose lands had been +confiscated in England, and La Fosse felt he had dealt a master stroke +for his religion. But no mortal man can equal Time as an adept in +chicanery. He brings forth truths unheard of or dreamt by poor +humanity. + +Years went by and La Fosse was suspicioned. At the first smell of +smoke, La Fosse fled. No one knew whither. He escaped, however, to +the monastery upon Lord Cedric's estates. The sudden appearance of +Mistress Penwick at the monastery was believed to be a direct answer +to their prayers. When, too, it was found without a doubt she was Sir +John's daughter, they felt she belonged to them to do with as they +pleased, so all things were accomplished for the benefit of the only +divine church. Their rights in the New World were now being meddled +with and this God-send was to give them, with her own hand, all right +and title to the property in question. + +Sir John had vaguely heard while in prison of Jean La Fosse's +duplicity, and at once sought to save his daughter from his hands by +sending her to his old friend, Lord Cedric of Crandlemar. He, angry at +himself for being so duped, and heartbroken at his loss of property, +knew of nothing else to do but call upon his Lordship for his child's +protection; yet he was too proud to tell him why these calamities +had come upon him. Indeed, any man would take him for a fool for so +trusting another. He had been ill when writing those letters. He never +expected to arise from bed again and thought 'twas best to say he was +dying; 'twould perhaps touch Cedric's heart as nothing else would! +Thus ended a document that was still incomplete, and his Lordship sat +wondering and thinking. This meant that the Catholics were exposing +Katherine to the King's pleasure. She was being sent to him for +a title--a title that was to give them all her possessions. And +Buckingham held the clue that would save those lands or--or her +father--if he were alive. Aye, he should have all the money he asked; +for the Catholics should not have their way. "They shall not, by God, +they shall not!" + +"They shall not!" quoted Buckingham behind him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA + + +Lord Cedric looked about him. He had heard no sound and was surprised +and not well pleased that Buckingham had so caught him off his guard; +for he now understood that the Duke was undoubtedly deriving some +benefits from this fiendish plot, and the greater his perturbation the +easier mark for his Grace. + +"The maid proposes at all hazards to see the King. Monmouth is as +determined she shall not. However, if she escapes the Duke, she will +visit Whitehall and present her plea to his Majesty for his signature. +He is--after seeing her--not supposed to refuse her anything. And not +knowing the value of these lands will sign the paper, thereby giving +the Catholics the property. Then if he sees fit--which of course he +will--will retain the beauty as a Maid of Honour. If he should refuse +the plea, she is to hand him a sealed paper, which will give him the +knowledge that he has before him a hostage who wishes his signature to +the willing of her property to her beloved Church. They do not count +on his putting two and two together and seeing their scheme. They +think he will be so infatuated, that 'twill be 'aye, aye, aye,' to her +every look. She only knows half the contents of the thing she presses +'neath the folds of her dress." + +"By God, Buckingham, this is despicable! She to be made the tool of +her religion!" + +"There are other complications, my lord. Providing thou art successful +in running the gauntlet with Monmouth first, then the King, thou, +thyself, art in danger of the Tower or Tyburn-tree." With a bound +Cedric was upon his feet and sprang toward the Duke,-- + +"A thousand devils, man, I care not for myself,--'tis the maid; +beside--what have I done, why am I so threatened?" + +"The scheme for thy destruction is already set a-foot. If thou +shouldst get the maid in any wise, it appears thou art doomed. Take my +advice, look to thyself and let the--" + +"'Sdeath! finish it not!" and there was that in the young lord's eyes +that curtailed the Duke's words, and he stood frowning at Cedric and +thinking what next to say. + +"When thou art acquainted with the circumstances, my lord, thou wilt +see thy peril. One Christopher, whom I once befriended with a bottle +of wine in a certain close passage, came tottering to me, asking for +my patronage, which I accorded him, as he was a sorry spectacle. As a +reward for my seeming kindness, he told me that the knave Cantemir +was arousing the Protestants by speaking of the monastery being a +_rendezvous_ for all good Catholics, naming the lord of Crandlemar as +one of them. The knave is working with both factions. He has gained +some powerful help. These are to come upon the King and demand a +confiscation of thy lands, thou art also to be sent to Tower or +Tyburn-tree for the murder of thy servant--" + +"Enough, enough, my heaven! I did kill the bastard Christopher." + +"Ah! not so. 'The bastard Christopher' is still on his legs and gives +Cantemir's plans away; for the knave kicked him when he was down. Thou +art to have thy head, but--" + +"Nay, my friend, tell me no more. Ah!--is there any limit to this +devil's industry! I have to thank thee to-night, on the morrow--" + +"I'm expecting to leave Whitehall early--" Cedric started. + +"Will Monmouth bear thee company?" + +"Nay, his Majesty seems on a sudden to have an undue fondness for +him." + +"God strengthen it." + +"'Tis a pity there is such thing, else his Grace would not care to +go." + +"And thou and I might not have been brought into this world." + +"And Adam have had eyes only for the serpent, not even coveting the +apple." + +"_Adieu_, my lord!" + +"_Adieu_, your Grace!" + +The candles were just a-light within the villa, where the thick +foliage of tree and vine brought a premature gloaming. Outside fell +upon the sward the last rays of the setting sun. In the depths of the +shadowy leaves the glow-worms displayed their phosphorescent beauty; +the lampyrid beetles plied between gloom and obscurity, impatient for +the mirror of night to flaunt therein their illumined finery. In +the distance was heard the lusty song of the blowsy yokels, as they +clumsily carted homeward the day's gathering. The erudite nightingale +threw wide the throttle of his throat and taught some nestling kin the +sweetness of his lore. + +From the villa doorway passed out Mistress Pen wick in fluttering +white, with the waxy jasmine upon breast and hair. Down she came, +unattended, through aisles bordered by fragrant blossoms, traversing +the way from door to postern-gate with quick, light steps. + +She was not aware Monmouth had left a strong guard and orders to allow +no one to enter save those he made provision for. + +As her hand rested upon the gate, a guard stepped from behind a bower +of iris and gently opened it for her. She was somewhat taken aback by +his presence. The stalwart guard strode after her; she, noticing it, +turned about and said sweetly for him to hold the gate open 'til she +returned, that she would only be gone a very few minutes. + +"My lady is alone upon the highway, and I could not suffer her to be +so, begging permission." + +"Nay, I wish to be alone. Remain at the gate." + +"It may not be, my lady; 'tis his Grace's order to give thee proper +escort outside the gate." + +"Ah, then--" she turned from him and beckoned to a monk who appeared +to be walking aimlessly upon the opposite side of the way, but at her +bidding moved with alacrity. When the guard saw her intention, he +begged her to consider the Duke's wish that she should communicate +with no one. + +"I was not aware, sir, that I am held as prisoner. I'm quite sure his +Grace was only kindly intentioned for my safety;--and as for further +vigilance, 'tis beyond his power to use it." The three now stood at +the gate. The monk looking intently at the guard, said,-- + +"Where hath flown thy religion, Eustis?" + +"'Tis a poor religion that hath not the grace to offer its adherents +an honest living." + +"Ah! then thy faith is hinged upon the _largesse_ of the damned. +There!--take for the nonce thy meed in honest coin." The Abbé gave him +a piece of gold and passed within the gate. The sun now dropped from +sight, leaving the villa terraces in sombreness, and brought into +prominence glow worm and firefly and the sheen of Mistress Penwick's +frock. + +"I have watched for thee ever since thou arrived, hoping to catch +thine eye.--Hast guarded the billet to the King, my child?" + +"Here it is." She took from her bosom the letter. The keen eyes of the +Abbé saw the seal was intact and quickly put out his hand deprecating +what her act implied. + +"'Twas not that, my child; 'twas the fear that thou hadst been robbed, +as we have. We trust thee with all our hearts," and she read not +hypocrisy in the feint of benignancy. + +"Thou hast been deceived into thinking that the Duke of Monmouth or +Buckingham will arrange a meeting between thee and the King. The +former Duke is evil-intentioned toward thee." + +"Ah, my Father; thou dost sorely grieve me! If thou didst not say it, +'twould be hard to believe; for surely he has been most kind to me." + +"But 'tis true, nevertheless. He is now with the King and fretting for +being so detained from thee. He means to offer thee the protection of +his favour; which means thou art to become an inmate of his seraglio. +Dost understand me, my child?" + +"Ah!--I understand," and Mistress Penwick looked up into the face that +the darkness veiled. + +"And I have heard that the King is sometimes poorly intentioned" The +monk coughed behind his hand and moved uneasily,--"'Tis said of him, +as other like things are reported; but 'tis false. He is a good +Catholic at heart, and he will offer thee no insult, else we would +not allow thee to approach him. Our first thought is to get thee from +Monmouth's hold and place thee in safety elsewhere. The noble Lady +Constance is helping us and hopes that by to-night to have arranged +certain matters, so with our aid thou mayest be able to see his +Majesty very soon. One of the Brotherhood will accompany thee to his +presence or meet thee there; for we are anxious of the issue. Thou +wilt--" The conversation was interrupted by the sound of wheels. The +guard came running to them, crying half aloud,-- + +"Methinks some one of importance is about to arrive, as there is a +coach and outriders and a score of mounted escort. If thou, Father, +art found here, I'm doomed. I prithee hide thyself;--and my lady's +gown can be seen for a league. Hide here, behind this bunch of iris, +'til the cavalcade hath passed." + +It was in truth the young Duke of Monmouth, who was hurrying with the +impatience of young, warm blood to his mistress. For all Katherine was +indignant with him for having such wicked intentions toward her, yet +she was moved by the fact that he was a Prince, the son of the King; +and susceptible as are all womankind to masculine beauty, she hardly +could withhold her admiration. She did not fear him, on the contrary +she wished to play with firebrands and see how he would appear in her +eyes, now that she understood him. On a sudden she wished to see him +more than any one else in the world, Lord Cedric excepted; and in her +adventurous heart vowed to torment and give him pangs to remember her +by. Her pride was wrought upon. That any one should presume to love +her without thought of espousal! and Janet's words came back to her +with great force, making her see her error in accompanying the Duke. + +There were a few hasty words spoken by the monk as he left her, and +passed through the postern-gate, where none save Eustis saw his tall +form. Katherine took her time, as she crossed the lawn to her former +seat, stopping here and there to gather a nosegay; exulting all the +time at his Grace's discomfort when he found her not within doors. +Suddenly she thought of Christopher and of what might happen to the +servants if the Duke undertook to vent his displeasure upon them. At +the thought, she leant forward, straining her ear for any signs of +violence; but she only heard Janet say,-- + +"My eyes have not been off her, your Grace. I'm just taking her a +wrap." + +"Give it to me," the Duke said in a voice surprisingly calm and +gentle. It piqued Katherine. It was disappointing not to hear a +fierce voice like Cedric's was wont to be. She saw the Duke's form +silhouetted by a bush of white blossom and heard from his lips a +quaint love ditty. It so set her very susceptible heart to fluttering +she knew not whether to be glad or sorry that he was there. She was +weaving a garland in a peculiar manner learned at the convent. The +finished strands she placed under the bench upon which she sat, +pretending the while neither to see nor hear his Grace as he walked +about from bush to bush, singing softly. But he soon caught the +glimmer of her dress, and he came bounding toward her. + +"Pray what does Mistress Penwick out alone on so dark a night?" + +"Ah!"--she started in feigned alarm, dropping her flowers and rising +hurriedly--"'tis your Grace of Buckingham. I admit I was startled." +She made a sweeping courtesy. + +"We who love never forget its voice, Mistress. I believed that thou +wouldst never be able to find it in Buckingham's tones; for if 'twas +there, thou only could note its tenderness." He so ignored her +feint--and she knew he understood that she knew not whether to keep up +her hypocrisy or recant. + +"Didst see the King, your Grace, upon my affair?" He stooped to +recover the flowers she had dropped. She hindered him, fearing lest he +should see her schoolgirl play beneath the bench. + +"Ah! ah! what hast thou hid there?" She exulted. + +"Nothing, your Grace, only--the flowers are not worth the exertion." + +"Aye, they are worth the bended knee of a thousand, when dropped from +such fair hands," and he again essayed to reach them; but she stood +between, and holding her hand out to him, said,-- + +"Nay. I pray thee come. I am going to the villa. 'Tis growing damp." +She timidly made as if to go. He on the instant drew his sword and +lunged beneath the bench and drew out upon its point the maid's +flowers. He laughed at his disappointment, for he was certain some one +was beneath. She felt ashamed of her childish pastime and hastened +within doors. He followed, carrying the interwoven hearts upon the +point of his sword. He held them high for inspection as he entered the +lighted room, and was transported with delight when he saw the design, +and complimented her upon its significance. + +"Thou dost seem to know that two hearts are to be entwined, at any +rate! Even if a voice full of passion doth corrupt thine ears to +hearing tones that are vibrantless of love." He broke into a +great laugh and looked upon Katherine's blushing face with tender +admiration. "Come, Mistress, I have played thee very uncavalierly, +inasmuch as I have not answered thy question. Sit with me and sup. +There--his Majesty is indisposed. He will not be able to see thee for +at least a week. Then I am to bring the most beautiful woman in the +world to Court." + +"I am very sorry; my business is imperative--" + +"Imperative!--imperative! that such words should fall from cherry lips +that will become irresistible should they turn to pouting;--so take +heed and tempt me not." He had already swallowed several glasses of +wine and was fast becoming audacious. + +Janet stood behind Mistress Penwick's chair; her face appearing +immutable. The Duke bade the maid drink her wine. She touched her lips +to the glass and set down the cup. He swept it passionately to his +own. Katherine's boldness was fast declining. She began to wish that +something would happen to take the Duke's attention from her. Even +Constance' presence would be a relief. If she were only in the garden +again--free--she would fly to some place of safety. + +He lowered his voice into a passionate whisper and leant over, +catching her hand as she would withdraw it. He began to draw her +toward him. Her fear was evident, for Monmouth, drunk as he was, saw +it, and fell to coaxing. His voice, not yet maudlin, was sweet and +impassioned. + +"Thou were not afraid when that Russian knave claimed thee and was +about to carry thee off, and now thou hast the King's son to guard and +love thee--love--dost hear it, my Precious? And I came to claim thee +this night, to tell thee all I know, to make the little Convent Maid +wise." He threw his arm about her, almost drawing her from the chair. +Katherine was white and trembling, knowing not which way to turn. + +"Indeed, sir, I know not thy meaning." + +"My meaning? Dost not thou know what love is? Of course thou dost +not--if thou didst, it might be I should not care to be thy tutor. +Come, I will teach thee this night--now, my Pretty,--now. Come, come +with me." He arose and essayed to draw her toward the door that led +to an inner chamber. Katherine was well nigh to swooning, and perhaps +would have, had not there fell upon her ear the sound of some one +entering the house. "Ah, heaven!" she thought, "if it were only Father +La Fosse or Sir Julian or even--ah!" She did hear Constance' voice. +"Aye, even Constance could think of some way for her to escape." She +knew Janet was behind her chair, but she might have lost her usual wit +and have become incapable of helping at the very moment she was most +needed. Monmouth drank another glass of wine, then withdrew from +his chair and leant over that of the maid, drawing her close in his +embrace. He was now so drunk he did not hear the door creak as Janet +and Katherine did; the former, seeing the pale, triumphant face of +Constance reflected in a mirror, as she stood half-way inside the +door. Katherine tried to disengage herself by reaching for another +glass of wine. The Duke reached it for her and would hold it to her +lips; but she, looking up at him with a feint of a smile, said in +coaxing tones,-- + +"I was getting it for thee; your Highness will drink it?" + +"Could I refuse--there!--there! Come!--" He put his arms about her +and was carrying her forth, when Janet plucked him by the sleeve and +whispered something in his ear. He loosed for a moment her trembling +form and she began to weep. These tears made him forget Janet's words, +and he turned again to Katherine. + +"There, there, my wife; thou dost break my heart at each sob. Here, +see here what I brought thee," and he placed on her arm a circlet of +rubies. "There, hush thy tears. I will not teach thee anything but how +kind I may be--there, sit thee down. I will let thee wait until thou +art accustomed to man's caresses." Monmouth's heavy drinking trended +to strengthen his good humour, else he might have resented roundly the +interruption of his love-making by the entrance of Lady Constance. He +held out his hand to her, saying,-- + +"Come, my lady; see my poor dear. The poor child is affrighted at my +love-making. Thou wouldst not be so frightened, Constance,--eh?" + +"I am not a child, your Highness, to fall to weeping if so honourable +a gentleman as some should choose to kiss my hand." The Duke reached +to the table and pressed another cup of wine to his lips, that were +already stiffened by excess. + +"Come, Sweet; give me one kiss--" and he bent over her close. + +"Nay, nay, I'll not suffer thee." And Katherine drew from him with +flashing eyes. + +"Come, silly child; one, just one." She fled from his reach. He sought +to catch her but was stopped by Constance who whispered something +hurriedly. The Duke turned upon Janet and frowned, then broke into a +mocking laugh, and with a sly wink at Constance, said,-- + +"Thou art a trickster, good nurse; thou didst play upon me foully. +Good, good nurse! Come, go quickly. Thou shalt see no more +love-making; I forbid thee; kiss thy nestling and go. I will watch +over her. Come, my sweet, come!" His Grace took the maid in his strong +arms, and though his legs threatened collapse, bore her toward the +door. + +Janet saw the look of devilish menace and triumph upon Lady Constance' +face and--beyond--what did she see behind the curtain of the window +that looked upon the garden? Surely 'twas something more than the +evening breeze that stirred those hangings. 'Twas a familiar face +that looked from behind the folds; aye, of a truth, 'twas Sir Julian +Pomphrey's. When Monmouth, half carrying Katherine, reached the door +and stood some little way beyond its deep embrazure, he turned to +Janet again, saying,-- + +"Go, good nurse. I wait for thine exit. Come, begone!" + +"I beg your Grace to forgive the lie I told and give pledge of thy +forgiveness by taking this." She handed him a brimming cup. + +"Then, good nurse, I forgive thee. Here is to the maid thou dost let +go and to the woman I shall bring back." He threw back his head and +lifted the cup. As it touched his lips a handkerchief fell about his +eyes and a strong hand covered his mouth and the Duke lay helpless +upon the floor. + +Janet carried the half-fainting maid from the room. As she did so, Sir +Julian and Lord Cedric, who had also come through the window, carried +the young Duke to another chamber; binding him fast; keeping his eyes +well blindfolded and their own tongues still. Constance was left +standing in the middle of the floor in dumb surprise and chagrin. In a +moment Lord Cedric returned, and his voice rang steel as he faced her, +nor was there shadow of pity as he saw her white face grow ghastly in +fear. + +"Thou, Constance, art the receptacle of all the damned ills flung from +mortals, whether of the mind or body. As for soul, that unknown thing +to thee--thou canst not recognize in another and therefore canst take +on nothing of it save its punishment hereafter, when thou shalt have +no choice of condiment. Thy heart lies festering in the rheum that +exuviates from its foul surroundings. Conscience thou art bankrupt of, +and in its place doth lurk the bawd that envenoms thy senses and turns +thy narrow body into prodigious corruption--" + +"Cedric,--my God; stay thy tongue!" + +"Nay, nay; my tongue is a well-matched Jehu for thy devil's race. I +would I might scorch thee with it, to give thee foretaste of that to +come; perchance 'twould seethe thy rottenness to the quick--if thou +of that art not also bereft--and turn thee from thy course. Thou dost +pander for the King's son and steal an innocent maid of unripe years +to gratify his lust--ah, 'sdeath! thou art but a pernicious wench, +as false as hell. And when the nurse whispered that 'twould save the +child from shame, thy protrusile tang-of-a-serpent didst sibilate in +his ready ear a denial--" + +"Cedric, Cedric; cease, I pray!" And Constance fell upon her knees +sobbing. But the young lord's storm had not yet spent itself, and he +sped on in fury: + +"I would thy noxious blood had all run out ere mingling with its +better, and I had naught of so foul a taint within. If I held the +apothecary's skill, I would open my veins and purge from them thy +jaundiced blood and let in slime of snakes and putrid matter to +sweeten the vessel thus set free--" + +"My lord, we must hasten. The maid is ready to depart with her +nurse," said Sir Julian. As the young lord turned to him, Lady +Constance--crushed and broken--said,-- + +"Couldst thou not see why I have so misused my better self; have thine +eyes been blind all these years not to see how I have loved thee, +Cedric--thee--thee--with all my heart and soul?" + +"I would not hear thee prate of anything so sacred as love,--'tis +sacrilege." + +"Nay, not so, Cedric! I love thee more than heaven. I love thy scorn, +if to be free from it were to deprive me of thy presence. I would +follow thee to the end of time, even though thy brow lowered in ever +threatening storm--" + +"Nay! thou shalt not follow me. Would I draw such as thou to yonder +maid? From this moment thou art none of mine, and I fling thee from me +as I would a snake.--Thou didst think to take Mistress Katherine from +me; put her beyond my reach, first, by marriage, then by ruin. Thanks +to heaven, both of thy infernal schemes miscarried and she is again in +my keeping. And soon I shall fold her to me as my own; pillow her head +here, Constance, here, where thou sayest thou shouldst love to lie. I +shall press her to my heart as wife, wife--ah! I have at last touched +the quick within thee. We may hope there is some redemption--some +possibility of bringing thee back from thy foulness--" + +"Come, Cedric, come; we are late!" cried Sir Julian at the door. Lord +Cedric turned to go, but Constance flew to his side and grasped his +hand,-- + +"Nay, nay; thou shalt not leave me thus. Thou shalt not leave me to go +to one who cares not one jot for thee! Cedric, turn not away. Do not +leave me here. Cedric, hear me, take me, take me with thee! I will be +so good--" + +Again Sir Julian came and called hastily,--"Indeed, my lord, there is +a chaise upon the highway, and if we mistake not 'tis the King's." +Cedric loosed himself from Constance and hurried from the room. She +flew after him; but he had passed Sir Julian and flung himself upon a +horse. Pomphrey saw her plight, and, whether from pity, gallantry, or +intrigue, lifted her quickly--before she had time to withdraw from +him--into a coach. Cedric remonstrated with him; but Julian was +confident of his motive and started the coach at full speed. They flew +along in the opposite direction from whence came the King. + +It was his Majesty, who had heard of his son's hiding with some +beauteous maid and was resolved to play a trick and come upon him +unawares. + +It was feared, when he should find Monmouth in such a plight, he would +pursue the offenders, if for nothing but to see with his own eyes the +maid who had so wrought upon his son's affections. + +The coaches bearing Katherine and Constance sped along at a rapid +swing. The one bearing Katherine, with Janet by her side, was some +distance ahead; Constance alone in the rear. Cedric and Julian rode at +either side of the first coach, their horses in full gallop. + +They reached Southwark after two hours' hard riding. Katherine was +not aware of Lord Cedric's presence, and he avoided meeting her or +attracting her attention in any way. He was content with the thought +that she was near him. + +They proposed to remain at Tabard Inn at least until the next night, +when they would set out under cover of the darkness for Crandlemar, +where Lord Cedric had given orders to have all things ready for +his immediate espousal. He knew that Katherine loved him, and felt +sanguine that after passing through so many vicissitudes she would +come to her senses and give up the ideas of churchly duties and +religious requirements. + +Lady Constance feared the worst, now that Cedric was once more with +Katherine. What could she do to stave the matter off? She knew +Cantemir would hardly be able to place Cedric in the Tower before +another week. She was tempted to poison or kill in some way the maid. +Aye, she would kill her--that would be safest. Then Cedric could not +have her. They would be parted forever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COACH + + +In the meantime his Majesty had entered the villa and found his son +bound and in drunken sleep. Seeing he was uninjured, the King fell +to laughing at his plight, his ringing tones awakening Monmouth. The +King's gentlemen unbound him and brought him to a chair. The youth was +not long in collecting himself, quickly making a tale for his father's +ears. + +"I have caught thee, James,"--said the King,--"but where, oh! where is +the maid? Has she flung thee off and escaped with thy guard, who left +the gates wide, or didst thou expect us and had them placed so for our +convenience?" + +"'Tis certain, Sire, I have been foully treated. I have been drugged +and some valuable papers taken I had got hold on." + +"And who held the papers before thee, a pretty wench, eh?" Monmouth +glanced suspiciously at Buckingham, who stood behind the King. + +"Now indeed, Sire, I should like thy opinion upon her, and--she hath +a secret, as the Duke there can testify." Buckingham started, but met +the King's glance with a stolid countenance. + +"And what is this secret, George?" + +"'Tis something the Papists have enveigled the maid into bringing to +thy notice, your Majesty," and the Duke cast a contemptuous glance at +Monmouth, who had made a wrong move. + +"Then, by God! why was she detained? Why did any one take the papers +from her?" His Majesty looked not too kind at his son, who was now +fair caught. "We will send for her posthaste." The lackeys were +questioned of the direction taken by the coaches that had just left +the grounds, and a courier was sent after them, bearing the Royal +command to Mistress Penwick to appear before his presence within three +days. + +The courier did not reach the inn until the party were about to set +forth, on account of being turned repeatedly from his course by +designing lackeys left along the way for the purpose. + +Sir Julian, Katherine and Janet were standing at the coach door when +Lady Constance came hurrying down the stairs to join them, unasked; +for she was of no mind to let Cedric carry off Katherine without her. +She felt it would be worse than death. As she opened her mouth to ask +of Cedric--for she saw he was not with the party--the King's messenger +rode into the courtyard. Mistress Penwick received the order from the +courier with her own hand, and was rejoiced at it; Lady Constance flew +to her chamber in an ecstasy; Sir Julian roundly disappointed at the +news he must send Cedric, who had gone on toward Crandlemar. There +was no help for them now. They were under the King's order; but--what +might not happen in three days? + +Sir Julian was as adamant when Constance proposed a trip to London, +and would under no circumstances allow her to leave the inn. Janet +kept Katherine in complete seclusion, fearing lest some new thing +should come upon them. She did not fail, however, to tell Sir Julian +of the monk's visit to the grounds of the villa and of his project to +accompany her to the King, when an audience should be granted. + +"I am glad thou didst apprise me of this, Janet, for it gives me an +idea. I have seen lurking about several of the Order and have watched +them carefully." + +The morning of the eventful day arrived. Mistress Penwick was already +gowned in a sombre old woman's dress. A hump was fastened to her +shoulder; her face was darkened skillfully and leprous blotches +painted thereon. She stepped like a Queen, for all that, and 'twas +feared her falseness would become evident to the King's eye. + +Lady Constance was to remain at the inn, a prisoner, until Sir Julian +saw fit to release her. With curious eyes she watched for Katherine, +whom she conceived would be decked in irresistible finery. She even +pictured her beauty, clad in that soft brocade of peach and green that +so became her figure and enhanced the richness of her youthful bloom. + +"Ah! ah!" she cried under her breath, as she saw the maiden's masque, +and fairly bit her lips in rage at the clever ruse about to be played +upon the King. Back she flew from the window and pranced up and down +her chamber in rage, her brain on fire. She sought in its hot depths +some way--some way. "It must be done. The King must know. It would be +the convent wench's ruin--and what would his Majesty not do for one +who should give him hint?" She was not kept under close guard. She +could go about the corridors as she chose. Out she flew into one of +these and saw near by a scullion furbishing a brass knob. + +"Come, fool, hast thou a close mouth?" she said, almost in a whisper. + +"Aye, too close for the comfort of my stomach." + +"Then here--but first, bring me from anywhere thou canst a gentleman's +suit that will cover me in plenty--not too scant, remember, and bring +a horse from where thou likest to the door below. Haste thee, and thou +shalt have this." She jingled a well-filled purse in his face. Off he +ran in hot haste, soon returning with the desired outfit; no doubt +looted from some gentleman's closet near by. Quickly she donned it; +but here and there were slight alterations to be made, and her fingers +were all a-tremble, slackening speed to a meagre haste. She donned a +red-hued periwig and cockle hat, then strutted back and forth, proud +of her fine appearance, as, indeed, she looked a roguish fop of no +mean parts. She flung out into the passage and asked the lad if the +horse was ready. + +"Aye, Sir!" he said, impudently. She flung him a bag of gold with a +show of masculine strength. Out it flew through the open window, down +to the pavement, frightening the steed from his groom, who first +stopped to pluck the bag before giving chase to the wily horse. Down +came the scullion, followed close by the gay young fop, who waited +impatiently outside the door. The guard looked on indifferently, +his eyes fixed upon the groom, rather than the young man that paced +restlessly up and down the courtyard. + +At last Lady Constance dashed out upon the highway with a smile of +cunning on her face, a devil's flash from her eyes, a haughty curving +on her lips, and her heart beating faster and faster, the nearer she +drew to the King's palace. "One masque is as fair as another, and +methinks the King's eye will open wider at my boldness than at +Mistress Penwick's plain dissembling, should he require a fair show of +our feigning. He will love me for my daring and for bringing him the +knowledge aforetime of the maid's deception. And when the wench smiles +in triumph, he will bring her down upon her knees by one fair blow of +tongue. 'Twould be like his Majesty to deprive her of decent covering, +if I can only make her designing plain to him." On she rode in high +good humour with her adventure; for if this move was without laches or +mischance, 'twould be a triumph indeed. The maid would be ruined and +her own fortunes made. + +The coach arrived at the Royal Palace upon the stroke of four. +Mistress Penwick was conducted to the King's ante-chamber. She was +visibly nervous; trying vainly to calm the fast beating of her heart. +When at last she was called, Sir Julian walked beside her to the +threshold of his Majesty's chamber. The King, ever _insouciant_, +had never thought to ask Monmouth the maid's name, and when she was +presented as "Mistress Wick," and he beheld her form and attire, +he was amazed. He felt he had been made a dupe; that Monmouth had +purposely made him believe this girl was beautiful for some subtle +cause, perhaps just to gain an audience for her;--then, as he saw the +spots upon her face, he recoiled and a horrible thought came. Had she +some loathsome disease and been sent to him that he might--He started, +his blood boiling with indignation. "Treason," he cried in his heart, +and before the maid had arisen from her knees, he called for her +dismissal. She was taken precipitately from the King's presence before +she had time to open her mouth. + +The King was greatly wrought upon, giving Monmouth the blame. The +matter must be sifted. He would write an order for his son's arrest, +and--yes, the woman must be taken also. + +Sir Julian saw it all in Katherine's disappointed and half-angry face, +but without giving her time to relate her grievances, rushed her to +the coach, putting her into it with very little ceremony. They were +fairly flying from the Palace, turning from the sight of a young fop +as he came at full gallop through the throng that crowded near the +Royal House. + +The youth made known his desire to see the King, saying the matter was +an imperative one. Even as he spoke, his Majesty came from within and +heard the breathless request. + +"What now, my pretty rogue; what is thy wish?" + +"May I speak with thee apart?" said the lad, as he knelt and kissed +the King's hand. "'Tis something of import--a trick is about to be +played upon thee." The King took alarm. + +"We are about to start forth, my lad. Come, thou mayest walk by our +side, and if thy speech is as neat and comely as thy body, 'tis +possible ere we reach the end of yonder corridor thy tongue will have +won for thee the Royal favour." The King leant upon Constance as they +swaggered along down the passage. + +"May I be so bold as to inquire of your Majesty if there has not come +to thee a woman with swart marks upon her face and a hump on her back, +preferring a petition for thy signature to some lands now held by the +Catholics?" The King started and looked now with great interest upon +the girlish fop, and speaking slowly as he answered,-- + +"Why, yes; she hath come and gone. What of her?" + +"She hath played foully upon her King. I would give, Sire, half my +life to have seen your Majesty compel her to wash the painted spots +from her face and take from her shoulder the false hump, and she--" + +"Ah! ah!" came from the thoroughly awaked King. + +"--is the greatest beauty in England." For the first time Constance +gave Katherine her dues. + +"Dost thou speak truth, lad?" + +"I fear my King too much to speak otherwise, unless, indeed, it were +to save his life." + +"Then--" said the King, with flashing eyes.--"We shall have her back; +we'll send for her at once; and, my pretty lad, thou shalt remain here +to see the fun, with your King. 'Twill be rare sport, eh?" He gave +Constance so sound a smack upon the shoulder, it came near to knocking +her flat. It brought the tears and made her bite her tongue. The King +fairly roared with laughter. + +Buckingham heard the King's order to recall the woman. He also knew +the King's informant, and for reasons of his own sent straightway one +to intercept his Majesty's messenger. + +Lady Constance, believing that Sir Julian, with Katherine, would +return to Tabard Inn, mentioned it. This, of course, allowing they +followed Constance' suggestion, gave Sir Julian a good start and +Buckingham's messengers time to reach their several destinations. + +The night had come with even greater heat than the day. The sultry +gloaming foretold a near-by storm. Clouds were brewing fast and thick, +with ominous mutterings. Already every inch of blue sky was overcast +with a blackness that was heavy and lowering. Occasionally the sullen +thunder was prefaced by a jaundiced light that swathed the skies from +end to end. The coach bearing Katherine and Janet left the causeway +and entered a thick forest. The great trees seemed even larger; their +silence becoming portentous. There was not a breath of air. Katherine +fanned herself with Janet's hat, but hardly did her efforts create a +breeze large enough to move the threads of hair that waved above her +forehead. + +They had proceeded but a short way into the forest when the postilion +got down to light the lamps. + +Sir Julian rode close to the window and spoke of the approaching +storm. The stillness was ominous; there being no sound save the plash +of a muskrat as he skurried through a dismal, dark pool near by. +Katherine jumped at the noise and her small hand grasped the arm of +Sir Julian, as it lay across the ledge of the window. She gave a +little gasp--just enough to touch Sir Julian tenderly. + +"'Tis nothing but a lusty genet, my dear," and his hand closed over +hers for a moment. There was something about that touch that thrilled +them both; he leant farther toward her as another flash came through +the trees and was sure he saw a flush upon her face. The lights from +the lanterns flashed up, then--stood silent and unmoved, the boy's +breath who stood over them was swallowed in the hot air. Then the +coach began to move and at the same time the giant trees stirred in +a peculiar way. They, like a vast army, bent low with a sound as of +heavy artillery rumbling over a bridge that covered vacuous depths. +Then they began a deafening noise, their branches sweeping hard +against the coach windows. + +Katherine lay back languidly against the cushions, still trembling +from the gentle pressure of Sir Julian's hand. For a moment only she +enjoyed this sweet dissipation, then turned from it as if duty called +her to think of her visit to the King. She consoled herself that she +had done all she could now. When she reached Crandlemar, she should +be better able to collect her thoughts and see what would be the next +best thing to do. She longed to see Lord Cedric and the Duke and +Duchess. She even fell to imagining how the grand, old place would +look in midsummer. It seemed like she had been gone months. Would +Cedric be changed, she wondered? Would he be pale and fragile looking? + +So great was Sir Julian's haste, and so great was the heat, the horses +were soon exhausted and began to lag. Sir Julian thought they were +near an inn, as it soon proved. He flung open the door and almost +lifted Katherine from the coach, so great was his haste. Supper +was awaiting them and Katherine for the moment alone, near an +open window,--the room appeared close to suffocation with humid +heat--waited for Sir Julian to take his seat at her side. Janet was +arranging a posset. Suddenly Katherine heard a soft voice behind her; +it was low and intense. Hardly could she distinguish it from the +soughing of the wind in the trees. She half-turned her head to listen +as Sir Julian came toward her. But she caught the words: + +"Abbé ---- will be in the coach upon thy return. Enjoin silence upon +thy nurse and be not afraid." + +She thought Sir Julian looked at her suspiciously; but was quite sure +he had not seen or heard the person behind her. + +Janet, while in the coach had bathed the maid's face and taken from +her the garb of disguise, and Katherine now looked her sweet self +again, flushed and thoughtful over this new adventure. She was most +like her father, ever looking for new fields to conquer. Sir Julian +asked her if she would be frightened at a severe storm. She answered +it made her somewhat nervous to be abroad. + +"Then I will ride inside with thee--" + +"Nay, I could not think of allowing thee. The air is too oppressive." +Sir Julian insisted, but to no avail. As they were about to leave the +inn, Katherine whispered to Janet that an Abbé would be in the coach +and enjoined silence and deaf ears. + +"I did not catch his name, but I'm quite sure his voice rung like Abbé +La Fosse's. They have doubtless heard I am on my way to the castle, +and, knowing 'twould be impossible to see me there, they have taken +this way, being impatient to know how fell my suit with the King." +Janet for once had no answering word, but uttered a groan of seeming +dissent and followed her mistress, who leant upon Sir Julian's arm. + +The dim light cast from the lanterns was well-nigh swallowed up in the +intense gloom. The rain was already falling rapidly and Sir Julian +opined that it was a hopeful sign, as it presaged no sudden gust that +would tear things to pieces. The door of the coach slammed to and the +horses started at gallop through the windy forest. Mistress Penwick, +now for the first time alone, that is without the surveillance of +Cantemir or Eustis, with a beloved Father of her church, flung herself +upon her knees at his side, saying: + +"Beloved Father, my visit to the King was fruitless; he received me +most coldly." The Abbé lifted her from her knees as she spoke, placing +her beside him. Her face was close to his, for the noise of the +horses' hoofs and the rattling of spurs and bits and the ever-rumbling +thunder made speech difficult. His face turned toward her was hid +in the shadow of his cowl, and he drew the hood even closer as he +answered,-- + +"We feared it, mightily," and his voice was barely heard above the +noise. + +"But it grieves me more than I can tell." + +"Nay. Thou must not let it." + +"But it does, I cannot help it; and I see also thy disappointment, for +thy hands tremble." + +"We have had much to unnerve us, and I am still under restraint." + +"I would thou hadst sent a better _embassage_!" + +"We could not have found a fairer." At these words Mistress Penwick +shrunk from him, remembering her disguise; which, though it was a +custom of the time for one to go masqued when and where they pleased, +upon whatsoever mission, yet she felt guilty to positive wickedness +for having so cloaked her beauty, and did not the Father's words imply +that her charms should have won success? For a moment she remained +silent. A flash of lightning fell broad through the open window. She +quickly glanced at Janet, who appeared to be asleep in her corner. +Katherine bent her face close to the Abbé's and whispered,-- + +"Father, might I not here make my confessions? I would have come to +thee at the monastery if it had been possible. The confessional has +not been open to me since I left the convent, and I feel I must +confess. I must now; for I know not when I shall be able again to have +converse with a priest. May I, Father?" + +"'Tis a noisome, stormy night and thy nurse there--" + +"I will speak low, beside I care not if she does hear that that +doth concern myself; for, indeed she understands me better than I +understand myself. Then I may speak, Father?" + +"I will hear that I deem needful for the peace of thy soul; if +perchance thy soul be wrought upon unhappily; and for sins innocently +done I absolve thee already." Mistress Penwick half knelt by the +cowled figure and placed her elbows upon his knees, and after saying +the prayers of contrition leant her face close to his. + +"I have been guilty of what I believe to be a very great sin. Father, +I disguised myself to go before the King!" She trembled and bent her +head. The priest's voice was calm and unperturbed. + +"And why didst thou that?" + +"I heard 'twas an unsafe thing for a maid boasting of some fairness to +visit the King." + +"Why so?" + +"I have heard he keeps them for his own pleasure, allowing not their +return." + +"And didst thou think we would have let thee go to him, had it not +been safe?" + +"But I thought, good Father, living as closely as thou dost, thou +didst not know of the matters of the world, and I ventured to use my +own judgment, meaning no harm. But I will go to him unmasqued if thou +dost appoint it so. I intend to do so. Shall I not?" + +"Nay, thou hast done all and more than is expected of thee." + +"How, more?" + +"'Twas brave to go at all after hearing of his Majesty's demeanour." + +"But I was not very much afraid; indeed, I became very calm as I +entered his presence." + +"If I understand, thou wert ambitious to become a Maid of Honour." + +"At one time, but having better acquaintance with the Court, I feel my +ardour has cooled." + +"We have gone somewhat astray, my child. We will finish thy +confessions for I soon must leave thee. Indeed, if this is the weighty +part of thy sins, there is no need to confess any more." + +"One thing I am particularly anxious to inquire of thee. Since love +comes and we cannot help it, 'twould be wrong not to give it place?" + +"If the love is love and not masquerading passion, and it comes from +one who is not altogether unworthy of thee?" + +"Indeed, he is most worthy, barring his religion, which is Protestant. +I would have advice upon this matter, for I believe the love is +mutual." + +"My child, if his heart is good and true, and thou lovest him, and he +thee, the manner of worshipping God should not be of question, since +one shows his love one way and another another. The common scullion, +who, from year's end to year's end sees not inside the holy sanctuary, +may carry in his heart the divine image of God and pay him homage +every breath he draws; while he who walks in sacred robes and abides +ever in the shadow of the cross, taking part in all the forms, pomps, +vanities and varied monotony, may have Satan within him and breathes +out flames of hell as he intones. We can in all things beside religion +discern punctilio. There is no sect that has the control of the Holy +Spirit; it is the exclusive property of the individual who gains the +right and title of it by the keeping of the ten commandments. So, if +thou art sure thou dost love the youth, and art most sure he loves +thee sincerely, then--" + +"Then, indeed, I am most happy; for I am sure he is noble and good +and--loves me." + +"When didst thou learn that he loved thee; for if I mistake not, thou +wert recently bent upon marrying one Adrian Cantemir, who, I must +declare, is altogether unworthy of a maid who doth possess such +virtue." + +"I have learned to since--since--I can't tell when--I knew I loved +him--yesterday--the day before. I know it now. I tremble when I think +of how well I love him. I have been so uncertain, Father. I thought I +loved this one, and then another, and for a time I was not sure I knew +what love was. Then it came to me on a sudden that I would rather die +than live all my life without the one I so desired. And yesterday I +knew of a certainty that I loved and that I was loved." + +"Yesterday?"--and the priest winced, and there was pain in the tone of +his voice as he uttered the word. + +"Aye, yesterday--I was thinking. I thought of his kindness to me--of +the deference he has shown me, of his great patience toward me; and I +saw how well he loved me." + +"Was it the King's son, my child?" + +"Nay, one not nearly so gentle as the Duke. He is more noble at heart +and hath a most noble name. He hath a handsome countenance, more +even than the Duke's, and Janet says he hath the finest mould in all +England. Indeed, I do not know so much about such things, but I am +sure his hands are near as small as mine, but with a grasp like iron. +He is wonderfully strong and hath an awful stamp when in rage, and his +temper is most violent and bad, and his tongue is vicious;--indeed, +Father, I know not what to do with his oaths. They frighten me." + +"Perhaps if thou shouldst go to him and ask in all gentleness, he +would leave off blasphemy." + +"But I have no influence with him. When anger takes him, he is +terrible." + +"Then I'm afraid he does not love thee." + +"Aye, he loves me; but wants his own way, and--to be sure, I love him +quite as well when he does have his way--which is not often. Janet +says I provoke him to swear." Again the priest started and his white +hands trembled suspiciously. + +"And how dost thou so provoke him, child?" + +"He would marry me straightway and give me not time to know whether I +wanted him or not, and I refused and he fell into an awful fury and +swore oaths and I could not stop him,--Father, I said I hated him, and +now he so believes, and I would have him think otherwise; yet I would +not tell him for the world. When I meet him, it shall be--with cold +looks." + +"Then how is he to know thy mind?" + +"I know not." Katherine shook her head dolefully. + +"Then when he greets thee, why not smile at him and look thy +feelings?" + +"I know not, only 'tis my way. I shall love to hear him plead again. I +hated to hear it once; but now--'twill be like music." + +"What if he is cold to thee?" + +"If he is cold, I will go to him and ask him to forgive me for what I +have done." + +"Then thou art culpable?" + +"Aye, I fear I am, for he now suffers for my fault, or rather for his +love of me." + +"But if he greets thee with all love and holds out his arms to thee?" + +"Then I shall be most happy, but shall act indifferently." + +"I am afraid thou dost treat a serious matter lightly; for 'tis a +fickle thing; if he meets thee with open arms, thou wilt be cruel; +if he greets thee coldly, thou wilt be indifferent--for fear of thy +maiden scruples. What if he takes thee unawares?" + +"How, unawares?" + +"He might trick thee into a thing thou couldst not recede from. If +thou didst find thyself so placed, wouldst thou forgive him and love +him just the same?" + +"I must always love him, no matter what trick he plays;--but he will +play me no trick. If he should again threaten to lock me up, as he has +done heretofore, I would go to him and say,--'Nay, I will marry thee +now, Cedric!'" + +"God, Kate! Kate!" And the priest threw his arms about her, almost +crushing her in his great embrace. The cowl slipt from his head and +his dark curls swept her face as he bent over her. Instantly she knew +him and straightway fell into a rage. + +"Thou, thou, Lord Cedric, dare to receive confession from one whose +life thou hast no part in. Dost thou know the penalty of such +wickedness? All evil will be visited upon thee for playing the part of +a holy priest. Indeed, of all the sins I had deemed thee capable, I +had ne'er thought of one so wicked as this!" She fell back in +the corner of the coach in such fury, she could not find further +utterance. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +UNPROCLAIMED BANNS + + +"Indeed, Mistress Penwick, I asked not for thy confessions. But now +that I have heard them, 'tis my meed to be punished by thy sharp +tongue for that I could not help. Come, Sweet, forgive and love me. +Have I not suffered enough?" + +"Lambkin, I am out of all humour with thee. Thou art half a termagant, +I admit!" + +"And thou, too, wert privy to this deception. I am truly without +friends!" and the maid began to weep softly behind her handkerchief. +Lord Cedric was beside himself with his folly. + +"If I only could have withstood thee; but how could I with thy tender +words and thy closeness--" + +"There is nothing accomplished but mistakes!" Janet ventured, being +impatient with both Cedric and Kate. + +"--Kate!--Kate! dost not thou know how I have longed for thee; how my +heart has ached in thine absence? Those two whole days I lay abed were +like so many years, and when I thought of thy danger, I fell into a +fever and I arose and leapt upon the fleetest steed and rode until my +fever cooled; and then--when I had thee once more, I could not keep +from thee longer; I resolved upon this plan that I might be with thee, +and ride by thy side. And thou dost murder me outright. Thou dost kill +me, Kate! I was a fool to undertake it, I know; but I thought of two +whole days I should be separated from thee and felt I could not bear +to wait. Thy words, Kate, were so sweet. Kate, come to me once more +and see how loving I can be. Let me dry thy tears,--let thy head rest +here upon my heart and close thine eyes and dream--dream, Kate, of +what we must be to each other, and then wake and find me bending over +thee. Come, Sweet, come!" He sought her elusive fingers and tried to +draw her to him with a tenderness she could hardly withstand; but she +would not unbend, drawing from him, sinking further into the corner. + +"And did Sir Julian know of this ruse of thine?" she asked, haughtily. + +"Janet, methinks the maid speaks with thee!" + +"What is it, Lambkin? I was not listening." + +"I will wait until the storm ceases, perhaps thou wilt find thy +hearing by then." There was a long silence within the coach. The tears +of Mistress Penwick were dried and she sat sullen, deliberately trying +to hate Lord Cedric. There came a sudden burst of thunder that turned +the tide of her thoughts from him to Sir Julian, who rode by her +window constantly. At every flash of lightning she saw his spurs +glisten, saw the foam fly from the bits of his horse's bridle. He rode +there in the storm, heedless of all but her safety and comfort, he +that had wounds on his body that spake of great deeds of nobleness and +valour! Why should he care for her so? Like a flood he swept into +her heart, and she accepted his presence with gladness--shutting out +Cedric as well as she was able. She inclined her head toward the +window and watched the handsome figure of Sir Julian with a new +interest. His form, so like that of Cedric, she began to compare with +ancient warriors she had read about and seen pictures of,--then his +tender and meaning hand pressure recurred to her, and she flushed +mightily. After awhile she fell to thinking of the Duke of Monmouth, +the tender thoughts of whom she had not yet resigned,--such were the +vacillations of the mind of strong, warm, youthful Mistress Penwick. + +The storm grew furious, and the wind blew such a gale it appeared at +times as if the trees swept the earth. They bended and swung rudely, +brushing hard against the windows. In the midst of its severity the +coach came to a stand-still and Lord Cedric threw open the door. Janet +leant quickly toward him,-- + +"I pray thee not to go forth in the storm, my lord; 'tis enough to +give thee thy death." + +"Nay, nay, Janet, 'twill not be summer rain that will kill me, but +cold looks and threatening mien." And he stepped out into the night. + +"What, Lambkin, if Lord Cedric should catch cold and die? 'Twould kill +thee, too; for remorse would give thee no rest." + +"I never so disliked him as I do now. I never want to see him again. +How shall I look him in the face after confessing such things? I shall +die of shame. That is all he wanted to hear me say, and--he heard +it--and that is all the benefit he will get." Again she fell to +weeping, finding she could wring no sympathy from Janet, who sat +coldly listening to her nursling's plaints. + +They reached Crandlemar late the second evening, tired and weary. The +Duchess of Ellswold greeted them with a happy countenance, so pleased +that she could make known to them that her lord was better and the +physicians had given permission to remove him to his own county seat. +Her greeting to Katherine in particular was evidently a forced one; +she feeling sorely distressed at her capricious nature. + +Never did the great old seat look so beautiful as it did in its +midsummer glory. Mistress Penwick had arisen early and walked out upon +the rich greensward. She wandered from place to place, enjoying the +gorgeous fullness of leaf and bloom. She felt a strange disquiet, a +longing for love and knowing not the meaning of her unrest vainly +tried to find comfort in the beauty of the outer world, that only +inclined her heart the more to its desire. She passed from flower to +flower, endeavouring to 'suage the uprisings of Cupid. Suddenly she +heard the organ peal forth, and straightway she entered the library +to hear those great, soothing chords the better. She, being shaken by +love, fell upon her knees and tried to pray for comfort, for she felt +at the moment she had not one to comfort her. Janet had been taciturn, +showing not her affection as had been her wont heretofore. The tears +came, and she wept aloud. Then the organ ceased and a moment later Sir +Julian stood upon the landing of the stairway, looking down upon her. +Without noise he descended and stood by her side. His voice, when he +spoke, appeared shaken as if a storm of love wrought upon it. + +"Katherine! It pains me to see thee thus. Can I not give thee some bit +of comfort?" + +"I am comforted already, Sir Julian; thy music did that." + +"Then why dost still remain with bowed head and thy sobs unassuaged?" + +"I do not know. I must either laugh or cry and--'tis easier to do the +latter." + +"Come! Mistress Penwick, what can I do for thee? Ask, I pray, +anything, for thy happiness--Katherine--" and for the first time in +his life he looked guiltily about him. But no one was near to hear +him, and he continued lowly--"thou dost know, surely, that man cannot +look on thee without loving?" and he raised her from her knees. + +"I am unloved," she answered, the social lie tinging her cheek to a +brighter hue. + +"Not so, for I love thee." + +"Thou, thou, Sir Julian, who art used to spurning woman's heart?" + +"Not spurn, nay! I have not found one yet I could do that to, and on +the other hand I have found but one I could love, and--that is thine." + +"Ah, Sir Julian. I wonder if thou dost love me. 'Tis a great thing to +be loved by one who has fought in great battles." + +"And thou dost not know that the battle of hearts is much deadlier +than that of arms?" + +"I do not know; but thou seemest like a warrior of olden time. And for +thee to love me!" + +"Is it enough? Wilt thou give thyself to me?" There was a silence so +long and unbroken Katherine was made to realize that her reply was +not to be lightly uttered, so she answered with all the strength of a +plaything of caprice,-- + +"If thou wilt have it so, Sir Julian, I will be thine." + +She had hardly finished, when he laid his lips, to her astonishment, +coldly and with formal grace upon her forehead. + +"I will not ask thee if thou lovest me, but will say instead dost +think thou mayest?" + +"But I think I love thee now--" + +"Nay, sweet Mistress, thou dost not--" A look of fear came into her +eyes. Had Lord Cedric told her confessions? Nay, nay! he would not, +she knew. + +"How dost come by so much knowledge?" she said, coquettishly. + +"I have ascertained by subtleness, but--let it pass. Let us talk of +thee now. When wilt thou marry me? If thou art kind, thou wilt say at +once." + +"Nay, I shall not say that--but--whenever thou dost wish it." + +"Of a surety? When I name the hour, wilt thou not gainsay?" + +"Nay, my lord. I will not gainsay." + +"Then--at eleven, Katherine." She caught her breath quickly and cried +forth,-- + +"This day, Sir Julian! Indeed, thou art in haste, I--I--" + +"Thou hast given thy word. At eleven, Katherine." + +"By sands or dial?" + +"Ah, sweet Katherine, both shall have a bridal favour. We will confer +with each. When the golden sand runs out at the eleventh hour, the +dial will be alone and in shadow; for if it please thee, we must be +wed secretly and in haste. I noticed but awhile ago how beautiful the +dial was. So the sands shall give us the hour, the dial the altar, and +the nightingale the nuptial mass." + +"But the priest, Sir Julian--" + +"He shall give us the blessing--" + +"Nay, nay; where wilt thou find a priest?" This was not an unexpected +question, and Sir Julian was ready for it. + +"Lord Cedric's Chaplain can wed us as securely as one of thy church, +and as there is no one else, he will serve, will he not, Katherine?" + +"Until we find a better." + +"Then, not to arouse suspicion, to-night at eleven thou wilt come to +the sun-dial and I will meet thee at the foot of the stair that leads +from thy chamber to the terrace, and then--'twill be soon over and +thou, thou, Katherine, will be--wife. Wilt not regret it,--art sure?" +he repeated as she shook her head negatively. + +"But why do all men appear in such haste to wed? I would have time to +at least think upon it." + +"Dost forget that at any moment may come a courier from the King to +recall thee; and if so, thou wouldst be obliged to go and be separated +from us, perhaps forever? Thou dost not know what may befall thee +at any moment. Thou dost belong to France, and art hostage to +England--thou wilt be ready at eleven?" + +"Aye, at eleven." + +"We will be cautious and not speak above a whisper. The Chaplain will +speak low, too; but he is a good soul and would make us fast wed +whether we heard him or not." Again he kissed her forehead; she turned +rose-red and ran from him hastily. She thought not once of Cedric. Had +she done so, 'tis possible she never would have gone to the dial that +summer night. She flew to her chamber aflame with this new thing she +thought was love. And felt relief that soon Sir Julian, the strong and +brave, would take away all her discomfort. He would fight her battles +for her, go with her to the King and stand by her side and his Majesty +would not dare to offer her insult. It would be a sweet task to +convert Sir Julian to her faith. He would became a great Catholic +leader. Her breast fairly swelled with pride in anticipation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE ESPOUSAL + + +Night had come richly laden with the perfume of many flowers, that the +darkness seemed to make more pungent, and more distinct to the ear +the night sounds. There was no moon, and the thick foliage produced a +deep, dark density, mysterious and sweet. The grand terraces about the +castle were still, save for the buzz of summer insects and the low, +sleepy twittering of birds. There was not a star to be seen and only +the glow-worm lent an occasional lilliputian effulgence to the great, +dark world. All within the castle appeared to have retired earlier +than usual; perhaps for the purpose of an earlier awakening, as their +Graces of Ellswold were to set out early on the morrow morning, aiming +to make some great distance on their journey before the heat of +midday. At a quarter after the hour of ten Janet had kissed her +mistress, leaning over her pillow with even more affection than usual. + +"Good-night, my Lambkin, my child, my precious maid--good-night and +God bless thee!" then snuffed the candles and left her. + +Katherine gave no thought to regret, indeed she went so far as to +smile at Janet's consternation, when she should find out that for +once her "Lambkin" had fooled her. Quickly she leapt from her bed and +dressed herself for the first time alone. Though her fingers were deft +and skillful at the tapestry frame, and neat and clever at limning, +they were slow and bungling when drawing together the laces of her +girdle, indeed 'twas very insecurely done, and when she was dressed +she had forgotten her stays, and but for the lateness of the hour +would have disrobed and donned them. It seemed like an endless task to +try and dress again by the poor light of the single candle, screened +by her best sunshade in the far corner of the room. She had donned +a pale, shimmering brocade. About her neck she twined her mother's +pearls, and took up the opal shoulder knot of Cedric's mother's and +was about to fasten it when some subtle thought stole the desire from +her, and she laid it back in the casket with a sigh. Instead, she +placed a bunch of jasmine as her shoulder-brooch, and extinguishing +the light went forth to meet her husband by the sun-dial. + +She passed out by the door that led on to a small balcony and a-down +the flight of outside stairs that were covered with vines in purple +bloom. Although the darkness was almost impenetrable, she could +distinguish a form waiting at the foot of the stair. For an instant +she paused and whispered timourously,-- + +"Who art thou?" + +"Julian," came as softly back, and a white hand was stretched out to +her. Down she flew, intrepid. + +"Would I send another to meet thee; didst thou think to turn back, my +Katherine?" + +"Nay, I should not have turned back; but 'twas assuring to hear thy +name. I am not afraid, yet--yet I tremble." + +"And 'tis sweet of thee so to do; 'tis maidenly that thou shouldst; +'tis the way of woman. Thou art not afraid, yet thou dost tremble; +thou dost try to be brave, yet thou must be assured, and I am here by +thy side to assure thee ever," he whispered in her ear. + +Down they swept across the upper terrace. Slowly they crossed the +greensward, with fairy-like light of firefly to illumine the way; +speaking as lovers will, with bated breath. The wind blew gently now +and again, casting a shower of petals upon them as they passed. When +the leaves shone white, the cavalier would say: + +"We are so blessed, nature herself doth sprinkle the bridal path with +flowers;"--or, when there fell a darksome shower, Katherine would +press close to her lover's side and say,-- + +"Indeed, Julian, these are petals from those blood-red roses that have +hung in such profusion all summer. It may have some significance. I +believe I must return; 'tis not too late to recede." + +Then the cavalier drew her closer than before, and so tenderly did +plead with her, she forgot her fears. So step by step they neared the +thicket where stood the ancient sun-dial that was well-nigh hid with +bridal roses. + +The Chaplain stood ready; his fragile, pale countenance, hid by the +darkness. There was no faltering now. Katherine did not think to turn +back; that her heart was not with Sir Julian, that she would ever +regret this greatest moment in her life, but stood resolute. + +The Chaplain began the ceremony at once, and so softly one could +scarcely hear a yard away. Katherine was agitated with the thought +that she was really being wedded, and hardly heeded when the Chaplain +raised or lowered his voice; appearing almost like one in a dream, so +blinded was she with the glamour of her new estate. + +At last the Chaplain said the final words, pronouncing the twain as +one, and gave his blessing in a somewhat stronger voice that carried +in it a note of triumph, and was about to step down from the pedestal +of the dial when there flew out from the darkness a young man with +drawn sword, who dashed immediately upon the young husband. Barely had +the cavalier time to draw aside his wife, and drawing his sword as he +did so, when his _de trop_ guest made a fierce attack upon him. The +young husband cried out as he met the thrust,-- + +"Nay, nay, nay, by God nay!" It appeared his antagonist was becalmed +of speech, for he answered not but struggled to do so. Failing to find +his voice, however, he gave a lunge, which was met by a parry that +made him mad, and for a moment ground his teeth as fiercely as he +wielded his sword. The young cavalier threw himself on guard in carte, +which sent his opponent to giving such thrusts that quickly betrayed +his lack of skill and also his deadly intentions. These were met by +quick parries. Then the mad antagonist made a sweeping bend and thrust +at the cavalier's heart. This was met with a disengage. The mad youth, +well spent with anger and want of breath, broke out pantingly,-- + +"Thou wouldst play the honourable as thou playest the part of Sir +Ju--" His last word was cut short by a quick thrust of steel that +felled him to the sward. Mistress Katherine stood as if frozen, her +hands held tightly in those of the Chaplain, who whispered that it +might cost her husband his life should she interfere. He also assured +her, saying that the adversary was no swordsman, as she herself soon +saw. Some one came running from the castle at the same time Katherine +knelt beside the fallen man. But her husband whispered quickly,-- + +"Nay, nay; arise, Sweet; he is unworthy thy solicitude. Come with me. +I gave him but a puny thrust. The Chaplain will look after him." He +put his arm about her and raised her up and drew her away, saying, +much out of breath,--"I must not be seen, dost know?" She took fright, +fearing her lord's danger. Quickly they traversed the terrace and +reached the stair leading to Katherine's chamber. As she laid her hand +upon the railing, she said timourously,--"I would hear how serious is +the wound before I go inside!" + +"But, Katherine," he whispered, "'twas no more than the prick of a +pin; beside, dost not thou have anxiety for thy lover's freedom; hast +forgotten our lord's temper when he finds I have so disgraced his +house by fighting 'neath the very windows? And if the fellow can talk +and tells of the marriage, why, I'm undone, and they will begin a +search." All the while he led her further up the stair, she unwitting, +until they stood fairly inside the threshold and his foot struck +against some obstacle. + +"Sh-sh!" she enjoined, "Janet is within yonder room and will hear +thee; she may already be awake and prying about to know what is astir +upon the terrace!" + +"Indeed, I think thou hadst better hide me!" + +"Nay, I cannot; I know of no place. Dost thou not know of a safe +hiding?" + +"I am safest here in thy chamber, I am sure. I know of no other place. +And if Janet come--which I hardly think possible--thou must fly to her +lighted taper and blow it out, and tell some sweet fib,--say the light +pains thine eyes." + +"A ruse holds not good with Janet. I cannot play upon her wit." + +"Then, Sweet, I will lock the door and--" + +"Nay, nay, she will hear thee, and will come to see if I have been +awakened." + +"Then I had best keep quiet and wait to see what will happen." + +"There is naught else for thee to do, for surely thou canst not go +below, thou wouldst be seen, and--" + +"--and, what, Sweet?" + +"--and be taken prisoner." + +"And wouldst thou be pained, Sweet?" He drew her close, his dark curls +swept her face as he bent his head. Nor did he wait for an answer, but +plied her with another question that the moment and the closeness gave +license to. "Wilt give, Sweet, the nuptial kiss--'tis my due?" She +raised her head from his shoulder ever so slightly to answer him, but +the words came not, for his lips were upon hers. She was thrilled with +his tenderness; 'twas more than she ever could have thought. And as +he held her close, she, not unwilling, declared separation would be +instant death. She wondered how she ever could have withstood love so +long. And he kissed her again and again, saying heaven could not offer +greater favour. "Dost feel happy now, Sweet?" + +She answered not, but stood, her head leant against the rare and +scented lace of his steenkirk, held captive, trembling with an ecstasy +too sweet to be accounted for. + +"Thou dost tremble, Kate; has thy fear not left thee yet?" + +"Nay," came soft and breathless from her full red lips. "I am still +afraid." + +"But what dost thou fear now, so close wrapped?" + +"I know not; 'tis a strange fear. If thou shouldst be taken from me, +I should die; 'tis this I fear most of all, and even for a +separation--nay, nay, I could not live." + +"Oh, Sweet, 'tis excess of gladness that thou art wife--wife, the word +alone fills me with rapturous exaltation. Wouldst be glad if we had +never met thus, should separation come?" + +"Nay, a thousand times, nay, these moments are worth more than all my +life heretofore." + +"Hast forgotten, I must leave the castle before very long, and an +_adieu_ must be said to thee?" + +"I have not forgotten, but 'twill only be for a day. 'Twould be +hazardous for thee to go until everything is quiet about." + +"And until I have quieted thy fears; until I have told thee of a +strong man's love--my love for thy glorious, youthful beauty. Thy +hair, Kate, is more precious than all the amber and bronze the world +holds; 'tis rich, soft and heavy, with glorious waves. Thy face so +filled with love's blushes warms my breast where it doth lie. The +glory of thy eyes that are ever submerging me in their azure depths. +Thy slender, white neck and graceful sloping shoulders. Indeed, Sweet, +thou art wonderfully made. There could not be a more perfect being. +And thou art mine, Sweet; 'tis a wonder that rough man could be so +blest. Thou dost often feign coldness, Kate, and now I wonder where +thou didst find such condition. 'Twas most unnatural, and how thou +couldst so well assume it--but I have found thy true heart. Sweet +Kate, thou hast at last fallen victim to Cupid's darts, and fortune +hath played me fair and put me in the way to receive such priceless +gift, whose dividends are to be all my own." His warm words came so +fast and he was so passionate and tender that Katherine took fright +and thought 'twas not like Sir Julian to be so, and yet to have him +otherwise? nay, she loved him thus, and she remembered the moment he +had pressed her hand as they rode through the forest; aye, he could be +as loving and tender as--as--She did not finish the thought, for her +lord's jewelled fingers had caught her hand and his arm held her +close, pressing her tenderly; his lips resting upon hers until she +grew faint with his ardour. + +At last night paled into dawn. The cocks began to crow lustily. About +the edges of the great windows in the chamber the light began to peep +as if loath to cast one disturbing glance athwart the room. There was +a fluttering sigh from the folds of the maiden's handkerchief as her +lover bent over her, saying,-- + +"_Adieu_, Sweet, _adieu_ once more. Let me kiss thy eyelids close +until they pent these tears that parting hath wrung from thee, and +yet, were they not, I would be without weapon, void of panoply, +equipped not--" + +"But thy urgent tongue and tenderness doth armour thee for conquest!" + +"Aye, 'tis love's armour; but thy tears make me strong to enter strife +with men. I know 'tis love drives thee, and when that love is for me, +I can win all battles." + +"Thou must haste before dawn, or thou wilt be taken; for we do not +know whether the young man still lives; and Lord Cedric will kill thee +if he can." + +"There is no doubt but what he lives. His Grace's physicians have no +doubt healed the burden of his pain long ago. But do not thou think of +him, think only of this sweet night and--dream of our meeting again. +And if his lordship keeps thee prisoner, tell Janet thou art fast wed +and she will help thee to our _rendezvous_ to-morrow. Pray, Sweet, +that the day may be short, for now I see only cycles of time until the +set of morrow's sun." + +Dawn broke into a new day. Sunshine bathed old Earth in golden +splendour. The day grew warm, as higher and higher leapt Phoebus, +until he rested high and hot upon Zenith's bosom, causing all mankind +to pant by his excess. + +Slowly Katherine raised her lazy eyelids until the shining blue +beneath lay in quivering uncertainty. She smiled up at Janet, saying, +sleepily,-- + +"I've a notion not to arise to-day. 'Twill be long and wearisome, and +hot. What is the use? There is nothing in the world to get up for!" + +"Indeed there is a very great deal to get up for. 'Tis a glorious day. +The gardens are aglow with beauty and the air is fine, though warm." + +"I know, Janet, and 'tis thy desire that I arise, but the castle seems +most empty. Their Graces have departed and--" + +"Nay, not so. There has been a great change in the Duke, and the +physicians will not allow his leaving his couch." + +"Ah, I'm sorry! What time did this change take place?" said Katherine +with a feeling of subtleness that for once she had tricked Janet and +knew of great things that had happened in the deep night, when her +faithful nurse thought her in dreamland. + +"Her Grace says there was a great change in him yesterday, that she +noticed it as he ate his dinner." + +"And was there no change in the night?" said Katherine sagely. + +"Speak out, Lambkin, that 'tis on thy mind--if thou dost mean, was he +disturbed when the castle was aroused?--why, no, he was not." + +"But how didst thou know there was an arousal?" + +"I did play the simpering bride's maid, and stood for witness to thine +espousal." + +"Ah! ah! ah! Janet, I can keep no secret from thee!" Quickly she +sprang to the floor. Her foot struck her lover's sword. She stooped +and raised it, and there flashed forth from the jewel encrusted handle +the noble armourial bearings, charged upon a gold escutcheon, of Lord +Cedric's house. Wonderingly, she examined it and swept her brow with +the back of her slender hand. Slowly she spoke, and in a voice vibrant +with portent, her eyes now wide open. + +"This--this doth trend to set my brain a-whirl, and doth connive to +part sense from understanding and mind from body. To be sure, 'twas +dark,--and allowing that I was well-nigh intoxicated with love--my +brain could truly swear 'twas Sir Julian; and yet this he flung aside +doth confute reason, and I must either ponder upon the this and that +in endeavouring to conjoin mental and physical forces to sweet amity +or give over that reaching wife's estate hath made of me a sordid +fool, as hath it oft made woman heretofore. My senses up until I met +one of two at the foot of the stair, I could make affidavit on. The +mould of either could well trick the other, providing their heads were +as muddled as mine, and in this matter I am also clear. 'Twas meet +to speak lowly and the voice was not betrayed. But--there was some +restraint at first; for his words came slow and with much flaunting of +French--indeed 'twas overdone.--And the duel--ah! ah!--'twas Cedric's +'Nay, nay, nay!--' with an oath that had no note of Sir Julian in it. +And hard he strove not to fight, nor did he until the other cried out +to him--I see it all plainly; 'twas Cedric, 'twas Cedric! If I could +mistake all else, I could not mistake his passion; 'twas: 'Kate' this, +and 'Kate' that. Sir Julian never called me else than Katherine. And +his words were over plain, and in truth they became not so slow and +studied, and there was a leaving off of French. 'Twas he! Ah! and he +was so sweet and gentle and near drowned me by his tenderness--'twas +such sweet love--" Quickly she hid her blushing face in the pillow, +for she forgot she was speaking aloud. + +"Hast thou then married mind to body? If thou hast them well mated and +art sure thou art through espousing, I will straightway wed thee to +thy clothes, that thou mayest first pay thy respects to their Graces, +then go out into the sunshine and walk thee up and down for the half +of an hour, where, 'tis most like thou wilt find thy lord, who is too +impatient to remain indoors." + +"Nay, I shall not see him!" + +"Tut, Lambkin! thou wouldst not play the shrew to so noble a lord, +that soon, no doubt, will be a great Duke?" + +"He hath tricked and deceived me. I will punish him for it. Nay; I +have no mind to see him. I could not bear it, Janet. 'Twas this he +meant, for I wondered when he said he had fought two duels and had +been victor in both. Nay; he shall not see me nor I him." And with +these thoughts came others, and thus she fostered malice, promoting +but a puny aversion that she cherished the more for its frailty. + +"Art thou set upon affecting the manners of an orange girl?" + +"Janet, I would not make feint at that I am not." + +"Neither would I, if 'twere me, make feint at that thou art. If thou +hast the name of Lady, I would fit my demeanour to the word. And it +should be an easy thing, for thou art born to the manner." + +"But bad nursing doth corrupt good blood!" + +"And a froward child doth denote a spared rod!" + +"And moral suasion is oft an ethical farce!" + +"A votary of non-discipline is impregnable to ethics." + +"Oh, Janet, dear Janet, I am weary. How is the young man that was +wounded?" + +"The same as ever; save his ardour is somewhat cooled." + +"Thou dost speak as if thou hadst known him." + +"Indeed, any cock of the hackle is essentially commonplace." + +"But he carried the sword of a gentleman?" + +"Thou dost mean he carried a gentleman's sword." + +"Dost thou know who he is, Janet?" + +"I have not inquired." + +"In other words, thou didst see him. And 'twas--I am sure--Adrian +Cantemir." + +"'Twas none other." + +"I will go down now and see their Graces." + +"Art sure thou wilt not see thy lord?" + +"Aye, quite!" + +"Then--here this is for thee." She handed her a dainty billet, +scented with bergamot. Katherine took it in trembling haste, her face +rose-hued. It read: "To My Lady of Crandlemar. Greeting to my sweet +wife, Kate. I await my reprimand and sword. When I am so honoured, I +shall enlist to serve thee with my presence, which, until then, is +held by thee in abeyance. Thou canst not rob me of my thoughts, +which hold naught else but thee; nor yet that dainty girdle that did +encompass thy fair and slender mould. I have it on my heart, close +pressed; but it doth keep that it lieth on in turmoil by such +proximity. I know thou dost love me, even though I tricked thee. Janet +was to tell thee this morning who thy true lord is, for, Sweet, I +would have no other image but mine in thy heart, for soon--soon--aye, +in a very short time--I may be a prisoner in the Tower. Do not think, +Sweet, this is a ruse--but should I be taken where I might not see thy +face, 'twould be sweet to know thou didst hold my image, dear. +Forgive me, Sweet, and--_au revoir!_--Perhaps thy heart will relent +before--before the nightingale sings.--Relent, sweetheart, wife." Kate +pressed the billet to her lips without thinking, then turned her +back quickly to hide the action; but 'twas too late. Janet had been +watching every movement and was satisfied. + +"I wish I had not opened it; such letters are disturbing. Janet, go +below and find if I may see her Grace without meeting any one." When +alone, she devoured again and again the billet, and as Janet returned, +thrust it quickly within the bosom of her gown. + +"His lordship has returned from the terrace and is in the picture +gallery. Her Grace wishes to see thee and waits breakfast." + +For an hour Katherine was with the Duchess, who talked very plainly of +the possible death of her husband and the duties of a great estate and +noble name that would fall to Cedric and his wife to keep up. Nor +did she let the young wife go without telling her into what an awful +condition she might not only lead herself but Cedric, when she allowed +her caprice to manage her better self. It did her ladyship much good, +and she sauntered out upon the lawn and shyly sought the sun-dial and +brought from it a nosegay of bridal-roses and fled, shamefaced, with +them to her own chamber, there to seat herself by the open window to +wait and watch for her young lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CEDRIC IN THE TOILS + + +In the French colony where lay the valuable lands of Sir John Penwick, +there was a lively insurrection of the English. The Papist party, who +had built and lived upon the property for the past ten years, was +strong, having among the Protestants lively adherents who were +Catholics at heart and wore the Protestant cloak that they might the +better spy upon them. The English, being so much the weaker, had been +lead by a few men who were bought by the Catholics. La Fosse had had +to do with these few men only, when he had made a show of settling +Sir John's affairs. These men had heretofore held the secret of the +hostage; but recent events had stirred them to strife and they had +fallen at variance over the spoil. The secret had been let out. The +English rose in arms when the French suggested that such a small +colonial matter should be settled among themselves; 'twas a shame to +bother the Crown. + +Upon the sudden outburst, Sir John made his escape from prison. The +French said he had been stolen by the English and immediate reparation +must be made; his person or a ransom must be had. Or, if they would +give up all claim to the property and child,--the latter being +produced at once--the French were willing to call the matter +settled. Indeed, this was all they wished, and if Sir John could be +conveniently made away with forever, and it proven that the English +had accomplished it, they would certainly be entitled to his +hereditaments. + +Buckingham held the key to the situation. He saw a way to pay a ransom +for Sir John; also a way to gain enough gold from the enterprise to +make himself independent for life. He found Sir John in London, +but not until after Cantemir had gained the former's confidence. +Buckingham took alarm at Cantemir's knowledge and insisted upon Sir +John removing to a place of greater seclusion; it being feared that he +would be murdered. + +Sir John was fond of the Duke, and beside taking his advice, he laid +bare his heart and told him of his great distress over Katherine. +Cantemir had said that she was being held dishonourably by the old +lord's son, who was profligate and only sought her favour without +marriage. + +Buckingham assured him to the contrary, and made him acquainted with +the true circumstances; not failing to tell him of Mistress Penwick's +unsettled disposition; her ambitions, and intractable nature; that +she was refractory and vexatious; petulant and forever thwarting Lord +Cedric's advances. + +The Duke concluded this friendly visit by insinuating strongly--that +Sir John might infer--that the friendship which amounted to nothing +less than love, between himself and Lord Cedric, would alone--barring +the question of a beautiful daughter--suffice to bring the latter to +a full appreciation of Sir John's case. And if a ransom was decided +upon, as being the surest means for his immediate safety, my Lord +Cedric would pay and not feel its loss. + +"And," went on the Duke, "when chance or design brings thee together, +if thou wouldst not be made to feel utterly unhappy, mention not the +matter to him. He is eccentric like the old lord, and would fall +into the spleen, which condition, when entered into by his lordship, +becomes of the temperature of that nondescript bourne the other side +of Paradise." + +Buckingham knew that two emissaries were upon the seas from the New +World. They were coming to interest the King in behalf of Sir John. So +far the Duke had kept everything from his Majesty and must also keep +these "bumpkins" from tormenting him with importunities of so rustic a +nature as "western lands." + +But the Duke had made provision,--should his designs be curtailed by +laches--delegating himself to the post of intercessor, whereby he +could fool both the King and the emissary. Serious injury would be +done to no one, unless Cedric might feel poor for a short time. But +what were the odds; the Duke of Ellswold would soon die and Cedric's +wealth would be unlimited. He would, with a handsome young wife, +forget his finances ever were in depletion. + +Buckingham had already disposed of some of Sir John's jewels and +rare laces, brought over by La Fosse and stored in the chest at +the monastery. There was, however, in the great Duke a vein of +compunction, and for its easement he had refrained from selling some +rare and costly miniatures belonging to Sir John's wife, evidently +handed down through a long line of consanguinity. These he resolved in +some way to return; perhaps he should find it convenient to present +them to Mistress Penwick. + +And so the thick, fierce clouds rolled up and gathered themselves +together, hanging low, over the head of handsome, careless, rich, +young Lord Cedric. + +The village of Crandlemar was indignant that he had allowed to +exist for so long a time the privilege of the monastery. And these +exceptions, with a hint of some foul murder committed at the castle, +reached the nobles roundabout and stirred up a general demur. Beside, +it was whispered in the shire-moot that the woman about to be espoused +by him was a rank Papist and had already placed popish pictures about +the Chapel that was contiguous to the castle. This was all that +possibly could be said against her, as she was known to be most +gracious to the poor Protestants in and about Crandlemar; giving +equally to both factions with a lavish hand. But these matters were +all brought up to militate against his lordship. + +Lord Cedric was already feeling the first thrusts of his enemy, +Misfortune; for 'twas very evident that his Grace of Ellswold was +near his death. Warming-pans were of no avail. He grew very cold; his +extremities were as ice; while the attendants of his bed-chamber were +as red as cooked lobsters from the natural heat of the midsummer's day +and the steaming flannels that were brought in at short intervals. + +Her Grace walked back and forth outside his door continually, Lord +Cedric joining her at times. + +The Castle seemed inured to quiet by his Grace's long illness; but now +there fell a subtle silence that presaged the coming of an unwholesome +visitant. In a room apart lay Adrian Cantemir, weak and sick, but +cursing every breath he drew; excited at times to actual madness, and +saying,--Why had he come a minute too late? Why had he not followed +his own inclinations and broken away from the gambling table at the +inn an hour earlier? such thoughts making him absolutely furious. + +He had arrived some time after dark at Crandlemar village, and, +putting up at the hostelry, he resolved to pay his visit to the castle +early on the morrow. He was now beginning to feel that he was destined +to gain his point, or why had he so far thwarted Lord Cedric, and why +had he escaped the anger of the monks by a well worded and quickly +manufactured tale, and even gained their help by it, when they found +him bound in the passage, left so by Buckingham. So he had felt +somewhat at ease, but love and ambition were strong and stirred him to +leave wine and cards and ride out into the open; and, unwitting it may +be, to the castle gates. He travelled without groom; so fastening his +horse, he entered the avenue a-foot, soon reaching the dark pile of +stone which appeared in absolute darkness. Aimlessly he left the +avenue and sauntered across the terraces. He had heard a peculiar low +murmuring of voices and drew near only to hear Katherine made the +wife of another man; hardly understanding until the Chaplain gave the +blessing. He knew what Katherine did not; that she was the wife of +Lord Cedric and not Sir Julian. He flung himself with all his fury +upon the bridegroom to no avail, as has been seen. + +These inflammable thoughts, as Cantemir rehearsed them over and over, +set his brain afire and before night he was in a fever. The kind and +gentle Lady Bettie Payne, who had arrived late in the afternoon, had +gathered nosegays and made bright his chamber, for she truly had +compassion upon him. He called her Katherine, as she gave him cooling +draughts with her own hand. + +Lord Cedric was somewhat surprised the next evening to that of his +wedding to see the Duke of Buckingham standing in the great hall of +the castle. And when the Duke's business was thrust upon him, there +came also dark forebodings; a separation of indefinite length from his +young wife, should he be taken to the Tower. Great was his surprise +at the Duke's first words, for they were that Katherine's father was +alive and well and in London. He gave quickly the whole story of Sir +John's escape, also the attempt to recapture him. Then came what his +Lordship expected;--a request for a fortune. Of course, while Cedric +thought the amounts asked would not be wholly a loss, yet he knew the +amounts allowed of a great margin of perquisites, and to whom these +perquisites would go, he could guess. However, without question or +complaint, he agreed to give what the Duke asked for; indeed the +matters were settled there and then. + +"If Sir John's life is in danger, I know of no better place of safety +than here. He had better come with all haste--'twould be my wife's +desire!" + +"Wife, so soon?" And the great Duke raised his eyebrows--a small +action, but with him it had a world of meaning in it. "I congratulate +thee, my lord, but--if her ladyship knew the danger that would beset +her father upon such a journey, I feel sure she would wait patiently +a time that must of necessity be of some length. I beg my lord not to +think of bringing Sir John hither. As I hinted before, if this matter +is brought out and he is proven guiltless of those little matters +hinted of, then he could meet her without this heaviness that so +weights him. I am sure if such a thought as meeting his daughter were +mentioned, he would heartily beg for its postponement and--especially +now that she is my Lady of Crandlemar." It stood Buckingham much in +hand to keep Sir John and Lord Cedric from meeting, for he had, not +only told truth, but had heartlessly impugned the former's character +to line his own pocket with the latter's wealth. The truth of the +matter was that he was tight caught in a network of financial and +political intrigue, and this was the only means to disentangle +himself. + +After this first business was settled, a second affair was introduced +and the Duke spoke of his lordship's matters at Court. He said: + +"The King is hard pressed by the nobles--or a portion of them. They +insisted that thou wert aiding the Catholics in such a manner that +the lives of Protestants in this vicinity were in danger. They even +whisper that a plot is being formulated to murder Monmouth. The King +felt it incumbent to send for thee, and as the courier was about +to start forth, he received word that the messenger he had sent in +pursuit of my Lady of Candlemar had been foully dealt with by no other +hand than thine. This stirred the King into a frenzy and straightway +he charged thee with treason and--one comes now to take thee to the +Tower or wherever it pleases his Majesty to put thee. Indeed, he may +have so far forgiven thee by the time thou dost see London, he will +offer thee half his bed or--any unusual favour. So take heart. The +King loves thee." The illness of Ellswold precluded the Duke from +paying any visits within the castle, and he hastened back to London. + +Lord Cedric felt if he could only tell Katherine that her father was +well and in London, it might bring a reconciliation, and his eyes +wandered to the hour-glass, and as he noted the golden sands, he +thought there was yet time for a lover's quarrel and then a sweet +making-up, which should have no limit of time; but, alas! such +blissful moments would doubtless be cut short by the arrival of +the King's messenger. All of a sudden a wicked thought came, as he +remembered how but a few moments before she had turned coldly from him +as he met her in the gallery, and he resolved 'twould be a good time +to make her feel a little of how he had suffered. Separation from her +was all he feared now, and she could not help that. She was fast tied +to him, and he was satisfied; and now why not torment some of those +Satanic whims out of her. "Aye, 'tis the thing to do!" Even as he +thought of her, she had gone with Janet and Lady Bettie to Cantemir's +chamber, for the latter in a lucid moment begged Lady Bettie to bring +her to him. He gave her the letter he bore from her father, requesting +her to come to him at once. She was quite beside herself with joy; +yet, such is human nature, she on a sudden was in no hurry to leave +Lord Cedric. Then she thought he might go with her--but she never +would ask him. So after much thinking and feverish deliberation, she +sent the letter to him by Janet. Cedric compared the handwriting with +the letter he still carried of Sir John's. There was no doubt that the +chirography was the same. He was again thwarted by the Russian. He was +to gain his wife's ear by this very news. But there were other ways, +and he said,-- + +"I have but a few moments to spend with her ladyship; go to her and +tell her so; say that a courier is now upon the highway and--will soon +arrive to conduct me to Tyburn-tree by order of the King--" + +"Good heavens, surely your Lordship is not serious!" + +"I have been forewarned, Janet. Go, tell her the news. Do not mince +the sorry tale. Let her have the weight of it--if weight it be for her +pent affection. Indeed, make it strong, blandish it with no 'ifs' or +'mayhaps' or 'possible chances of a change of mind with the King.' +Thou must make up quickly a whole catalogue of the horrors enacted at +Tyburn. Go, go, hasten thyself, good nurse. I will wait for her here." + +Hardly had Janet disappeared when the door again was thrown open and +the footman announced a gentleman upon the King's errand. 'Twas indeed +his Majesty's guardsman with his order, and Cedric listened with +flushed face and beating heart, not to what he said, but for the sound +of a silken rustle upon the great hall parquetry; and as he heard it, +he raised his voice and said sternly to the courier,-- + +"And this means Tyburn-tree--a farewell forever to my friends--" There +was at these last words a suspicious trembling in his tones that was +not wholly natural,--"an _adieu_ to all this world that begun for me +only--yesterday at the singing of the nightingale--" the sentence was +left unfinished, for Katherine now fell at his feet and embraced his +knees and said with blanched lips,-- + +"What is this horrible tale, my lord? Say 'tis not so!" Great unbroken +sobs made her voice tremble, and there was such extreme misery in her +face and attitude the guardsman was about to utter a protest, for the +order had said nothing of Tyburn, and at such unwarranted display of +grief at a summons--why he would put a stop to it; but his lordship +put up his hand. "Say 'tis not so," she repeated. + +"Nay, I cannot say it, for I know not what lies before me." Katherine +was unable to control her grief, and as it broke out, the guardsman +discreetly walked to the farther end of the room. Cedric had raised +her from the floor and half-supported her as she poured out her grief +in words of pleading and entreaty; but Cedric was as adamant, he would +not bend to offer any hope. This unbending quality she could not +understand, and took it as an omen of ill. In very truth she felt she +was to lose for all time her heart's idol. And when Cedric spoke to +the guard and told him he was ready to go, she cried "Nay, nay, nay!" +in such awful agony he came near relenting. She turned white and would +have fallen, had not Cedric supported her. Janet had already entered +the room and now came running to her mistress, whom she took in her +arms. Cedric turned to the guardsman, saying,-- + +"My wife is ill. If thou wilt return to London, I will follow within a +day or so!" + +"In the name of the King I beg my Lord of Crandlemar--" + +Janet broke in at this and said with a ringing voice,-- + +"Thy order is for the Lord of Crandlemar?" + +"It is, madam." + +"Then I will tell thee, sir, Lord Cedric of Crandlemar is not here. +This is the Duke of Ellswold." She turned to his lordship as she spoke +and saw his face grow white. He loved his uncle tenderly. There was a +moment of palpable silence; the guardsman bowed to the floor, and the +long plumes of his hat swept it in homage, as he raised his hand to +his breast. Katherine had swooned and did not hear Janet's assertion, +nor did she hear the King's other order for the Duke of Ellswold. +The King was aroused and would allow of no mischance. Cedric must go +before his Majesty at once. + +After a few moments in the death chamber, Cedric started for London. +Before they had reached the confines of the city, however, the news of +the old Duke's demise had reached the King, who was in high humour, +and the result was, a courier had been sent to tell Cedric to return +to his castle until after the funeral. So Cedric, accompanied by the +King's guard, rode on to the Seat of the Dukes of Ellswold, where in +the old Abbey there was much pomp in the putting away of the late +Duke. + +It was a great disappointment to Cedric not to see Katherine, and +he was grieved to learn she had not, after so many days, entirely +recovered from her swoon. He was consoled, however, by his aunt's +assertion that her illness was not serious. He turned from Ellswold +and hastened back London way, impatient to know why he was sent for, +and to have matters settled satisfactorily for all time, that he might +with an unburdened heart go to Crandlemar and claim his Duchess; who, +he now knew, would be the sweet and loving wife she should. He was +truly sad at the loss of his uncle, and for this cause alone he rode +into London with downcast appearance. He feared not the evils of the +Tower or Tyburn-tree or the menace of either Catholic or Protestant +party; neither the importunities of Buckingham; had he not now a great +fortune?--ah! but death had brought it him,--and the bitter was mixed +with the sweet. There were other matters to menace his peace of mind +that had not come until that very moment. What if the Crown should +confiscate his property; what was he to do with his wife? There was +his aunt, Sir Julian and Lady Bettie Payne, they would care for her. +Then his thoughts wandered to Constance, and for a while he half +believed he had forgiven her. Then he wondered if she had aught to do +with his present condition. + +The King in the meantime was not to be duped by Lady Constance. She +prided herself upon being discreet, but she was not enough so for the +King's sharp eyes. + +"Odd's fish," said he, "the boy is a woman!" And though he had a +saturnine and harsh countenance, his disposition was both merry and +lenient. He teased her unmercifully, threatening to promote so fine +a lad to a gentleman of his bed-chamber. He bade a woman bring some +clothing suitable for a female and gave the lady into the hands of +female attendants. + +The easy manner of the time gave the courtiers license to taunt her. +This made her very uncomfortable. The queen's ladies' eyes were upon +her. The King's mistresses, not recognizing her as a rival, poked fun +at her from behind their fans. But Lady Constance would bear a great +deal for the sake of gaining her point. She had posted herself upon +the King's affairs with the Duke of Ellswold, and was in a state of +great expectation when she heard that the latter was to be brought to +the Tower immediately after his uncle's funeral. His entire demesne +was out of his hands, he was sadly impoverished; this she bought from +Buckingham's menials. It greatly delighted her, for she had more +wealth than she knew what to do with, and Cedric, seeing her so +pampered by his Majesty, would surely begin to see what a great lady +she was, and perhaps would offer her some attention. She did not know +that Katherine was already the Duchess of Ellswold. She heard from +Monmouth that Mistress Penwick was to be brought to the palace at the +same time Cedric was brought to London, and that 'twas not altogether +sure whether his Grace of Ellswold would be taken to the Tower or be +made a Royal guest, as the King was first cursing, then praising the +new Duke. So Constance began to picture Cedric standing before her, +his face flushed as she remembered it to be, his eyelids that he knew +so well how to lower, then raise ever so slightly, sending forth from +beneath an amorous glance that made her tremble with a sweet thrill +of pleasure. Thus she lived from hour to hour, waiting for his Grace, +little guessing the awful disappointment that awaited her. She fairly +counted the moments. + +To her great joy she saw him again. He was brought to the palace, +instead of to the Tower. When the King saw the Duke, he forgot, or +appeared to forget, that the Duke was a prisoner, and openly embraced +him and had him placed near his own apartments. His Majesty was in +high good humour, hearing from the Duke's own lips that he had nothing +to do with the hiding away of his messenger, and explaining sundry +other matters to his satisfaction. "The Duchess," for so the Duke +spoke of Katherine for the first time before his Majesty, was unable +to arise from her couch, and therefore could not as yet be brought +to the palace. The King said he was pleased that so noble a Duke had +gained his point, even though he had outwitted his King. + +"Odd's fish, and to be separated so soon! it must not be!" + +Lady Constance was joyous when she saw Cedric arrive without +Katherine, but at once it made her very curious to know why the "wench +was left behind; for was it not the King's order?" She sent a maid to +inquire among the servants of the Duke. When the maid returned and +told her that Katherine was the Duke's wife, she fainted away. But +after a few hours of awful depression and heart-sickness she again +nerved herself to battle harder, if possible, than heretofore. + +The Duke's trial was begun, and nothing it seemed could be absolutely +proven against him. It appeared the King shut his eyes and ears to +anything that would incline against his Grace. Not so Constance, who +worked secretly. She was determined, if possible, to see him go to the +Tower, as the only immediate means of separating him from his wife, +who was expected any week at the Royal abode. She informed some of +the nobles that were against him that their principal witness, Adrian +Cantemir, lay ill from a sword thrust at Crandlemar Castle. To be +sure, they had almost forgotten the young man, who had been such a +leader in the beginning. This held the case in suspension and the Duke +still a prisoner; but the King gave him no time for thought; they +rode, walked, drank, theatred and supped together. If 'twere not for +the Duke's love for his wife, and his mourning for his uncle, which +cast so deep a shadow over his natural gaiety, 'twas possible he might +have been drawn by his Majesty into intrigues of a feminine character. + +Constance was ever throwing herself in his path, but he deigned not a +glance her way. She appeared content to watch him, whether he paid her +any attention or not. She was careful to learn of his fortunes, as the +King to appease the Protestant nobles had confiscated the Ellswold +estates and everything else that Buckingham had not taken. But this +sort of thing was a matter of form with his Majesty. His mind was +fully made up. He was not to be frighted or cajoled. He even went so +far as to assure the Duke that as soon as his character was proven, +giving the nobles no chance to gainsay, he should at once take +possession of his estate. The Duke, however, had only his jewels to +borrow on, and that was insufferable to his pride. He had a large +retinue to support, servants that were aged; these he must look after. +Thus matters stood for weeks and months. + +Cantemir was at last able to be moved, and was brought to London, +where he again tried to communicate with Sir John Penwick, but +Buckingham intercepted all letters. There also came word from the new +Lord of Crandlemar, that he was about to take up his abode in England. +This made Ellswold uneasy and impatient; for he had not money +sufficient to place his Duchess in his town house, had he been at +liberty to do so, for the great place had not been kept in repair and +it must be renovated according to her own ideas. If his trial could +only be at once and he could go for her and take her to Ellswold! The +King saw his unusual depression and gained from him a confession of +his troubles, and without letting the Duke know, sent for the Duchess, +who he said should remain at the palace until the Duke should be free +to go. When his Majesty told the Duke--for he could not keep the +secret--the latter was grateful and felt it was the only alternative, +and was much comforted that soon he should see and be with his +Duchess, who, he had learned had regained her colour and was in good +spirit. + +"The King, not caring for the pomp and state his predecessors had +assumed, was fond of exiling the formality practiced by a sovereign +and taking on the easy manners of a companion. He had lived, when in +exile, upon a footing of equality with his banished nobles, and had +partaken freely and promiscuously in the pleasures and frolics by +which they had endeavoured to sweeten adversity. He was led in this +way to let distinction and ceremony fall to the ground as useless and +foppish, and could not even on premeditation, it is said, act for a +moment the part of a King either at parliament or council, either +in words or gesture. When he attended the House of Lords, he would +descend from the throne and stand by the fire, drawing a crowd about +him that broke up all regularity and order of the place." In this free +and unrestrained way he had put his arm through the Duke's and said +confidently,-- + +"The House of Ellswold shall be honoured in an unusual way; that at +least should be a great comfort to thee; but I promise, no matter how +the Council act in these matters of thine, thou shalt soon enjoy the +comfort of thy new estate at Ellswold." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE COCOANUTS OF THE KING'S CELLAR + + +Matters at Crandlemar were comparatively quiet. There was nothing +unusual, unless indeed it was the assiduousness of the young Duchess, +who from morning until night ceased not to offer hecatombs for the +safety and freedom of her lord. She prayed, fasted and sacrificed for +her every desire. She gave alms, offering condolence and sympathy. +In her petitions she threw aside all contumely, calling the poorest, +sister. She allowed not her thoughts to go astray, striving +continually for a pure and meek heart, begging forgiveness for her +untowardness toward her husband. Perhaps one of the most remarkable of +her acts was the one performed at twilight--discovered by Janet, the +wise. + +The nurse went to seek her one evening, and found the young woman in +a dense cloud of blue that emanated from a costly thurible, which she +was swinging before the crucifix in the Chapel. Ascending with the +sweet incense was a psalm of contrition uttered from a truly penitent +heart. A tall candle burned, lighting up the white-robed figure, and +the filmy incense that enveloped it to a saintly vision. Though Janet +watched her mistress thus environed with sacredness, yet the deep +impression was somewhat charged with a sense of humour; "for," she +opined to herself, "people are so much more ridiculous in mending a +breach than they are in making it!" But Janet was not a Catholic, and +beside, she made few mistakes and could condone an offence only when +made by one she loved. Knowing Katherine as she did, she admired the +outward show more than the spirit, and thought of the two the former +was more stable. Katherine often prayed aloud, and Janet hearing her, +caught the burden of her prayer, and there was actual pain in her +voice when she cried out that Cedric might be forgiven for the murder +of Christopher. Now Janet knew that the lad had only been slightly +injured by Hiary and had fully recovered, and she determined to send +for him, and at the Vesper service introduce him into the Chapel and +thereby cause to cease her mistress' plaints. And so it came about in +the late autumn, when Crandlemar was about to receive its new master +from Wales, and the plate and all belongings of the Duke had been sent +to Ellswold, and Katherine herself was to set forth for London within +a few days, she entered the Chapel for her customary devotions. As she +prayed, she was aroused by the opening of the outer door. She looked +up and saw Christopher before her. Janet was surprised at her calmness +and was amazed when Katherine said to him that she had been expecting +to see him all day, as she had heard the evening before that he was +alive and had been seen near the castle grounds. Now it was impossible +to make Katherine think it was a direct answer to prayer, though Janet +did her best. But as it proved, a great weight had fallen from the +Duchess' heart, for she became perfectly joyous and positively +neglected her devotions in the Chapel. She was delighted to set forth, +for the moment had actually arrived, and within a few days she would +see Cedric, and, she hoped, her father also; but the latter's abode +was unknown to her, save only that 'twas in London. + +The night of her arrival at the Royal Palace had closed down dark +and stormy. The King and Queen, with the ladies and gentlemen of the +Court, had repaired to the Duke of York's theatre to see played the +"Black Prince," written by the Earl of Orrery. The King had insisted +upon the Duke of Ellswold accompanying them, but the latter declared +the play would be a torture, when he should be thinking that perhaps +his wife might arrive in his absence. Other thoughts also assailed +him, of which he hinted not to the King; but he was confident +Constance meant mischief, and he was unwilling to give her any chance +to put the weight of her anger on the Duchess. + +The great cream-hued chariot bearing Katherine rolled past the Mall +and up to the palace. The sleet was falling rapidly and the wind +blowing such a gale the sound of the coach was not heard by the Duke, +as he paced his chamber. She was trembling and eager, and heard not +the admonitions of Janet and Angel to mind the ice-clad step that was +let down. She was expectant and eager to see her spouse; but she stood +within her apartment and Janet was loosening her capes when the Duke +came bounding to her side. He took her in his arms and gazed and +gazed, and they minded not the presence of the two nurses, who on a +sudden became busy unpacking her Grace's chests. He kissed her until +her face was rose-red, and she was drunken with love. + +When Lady Constance heard that Katherine had arrived, she became very +impatient to catch one glimpse of her. She had heard many things about +the young wife, and she had her suspicions and upon them she formed +a plan to throw a taunt upon her Grace, bringing both Monmouth and +Cantemir into the case. She resolved to make Katherine as unhappy +as possible. She scrupled at nothing. Now the fair Constance prided +herself upon being a prisoner of the King; but she was not so certain +of his favour that she dare make one single open move against +Katherine. She must taunt her in secret; but how to do this was +puzzling, for she kept her apartment, partly from fatigue after her +long ride, and it may be from a disinclination to go abroad. So she +bided her time and ungraciously as she saw the popularity of the noble +woman grow and grow; she was fast becoming a great favourite. Indeed, +she was constantly visited by the King and Queen, and the greatest +ladies of the Court. The Queen had grown very fond of her, spending +hours in her company and oftentimes taking her for a walk or ride. +Before the Duchess had been within the Palace a month, she was +imitated in every way. Great ladies became so familiar, they would +take up her articles of the toilet and copy the manufacturer's name. +They in a short time were using the same concoction of rouge and +perfumes. Their maids must learn what Janet did for her mistress in +the way of baths, for "never was there such healthful and dainty +complexion." And when the Duke began buying cocoanuts by the wagon +load at an enormous expense, and 'twas known that her Grace drank the +milk of it by the quart, the King's cellar became too small to hold +the quantities that were brought to the ladies of the Court. And 'twas +said many of the young fops also used the milk for their complexion. +Constance had not yet ordered any of this fruit, but she ascertained +where the Duke's were kept and how it might be possible to obtain a +few of them for an object that was at least original. Before, however, +she resorted to the arts of chemistry, there was an opportunity to +give the Duchess a thrust. Two great chests were being unbound in +the corridor just outside of her Grace's door. Constance knew they +contained an elaborate and costly _layette_; so she hurried to her own +apartment and wrote in a disguised hand a billet that threw out the +worst of insinuations, and as a finale she added a _pasquinade_ copied +hastily from some low and bitter lampoon. She returned through the +corridor, and, unnoticed, thrust the paper into a crevice of one of +the chests. But Katherine never saw the billet, she was not disturbed +in the least, and her ladyship soon saw some one else had gotten hold +of it, for there was not a shadow on her Grace's face. This goaded +Constance to a perfect fury, and she resolved upon extreme measures. + +One very dark and stormy day she left the palace dressed as a servant, +and drove in a public conveyance to an old chemist's, who resided in +a remote portion of the city. Here she procured materials that if +properly handled and successively served would bring the youthful +Duchess to her death. She resolved in this case to work slowly and +cautiously, allowing of no mischance. It so happened the chemist did +not have the articles she required, but promised for a liberal sum to +procure them from a certain celebrated physician. This of course would +take some time. But the physician was in France and would not return +for at least a fortnight. So a fortnight went by and another and +another, until Constance' patience was exhausted, and as she went to +the shop for the last time, vowing to wait no longer, if the chemist +had not the things, lo! they were there; and after learning how simple +it was to use them, she hastened to the palace, there to be met by the +news that the Duchess had brought forth a son of rousing weight and +strength. Constance fell into a fever, and was obliged to keep her bed +for some weeks; then she arose and after being seen again among the +ladies of the Court and appearing as unconcerned as possible, when +speaking of the Ellswold heir, she found her way below stair and made +siege upon the King's cellar and looted a good dozen cocoanuts. + +She had procured from the chemist a protrusile instrument for letting +fluid through the hard outer covering, and in this manner intended to +inoculate the milk of the nut with a slow poison. These, of course, +after such treatment, would be returned to their fellows, and the +death of Katherine with that of the young lord would be assured. + +After a few trials she succeeded in obtaining a result that was +entirely satisfactory, if the hole thus made could be effectually +plugged. She filled the aperture with a viscous matter that would in +a few moments harden if placed in the sun, and to this end she opened +the window and laid the cocoanut in the sun's rays upon the sill. + +She was quite alone, yet she feared; indeed, so deadly was her intent, +she jumped at every noise, and upon hearing some sound without, +slipped on tip-toe from the window to the door and listened, then +cautiously drew the bolt and looked without. The corridor seemed even +more quiet than usual. Her fears were subdued and as she turned about +to close the door, a suction of air caught the curtain and swelled +it through the open window, thereupon sweeping the cocoanut to the +ground, where it fell at the very feet of his Majesty. When Constance +saw what the vile wantonness of the wind had done, she fell upon her +knees in wild despair and tremblingly remained thus for an instant +only, for a bit of hope sprang up. She arose and quickly ran to the +window,--she hesitated, then, ever so slowly she peeped over the sill, +and there stood the King with the nut in his hand. "Ah!" she said, +drawing back quickly, for they were not looking up, and she felt +relief that they did not see her, but unfortunately for her, a lackey +was standing some little distance from his Majesty and saw everything. + +Of course treason was suspected. It was thought the nut had been +dropped to crush the King's head; but upon examination 'twas found +there oozed from a small opening curdled milk. The Royal chemist was +summoned, and in a moment all knew that the fruit was poisoned. The +lackey had already told the King from what window it fell. Constance +was cold with fright. She forgot her love, ambition, revenge, her +whole paraphernalia of desires, in this disaster. + +Out she went into the corridor to ascertain, if possible, what was +a-foot below stairs. "Would they be able," she thought, "to find from +whence the nut came?" At the very idea she fled back to her chamber +and gazed about in agony, for there lay every condemning thing in the +floor, and where was she to hide them, for a search would certainly +be made in a few moments. A hiding-place must first be found for +the nuts. She looked at the bed; surely that would be searched. She +thought to sew them in the sleeves of her gowns, but that would look +bulky and there was not time. She flew about in wild anxiety. She +listened at the door to the sounds below, and, seeing a lackey, asked +what the noise meant. He said a cocoanut had been dropped and they +were going to search for the one who did it. Again her ladyship +fled to her chamber and began to look behind chairs and screens and +portable cabinets; but to no avail; she found no safe hiding. At last, +the great, high, nodding tester caught the glance of her anxious eye. +She hastily placed first a small table--the only one she was able to +carry--then a chair upon the bed, and with the one upon the other +was able to see the top of the tester. But alas! it was cone-shape. +Invention, however, was not out of Constance' line, and quickly she +placed a box upon the pinnacle and in it five cocoanuts. There +were yet at least a half-dozen more to hide, beside the poison and +instrument. She thought to place these in one of her great hats +and raise them to the tester also. As she was about to mount the +improvised lift, she heard approaching footsteps. Hardly had she +withdrawn the table and chair and placed the hat--well bent--beneath +the low stool whereon she had been sitting, and arranged the folds of +her heavy brocade like a valance about her, when the door was thrown +open. + +"My God!" said she, under her breath; "'tis the King himself!" + +His Majesty accompanied by a number of gentlemen in waiting, entered +the room. He appeared in high, good humour, and inclined to be +facetious. He advanced straight to her. She, hardly rising from the +stool, made a deep curtesy. It was well done, without disarranging the +full folds of her stiff brocade, that inclined to stand whether she +so honoured the King or not. He laid his hand familiarly upon her +shoulder, bearing somewhat upon it, until she turned quite red, either +from his intent or her own guilt. + +"We are looking for secrets. Hast thou any, my little beauty?" + +"Your Majesty doth honour me greatly; first by thy presence and +secondly by thy thought that I might have a secret--as if woman could +keep even the shade of one from her King!" + +"But sometimes there is more happiness in the shade than in the +substance." His keen eyes did not leave her face. But hers were turned +with an apprehensive stare upon the King's gentlemen, who were looking +and prying impudently here and there about the rooms and closets. Her +gowns were even pressed here and there among their paddings. Tables +and cabinets were opened; the bed was examined. They lifted the heavy +valance and one got upon his knees and prodded beneath with his sword. +As he withdrew with a very red face, some one shook the curtains with +such vigour the tester miscarried and down rolled, one by one, the +cocoanuts. The King fairly yelled with laughter, holding on to his +sides, his gentlemen joining him with mirth restrained somewhat by the +seriousness of the case. + +"Indeed, the young Duchess hath turned all heads by her gorgeous +beauty, and all would be like her, whether or no!" said the King +between great bursts of laughter. Lady Constance' mind was ready and +caught quickly at his words, and she turned to him with a gay laugh +that somewhat veiled her terrible fear and nervousness. + +"Indeed, 'tis the fashion to use the cocoanut milk for drinking and +ointment, and the silly wenches of maids doth steal it dreadfully and +I was compelled to hide them." + +"But 'twill do thee no good, 'tis not thy nature to be round. Hast +thou seen the young heir? He is a lusty fellow; and 'tis well worth a +journey to the nursery to see him," and he took her hand and raised +her to her feet. "Come, we will go and call upon his lordship." + +There was an agonized expression on Constance' face as she was +compelled to move at the King's bidding. Slowly she moved. It +seemed every motion was full of painful effort. All eyes, for some +unaccountable reason, appeared to turn to the train of her dress that +rustled subtlely; even Constance turned to look back and down with +bulging eyes on that silken train, and though she moved ever so +cautiously the bristling folds caught upon the edge of the stool and +turned it over, the cocoanuts, poison bottle and all falling a-sprawl. +The King bent down and picked up the vial, then dropped it quickly, +saying,-- + +"Odd's fish, the female that did don man's attire and flirt about with +foppish airs is trying to play the hen and has made a nest and gone +to setting on spoiled eggs that will hatch nothing but shades, and +wraiths, and mandrakes!" And he lifted a cocoanut, from which the milk +was oozing out slowly and in a curdled state. + +"And who, mistress of the chemist's shop, hath taught thee his art?" + +"'Tis a great and awful thing that hath happened; indeed, oh! King, I +knew not the things were under the stool--" + +"Then 'twas unfortunate thou shouldst remain seated before thy King; +in this case 'twas condemning." And he turned and cried,-- + +"Hi! hi! call the guard! Thou shalt go into durance until I have +sifted this dairy business." Before the unfortunate woman could open +her mouth to plead further, the King was gone and two stalwart guards +stood at either side of her, ready to conduct her behind bolts and +bars. + +Now the King was inclined to be easy with all his subjects, but when +treason lay so open before him, he was quick to punish. Constance, +being a cousin of the Duke of Ellswold, he put the case before him. On +the instant, the Duke gave a solution to Constance' aims, explaining +everything to the King. He also--for he dreaded what the King might +do--said 'twas possible she was not of sound mind. His Majesty saw the +Duke's drift and declared that death should not come upon her, but she +should be imprisoned. This satisfied the Duke, for he was seriously +afraid for the young heir and his wife. + +Now Constance was utterly without hope. She was degraded at Court, +nevermore to rise again, and of course this state of things would be +known at every street corner. Even though she could make her escape, +where could she go? Who would accept her as the noble Lady Constance +again? She would wander up and down the world, friendless; while +Katherine would have love, wealth and honour, all one could wish for, +all there was in life to have. + +"Nay, nay, nay!" she cried in her agony. "I shall have one more +chance." She threw out her arms to the air and ground her teeth and +dragged herself from end to end of her bare and lonely cell. "One more +chance," she cried, "and 'twill be death to her; aye, death!" + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER + + +Sir Julian had been striving for months to make peace with the young +Duchess; but all effort appeared futile, until Providence suddenly +stepped in and aided him. Cantemir had turned religious, owing to the +taking hold upon him of a mortal disease; and though he had not been +about to undo any of his schemes in Cedric's case, yet he intended to +do so as soon as he was able. He was not idle, however, as he wrote +many letters and received visits from the ones who were foremost in +the fight. Nor was he long in discovering that their feelings were +already changed toward Ellswold, for they saw 'twas unpopular to be +striving against the King's desires, and against a nobleman who would +be very powerful when he should regain his fortunes. The Count wrote +to Pomphrey, saying he wished to speak face to face with him. + +At this interview the Russian unburdened his heart of all malice and +hatred, and gave vent to ill-gotten secrets, of which Buckingham's +schemes were foremost. So open and frank was the Count in his +assertions there was no doubt in Sir Julian's mind but what he had +created an wholesome feeling with his conscience; and for himself, +recognized the interview as nothing more nor less than the comely +intervention of Providence. + +Sir Julian determined upon an immediate _rendezvous_ with Sir John +Penwick, to the end that a concerted movement might effectually bring +the Duke to his senses. He loved Buckingham, but he loved the Duchess +of Ellswold more, and for this cause of peace, intended to hedge the +Duke about with an impenetrable wall. + +Buckingham soon saw that the strings were closing about him, and that +'twas Sir Julian who held the taut ends. But the great Duke had still +one more move, a move so venturesome, so involved with hazard, that +when 'twas made, the King himself admired and paid homage to its +projector. + +The Duke knew that Sir Julian, with a whisper in the King's ear, +could send him to the Tower. So at the point of Sir Julian's +sword--metaphorically--he was forced to go to the King and straighten +matters as best he could. This the great Duke did, with the most +exquisite urbanity. He knew well the King's humour, and the most +propitious moment in it, and propinquity played him fair, and there +vibrated in his Majesty's ear the dulcet tones of George Villiers +magnetic voice, saying,-- + +"Oh, King! may I tell thee of what foul issue fulsome Nature hath +brought forth, and what travail I suffer for--" + +"Odd's fish! what hast thou been doing, George, what hast thou--" + +"Oh, King!" and the Duke bowed upon his knee and touched with his lips +the great ring upon his Majesty's hand; "I did engender with a brain +unwebbed by wine, a body ample of strength and health, my soul +absolved, my heart palpitant with pure love and rich intention; but +corruptible Nature hath adulterated and brought forth an oaf, to which +I lay no claim--" + +"Egad! Duke; we'll wager a kilderkin of chaney oranges at four pence +each and a dozen cordial juleps with pearls that thy conscience is +about to bewray thee." + +"Your Royal Highness doth honour me by the assumption that such a +kingly component is mine. I cannot gainsay thy assertion, but who but +my King could touch to life the almost undefined limning of moral +faculty that has been my poor possession heretofore--" + +"And who but thy King would give to thy swart issue a, no doubt, +condign interest; come, curtail loquacity!" + +"Then, your Majesty, to be brief, I have raised for thee the subsidies +thou were too modest to ask the House for--" + +"Odd's fish, and this is thine oaf; oaf, callest thou it, when it +has brought unspeakable joy to thy King? Not so, 'tis an issue that +outshines in weight, point of beauty and actual worth that bouncing +youngster of Ellswold's." + +"But, oh! King, I counted not upon the exigencies of thy love. I +thought only of the pleasure 'twould give thee to have subsidies +without plea, and I have made two of thy favourites my victims. How +should I know that the Duke and Duchess of Ellswold were to become +nestlings in thy cradle of love?" The King's face darkened, but for a +moment only, as the sunshine of full coffers had penetrated the vista +of his needs, and a cloud even though it bore the after-rain was not +to darken his expectations. "I beg thine indulgence to allow me to +presume upon fancy. Supposing Sir John Penwick was alive and had +committed a crime that made it impossible for him to seek the aid of +his beloved King; that the said Sir John has vast possessions in the +New World that rightfully belonged to the English crown as hostage for +his own life, that had been in the hands of the French; that these +matters had been brought to the King's ear, but his Royal Highness had +been troubled with weightier affairs at home, and that one of his very +lowly but loyal subjects had undertaken, without aid of Government, +to secure these possessions for his King, calling to his aid the +generosity of Ellswold, who was willing to give all without knowing +why, save 'twas for his King and--" + +"And Penwick has proven guiltless and comes to his King to claim his +rightful possession;--and the subsidies--" + +"Are still thine, and thou shalt have them within a fortnight, if thou +wilt grant me one small request, oh! King." + +"Thou hast it. Be brief." + +"Of my appointment, a new keeper of the Tower." The King started and +half turned from the Duke, while through his mind ran hurriedly the +names of "Chasel, Howard, Baumais" and "who hath he in mind." Then +like a flash came the thought of Lady Constance, and he turned about +quickly and said with severity,-- + +"Thou hast our word," and with a gesture gave the Duke his _congé_. + +That very night just as the early moon began to whiten the Towers of +old London, the key turned in the door of Lady Constance' cell; but +turned so lazily--either from indolence or an unaccustomed hand--that +her ladyship looked up and saw to her surprise a new gaoler. He +smiled, thereby giving to the heart of its object a great thrill of +joy, for it meant kindliness and kindliness is often predicated of +selfishness or a desire for things one has not. + +"What is thy name, fool?" + +"Just plain Fool," and he gave her due obeisance. + +"And why so?" + +"Is it not enough to be so christened by so great a lady?" + +"Then thou art not a subsidiary but chief factotum?" + +"Aye, the other is ill and I have spent the afternoon in learning +the--names." + +"Thou shouldst be well paid for so short a season.--Is he serious?" + +"I hope so, good lady." + +"Oh! if thou wouldst make profit of thy time, begin by bringing hither +for my supper good ale and wine, with sugar and spices; and I will +brew thee such a horn as thou hast ne'er thought on before. And thou +for each good turn shalt drink a wassail to thy buxom wench and shalt +have money for the basset-table." + +It is needless to say that Buckingham knew his man, and Constance' +desires for one whom she could bribe. The latter's first and only +desire was for means of escape, and to this end tried to bribe the +keeper for man's attire. This was not the Duke's aim, and Constance, +being thwarted, struck quickly upon another means. + +She succeeded in getting the promise of a visit from Cantemir, who was +little able to be about, but he intended to see her of his own accord, +that he might move her to a lively interest in the salvation of her +soul. + +In anticipation of his visit, Constance had obtained through the +gaoler certain drugs of nondescript virtues. These she carefully hid +and made her final preparations for a speedy flight. + +Cantemir stopped for a moment, as he stepped from the chair, and +looked up at the prison walls, that were made grey and indistinct by +the clouded moon and falling rain. Religion had changed him even more +than the ravages of disease. His true self had awakened, and the +beauty of it had devoured the Satanic expression that was wont to lie +upon his countenance. His face fairly beamed with a light that came +from within, where his soul stirred now free from sin's fetters. + +He was conducted by the keeper through the windings of the sombre +corridors to the cell of Constance, who greeted him with the words: + +"Now, Adrian, we can excuse wantonness in the devil, but never +slothfulness in religion. We have no shrines here as abroad; what has +kept thee from thy captive cousin?" + +"I am not late, Constance; thou art impatient, and as for shrines, I +carry one in my heart all the time, and thou must have one, too--" + +"Damn! We have no time to prate. I must get out of this vile +hole.--Hast thou seen the devil Duchess lately?" + +"Aye, yesterday I saw her riding out. She is very beautiful, but she +has changed--" + +"Changed--how?" + +"She has grown fleshy--" + +"Ah! say not 'fleshy' but fat! fat! Now what good fortune is this? The +Duke will be getting a divorce, for he doth abominate a fat woman. +Good, good! I must see her. I shall pay her a visit before I leave for +France." + +"Thou wilt have far to journey, for they leave at once for Ellswold. +The case will be settled within a few days at most." + +"A few days at most? Legal folderol, a mere shade of a trial. Aye; I +must see her Grace. I have a message for her." + +"I will serve thee; Constance, I will take thy message--" Adrian was +interrupted by the entrance of the gaoler, who brought in cordial +juleps. Her ladyship made the fellow drink, before she would allow him +to go. Then, as he left them again, she said,-- + +"Thou canst not; it is a message no one can deliver but me," and as if +to seal her words she poured down a good, round bumper. + +"What dost mean, Constance? Thou art too subtle for me!" + +"Too subtle? Hast thou lost the art of penetration? Then I'll tell +thee, thou--the 'Ranter,' as they call thee. Thou who hast become +Bunyan's squire. I am going to poison my lady or give her a dagger +thrust. She must die." + +"Thou art the devil, Constance; but there is one who can outwit the +devil, and he will do it, too." + +"What hast thou to say about it?" + +"Thou shalt not do it." + +"What wilt thou do to prevent it?" + +"I will put the house of Ellswold on their guard." + +"Thou wilt not help me to escape, and thou wilt run with tales to +Ellswold. Thou wouldst keep me here, that I might soon die, so thou +couldst have my estates. Poor, puny thing, that art upon death's +threshold now. Thou wouldst have me die, so thou couldst live +luxuriously and use as much of my wealth as thou couldst, leaving +behind a paltry residue for the Crown. Thou wouldst indeed!" said +Constance, scornfully, as she fumbled in the folds of her dress for +the small bottle hidden there. + +"Constance," said Cantemir, under his breath, as he lifted one of the +mixtures before him, "thou must not kill. Let me awaken thy better +nature--" + +"Nay; she must die!" + +"I will not remain longer with thee, if thou dost hold such foul +intent. Take back thy words. I will give thee no rest until thou dost. +There is a God who will sweeten thy ill feeling for Katherine--" + +"Shut thy mouth, fool!" and she spoke with such fury Adrian's heart +sank within him, and his head fell upon his arms upon the table. "Thou +wilt have a season of prayer, then; so be it. Maybe, if thou prayest +with thy whole heart for sixty seconds, mine will change," and as she +said the words, she dropped some deadly thing into his glass. + +The wine was not moved nor discoloured, and as Cantemir raised his +head, took hold upon it, and lifted and drank it nearly half. + +"I love thee, cousin, with a Christian spirit, and I cannot see thee +lose thy--soul." A shiver passed through his thin frame, and when +he again began to speak, he drooled sick'ningly. "I say thou shalt +not--kill her--and some one--else says it--I will watch thee in +spirit--" + +Constance wished him to die quickly, that she might not be obliged to +look upon prolonged horrors. She could easily arrange his position, +with his head upon the table, to look quite natural, as if in drunken +sleep, and when the keeper came, she would give him a like portion, +before he could make any discovery, and when they were both +despatched, she would don Cantemir's attire and take the keeper's +keys and be gone. She quickly poisoned another glass, then looked at +Cantemir. So horrible was the glassy glare in his eye, she made as +if to arise from the table, but he leant over and grasped her hand. +Constance' face was livid with fear, and beside, she heard the gaoler. +As the keys were turned in the door, Cantemir's head dropped back +against the chair, and he sat upright, but dead; his hand fastened +tight upon his cousin's. She screamed and fell, half-fainting, across +the table. The keeper sprung to her aid, and took hold of the full +goblet of wine and pressed it to her lips. She tried to recover +herself, seeming to know 'twas not the time to indulge in a fainting +fit; but the strain was too much, her body was stronger than her mind, +and she mechanically took the goblet and poured the contents down +her throat. A thought must have come to her with the rapidity of +lightning, for she jerked the goblet from her mouth, spilling the dark +fluid over her. She glared at the empty cup with distended eyeballs, +and screaming once wildly, fell heavily across the table. + +It had turned out differently and better than Buckingham had thought; +and after making a hasty trip into France, whence he was immediately +recalled by his King--who was luxuriating in the easement of pecuniary +difficulties--he journeyed to Ellswold to present to the young +Duchess certain rare laces, gems and porcelains he had found--so he +intimated--among the Russian Count's possessions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE GARDEN OF YOUTH + + +The meeting of Katherine and her father was a joyous one. As Sir John +pressed her to his heart, Janet knelt at his feet, kissing the hand +he held out to her. And there stood by the Duke of Ellswold and Sir +Julian, the latter having received at last the most gracious welcome +from the Duchess. + +But yet Pomphrey was not happy; his conscience troubled him beyond +measure. So he set about to make himself right with the world. He +argued that adoration should be given to God only, and when one was so +selfish and thoughtless to give it to another being, it was time he +looked to his soul. And for the correction of this serious fault, +he left Ellswold and went into France, and in a short time became a +devout _religieux_. + +Lady Bettie Payne was so wrought upon by this great change in Sir +Julian's life, for a fortnight she remained within her chamber, trying +to feel what 'twould be like to live the life of a nun. But this +season of devotion was suddenly interrupted by a visit from St. Mar, +of whom she was very fond. He asked her hand in marriage and was +accepted. + +In course of time a family of three boys and two girls were born to +the Duke and Duchess. A great christening party was in preparation. +The Duchess was worried about the christening robe, that had not yet +arrived, and she said to Janet,-- + +"Indeed, Janet, this delay reminds me of my anxiety over the chests +that were to bring me my first finery--dost remember, at Crandlemar?" + +"Aye. It does not take much of a memory to think back seven years!" + +"Seven years! Why, Janet, thou art growing old!" + +"Nay, sweet Mistress; but the two generations I now nurse are very +young." + +"'Tis true.--But what thinkest thou could detain the chest? Father +Pomphrey cannot be kept waiting for a christening robe. And to think +of Lady Ann being baptized in a common frock! 'Twould make Bettie St. +Mar laugh; she already feels quite jealous because we are the first +to have Father Pomphrey. And methinks, Janet, now that she is in +expectancy--she will so vibrate 'twixt France and England,--fearing +she will not be near Father Pomphrey for the christening--that little +Julian and François will forget which is home." + +"She need not do that; he could go to France." + +"Nay, not so; for he leaves at once for Rome and will not return to +England ere summer, meaning not to stop at all in France." + +"Ah! that makes me think of what I heard him say to Monsieur St. Mar +in the nursery. 'Twas something about a christening. Monsieur said: +'Thou art expected at Crandlemar Castle?' and Father Pomphrey +answered: 'Aye, sometime before next Michaelmas.'" + +"Then Lady Bettie will remain in England mayhap." + +"'Tis possible." + +"What did he say of the children, Janet?" + +"Of my lord Duke's and thine?" + +"Aye." + +"He said not a word of them in particular, but fondled all alike, +calling each by name, and now I think on't, I wonder he could remember +a dozen or so, when he has not yet been three days in the castle. +'Twas 'Lady Mary' and 'Sir Jasper' and 'Lady Jane' and 'Lady Kate' and +'Lord Ivor'; and for each he had a story. And Monsieur grew tired, and +my lord Duke asked Sir Julian if the children did not tire him also, +and he answered: 'Duke, there is a peculiarly wholesome knowledge +that we cannot obtain save through a child's mind; and while in the +companionship of children, we are surrounded by a field of flowers, +whose glory fructifies the good germ within us, and Wisdom--that +tallest flower, that knows no harvest--springs up at prime, blossoms +forth at compline and grows a fragrant staff, upon which man leans in +the night of life.' Then they walked away, and I heard no more." + +"Dear Father Pomphrey--" Then for a moment the Duchess looked with a +far-away expression out upon the snow-covered landscape, then, on +a sudden, she said, almost pettishly,--"But, Janet, what keeps the +chest?" + +"Perhaps 'tis Providence." + +"What dost mean; how Providence?" + +"Thou hast ordered the robe to be so perfect, so in accordance with +the Royal mode, the child will be in torment. Indeed, I am afraid +'twill make the little lady ill to be so encased. Ah! but thou art +great folk, and, as Dent hath said, such people 'spend their time in +tricking and trimming, pricking and pinning, pranking and pouncing, +girding and lacing and braving up themselves in most exquisite +manner;--these doubled and redoubled ruffles, these strouting +fardingales, long locks and fore tufts;--it was never a good world +since starching and steeling, buskes and whalebones, supporters and +rebatoes, full moons and hobbyhorses came into use.' I doubt not that +Father Pomphrey himself will demur at such cruelty." + +But the chest came in time, and Katherine was satisfied. + +The castle was filled with guests, and the nurseries full of +bright young children waiting impatiently to be taken to the great +picture-gallery, where, under the limned faces of many generations, +the christening was to take place. + +An altar had been raised; and upon it was the golden service, a little +apart the font, and upon either side of the long gallery were flowers +banked 'neath specially honoured portraits. + +At the appointed hour the children defiled down the long room, then +came the other guests, and finally Sir Julian Pomphrey in his robe of +office--Father Pomphrey, so elegant, loving, good; a princely priest. +Then came Janet with little Lady Ann in her arms; the child appearing +like an Egyptian mummy in white bands. The Duke and Duchess looked +handsome and proud, And when the celebration was concluded, all form +was dissipated, the children gathering about the youngster for a +"peep," then scampered to the flowers. And as the elder folk looked +on, some one opined that the human nosegay was more gorgeous of +apparel and glow of cheek than the Ayrshire rose or the twisted +eglantine. Then suddenly the children gathered about a single portrait +of remarkable rich colouring, and little Lady Margaret came running +and saying with a lisp,-- + +"Come, see, Father; 'tis the prettiest picture here, and there are no +flowers 'neath it." + +"What, no flowers?" and Father Pomphrey looked down in feigned +surprise. + +"Why, here _is_ a flower!" and the child lifted a crushed immortelle +from the parquetry and gave it to the priest, who quickly made the +sign of the cross and said something almost inaudible about the flower +being prophetic; and then he leant close to the child's ear, saying,-- + +"Will Lady Margaret do something for Father Pomphrey?" + +"Aye, anything--" + +"Remember always to pray for the soul of Lady Constance Clarmot." Then +raising the flower, he said abstractedly,--"What gems of thought we +find in the Garden of Youth!" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mistress Penwick, by Dutton Payne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISTRESS PENWICK *** + +***** This file should be named 12256-8.txt or 12256-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/2/5/12256/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/12256-8.zip b/old/12256-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1190ae8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12256-8.zip diff --git a/old/12256.txt b/old/12256.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a070556 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12256.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10231 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mistress Penwick, by Dutton Payne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mistress Penwick + +Author: Dutton Payne + +Release Date: May 4, 2004 [EBook #12256] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISTRESS PENWICK *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +MISTRESS PENWICK + +BY + +DUTTON PAYNE + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER I +THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL + +CHAPTER II +THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR + +CHAPTER III +THE BALL + +CHAPTER IV +HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL + +CHAPTER V +BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES + +CHAPTER VI +JANET'S PHILOSOPHY + +CHAPTER VII +THE BRANTLE + +CHAPTER VIII +THE ANCIENT MONASTERY + +CHAPTER IX +SIR JULIAN POMPHREY + +CHAPTER X +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUTLERY + +CHAPTER XI +JACQUES DEMPSY + +CHAPTER XII +CASTLE AND MONASTERY + +CHAPTER XIII +AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE CHAPEL BELFRY + +CHAPTER XIV +SERMONS NEW AND OLD + +CHAPTER XV +THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM + +CHAPTER XVI +BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE + +CHAPTER XVII +TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL CONCERNED + +CHAPTER XVIII +AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA + +CHAPTER XIX +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COACH + +CHAPTER XX +UNPROCLAIMED BANNS + +CHAPTER XXI +THE ESPOUSAL + +CHAPTER XXII +CEDRIC IN THE TOILS + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE COCOANUTS OF THE KING'S CELLAR + +CHAPTER XXIV +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER + +CHAPTER XXV +THE GARDEN OF YOUTH + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL + + +"If the ship sails at dawn, then I must hasten to tell my mistress of +the departure, and--of her father's letter." + +"I am loath to let yonder tide take her away so soon, Janet." + +"But my master's words are a positive command to leave Quebec at +once," and Janet's eyes fell to the imperative line at the close of +her letter which read: "In God's name, good nurse, take my baby to +England in all haste." + +"Aye, our noble patron's desire must be carried out!" and the Mother +Superior without further lament went from the small cell. + +When the last echo of her footsteps had died away, Janet Wadham +cautiously opened the inner door and passed to the cell adjoining, and +to the low couch upon which lay her mistress in sound slumber. + +Fondly she noted the beauty of her charge; the heavy waving hair +gleaming in the fading light a bronze-like amber, the white forehead, +the arched brow, the glow of health upon lip and cheek, the slender +neck, the slope of shoulders, and the outline of a perfect form. + +Then the maid stirred and opened her eyes. Her whole body thrilled +with the awakening. + +"Ah, 'twas like the bursting of a bud! How dost feel now, Mistress?" + +"I am not ill at all. I am a martyr to thy imagination. Dost remember +the time, Janet, I drowsed in the chapel and thou didst make me drink +bitterwort for a fortnight?" and the girl's voice rung out in soft +laughter. + +"Aye, I have not forgotten, nor why thou wert drowsy either, Mistress +Penwick." + +"Nay, thou didst not know." + +"I did so. Thou hadst a book of tales and read nights with the candle +shaded by thy mother's landskip fan, and I gave thee aloes for thy +folly." + +"Thou dost always find me out, Janet; I shall be glad when I become a +woman as big as thou." + +"Thou art a woman to-day, and thou wilt never be as big as I; so, +having age and not a hulking servant's body, be content. I have a +letter from my master, and in it is much that concerns thee--" + +"Isn't there always much that concerns me?" + +"But not such important concernings. He has gone on a long journey and +proposes one for thee, my lambkin." Katherine raised herself in bed. +"Nay, thou must not stir or I hush my tale! Thy father has provided +thee with a guardian and 'tis to him I take thee. We go to England +by the first boat,--nay, lay back, calm thyself or I take my wagging +tongue away; if thou dost so much as stir again, I leave thee. Thou +art to go to a great house over there and see grand folks with fine +airs and modish dress. Wilt be glad to see outside of convent walls? +'Tis nine years since I brought thee here a babe of six, and have +nursed thee well to this hour, and thy strength and health and beauty +show the care given thee." She suddenly arose and went to the window +to hide if possible her agitation; but when she looked forth on the +snow-covered city and on beyond at the long range of forest that lay +low and black against the arctic sky, she turned from the gloomy scene +and went again to the couch, quickly suppressing all thoughts save +those that were purely selfish: she would be glad to bid adieu to this +great, still northern world and leave behind forever old Quebec, even +though she must divide her treasure. + +"I have been a mother to thee, child, and now I must divide my rule +with a cantankerous Scot--" + +"Nay, a Scot and lives in England?" + +"He lives in England and thy father speaks of bending somewhat thy +quick temper to the mould of self-control as a safer parry to Scotch +thrust; so I conclude the gentleman must be a Scot." + +"Janet, 'tis these awful men that wear skirts like women. I remember +many years ago when I was in Sister Agnes' room, of seeing some of +those dreadful pictures of skirts and bandy-legs. They are unseemly +things for men to wear; it is as though one were uncivilised. I hate +him already for it!" + +"Lambkin, thou must remember thy teachings. Sister Agnes would +admonish thee for saying hate. Besides thou dost not know the man, he +may be a second father to thee and cajole and pamper thy whims. He +may even eschew plaid frocks and don modish garments--that would +hide bandy-legs still less! Thy father said I must enjoin upon thee +respect, for his lordship's age; regard, for his wishes, and thou art +to obey his commands, as 'twas not possible for him to direct thee +otherwise than good. If at any time he should find thee in fault, be +the matter seemingly beneath notice, acknowledge thy wrongness, for he +hath a temper and might goad thee to greater blunder. His blood flows +hot and fast, and thou must cool and swage it with thy gentle dignity. +Inasmuch as thy moneys and estates are in my Lord Cedric's control, +thou art to receive such income from him without question. Thy father +further directs perfect submission to Lord Cedric in matters of +marriage, as he will bring suitors of high degree for thy choice and +thou wilt find among them a lover to thy liking." The rosy red flew +into the maiden's face and she trembled with a sweet new emotion she +did not understand. + +"This is the first time thou hast ever spoken to me of lovers, Janet. +Indeed very strange things seem to be happening to-day. I feel like a +bird about to fly forth from its cradle-nest, I have forgotten how the +world appears. 'Tis broad and vast; it makes me dizzy to think between +these cramped walls that never seemed so narrow heretofore!" She +lay for a moment in deep thought, then,--"Where didst say father +journeyed?" + +"He said not, but intimated 'twas a place of safety where he was +happy to go from political intrigue and war, and where he shall meet +friends." + +"Why did he not inscribe some words to me?" + +"He speaks of an epistle of welcome--and farewell to be given thee +by Lord Cedric upon thy arrival in England. 'Twill give thee greater +pleasure then." + +"But Janet; a Scot! A blustering, red-faced Scot with petticoats! Hast +ever seen one outside of pictures?" + +"Aye, Lambkin, and 'twas the unseemly kilt that was the better part; +for I have met a blustering red-faced Scot as thou sayest; and he +was boisterous and surly, giving vent to a choleric temper by coarse +oaths; and 'twas his plaid denoted a gentleman of high rank withal. +The long hair that swept his shoulders was as florid as his face, as +was also his flowing whiskers and mustachio, the latter being bitten +short and forming a bristling fringe over a slavering mouth,--what is +it, Mistress, thou art pale, has pain taken thee?" + +"Nay, 'tis nausea, an awful loathing; I wish to remain here. Send at +once my desires to my father. I will not go to England, Janet!" + +"'Tis better thou shouldst think of something else beside my Lord +Cedric, for instance, his great demesne, Crandlemar Castle, the most +beautiful of his several seats; the splendid horses and equipages; +and, thyself, Lambkin, think of thyself bedecked in gorgeous hued +brocades; be-furbelowed in rare lace and costly furs. And thou wilt +have a maid to build thy hair, tie shoulder knots and make smart +ribbons and frills, and furbish bijoux and gems. And thou wilt wear +perfume, and carry a nosegay and fan. And thou wilt sweep the most +graceful courtesy and queen it everywhere with thy sweet graciousness. +Thy father says thou shouldst become an idol to the old man's heart, +as my lord is without wife or daughter." + +"If his demesne be in England, 'tis but right he should become as far +as possible a genuine Anglo-Saxon, and if I can turn him, I will. How +soon does the boat sail?" + +"Within forty-eight hours we shall be upon the sea and thou wilt +have begun to whimper and bemoan its awful swell. 'Twill have more +evacuating power than teeth-curtailed mustachios upon thy heretofore +staunch stomach." + +"Nay, I will not believe my Lord Cedric such a man; and yet thou hast +drawn a picture that will be ever before me until I see him. Sister +Agnes would say,--'there is a sinfulness in doubt and anxiety, +inasmuch as such thoughts lash the soul to uneasiness and draw it +from celestial contemplations. Think not on it!' neither will I, +but rather, I will fancy the morrow's sun glinting upon myriad +white-capped waves; the bosom of the ocean swelling with emotion +and--didst say 'twould make me ill, Janet?" + +"I am afraid of it, 'twill be glorious if thou art not; for 'tis a +wonderful thing to see the rise and fall of sun and moon, and witness +storms that seldom fail to lend their fearfulness to the voyagers of +so long a journey." + +"Wilt thou be afraid, Janet?" + +"Nay, not I; 'twill be the elixir of ambrosia to breathe salt air +again, and the stronger and more mist-laden the better to knock out +foul exhalations sucked in these nine years from musty walls. 'Twill +be sweet to have the wind rap from us the various fungi that comes +from sunless chambers. Ah, a stiff breeze will rejuvenate thy fifteen +years one month to a lusty, crowing infant and my forty all-seasons to +a simpering wench." + +"How splendid, Janet!" Katherine threw out her arms and drew a long, +deep breath. "'Twill be glorious to breathe pure, free air!" + +"Aye, my Lambkin, and thy chest will broaden and be larger by two good +inches ere we see chalk cliffs and English waters. Thou wilt open +like a rose to the sunshine of the outer world. But, we are +anticipating--let us speak of the present. To-night we go to vespers +for the last time, and thou must bid thy friends adieu before I tuck +thee in thy cot as we arise and are off before day-dawn. Let thy +farewells be briefly spoken as if thou wert to be gone but a day. +'Twas thy father's wish thou shouldst not grieve at parting with thy +companions, or the Sisters or Mother. 'Tis best to leave them the +remembrance of a face happy, rather than one steeped in sorrow. Say +to them what thy heart dictates, but with a quick tongue and bright +countenance; 'twill tend to suppress tears and numb the pain at thy +heart. When thou art thus engaged I will prepare us for journeying. +Wilt thou wear thy Sunday gown?" + +"'Tis none too good! couldst put on a ribbon to relieve its greyness?" + +"Ah, Lambkin, thou hast begun already with thy fine lady's notions! +thou wilt be crying for high-heeled boots and built-up hair and stays, +stays, Mistress, stays wilt be thy first cry--oh, Lambkin, thou art +heavy-hearted and I am turning myself into a fool to physic thy +risibles;--I wish we were upon the sea at this moment; if it were +possible I should have taken thee while thou wert in sleep; but nay, +I could not; for thou art a maiden grown and art plump and heavy with +all. If I had taken thee so, thou wouldst have wept anyway, perhaps; +for 'tis thy nature to have thy own way. 'Twould be a cross to thy +father could he see thee now. I doubt not 'twould turn the Scot's +bull-scaring face to ashen hues, 'tis possible--" Katherine's soft +rippling laugh interrupted her, and at its sound Janet leant and +kissed the maid's pink-palmed hands as they lay upon the coverlet, +and taking them within her own fondled them, saying,--"And thou +wilt surprise my lord and his friends by thy rare playing of the +clavichord, and 'tis possible so great and wealthy a man will own a +piano-forte of which we have heard so much; and mayhap thou will be +presented at Court, and in great London town thou mayest see many +musicians from France, for 'tis not improbable they are brought over +the channel at the instance of his Majesty. Is it not grand to think +of all these things, Lambkin?" + +"Aye, 'tis glorious! But Janet, let me up and dress me--ah, it seems +an age until the morrow!" + +'Twas with greater care than usual Janet made ready her Mistress. And +after sundry admonitions about cold corridors and draughts, opened the +door and watched her in silence as she passed through, and down the +hall to vespers. And when evening prayer was over and Katherine had +gone to say adieu, Janet began to pack the chests for their early +flight; her heart exultant, save for the sorrow of not seeing her +master again as she believed and having some little fear of the new +one she was about to encounter. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR + + +The adieux had been said, the night had come and gone, and with the +dawn the tide drew away carrying with it a large vessel upon the deck +of which stood Janet and Katherine wrapped in long traveling capes. + +"'Tis the most wondrous sight I ever beheld! Thinkest thou the +Bethlehem Star could have been more beautiful than yonder Lucifer. +Indeed it seems, Janet, we see in all nature the reflection of the +Christ; the birth of dawn; the presence of the star; these black +waters. 'Tis awesome! Listen, Janet, thou must acknowledge thou +hearest something more than plaint of ocean. 'Tis something more than +sound. It fills me with an exultation I cannot analyze. Dost feel it, +Janet?" + +"I cannot tell what I feel, Mistress." And Janet covered her mouth +to smother her laughter; first of all because she felt seasick, and +secondly the child's words stirred in her no such youthful enthusiasm. +She was not yet rejuvenated. + +"And with all this glory of nature filling me I can less understand +Sister Phelia's words at parting. Her eyes seemed to burn to my very +soul as she said: 'Dost not feel as thou art leaving these sacred +walls that thou art passing from a retreat where the Blessed Virgin +ever guides thee?' 'I have felt her presence ever, said I. 'But 'tis +better to renounce the world and have strength to live in seclusion,' +she answered. I made bold and replied that I thought it required much +greater strength to go on the battlefield of the world and be good +than live within the impenetrable walls of a cloister where bin cannot +come. 'But, child, thou wilt see beautiful things made by the hand +of man that will fill thy heart leaving not room for the Divine +Presence.' 'Nay,' said I, 'I shall see God's work in every beauteous +thing and I shall trust Him for the gift of penetration to see through +filthy rags and distorted body the beauty of the soul.' 'Twas her wish +that I should write her once a year of my spiritual condition and to +think of her as being happy in her isolation. And with this strange +light about us, the farewell recurs to me and I wonder that human +beings could shut themselves from so beauteous a thing as Nature in +their fear of contamination by sin!" + +"My Lambkin, 'they talk strongest who never felt temptation;' thou +art going into a world thou hast not seen, much less, felt its +power. Sister Phelia is right. We acknowledge the Divine Presence is +everywhere; she intimated thou wert leaving a place where sin was not, +to go where it abounded. There is one place, however, we may always be +sure of finding the divine atom whether we be in seclusion or abroad; +'tis in our own heart and called before the ages, 'Holy Ghost.' Many +of us fail to recognize it; others cry 'insolvency'; but the better +part draw on it with confidence. It honours our call and gives us +on demand, conscience, with which we can withstand all sin if we so +desire." + +The second day upon the water Janet fell a victim to _mal-de-mer_, and +'twas Katherine who turned nurse; and after four or five days +Janet grew better and was half ashamed, veiling her confusion with +self-accusation: "'Tis good enough for me, 'twas wrong to be eating +pork, 'tis positively forbidden us. I lay it to that! I gave myself +over to eating to make up for a fast of nine long years. Thou hadst +not a qualm because thou hast been fed on wine and porridge and beef +gruel and whey. The clearness of thy body speaks for a pure stomach. +Let the awfulness of my condition warn thee. Thou must never grumble +when I take from thee weightier food than thou hast been used to. But, +Lambkin, we have had a glorious voyage inasmuch as we have had both +calm and storm; had I been privileged to do the ordering, we could not +have had better weather." + +Janet and her mistress walked the deck when 'twas possible, from rise +to set of sun, and Katherine expanded until her convent dress became +straightened, and she retired to her bed while Janet let out seams, +augmenting it to her mistress' further comfort and development. + +It was almost with regret that they espied land; for Janet was +anxious, and Katherine was apprehensive of the Scot, and as the white +cliffs appeared to rise higher they each wished the sea journey had +just begun. + +At last they stood upon English soil, and so bewildered was Katherine +she could only cling to Janet's dress like a frightened child; there +was such a clamour, 'twas like pandemonium. The poor frightened thing +was inclined to believe that the people were mad and raving, and was +hardly called to concentration of thought when Lord Cedric's Chaplain +stood before them dumbfounded by her beauty. + +He was a pale, little man, who managed with difficulty to collect his +senses and lead them to an equipage of imposing richness that stood +not far away. And immediately after chests and sundry articles of +travel were placed upon the coach, the rolling wheels carried them +through the town and on beyond, over plains and hills and lonely +moors, through forests of oak and beech, coloured in the grey of +winter. Nor did the ponderous vehicle stop save for a hurried +refreshment or a short night's rest at some wayside inn. + +Lord Cedric's orders were not being strictly carried out. The Chaplain +was to bring back to the castle Janet Wadham and baby. Here was the +first-named, but where was the child? The little man was fearful he +had made some mistake, and grew exceedingly nervous when they at last +spied the battlements of Crandlemar Castle, and the child for whom he +had gone must be accounted for. + +Night was falling as the equipage bearing Mistress Katherine and her +attendants passed between the massive stone pillars of the gate +into the long avenues bordered by leafless trees; and when yet some +distance from the castle, the occupants could catch glimpses of many +lighted windows. Katherine lay back on the cushions tired, timid, +half-fearful, wondering. Not so Janet; she craned body and neck +fearful lest some small detail of the visible grandeur might escape +her. In a moment more they had stopped at the great entrance, and +immediately the ponderous doors were thrown wide by two ugly little +dwarfs in magnificent livery. Out trooped other menials of perhaps +less age and greater dignity, quickly gathering from the equipage the +chests and bags and other articles of less cumbrousness. Mistress +Katherine, with Janet by her side, was so blinded by the glare of +lights and furbished gildings, she saw naught, but followed on up +winding stairs, stepping twice upon each broad step; through corridors +and alcoves and winding halls, and in her ears was the sound of men's +and women's soft laughter, and she breathed the perfume of flowers, +and inhaled as they passed some half-open door, the odour of _paudre +de rose_ and jasmine. + +A woman older, less comely than Janet, and having the smirk of a +perfunctory greeting upon her flabby face, stood within the room +assigned to Mistress Katherine. As her eyes fell upon the maid, she +stepped back surprised, and with a confusion she essayed to hide in +her coarse voiced acknowledgment of their presence. + +"The child, madam, where's the child? 'is Ludship sent me to take +charge of the hinfant and 'er nurse." + +Janet's voice rang like steel as she said,--"Thou canst fondle me to +thy heart's content, but the 'hinfant his' a maiden grown and well +able to look after her own swathings; 'twould better serve thee and us +to get thee below and prepare thine 'hinfant' grown some meat and +wine with etceteras, and plenty of them, for she hath a lusty and +ever-present appetite. But stay, where wilt thou cradle thy babe's +nurse, in this room beyond the closet?" With a superhuman effort, as +it were,--the woman, confident of the importance of her position, +and the forbearance such an one should have in dealing with the less +consequential,--suppressed her choler and raised her eyebrows, and +spoke with the coldness of her betters. + +"Thou wilt sleep there for a time, at least until 'is Ludship's guests +'ave gone; the nurseries 'ave been turned into guests' rooms,--'is +Ludship 'as Royalty beneath 'is roof and bade me take the--the child +to the furth'rest room and keep hits squawking 'ushed!" With a +deprecating gesture, she shuffled from the room. + +'Twas a great square apartment, with low ceiling, a small hearthstone +and an immense bedstead with tester and outer coverings of flowered +chintz. The light from the two small candles upon the high +mantel-shelf were dimmed by the greater light from the hearth. + +With a long, heavy sigh, which ended in a quiet half-hearted laugh, +Katherine flung herself back in a huge chair and said,-- + +"Art not afraid to lash tongues with a trusted servant of my Lord +Cedric? She may give thee an ill name." + +"Nay, rather, if I had boxed' er hears' 'twould have been better. +Indeed, if thou hadst been absent I should have brawled it with her. +'Ludship'--'tis the cant of a pot house wench,--'is Ludship' to me, +who has been consorting with Sister Agnes and Phelia and Drusah and +the Mother Superior of the Ursuline. Wilt let me dress thee now?" + +"Nay, Janet, I will cleanse my face and hands, have my supper--for I'm +nearly famished, and jump into yonder bed that hath a lid--" + +"Why, Lambkin, that is a tester, 'tis the first thou hast seen! But, +Lambkin, I would have thee don thy pretty white dress and go down to +more cheerful surroundings." + +"Nay, Janet, I could not raise courage. Have my supper brought up!" + +"My blessed Lambkin, I will take thee down and see that they give thee +proper food for thy coach-jostled stomach. Thou shalt have a room and +table to thyself. I'll see to it. I thought upon it coming up to this +sky-begotten chamber. The toddy would freeze stiff and the pheasants +grow to clamminess on so long and frigid a journey. I will dress thee +and then will find my way down and make things ready for thy comfort +and privacy." + +'Twas a soft, white, clinging gown, high-necked and long-sleeved, with +the perfume of incense in its folds, Janet vested her mistress in. The +thick rolls of hair framing her face glinted with bronze and amber +sheen. Her warm youthful blood coloured her countenance with the tints +of the peach blossom. Thus she stood gloriously beautiful; ready for +conquest. + +Janet went below, nor was she gone long ere she came again to her +mistress' side. + +"Didst see any signs of petticoats. Janet?" + +"Nay, mistress," and her voice was sober and intense. "I tried to find +a servants' stairway, but it seemed all were grand and confusing. And +every moment lackeys rushed by me bearing trays of smoking viands, +and not even so much as looking my way. At last I found one I thought +would take the time to answer a question and I asked him the way +below. He answered me civilly and conducted me saying the while, that +'twas a grand party his Lord Cedric was having; members of the Royal +family being present; he even mentioned the Dukes of Buckingham and +Monmouth. The boy was so filled with good sense I am sure, Mistress, +he spoke truly and that we are within a very great man's house. I +found old flabby, and she took me to a cosy little room with a table +ready spread. So come, my Lambkin, when his Lordship finds not a baby +but a rare gem for his costly setting, his heart will bound with +pleasure and he will regret he did not prepare for a great lady +instead of an infant." + +Timorously the maid followed Janet through intricate windings to the +broad stairway. + +"Janet, take me through the servants' passage for this once!" + +"Nay, thou art a lady, and as such must keep to the grand aisles." So +on they went traversing lofty corridors. In one of these they suddenly +came upon a young gallant of youthful beauty; a mould of elegance and +strength; his countenance was flushed and shaded by curling black hair +that fell loose upon his shoulders. In his shapely, white, bejewelled +fingers he held a blood-red rose, and as his eyes fell upon the most +beautiful face he had ever beheld, he caught his breath and held the +rose to his face to hide his devouring glances as she swept by him +under the soft light cast by the sconces above her head. In a moment +he was upon the stairway, breathless and panting, and leaning over, +dropped the rose at her feet. Her face grew as rosy as the thing +itself, but passing on made none other sign. + +"'Tis a conquest thou hast made the first hour, and thou acknowledged +thy victory with naught but a modest maiden blush. But, Lambkin, his +body was not a match for thine; 'twas inclined to be too slender. I +shall pick for thee a beau like Sir Williams's Romeo." + +They had now come to where the table awaited Katherine, and Janet +bustled about handing things for her mistress' convenience; then +hurried out to send in the warm food from the oven. + +"Janet, didst say the bird was a pheasant?--'Tis grand tasting!" + +"Aye, Mistress, and there was a score of other things that I would not +let thee eat; 'twould make pimples on thy snowy neck and shoulders." + +"Dost think perchance the young man upon the stairway was the Duke +of Monmouth? He was very handsome, Janet, I think he was very, very +handsome." + +"Thou dost have the names of the great upon thy tongue as commonly +as thou sayest Janet; 'tis more than probable he is a country squire +and--" + +"Dear Janet, go get thy supper and get back to me, for I would rather +remain here alone than in yonder chamber. 'Tis grand to live in so +great a house, 'tis better than--than the convent. How soon shall +I have fine frocks and jewels and--a beau like yonder one on the +stairway?" + +"Thou art becoming exercised prematurely; his Lordship may not +condescend to visit his puling babe before his guests depart. In such +case, thou wilt have time to cool thy haste. I will go now. Do not eat +too much, Lambkin." Janet looked back admiringly as she left the room; +her eyes upon her mistress' daintily ruddy face, smiling at her from +between two tall candles. + +Every appointment of room and table was essentially English, and +Mistress Katherine cast her eye about wondering if 'twas so, or, were +they Scotch? She inclined to the former, and a sigh of relief and +happiness escaped her. + +Suddenly there was a sound of hurrying footsteps with an accompanying +one of broad Scotch oaths in no low key. A lackey carrying a bag-pipe +rushed into the room and out again without noticing its occupant. +At his very heels was a big Scotchman of large and ridiculous +proportions; red hair, red face, red whiskers, red mustachios, and +bandy-legs, petticoats and all; and a tongue ripping out hot oaths. +In a moment Katherine was upon her feet, her eyes flashed forth +indignation. The keen eyes of the Scot saw her at a glance. He looked, +stared, then bent almost to the floor before her and waited thus for +her to speak. She, not accustomed to the masculine courtesies of +polite breeding, thought his attitude was too prolonged for either a +bow of homage or humiliation; and she straightway in a voice that was +tremulous with emotion, said: + +"Has the bitterness of thy tongue taken root in thy stomach?" Quickly +he raised himself at her first word and gazed with enamoured looks at +the amber folds of hair, her glowing face; and with panting breath his +eyes rested upon the round fulness of her form as it palpitated with +rightful perturbance. + +"Betake thyself before I inform Lord Cedric of thy presence!" And +she rapped smartly her knife-handle upon the table. "Betake thyself, +begone!" He did not stir nor find breath until she stood forth from +the table and he saw her beauteous being from head to dainty toe of +convent sandal. Then he found voice, and in broad Scotch begged her +clemency, advancing toward her the while and almost kneeling in his +humility. + +"If I did not know the queen--" + +"'Tis presuming for thee to speak of knowing her; thou dishonourest +the noble plaid thou wearest. Begone from me, sir, instantly. Begone, +I say!" + +"Nay, I shall not begone. Tell me who thou art, I know thee not!" + +"Tell thee? Nay, 'twould displease my lord if he knew I held converse +with thee thus. He would no doubt send thee from the castle." + +"But who is thy lord, pray?" + +"Lord Cedric of Crandlemar!" + +"Ah, ah,--but it does not displease him. Lord Cedric says thou shalt +talk to him the balance of his days." The maid shrunk further from him +in sheer loathing. At the moment Janet entered, and the rough Scot +turned upon her, and in a voice of command, said,-- + +"Who is this maid, woman?" Janet scanned him for a moment and a bit of +truth flashed upon her. + +"'Tis the honoured daughter of Sir John Penwick," and she bowed to the +floor. + +"Ah! ah!!" He retreated in dismay and for a moment was silent, +encumbered with emotions of surprise, admiration, wonderment and +doubt. "Then thou art my ward and thou hatest me already--" + +"Thou, thou Lord Cedric, the master of this great house?" And +Katherine in the confidence of Janet's presence, laughed in scorn and +swept from the room disdaining his commands to remain longer. For a +moment he stood stunned as it were; then started toward the door and +looked after their retreating forms, exclaiming the while,-- + +"Ah!--ah!! Thou a convent baggage ordering the lord of the castle from +thy presence. Never have I been so talked to before. Damn me, I love +thy gorgeous self, thy beauteous body; thou my ward to have and to +hold. I may if I choose say to thee, thou shalt, or thou shalt not. +Hey, hey, there, Christopher!" He knocked loudly upon the panelling +of the door. A lackey entered trepidated. "Go and bring in haste from +Wasson the letter written by Sir John Penwick. Haste thee, mind!" He +turned to the table as if the shadow of her being still rested there +and spoke the continuation of his thought. "'Tis a bit of paper, +Mistress Katherine, that has become of more worth than a king's +ransom. The last will and testament of Sir John Penwick bequeathing to +my father a priceless property,--Thou wert slow, Christopher, but I +forgive thee." He tore the letter from the lackey's hands and sat upon +the chair drawing the candle to his convenience and read aloud: + +"'Cedric: When we parted twenty odd years ago 'twas in anger. I hope +thou hast forgotten it as I have.' My poor father had forgotten and +yearned to tell him so. 'I'm upon my death-bed and my consolation is +the remembrance of our mutual faith plighted to each other a short +time before our quarrel. 'Twas the bit of Scotch blood in thee that +brought us to contentious wrangle. I 'minded thee at the time thou +wouldst grieve for thy hot words, and 'tis a balm I send thee for thy +grieved heart; 'tis my baby Kate'--Baby, baby of course I thought +her so and sent her to a nurse's nookery at the top of the towers +to silence the wench's squawkings, and gave Stephen the care of the +freshest young heifer, that the youngster might not lack for proper +food, 'now under her nurse's care in the Ursuline Convent at Quebec. +The child has been environed with all that is pure and good, and will +come to thee with the sweet incense of the cloister clinging about +her. I have heard but once of thee, and 'twas that thy young wife died +leaving thee without heirs. If such be so, thou wilt find a solace in +my baby. Guard her as thine own. I have only enough gold to send her +with her nurse to thy protection.' She will be obliged to come to me +for all things, and I will spoil my own pleasure by giving her before +she asks. 'In my epistle to Janet Wadham I spoke of moneys and estates +being in thy hands. 'Tis a lie that will bring to thy mind more +vividly than aught else my personality--_suppressio veri_; but if thou +findest a like propensity in my babe, thou wilt deal gently but firmly +with her for its correction. I give into thy keeping more than house, +lands or titles. I would direct clemency toward my beloved servant; +she has proven most faithful. My wife truly loved her and at her +child's birth was constantly tended by the vigilant Janet; and 'twas +her desire she should remain always with the babe. Enclosed thou will +find a letter to be given to my daughter upon her arrival to thy care; +'tis a letter of both welcome and farewell. Some day thou must tell +her I am gone on my last journey, tell her when she is surrounded by +pleasant distractions that she may not grieve. She knows naught of +trouble, neither would I have her know. 'Tis possible she may have +some religious ideas that are not identical with thine. She may be +laden with all sorts of shrines, picture-books, candles, crosses and +beads; these religion's playthings thou of sterner mould wilt hardly +consider. My last wish and the one of greatest import to my child is +that thou find for her a spouse of rank and fortune; 'tis my desire +that she marry early to such an one. Ah, Cedric, if thou had hadst a +son, their union would have been our delight; for when thou seest my +Kate thou wilt see the most beautiful thing in life.' + +"Aye, she is the most beautiful thing in life. She is mine, my very +own, her father gives her to me for marriage--marriage, and 'tis a +speedy one he asks, and she shall have it. I love her, love her, my +whole being throbs with mad desire. She is the sweetest maid on earth, +and I drink from the cup upon which her rich, red lips have rested; +ah, 'tis sweet!" He poured a bumper and drank, then flung from the +room with great strides. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BALL + + +Meanwhile Mistress Katherine sat before the fire in the tower nookery +while Janet unpacked the luggage. + +"'Twould not be fitting for Lord Cedric to have such a man within his +house as guest!" + +"Neither has he, Lambkin; 'tis his Lordship himself." Her voice rang +truth and Katherine turned dismayed,-- + +"Nay, Janet, the man was a drunken fool! Surely, surely thou dost not +mean thy sayings. He is not a fit person to be in so great a castle. +Thou art shamming!" + +"I mean every word; 'tis my Lord _en masque_, for to-night there is to +be a great and magnificent spectacle." + +"And what does that mean, Janet?" + +"It means there is to be a masque ball, and my Lord Cedric is in his +costume, and he does not look like that at all. We may be sure he +appears quite the opposite when apparelled in his usual dress." + +"But his tongue, he cannot change that!" + +"Thou wilt have to wait and see for thyself, and fortune favours, for +now thou wilt not have long to wait. I saw his wicked young eyes--too +young for so old a man, as it appeared--directing enamoured darts upon +thee." + +"But art thou not afraid of so oath-beladen tongue? He is dreadfully +profane!" + +"He has already seen his peril and will drop his oaths like jetsam and +wilt come to thee with flotsamy oglings and tender nothings and bow +and smirk; and thou wilt find thyself an old man's sweetheart." + +"Janet, can we not find some point of observation where we may look +upon the maskers unseen?" + +"Thou art speaking my own mind. I will look about and find some +seclusion that thou mayest look and sate thine eyes upon Royalty; and +thou wilt gaze and gaze and make mental annotations, and to-morrow +thou wilt begin to preen thy feathers preparatory to flying forth; but +first thou must lie down and sleep three full hours, 'tis then the +ball will be at its height, and thou wilt feel refreshed and ready to +amuse me with thy observations. 'Twill be the grandest sight for thee. +I have seen many but none so gorgeous as this is to be." + +Janet went upon a tour of exploration and finding what she desired in +the way of a quiet corner returned for Katherine. They passed down +flights of steps, through halls, and came to a large corridor that +opened upon a gallery which encircled the ballroom, save where it was +cleft by a great stairway. As they stood looking over the railing, +'twas like looking down upon an immense concave opal, peopled by the +gorgeously apparelled. Myriad tints seeming to assimulate and focus +wherever the eyes rested. Gilt bewreathed pillars, mouldings, +shimmering satin, lights, jewels, flowers, ceiling, gallery and +parquetry appeared like a homogeneous mass of opal. Mistress Katherine +could not speak, her perturbed spirit was silent, she held to Janet +and the curtain that hung at the arch, and breathed in the perfume. + +"Canst see thy lord yonder?" + +"Nay, I see all collectively, but nothing individually; my eyes fail +to separate this from that." + +"Perhaps if thou couldst whip them to his ugly frame, 'twould prove an +antidote." + +"'Twill come in time,--I can now discern that 'tis the folk that art +moving and not the flowers and lights. I see a red figure seeming +to hurry among the dancers, looking this way and that, peering and +peeping; he has lost something." + +"'Tis more probable he is looking for what he has found; 'tis thy +stairway-beau with the rose; he has retrieved it and is hot upon the +chase again. He is looking for thee.--'Tis vain my lord-devil, thou +hadst better use the time to swathe thy feet in asbestos-flax." + +The music of the passacaglia floated up and Katherine drank in its +minor sweetness. Presently the dance changed into the chaconne with +its prominent bass theme, again turning to the poetic and stately +sarabande. + +"Now I do see the Scot; he is by far the most homely figure anywhere, +and yet, he is graceful, and it must be a very great beauty with him. +How could the master of so great a house look so?" The music changed +into a sprightly gavotte, Katherine's ears fairly tingled with the +confusion of sound. She lay her head upon Janet's bosom as if drunk +with the surfeit of music. + +"'Tis more than I could have dreamed. Didst ever see anything so +beautiful before? It seems years ago since we were within convent +walls!" + +"'Twill bring thy seeming nearer if thy lord proposes a speedy return +to the cloister." + +"Nay, I would not go." + +"Ah, then, enjoy the present and think of moments and not cycles. Here +thou shalt sit on this low divan, behind this tripod of roses; there, +thou canst hear what they whisper when the music ceases." They sat +ensconced in flowers and drapings of satin brocade, looking down +upon splendidly and wonderfully dressed princes and dukes, lords +and counts, with their ladies dancing the gavotte. There was the +perfection of beauty and stateliness and romance. The few unmasked +faces were smiling and bright with powder and rouge; dainty hands +flourished fans; and there was the low click of high heels upon +the parquetry. Jewels flashed and brocades gleamed; a shimmering +accompaniment completing the symmetry of the brilliant dance. It was +not long before Janet called her companion's attention to the lord of +the castle. He was dancing now with a very beautiful woman, even more +so than the one before. + +"He steps lightly, being so bandied. Now I think on it, 'twere +possible his legs were cushioned thus to hide a senile thinness! +'Tis human nature when badgered by excess of limit to flounder into +limitless excess. Look upon the Burgomaster at thy feet with a surfeit +of good round legs, he is unfortunate for being in excess, he cannot +whittle down. 'Tis a queer being with whom he dances,--here comes a +queen, see, she stops beneath thee,--sh--'Constance,' my lord devil +calls her, 'Constance'; what thinkest thou, is she not beautiful?" + +"See the bones in her neck, Janet, they protrude like pulpy blisters, +and she looks flat of chest for a waist so abbreviated." + +"I see thine eyes are ever upon nature, and 'tis best if thy gaze can +penetrate the heart as well." + +"Surely we have intuition, and I like not Constance." + +"How about my lord with the rose?" + +"I like him." + +"Oh, impressionable youth! 'thou art the gilded sand from which the +kiss of a wave washes every impress.' Tune thy myriad atoms to imitate +the rock, and gird thyself with strength to meet the battery of +onrushing breakers that grind against thee! Be careful, my Lambkin, +fall not in love with the first handsome face thou seest." The music +ceased; there was naught of sound, but a babble of voice and soft, gay +laughter. The guests passed up the grand stairway, and between the +pillars that guarded the entrance to the vaulted gallery beyond. +Immediately beneath, where Katherine and her nurse sat, were Constance +and her Mephistophelian consort. The former was saying: + +"And thou dost say she is extremely beautiful? In what particular is +this queen of thine so entrancing, is it in face or form?" + +"Her face is divine, and her form ravishes one with delight." + +"She is indeed fortunate to be such a goddess. If she is a +lady-in-waiting to the Royal suite she will depart to-morrow!" and +there was relief in the supposition. Constance continued: "I saw my +kinsman's list of invitation, and among them all there was not one +fitting thy description of this paragon, Adrian!" + +"She had the bearing of a princess; she must be a person of note!" + +"Adrian,"--and she grasped his arm tightly,--"dost think, thou knowing +the ways of men, Cedric could have some bright being here to keep +him from the dumps, and when guests are present, hides her in some +remoteness?" There was more in Constance' meaning than what she said. + +"Nay, nay, any man would be proud to--yet, if Cedric loved he would be +very jealous!" + +"Thinkest thou so?" + +"I am positive. To-morrow, Constance, I will watch the departure of +the guests, and, if I find not the maid, I will let thee know, and we +will pounce upon my Lord Cedric and have him bring her to our notice." + +"Nay, Adrian, I'll tell thee a better way. If she departs not with the +company to-morrow, I will search the castle and find her; for I know +every cranny. I will bring about a meeting, so thou mayest beau her +privately and win her love before Cedric knows aught; 'twill be a +grand joke to play upon him, and 'twill pay him back for trying to +hide from us the gem of his castle." They looked into each other's +eyes but an instant, and they each understood the other. + +"'Tis a compact, Constance. 'Twill be sweet to meet her in secret. +God grant she may be a member of my lord's household!" Like a prayer +Constance uttered after him, as they traversed the room to the great +stairway,--"God grant it may not be so!" + +"Unlike Hamlet's prayer, their words and thoughts both fly up, and to +such a prayer they will undoubtedly receive an answer; but whether +'twill be satisfactory to the one or the other, remains to be seen, +as the destination of their supplications was a long way this side of +heaven--" said Janet, as she wrapped her mistress in her grey convent +cape and led her without the gallery. + +"Is it possible I was the object of discussion, Janet?" + +"'Tis probable. The first trophy thou hast gained without appearing +upon the field." + +"And what is that?" + +"A woman's hate; thy rival hast given thee the first token of +success." They had reached the tower chamber and Janet began to +prepare her mistress for bed. + +"I cannot understand thee, I cannot grasp thy meaning." + +"Neither would I have thee understand; for if I took from thee thy +innocent mind, I would deprive thee of thy best weapon. Thou hadst +better chatter of thy poor, grey frock thou wilt don on the morrow." + +Katherine stood before a small mirror divested of her outer garments. +The soft white thing that bound her graceful, sloping shoulders, had +fallen loose displaying her glorious white neck and bosom. Janet +caught the mirrored reflection and understood and answered,-- + +"Nay, thou hast no pulpy blisters, neither shalt have while I feed +thee on pap and rub thee with oil; nor yet a flat chest for thy +shoulders are sunk from prominence by its fulness." + +"Shall I wear a low bodice thus, Janet?" + +"Aye, Lambkin." + +"And high-heeled boots and stays,--I must have stays before I appear +at my lord's table." + +"Thou shalt not have that 'twould squeeze thy beauteous mould." The +faithful Janet unbound her nursling as if she had been a tiny babe and +swathed her in a soft, warm thing, and bade her get to bed. Katherine +jumped to the middle and lay panting, with happy eyes that had naught +of sleep in them, until on a sudden Janet's voice rung like a menace +on her ears. + +"Thou hast forgotten thy rosary; thou hast neither said an _Ave Maria_ +or a _Pater Noster_ since our arrival. Thou wouldst neglect thy +religion, and 'tis thy own, sweet precious self that will pay the +penalty." + +"Nay, nay, Janet, I will say them ten times to make up for my +forgetfulness." She sprung from her bed. + +"To bed, to bed; thou shalt not kneel upon the floor in this ice-bound +chamber. Here, take thy beads and say them once and close thy azure +eyes." Janet watched until the wax-like lids drooped, then softly made +fast the doors. She flung herself into a great chintz-covered chair +and fell asleep before the bright fire. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL + + +She did not waken until aroused by the grinding of wheels upon the +gravel beneath the window. A servant brought coals and wood and +built a roaring fire that warmed her chilled bones. She ordered her +mistress' breakfast for eleven o'clock, and locking the door upon the +retreating lackey, settled herself in the chair again and fell asleep. +She was next awakened by a smart rap upon the door. The servant stood +upon the threshold gazing at the vision of beauty that had raised upon +her elbow in the bed, and was looking with inquiring eyes. + +"His Lordship begs Mistress Penwick to step to the library after her +breakfast." + +"Step, to be sure, thou hadst better bring a chariot to cart her +there, and 'twould be out of the question for her to go before getting +anything into her stomach to strengthen her for the journey." + +"Shall I tell him so, mum?" said the servant, with a look of roguery +in his eyes. + +"'Twould become thee better to tell him without asking if thou +shouldst. Avaunt, get thee gone on thy mission." Then turning to +Katherine,--"'Twould have to come sooner or later and 'tis best sooner +I'm thinking," and Janet stepped to draw the curtains to let in but a +sickly grey light. "Ah, there is a great snowstorm! and there seems to +be a large party about to set forth a hunting." And indeed there arose +to their ears a great noise of baying hounds and the tramping of +horses in the courtyard, and voices were raised high and merry. There +was a rattle of spurs and champing of bits; and as the two women +looked from the window the party set forth. + +"Thou wilt go with me, Janet?" + +"As far as the library door. I will listen and peep through the +keyhole when no one is passing." + +A lackey came to conduct Mistress Katherine below. He looked surprised +at Janet as she followed them, neither was his curiosity appeased when +Mistress Penwick passed through the library door, and the severe-faced +Janet sat down upon a ponderous chair in the corridor just outside. + +'Twas a great room with enormous fireplaces, and in front of one of +them stood Lord Cedric. There was a smile on his face as he noted +his ward's surprise. She looked upon him with interest and finally +spoke,-- + +"Lord Cedric sent for me; he is not here," and she retreated as if to +leave the room. + +"Nay, do not leave until thou hast become acquainted with Cedric of +Crandlemar." He held out his hand to her longingly, pleadingly, and +stood thus before her; his figure of an Adonis silhouetted by the +flames that reached above his head in the great chimney behind him. +His face and form was a match for her own. A hunting-coat wrapped his +broad shoulders; his beauteous limbs were encased in high-field boots, +showing well his fine masculine mould. + +"How many lords of Crandlemar are there?" she asked, almost +contemptuously. + +"One, only," and he still held out his hand with a gesture of +entreaty. "I was the ill-humoured, boisterous man in Scotch attire +last night. I beg thee to forgive and forget it. Come--come--thou art +my ward." + +"But my Lord Cedric is an old man, as old as my father, and is +Scotch." + +"Thou art speaking of my father; he has been dead five years. Thy +father did not know of his death when he sent thee to England. And +my mother"--his voice trembled--"died when I was born. I was reared +without a woman's love. Angel was too old to teach me tenderness. She +has tried to guide me; but Kate--thy father calls thee so--I have had +no one to love me like thee. I have lived a wild, boisterous life in +Scotland most of the time, and after father died I went to France. +I have lived wickedly, Kate; I have given myself over to oaths, +and--and--and--drink;--'twas so last night when I saw for the first +time the woman I loved; who was as fair in face, form and soul, as all +I had ever pictured or dreamed. Wilt thou forget my course tongue and +try--try--to--to--to love me, Kate. Thou wilt say 'tis soon to speak +so to thee; but why keep back that 'tis best for me to say and thou to +know?" She could not mistake the ring of truth in his voice that was +now so pleading. + +"Come, come,"--and as if a happy thought occurred, reached into his +pocket and drew forth a letter;--"here is thy proof that I am Lord +Cedric; thy father's letter," he held it toward her. She came and +reached her hand for it, timidly. His Lordship was one of the most +passionate of youths, nor could he restrain his ardour. He caught her +hand and drew her to him, meeting her graceful body with his own; his +hot breath was upon her hair, and he panted forth;--"Kate, Kate, I +love thee," his arm was reaching about her, when she called Janet +stoutly. The door was flung open and the nurse's face looked upon the +youth like an ominous thing of strength,--then surprise broke over it +and she spoke forth,-- + +"Who art thou, perfidious youth?" + +"I am Cedric of Crandlemar, and I was saluting my ward." Janet took +her mistress from him as he half supported her, and sat down, drawing +her into her lap. Katherine fell to weeping. + +"What has happened to thee, Lambkin?" + +"I don't know," sobbed Katherine, "assure me if 'tis Lord Cedric." + +"We will accept him, anyway, for 'tis a better subject than my Lord +Scot of last night." Thereupon Cedric fell upon one knee at Janet's +feet, and bent his handsome head to Katherine's hand and kissed it. + +"Nay, nay, thy lips burn me, and I hate thee for it!" She wiped her +hand upon her dress, and turned her head from Janet's bosom and cast a +scornful glance through her tears. + +"I love her, Janet, and she hates me. Her father gave her to me to +love and guard and--marry, 'tis in the letter so; and she shall--" + +"Thou talkest too strong to so young a maid; thou must remember that +she is but fifteen, and never used to beaux. Thou art the first man +beside her father to so much as touch her hand." + +"She fifteen, 'tis not possible!" and his enamoured glance swept her +form,--"'tis not possible." Mistress Katherine's colour blenched and +heightened, for the ardent masculine eyes made her like and hate +in turn; his countenance glowed with warm youthfulness which both +attracted and repulsed her; and she hid her face again upon Janet's +shoulder. + +"'Tis rather young to become wife, but I cannot live away from her, I +must have her." + +"Nay, thou must wait until she is past sixteen, and knows her own +mind." + +"I cannot wait, Janet, I am too inflammable, she consumes me with her +beauty." + +"Then I had better take her where thou canst not see her." + +"Nay, nay, she shall not leave me for a day nor hour. She is mine +absolutely, and I'll have her. I have found what is more precious +than all else to me." As Katherine's eyes were hid, Janet placed her +fingers upon her lips, enjoining silence upon the passionate man +before her. 'Twas a simple thing, but Cedric knew from that moment +he had gained a powerful ally. He rose to his feet, and, in softened +tones, continued,--"'Tis the first time I have ever loved, and 'tis +natural I should be impetuous;" then in a tone that was full of +magnanimity,--"I will give thee time to rest from thy long journey +before we buy the wedding garments, I will give thee a whole week." +Then 'twas that Katherine spoke,-- + +"A whole week, indeed, I shall not marry thee at all, never, I hate +thee. Thou wilt give me my heritage and I will go from thy house; my +father gave it and me into thy father's care not thine, I will write +to him at once and tell him of this terrible mistake." + +"Thy father is--" he caught himself in time. + +"Thy father is--what?" And she looked at him closely. + +"Is too far away over seas, and--might be hard to find." + +"Then I will go to him." + +"Thou wilt remain where thou art." + +"Thou talkest like foolish children. 'Twould better become thee to +prattle of frocks and fixings for my Lady Penwick. Your Lordship will +see to it at once?" It was a happy suggestion. Cedric leant over +Katherine. + +"Come, tell me what thou wilt have from London town? thou shalt have +all thy heart asks for." + +"Thou art generous with my belongings." 'Twas an unfriendly cut. + +"Come, Mistress, what will thou have, make out a list and I will send +it by a courier." + +"I prefer to go myself." + +"I have guests and cannot go with thee at the present,--and thou canst +not go without me; but thou shalt have the more for this very cause. +Come, tell me thy heart's desire. Be good to me Kate, I love thee so; +I must tell thee, it cuts me to the quick to have thee so set against +me. Thou wilt espouse me some day, sweet one?" Katherine stood up and +shot a withering glance full upon him. + +"Nay, nay, nay,--thou wilt let me go from thee!" + +"I beg thy pardon, Mistress Penwick, I will urge thee no more now; but +tell me thy wishes. Thou will have first of all, a beautiful hat with +feathers reaching to thy shoulder-tips, and dainty brocade gowns with +boots of the same hue, and jewelled fans, and ribbons and laces and +all kinds of furbelows, and I will give thee to-day some jewels, +rings, and--" + +"And a necklace like Constance has?" put in Katherine, unthinkingly. + +"Constance--where didst thou see her?" His voice and manner showed +annoyance. "Where didst see her, Kate?" There was a blush on her face +as she answered, + +"At the ball." + +"Thou wert not there," he said, incredulously. + +"Janet and I looked on from the gallery, and Constance stood beneath +us. 'Twas a beautiful thing that encircled her throat." + +"Aye, they were pearls; but thou shalt have a circlet that wilt not so +hide thy pink hued neck. To-day, Kate, I will give thee some gems +and thou shalt go with me to the great chests and see the laces they +contain;--and thy colours, Kate, what are thy favourite colours?" + +"I love white and violet." A happy smile covered Cedric's face. + +"'Tis my mother's choice and by that I hit upon thy fancy as thou +shalt soon see." Cedric racked his brain for more pleasant things to +say. "And thou shalt have a horse and learn to ride." + +"Oh, Janet, to have a horse all my own! 'tis too good to be true; 'tis +a thing I have dreamt of." And the delighted girl flung herself at +Janet's feet and embraced her knees from sheer ecstasy. It seemed +peace had come to stay; and for a moment Cedric looked upon her with +eyes full of admiration and, yes, heart full of love; then,-- + +"Art sure thou hast thought of all thou wouldst have, is the list +complete, Janet; canst thou not suggest something more? I will send +it to one of the court mantua-makers and if thou sendest the proper +measurements our lady will soon be a modish butterfly." At the word +modish a sudden thought came to Katherine and she leant over and +whispered in Janet's ear; then Janet said: + +"She must have a pair of stays with each frock." + +"Nay, nay, she shall not have stays to pinch so fair a mould; she +shall not have stays, nay, nay, sweet Kate." 'Twas then Mistress +Penwick flew into a passion. She clinched her fists and her face grew +scarlet; she shook her head and threw glances like sword-thrusts at +Cedric, and said not a word but stamped her foot. As she did so, she +saw that in Cedric's eyes that made her calm her passion on a sudden. +'Twas steel against steel. It was Janet's voice that drew Katherine's +attention; for it had in it something it never had heretofore; it was +full of reproach. + +"Lambkin, thou art too young for either stays or such a show of +passion. I beg thee to quench thy evil spirit, it does not become +thee." Katherine bent her head and turned from them toward the door. +Cedric called, + +"Do not leave until we have all things settled! Kate, dost hear me +speaking?" She pretended deaf ears. "Kate," he said, with emphasis, +"dost hear me? Mistress Pen wick, hear me, heed, heed!" he thundered, +and stamped his foot, the spurs rattling upon the hearthstone. She +turned about reluctantly and rested her hand upon the great oaken +table, looking at Janet as if it had been she that had spoken. Cedric +drew himself up proudly, and spoke in a firm, full voice, + +"I am thy father, brother, guardian, anything that love could be to +thee, and all that I have is thine, and when thou art with me thou +mayest do as thy heart dictates, but when thou shalt cross yonder +threshold thou shalt conduct thyself as becomes a daughter and +mistress of the castle. I have beneath my roof guests--my kinswoman, +Lady Constance, whom I have bidden to remain indefinitely, she being +so near of kin has been mistress here; but, from the moment thou +didst enter the portal of Cedric's house, 'twas thou became mistress, +thou--thou mistress of my home, and heart as well; thou wilt accept +the former mission, and I will fight with all of cupid's weapons until +thou dost accept the latter. 'Tis a pragmatic duty to follow my words +and understand them and demean thyself accordingly. To-night thou +wilt come to the drawing-room at the prandium hour, and 'twill be my +pleasure to seat thee at table, and 'twould be best if I acknowledged +our espousal." + +"Nay, nay, I will not come then." + +"Thou shalt come if thou art in the castle," Janet's scowling +face under cover of the high-backed chair stopped his lordship's +impetuosity, "hast a frock, Kate? thou shalt go to the chest and find +for thee some bright thing and I will send from Crandlemar a woman to +help thee with thy attire. Angel will come to take thee to see the +jewels, and thou shalt have those thou carest to take. I would see +thy choice, Kate. I can almost guess it now. So come, Kate, the storm +without should insure good cheer within; and with thy bright face the +castle will be aglow. Come, say _au revoir_, Kate." She held out her +hand and faltered forth _au revoir_. There was the language of the +convent in that one word and it rung sweet upon her ear. He took her +hand between his own and bent and kissed it tenderly, "_au revoir, au +revoir_" he said, then turned quickly from her. + +Outside stood old flabby-face, as Janet pleased to call her, when +alone with Katherine, but designated by the servants as Sophia. + +"His Ludship ordered Mistress Penwick's room changed." + +"Thou dost mean, rather, he advised a change of room; 'twould be +difficult to convey the tower chamber elsewhere." + +It was a beautiful room into which Sophia led them and beyond were +others belonging to the same suite, all in white and gold, with +mirrors and painted walls garlanded with cupids and floral wreaths, +and silken curtains at bed and windows; and cushions and beautiful +venuses and rare potpourri. And when they were quite alone Janet +strutted up and down the rooms enjoying the fulness of her cup. + +"'Tis more than thou dreamed again, eh, Lady Pen wick? Thou hast +fallen heir to a queen's portion without the ennui of satiety." + +"Truly 'tis a wondrous castle; but Janet can Lord Cedric espouse me +because he is my guardian?" + +"Nay, child, but he loves thee, and he means to win thee if 'tis +possible. He is young and self-willed and passionful, and he will have +his own way. Dost like him, Lambkin?" + +"Somewhat, but I hate him most." + +"Thou wilt impeach thy sweet tongue by that viscid 'hate'; thou hadst +better indulge in less of devil's warfare and leave room for digestion +of gentle peace. Thou hast bloomed into a beauteous maid, but thy +temper hath blown also. My lord hast seen many beauties that he could +have for the asking, and they are doubtless meek and gentle creatures +with soft and ready answer; but if thy cantankerous untowardness +continues he will set thee down as a shrewish wench and will heartily +dislike thee." + +"Nay, I would not have any one dislike me." + +"Then cease thy uprisings." There came a low knock, and an old +grey-haired woman stepped into the room with that in her face Janet +stood up to honour. She advanced to Katherine and in a trembling voice +said, + +"Thou art my lord's ward,--ah, I remember thy father well; thou art a +Penwick over and over again, I could see it with half an eye. I knew +thy father when he was a mere lad, so high; he had as bonny a face as +one cared to see. They tell me thou didst expect to see here my poor +master; is't so? Aye,--well thou hast found his son, the blessedst man +that walks the earth. He has a wicked, bad tongue at times, but he +means nothing. I nursed him and his father, and am longing for a wife +for his lordship." Then: "I am Angel Bodkin, and have come to conduct +thee to the vaults." She led them forth, talking all the while. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES + + +Lady Constance had exhausted every means of procuring the desired +information concerning the strange beauty in her kinsman's castle; and +she became fretted and annoyed and was about to give up all hope, when +she came suddenly upon the object of her search in the corridor; and +the beauteous maid, grey-gowned and sandal-shoon, flitted by without +deigning so much as a look. And my Lady Constance swept by with hate +of this formidable creature in her evil heart. She felt it was almost +understood that Lord Cedric would espouse her; she, Lady Constance +Clarmot. To be sure, she was somewhat of riper years than he, but that +counted for naught since they had always loved each other. She was +of a great family and proud and had of her own, titles and estates +and--yes, beauty. She fell to thinking of the many ways in which +Cedric had shown his love for her. He had consulted her on all +occasions upon the most trivial matters until the present instance. +"Could it be possible she is some soft-natured wench that hath fallen +beneath his eye and charmed him, and he has brought her here? Nay, +nay, he would not bring such an one beneath his roof while I remained, +and yet I have but just come and he hath kept her hid; 'tis possible +he will send her away at once." She soliloquized thus until the +candles were brought, and the curtains drawn to shut out the storm, +and she sat beneath her maid's hands heeding naught save her bitter +thoughts. "What had become of Adrian? Why had he not been in to see +her; surely by this time he had learned something being out the +whole afternoon hunting, perhaps side by side with Cedric." Thus +she fretted, and scolded her maid until it was time to go to the +drawing-room. It was a picturesque scene; the ancient castle with +its crenellated tower, from which now pointed a tall flag-pole, +the British Royal Ensign bound closely about it, its colours being +distinctly visible through its casing of ice; for an immense +quadruple-faced light was placed high up in the fork of a tree +opposite the great window of the vaulted saloon, casting its beam to +the very pinnacle of the ensign-staff; lighting the castle from end to +end upon its northern side, where the great avenues converged. A shaft +reluctantly and gloomily effused the near density of the forest; +another ray gladdening the expectant eyes of the guest from Londonway; +while yet another broad gleam sped the departing traveler over the +threshold of the forest into the gloom-environed pathway beyond. Upon +every shelving projection of the unhewn stone structure was ice. The +entire walls scintillated with a fairy brilliancy, and the trees as +they swayed back and forth propelled by the unceasing wind caused such +a coruscation of sparkles it fairly blinded the spectator. Beneath +the spreading branches were a host of men, horses and dogs. The gay +costumes of the huntsmen showing resplendent in the ice-bespangled +light. The horns were lowered, and there was a confusion of tongues +between groomsmen and lackeys; and there were shouts of welcome from +the wide-open doorway of the servants' hall; for 'twas here the game +was brought and laid upon the stone floor or hung upon pegs on the +wall for the inspection of the guests. Lord Cedric leapt from his +horse, throwing the reins to a waiting groom; strode into the hall +with rattling spurs and flung through the rooms and up the stairway to +his Lady Katherine's bower, and rapped smartly upon the panelling of +the door. The vision that met his amorous eyes sent him hot and cold; +and 'twas with difficulty he restrained himself from encircling her +full, glowing body. + +"The hours I have been from thee have seemed weeks, and I was of no +use in the field; my gun would entangle in the low-hanging boughs; +and on the wold my steed's feet were caught in the dry gorse, until I +could not get near enough to shoot anything. On the other hand, Cupid +has arrowed me to the death, and I come,--a shade for thee to put life +into; and the sight of thee is a life-giving thing." Katherine's face +flamed with his warm words, and the consciousness of the beauty of her +new adornment; for she stood before him in an amber shimmering stuff +that clung to her lithe limbs, hiding not her slender ankle and her +arched satin shoe, as her dress caught about a stool that held it. The +short round waist betrayed the fulness of her form, and Cedric turned +his eyes away from sheer giddiness, drunk with love. He spoke to +Janet with quick breath:--"Bring her down to see the game."--Then, +suddenly,--"Where are thy jewels, Kate?" He espied a casket, and +hastening to it took from it rings, fitting them upon Mistress +Penwick's tapering fingers, until her hand was heavy. Of other jewels +she'd have none. "But thou must have a shoulder knot," said Cedric, +and he took from the casket a glittering shoulder brooch of opals and +clasped it in the satin of her frock, and drew from a tripod of white +and gold a flaming jacqueminot and gave it into her hand and led her +forth, followed closely by Janet. Down the great stairway he led +her proudly, through corridor and passage, until they reached the +servants' hall, where the clamour of voices and baying hounds was like +pandemonium; and at the sound Mistress Penwick drew back with fear. +For a moment Cedric was sorely tried to keep from bending to those +rose-bowed lips. She saw him hesitate, and stammered forth: + +"Lead on, my lord!" + +He swung open the door and instantly all eyes were set upon his fair +ward. First his Lordship's face was exultant, then seeing Mistress +Penwick's glances that pierced every masculine heart, and her dazzling +beauty drunk in by all; his face grew dark, and jealousy possessed +him, and fear crept in, and he vowed to wed her at the earliest +moment. + +"'Tis Sir John Penwick's daughter, Mistress Katherine Penwick, my +father's ward," and he led her to their midst. + +"She is a wondrous beauty," many murmured as they saw her. + +"Dazzling, by God!" whispered some of the masculines that stood apart, +and there were others that spoke not a word, but stood spell-bound +at her majestic mien. A gorgeously apparelled figure swept to his +Lordship's side, and a little hand crept into his and black flashing +eyes looked up, and a soft voice whispered,-- + +"Thou didst never speak of--this, the most charming of thy +possessions, heretofore, Cedric. I knew not thou didst inherit so +beauteous a being from thy father. But Sir John,--England has not +heard of his death--" + +"Sh! sh! she does not know," Cedric answered. + +"Not know--ah!" and Lady Constance drew from him and looked at +Katherine with malice and thought evil; "'tis not Sir John's daughter, +'tis some trick Cedric plays upon his guests and me; it goes to show +that his relations to her are ill, and his intentions are to raise her +to our level. Nay, nay, Cedric, I will lift thee beyond such a thing. +When he has time alone, I will gain his ear and taunt him with a +debauched youth; free from heart or conscience; a rake to betray; and +I will win him from beauteous, youthful Bacchante. 'Tis his pleasure +to swear and swagger; but at twenty-three he should not begin to +carouse with female beauty. 'Tis time, and I will tell him so, for him +to bring a lady as wife to the castle. I will speak to him at once. He +has gone too far." + +Lord Cedric drew Katherine to inspect the trophies of the chase, and +explained their kind and the mode of capture. She with others followed +him; the gentler folk raising frocks from pools and streams of blood, +thereby displaying high-heeled shoe and slender ankle and ruffles of +rare lace; and they gathered close about Mistress Penwick, drinking in +her simple convent ways of glance and gesture and fresh, young spirit. + +Then his Lordship led them to the grand saloon. It was the glory +of the castle, this great room of forty feet in width and sixty in +length. The ceiling supported upon either side by slender Corinthian +pillars, was panelled and exquisitely frescoed with nude female +figures that were reflected in the highly polished floor of marquetry +woods. The walls were covered with old tapestries and rare pictures. +There were two immense windows; the one at the south end of the room +was quite twenty feet square of Egyptian style. The one to the north +reached from floor to ceiling and from side to side. It was draped by +a single ruby-coloured velvet curtain that was so artistically caught +by rope-like cords of silk that, by a draw, could be lifted upward +and to either side in luxurious folds, exposing the entire window. At +present the great saloon was lighted by seven immense lustres of fifty +candles each, and with twenty sconces each bearing fifteen candles. +The effulgent gleam cast from these myriad flames upon polished woods, +busts, statues, unique bric-a-brac, gildings, glass and ruby velvet +produced the perfection of old-time splendour. And now, as the gallant +beaux led in fair maidens, it gave the picture life. The great +north window disclosed the ice-bound trees in all their primitive +ruggedness. The snow and sleet were vigorously driven by the wind that +howled continuously. The light from the forked-tree cast through +the window rays that resembled moonlight, as they mingled with the +radiance within, while outside it twinkled with the sprightliness of +old-fashioned humour. + +Cedric of Crandlemar was noted among beaux old and young of his +intimate acquaintance for the spicy diversions with which he +entertained his friends, when they were so fortunate as to be present +at his stag parties. Arriving home after a long absence, he opened +his castle upon St. Valentine's eve with a ball, wherein his guests +appeared in full court costume, in honour of the Royal guests. The +weeks following had been filled with stately entertainment; and now +his Royal and formal guests had departed, and the throng that passed +into the great saloon were youths and maidens of neighbouring +counties; some college friends and kinsmen. They entered with gay +abandon. The beaux were whetted to great curiosity, for 'twas +whispered among them that after a short evening with the ladies, there +were to appear a bevy of London-town dancing girls, who would give +them a highly flavoured entertainment; and, as if Bacchus had +prematurely begun to disport himself in brain and leg of each beau, he +set about to ogle and sigh and wish and--pull a stray curl upon some +maiden's forehead or touch her glowing cheek with cold fingers, and +some began to illustrate the _modus operandi_ of taking certain game, +while another danced a clog or contra-dance or Sir Roger de Coverley. +The maidens caught the spirit and answered back glance for glance, and +being equipped for conquest let go the full battery of their woman's +witchery. It made a charming spectacle of young and noble blood +indulging in the abandon of the hour. There were dames that set the +pace for modest maidenhood, that ogled with the younger beaux,--(as +they do to this day). Lady Bettie Payne swept her fingers over the +keys of an Italian spinet, that was ornamented with precious stones, +and sat upon a table of coral-veined wood; she sung soft and tenderly +of the amours of Corydon, and neither her voice nor the low tinkling +of the spinet reached to the further end of the room where Adrian +Cantemir played upon the grand harpsichord a dashing piece that was +intended to charm at least, the beauteous Katherine, who stood near. +Lord Cedric leant over and begged the Russian count to change the tune +to a gavotte. He did so, and Cedric brought forth Katherine and placed +her fair to watch his step till she might catch the changes. Thus he +trained her carefully and with precision, and when Cantemir saw the +trap that held him where he was and gave Lord Cedric the upper-hand, +he fell into the spleen and played out of time, and Cedric flung +around and caught his spur in Dame Seymour's petticoats, and he swore +beneath his breath, and Katherine smiled at his discomfiture and her +own untutored grace, and she made bold and took a step or two on her +own dependence. Then there chimed eight from the old French clock of +black boule that sat upon a cabinet of tortoise-shell, and it stirred +the swains to think of donning 'broidered waist-coats and high-heeled +shoon preparatory to the prandial hour, when fresh game and old wine +would strengthen stomach and head; and they bowed low over tapering +fingers and cast a parting dart at female hearts, and climbed the +great oaken stairway to don their fine beaux' dress. + +'Twas eleven o' the clock when the gay company again entered the +saloon; gentlemen in fresh curled periwigs and marvels of laces and +'broiderings. They were gay with post-prandium cheer and flushed with +wine. + +Lord Cedric clapped his hands and immediately from some curtained +passage or gallery there was music; each instrument seeming to lead +in contrapuntal skill. His Lordship led forth Katherine and others +followed in the movement of the passacaille. Mistress Penwick was +beneath a great lustre that shone down and set her shoulder knot +ablaze with brilliancy, when Lady Constance passed and noted it. +She bit her lip from sheer pain, for 'twas Cedric's mother's prized +brooch, and through her heart fell a thunderbolt of fear; for now she +knew he would not allow a baggage to wear a thing so valued by the +mother whose memory he so loved. She began to fear this beauteous +thing could not be ousted so easily from her kinsman's castle; and her +heart rebelled at thought of losing him for spouse. She raged within, +reproaching herself for not hastening in woman's way his avowal; then +she trembled and grew sick at heart, as she saw his glances that were +so full of love; glances for which she would give the world to win. +She, on a sudden, was famishing for this love she had heretofore held +aloof from and yet would rather die than loose, aye, die a thousand +deaths. In her heart she vowed vengeance on that 'twould come between +them, and the thought strengthened her for battle, and when again she +saw Cedric's eyes gazing with ardent desire upon Katherine, it was +with comparative calmness. There appeared also a strange thing to her, +that this beauty did not appear to notice Cedric--that is, with the +notice due so handsome, rich and titled beau. There was not another +in the room with so elegant and fine shape; of so great vigour and +strength; none that could be so shaken and yet tender with passion; +none that could so command with a look; none that had such pure, noble +blood. And strange to say, for the first time she saw his weaker side; +she saw he was both jealous and selfish; she could find a thousand +matters pertaining to his lands and estates that she could find fault +with. He was exacting and heartless with his tenants; not providing +for their welfare as he should, being so great a lord. He hardly +allowed them religious privileges. The church was attached to the +castle by a passage leading from the landing of the stairway in the +library, and he had complained that the singing and preaching annoyed +him, and had frequently closed the chapel for this cause, and yet +a woman that held sway over such a man's heart could mould him to +anything. Why, why had she not married him ere this? She would set +about it at once and bring all these matters concerning his estates +to his notice; 'twould look so noble; 'twas time the castle had a +mistress, and who would better grace it than the fair Lady Constance +of Cleed Hall? And in Adrian Cantemir she had an ally, for he was +madly and desperately in love with Lord Cedric's ward. "I should like +her for cousin; she would make Adrian a fine wife, indeed I think I +should become quite proud of her," said Constance, as if the matter +was already quite settled. + +After dancing the stately gavotte, it appeared that the whole company +became heavy and wished for retirement; it might have been a ruse on +the part of beaux, and the fair ones fell into the trap; be it as it +may, the ladies retired. Janet had been waiting at the top of the +stairs for her mistress; but her smile of welcome turned to one of +disgust as she saw her appear with Lady Constance' arm about her. + +"Thou art commencing early, Lady Judas; I have not preened my eyes +for nothing, and this I well know, thou art hot in pursuit of my Lord +Cedric, and thou shalt not have him. 'Tis Mistress Penwick that will +queen it here and make a noble consort for his Lordship," said Janet. + +"May I come in a minute? Thou hast learnt I am Cedric's cousin, and I +feel as though I must know thee at once for his sake." + +"Aye, thou art most welcome, Lady Constance," replied Katharine. +And they sat over the fire laughing and chatting. Katherine was all +excitement and full of clatter, for 'twas her first "company," and she +was a young lady and could now boast of tender looks and words from +beaux. And her volubleness led her to tell of her convent life, of her +sudden surprise and pleasure of coming to England; and on and on; and +blushing, she thought with Constance that Adrian Cantemir was indeed +very charming, and having become better acquainted with him, she felt +sure she admired him quite as much, or more than, any one else; and +she was so fond of music he fairly entranced her when he played. + +"To-morrow he is to teach me battledore and shuttlecock in the +library." + +"'Tis great sport and a game that requires some skill," said +Constance. And thus they talked for one good hour, and in the +adjoining room Janet fumed and fretted; for 'twas far past her child's +bedtime. + +"Such late hours are not conducive to youthful roundness and a clear +colour," she grumbled. Constance yawned and declared she must retire; +but she was thirsty and must have a drink, and yet she supposed she +must do without, for all the maids and lackeys were abed. + +"But the more I think of it, the more I want it. I will get it +myself." + +"And I will accompany thee, for I would like not to go alone in so +great a house, when there is no one astir," said Katherine. + +They started forth adown the stairs; and following silent, noiseless +like a wraith was Janet, expectant, eager; for she felt she was to +see the opening of a great battle. Constance led the way, carrying a +taper. As they traversed some passage, their ears caught the sound of +music. They listened a moment, then Constance proposed they snuff the +candle and draw near the sound; "for very like the beaux were having +an orgy," she said. And Katherine, full of adventure and deeming it a +fine, young lady's trick--she had heard talk of such things among the +older girls at the convent--opined "'twas the thing to do." And +they followed the passage until an arched and curtained doorway but +screened them from that 'twas within the grand saloon, and Constance +made bold to draw aside a finger-breadth of the sweeping curtain and +peep within. + +"Ah! ah! 'tis a beauteous sight!" and she turned from what she saw +and drew the curtain to a generous opening; and the two with heads +together looked through. + +Every candle had been snuffed and through the great north window came +the rays from the light in the forked tree that fell like moonlight +athwart the saloon. In the centre of the broad gleam was a sylph-like +form, keeping time to the music in a sort of phantom style of +movement; twisting, shimmering folds that appeared to effuse a +scintillation of opal shades. 'Twas the chaconne; slow, graceful and +full of romance, the full major lifting and seeming to float, at last +dying imperceptibly into the minor passacaille. About were seated, +carelessly and after the manner of men who had pulled at the bottle +for hours in the hunting field and were now somewhat overcome by +warmth and _ennui_, beaux old and young, 'suaging their appetite of +mouth and eye by wine and women. + +"'Tis the King sets the pace!" said one, close to the curtain. + +"Egad!" said another. "He not only sets it, but carries it along. He +has fine wenches at his beck and call." 'Twas evident 'twas but the +beginning of revelry; a sort of bacchanalian prelude to what might +come later. No sooner was this dance finished than another began. +Some lithe creature came forth to dance, in bright scarlet, the +passacaglia. The glasses were refilled and the noise became more +boisterous; and the scandal more flagrant. The candles were set aglow +again and tables were brought for those wishing to gamble. And one +richly dressed and full of wine sprung upon a table and held aloft a +glass and called forth: + +"Here, here is to his Lordship of Crandlemar and to a long life of +free and easy celibacy." Now 'twas said Lord Cedric could drink more +without becoming undignified than any other man of his company, but it +seemed he gave himself to the spirit of the moment and had drunk deep. +When the young blood upon the table offered the toast, Cedric sprung +as if shot to the table, where he staggered and would have fallen, had +it not been for the youth who bore him up. Holtcolm, in his drunken +anxiety for his neighbour's steadiness, stood near him and with +tender, maudlin solicitude began to flick the grains of bergamot +scented snuff from the lace of Lord Cedric's steenkirk. At the same +time from the glass he held there spilled on his Lordship's brocaded +coat of blue and silver a good half-pint of wine. Cedric upon being +balanced had forgotten what he wanted to say, and turned to his +supporter. + +"What was it Holt-colm--I was goin' to shay?" Neither could remember, +so his Lordship continued with what seemed to weigh upon his mind: + +"'Tis thish: 'tis my deshire thish should be made a memorable--a night +worthy of remembrance. I'm about to espoushe my fair ward--and this is +positively my lasht appearance _en bout_--I know and am fully aware +_abondance de bien ne nuit_ until a better comes. To-night will be my +finale de-bauch--sho; tell the red beauty to come here." He sat down +upon the table and gazed with heavy, drooping lids upon the dancing +girl that came toward him. "Thou art a saucy baggage; but--hic--thou +art false of colour and--hic--flesh. Thy lips and cheeks are stained +with rouge--hic--and thy flesh--is--hic--pushed to prominence by high +stays--by God, it turns my stomach to--nausea." And he turned over and +lay flat upon the table. "Bring on another--shay--we must have the +moonlight beauty again." Katherine was well frightened and made +several efforts to persuade her companion to go away. It was part of +Constance' programme to cause Katherine's disgust at sight of Cedric's +wantonness. She felt it had been accomplished, and as there were other +matters to be about, she turned with her and together they groped back +up the stairs in the darkness, and found Janet feigning sleep in a +chair before the fire, Constance yawned and declared herself to be +tired out, and bade Katherine _adieu_. Janet closed the door after her +and in haste began putting her mistress to bed. And after giving her a +bath and rubbing, she snuffed the candles and went to her own room to +slip out again and go below stairs and find the curtained doorway, +there to watch and wait for that which was to come. She had seen as +much as Constance and Katherine, and she determined to see even more. +She would know how Lord Cedric appeared in his cups. There was nothing +anomalous in what was before her; 'twas as she had often seen in the +grand house in which she had served as maid; the same licentiousness, +wild riot and debaucheries that have been since the world stood. She +saw 'twas Cedric that drank as deep as any, and could rip out oaths +as trippingly as his swollen tongue would allow; but he was neither +vulgar nor lewd. Janet looked with pride at his clear flushed face, +so handsomely featured; his jewelled hands and fine round legs that +tapered to slender ankles. 'Twould be a fine pair when he espoused her +mistress, and she would help him to it as soon as he liked. Her heart +went out to him the more when she saw he cared not for the favours +offered him by the dancing wenches as they touched his flowing black +curls with caressing hands. He turned upon his stomach on the table +and hid his face in his hands and remained thus until the candles were +again snuffed and a maid came out into the improvised moonlight in +gipsy dress and a fortune-teller's cup and wand. She wore a masque and +veil tight wrapped about her head. She danced with less skill than +any that had come before. She lisped forth 'twas her trade to tell +fortunes, and thereupon a fop reached forth and pulled her to him, and +she began a startling story that had somewhat of truth in it; and to +each one her assertions or predictions had so much of truth in them it +provoked interest among them all. Lord Cedric called from the table: + +"The wench tells ear-splitting truths; send her here, she shall give +my pasht, present--and future." If they had not been so blinded by +wine, they might have noticed her haste to go to his bidding. She +looked closely at his hand and the sediment of his wine-cup. + +"Thou art madly and blindly in love!" said she, lispingly. + +"Good! good!" was sent forth from those about; and Cedric struck his +fist upon the table,-- + +"'Madly'--yes; but by God not 'blindly'! haste on, wench." + +"She loves admiration--" + +"She would not be half a woman if she--" + +"She is in love with one of Russian birth," went on the gipsy. Cedric +frowned and held quiet. "There is one who hast loved thee from early +childhood--a--a kinswoman--she would make thee a noble spouse and love +thee well with a warm nature to match thine own." + +"Thou tellest false, for I know not such an one. I have loved many +kinswomen since childhood, and they have loved me, but not to +espousal!" + +"'Tis here--her name--'tis--C-o-n-s--" + +"Constance, by God! but there thy lisping tongue prattles ill, for she +loves me as a brother, and I love her as if she were my sister." Now +the gipsy drew back as if the man before her had stricken her, then +hastened to cover her emotion with a sudden look into the cup and an +exclamation of-- + +"Ah! ah!" + +"What seest thou?" said Cedric. + +"A thing that means more to thee than aught else; 'tis an awful thing +if thou shouldst choose wrong!" + +"Haste, wench, what is it?" Cedric was growing impatient. + +"Thy kinswoman will bring thee a fine heir--" + +"By God, the other will bring me a dozen then!" + +"Nay, 'tis not so, she--" She stepped close to his ear and whispered. + +"Thousand devils, thou infernal, lying pot-house brawler--" and Cedric +glared fiercely upon her and bent forward, his hand falling upon his +sword-hilt; then he grew red at his hot action, and looked about to +see if 'twas noticed. "Get thee gone, thou saucy, lisping minx." The +poor thing was well-nigh distraught with fear of this man whose anger +came like a thunderbolt, and she fell heavy upon the lackey who +conducted her forth. She slipped through the corridors like a fast +fleeting shadow, and Janet followed her close and saw her enter a +certain chamber apart where she was met by one of the dancers; and +'twas Lady Constance that threw from her the gipsy attire and put a +bag of gold in the celebrated Babbet's waiting fingers; and with a +warning pressure of finger-on-lip, she came forth and fled to her own +grand apartments, and Janet watched until the latch clicked upon this +great mistress of beauty, title, wealth and virtue. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +JANET'S PHILOSOPHY + + +"This world of ours hangs midway 'twixt zenith and nadir: the superior +and inferior: the positive and negative; and 'tis a pertinent thought +that susceptible human nature takes on the characteristic of the one +or the other. One is away up in zenithdom or away down in nadirdom, +one is not content to go along the halfway place and see the good that +lies ever before them. But, again, there are natures that are not +susceptible to extremes; as a simile: a maid whose soul is ever +vibrant with the ineffable joys of the world to come, walks by the +seashore and mayhap beholds the full moon rise from the water and cast +to her very feet a pathway of gold, and she will quickly join herself +to those who see like visions, and pathway will lie against pathway +and produce a sea of gold; on the other hand, if she be a foolish +virgin and looks not before her, but tosses high head in pride or +walks with downcast eyes and smiles and blushes and smirks and flings +aside thoughts of deity, until she becomes submerged; on a sudden +Gabriel will blow and the world will cease revolving, and then--where +wilt thou be, oh, maid that hath fluttered from sweet to sweet and +forgotten thy prayers?" There came a great happy sigh from the +testered bed-- + +"Thou hast powerful breath, Janet, and 'twas an immense bitterwort +bush thou were beating about. I am sorry I forgot my prayers. I will +say them twenty times to-day, to make up." + +"And it's the heathen that repeateth a prayer oft; thou hadst better +say 'God, have mercy upon my untowardness!' once, from thy heart, than +to say thy rosary from now until doom with thy mind upon a bumptious +Russian." + +"What is the day, Janet?" + +"'Tis as bleak and stormy as one could wish." + +"What is the hour?" + +"Eleven." + +"Eleven? and I was to meet Count Adrian at this very hour. He is to +teach me battledore and shuttlecock." + +"'Tis a fussy game, played more with the heart than hand; canst give +it up; let me rub thee to sleep again?" + +"Nay, for I would not disappoint him or--myself." + +An hour later she stood opposite the count in the great library, +swinging the battledore with grace. There was much soft laughter and +gay repartee; and Adrian followed the movements of Katherine's lithe +form, clad in the soft, clinging grey of the convent. She became +remiss; for Adrian's glances were confusing, and intentional laches +were made by him, that he might come near her, almost touching her +hair in bending to recover the ball. She was flushed and eager, +triumphant of a fine return, when the door flew open and in came a +number of gallants, among whom was Lord Cedric. His face flushed a +warm red and he shot a glance of jealousy at Adrian as he bent low +over Katherine's hand. After a few commonplace remarks, they passed on +up the stairway to the broad landing, on which was an arched door that +led to the passage opening into the organ loft of the chapel. In a few +moments there came the sound of the organ. Katherine swung low her +battledore and breathed forth: + +"Let us listen; 'tis sweet, who plays, dost know?" + +"'Tis St. Mar, a fine fellow; a soldier, duelist and gallant." + +"'Thou dost flank duelist by two words that should scorn being so +separated!'" + +"'Twas a happy wording; for if thou shouldst meet him, thou wilt +fall but two-thirds in love, whereas, if otherwise worded 'twould be +altogether." + +"Thou art giving my heart an evil reputation; for after all 'tis not +so easy won." + +"'Tis true, as I know, more than any one else, for my heart misgave +me from the moment I first set eyes on thy beauteous countenance; and +since I have been in wild despair, not knowing if thou hast a heart +for any save thy nurse and my Lord Cedric; for 'tis to them thy heart +seems bent." There was neither shadow nor movement of fair expression +on Mistress Penwick's face, as she answered calmly,-- + +"Thou sayest well. I love my nurse--she has been mother too, and I +honour Lord Cedric as a good man should be honoured, and one whom my +father chose to be his daughter's guardian and holder in trust of her +estates." + +"Estates"--'twas a grand word and went straight to Cantemir's heart; +for 'twas something to espouse so beautiful a maiden that had demesne +as well. + +Katherine was listening to the chords of the organ, and she bent +forward eagerly. Her thoughts flew back to the convent where she had +enjoyed a pure religious life undisturbed by the trammels of the great +outer world. + +"Let us go," said she, "I would see who 'tis that plays!" + +She led the way up the broad stairs and through the passage into the +organ loft, and at first sight of her Cedric was well-nigh beside +himself with delight; for he took it, she had come to be with him. +There was a young fop at the organ in rich and modish attire, but +otherwise of unattractive and common appearance. + +Katherine cast upon him her entire attention, and there came that +in her face that drew the glance of every eye. 'Twas as if she was +entranced with the player, as well as the sounds he brought forth from +the organ. Cedric be-thought him 'twas an unfortunate oversight to +have learnt not to thrum upon some sort of thing wherewith to draw the +attention if not admiration of such a maid as this. And he straightway +made avowal to send at once for tutor and instrument; a violin, when +played as he might learn to, would perhaps be as successful in its +lodestone requirements as any other thrumming machine. "'Twas an +instrument could be handled to such an effect. A man could so well +show white, jewelled fingers; display a rare steenkirk to pillow it +upon; and withal, a man could stand free and sway his body gracefully +this way and that; yes, 'tis the thing to do; she may yet look at me +as she now looks at St. Mar!" so thought Cedric. The piece was soft +and gentle, with a pathetic motif running through it. Katherine became +so rapt she drew closer and closer, until at last she stood beside St. +Mar. He became confused and halted, and finally left off altogether +and turned to read the admiration in the azure blue of her eyes. + +"Thou art from France, and dost thou know many of the great +musicians?" + +"Aye, a great many--" + +"Hast thou met the great Alessandro Scarlatti? I understand he created +a _furore_ as he passed through Paris from London." + +"'Tis true, and I was most fortunate to hear him play portions of +'_L'Onesta nell Amore._' Queen Christina herself accompanied him to +Paris, and wherever he played she was not far away." + +"We used much of his sacred music at the convent; 'tis such warm, +tender and sympathetic harmony. He must be a very great man!" + +"He hath a son, Domenico, not two years old, who already shows a great +ear for his father's music; and they say he will even be a greater +musician than his father. It is possible Alessandro will visit +London." + +"'Twould be wondrous fine! I will go and hear him play, surely +"--Cedric interrupted their musical converse,-- + +"'Tis cold for thee, I fear, in this damp place; I beg thee to allow +me to lead thee to the library." And without further words he led her +away, through the library and on beyond to the saloon, where he begged +her to favour him with songs he was quite sure she could sing, naming +those he most wished to hear. + +Then in came Lady Bettie Payne with three or four others, and they +babbled and chattered, and as Lord Cedric stood near he heard them +speak of Lady Constance' indisposition. + +"Ah, poor Constance, I was not aware she was ill!" said he, and he +went forth to inquire of her condition and find if aught could be done +for her enlivenment to health and spirits. When he returned and +saw Katherine so surrounded, and his guests engaged at cards and +battledore and music, and some in converse as to whether they should +ride forth to the chase, he was somehow stirred to think of Constance +lying alone in her chamber; and there recurred to him the tale of the +night before; 'twas she that loved him. He felt sorry for her if such +a thing were true; but 'twas not possible, and to convince himself he +would go to her and give her the brotherly kiss as heretofore, and +take notice if there was aught in her manner to denote verification of +the miserable gipsy's story. He would put an end to such feeling, if +'twere there. He sent word if he might see her for himself, and be +assured her illness was not feigned, in order she might shirk the +duty--like a wicked sister--of presenting her fair face for the +enlightenment of the gloom that seemed about to penetrate, from +without, the castle walls. + +Constance lay propped amongst pillows, in a gorgeous _peignoir_ of +lace, arranged for the moment to display advantageously her plump arms +and a slender white neck encircled with pearls. Her brow was high and +narrow; her dark hair was carefully arranged in wavy folds upon +the pillow; her eyes, under drooping lids, glittered coldly and +imperiously. The nose was straight, and too thin for beauty. Her lips, +touched with rouge, were also thin and full of arrogance. There she +lay, impatient for the love of this one man, who was e'en now at the +door. + +When Constance was a baby, she had watched Cedric upon his nurse's +knee taking his pap, and a little later amused him with her dolls. She +had played with him at bat and ball; had ridden astride behind him +upon a frisking pony; had learned and used the same oaths when none +were by to note her language but grooms and stable-boys--always when +Angel, the head nurse, was not about. She would outswear the young lad +and then tease him because he could not find words to equal hers. +They had played at "Lord and Lady," and rode about the terraces in +a miniature sedan chair, and cooks and scullions winked and nodded, +wisely and predictively. And when they came to man's and woman's +estate, Cedric's regard for her was as a brother's; but hers for +him, alas! was deep love. It seemed to her as if the world was just +beginning; a bright, glorious world full of untold wealth of love, +when she thought perhaps she might yet win him for her own; and indeed +she thought, as already possessing him. On his part there was +being born in his heart a great joy: that of a new and first love. +Heretofore he and Constance had known all things in common, and now +suddenly he was satiate of her. But Katherine, he had thought, was +so young and bright and beautiful; a child that had lived within the +cloister and had grown to maidenhood in sweet innocence. 'Twas like +finding in some tropic clime, embowered and shaded by thick, waxy +leaves, a glorious, ripe pomegranate, which he would grasp and drink +from its rich, red pulp, a portion that would cool and 'suage a +burning thirst; while Constance, by the side of Katherine, was like a +russet apple, into whose heart the worm of worldly knowledge had eaten +its surfeit and taken all sweetness away, and the poor thing hung low, +all dried and spiritless upon a broken bough to the convenience of any +passing hand. "Nay, nay; give me only the rich, ripe pomegranate; my +Katherine, Kate! Kate!" and blinded thus by the fever of desire to +possess only his sweet Kate, he swung wide the door of Constance's +room and passed to the bedside and leant over and kissed her. + +She flushed red as she met his eyes--now cold and +unimpassioned--looking into the very depths of her own. He saw the +sudden scarlet that mantled her face, and knew--knew she loved him. +And his heart went out to her, for he was attached to the russet +thing, an attachment heretofore unnamed, but now--now suddenly +christened with that parsimonious appellation--pity; the object +of which is never satisfied. But he had naught else to give, for +Katherine had suddenly impoverished him. + +"'Tis generous of thee, Cedric, to break from thy gay company; what +are they engaged in?" + +"Various,--some at cards, others at music--" + +"And what was thy pastime that thou couldst sever thyself so +agreeably?" + +"I was listening to Bettie, and she on a sudden remarked of thy +indisposition. I straightway came to note thy ailing. I have talked +not with thee in private since thy arrival, and there is much news. +Hast seen her, Constance, to talk with her?" + +"Whom meanest thou? There are many 'hers' in the house!" + +"The beauty that flew to me over seas, of course; whom else could I +mean?" + +"Oh! oh! to be sure; the maid from Quebec. Aye, I talked with her +some. Thou sayest she is Sir John Penwick's daughter?" + +"Aye, and she's a glorious beauty, eh, Constance?" + +"But how camest thou by her?" + +Cedric reached to that nearest his heart and drew forth Sir John's +letter and gave it opened into Constance's hand. She read it with +blazing eyes and great eagerness; for 'twas a bundle of weapons she +was examining and would take therefrom her choice. She flashed forth +queries as to the probability of this or that with a semblance of +interest that disarmed Cedric and made him wonder if this woman +loved to such an extent, she could fling aside her own interests +and submerge all jealousy, all self-love into the purest of all +sacrifices, abnegation? + +"What! no estates? That looks ill, for at one time Sir John was +affluent, for Aunt Hettie has told me of him many a time." + +"But he lost it all, as I've heard ofttime from father; he has spoken +not infrequent of Sir John's high living; he had great demesne, a +great heart and great temper; and 'tis the last named that has fallen +clear and uncumbered to his daughter; and the heart will be found by +careful probing, no doubt; and the demesne she will have when she +condescends to take me as spouse." + +"Thou, thou espouse her?" and Constance feigned surprise, as if 'twere +a new thing to her, when in reality she had suffered agony from its +repetition. + +"Aye, and why not, pray? Am I not of ripe years and know my mind?" + +"And why so?--because thou shouldst wed one of high degree and fortune +and worldly wisdom." + +"Nay, thou art wrong. 'Tis enough that she is of noble blood from +father and mother; and I have fortune for us both; and worldly +wisdom--bah! Constance, dost thou expect her to know all the intrigues +of court, when she is but lightly past fifteen?" + +"Fifteen?--Now by heaven, Cedric, thou wouldst not lie to me?" + +"Nay, Con, I would not--I have no object in this case, 'tis a truth." + +"Fifteen, and indeed she is well-formed for such youth!" + +"And what a beautiful and innocent face she has, too?" + +"Beauteous, admitted; but innocent of what?" + +"Innocent of all we know; she knows naught of this great world. Janet +keeps all evil from her. We cannot conceive of such innocence in any +one. The child has eaten the simplest things all her life; milk and +gruel and beef-whey; 'tis no great wonder she is so pink and strong; +Janet says in hand-to-hand battle in their convent chamber, the child +hath thrown her oft in fair wit of strength;--such rough sport was not +indulged in openly and Janet taught her thrusts and flings to broaden +her chest and strengthen hip and back; she is stout and strong, and +yet she makes one think of a beautiful flower until she falls in +anger; then she shows a stout temper as well, and is wilful to all +save Janet, who governs her by some strange method I ne'er saw before; +for 'tis odd to see servant lead mistress. But, 'twas an awful thing +happened me; I knew not, or had forgotten rather, the arrival of the +babe Sir John speaks of. As thou knowest, I came home unexpectedly, +and I found the letter here. It had arrived some time before, and +I read it hastily, told Wasson my duty and passed the letter to a +convenient pocket, and thence until the night of the _masque_ forgot +all about the arrival of the infant. I was masqued, mad and raving at +Christopher for not mending my bag-pipe, and I rushed swearing after +him and Mistress Penwick heard my oaths, my broad Scotch ones thou +knowest I love to use when in anger. She hates me for it, and I can +do naught to win the confidence due me as her rightful guardian. So I +have settled upon an immediate espousal--" + +"Immediate? Thou marry a child,--'tis unseemly--" + +"Nay, 'tis not unseemly; 'tis the most proper thing to do. Janet +says so, too, and will urge her to accept me as soon as I wish to +wed--which shall be at the earliest moment." + +"Janet, indeed! What right has a servant to forward the doings of +master and mistress? Thou hadst best wait and have her Grace of +Ellswold present her at Court and give the child at least one season +in London to improve her convent ways." + +"Nay, Constance, if she were to grow one whit more beautiful, 'twould +kill me dead." + +"I am afraid thou art easily slain; indeed, I never knew beauty was so +murderous before. Thou art surely beside thyself; she here alone in +this great castle without a mother's love to guide! No one to whom she +can tell her troubles! How must the poor child feel to be forced into +a marriage she most like--hates;"--and her ladyship's voice took +on such a tone of pity one would think she was about to break into +tears,--"'tis a barbarous act for thee to talk of marriage so soon to +a helpless being." + +"There is nothing helpless about Kate, she can take her own part. She +hath wit and temper for a half dozen." + +"But thou wilt acknowledge if she will have _her_ way she must leave +the castle; for thou art bent upon _thy_ way--thou wilt not listen to +reason; so, see to it, and wed her straightway if--if thou canst." He +was about to answer her with an oath, when suddenly Katherine stood in +the half-open door smiling over the top of a great bunch of roses. +On Constance' face was a look of triumph, as she noted Cedric's +confusion; but Katherine's words put Cedric at ease. + +"I was told thou wert ill and that Lord Cedric was uneasy and had come +to thee; and I reproached myself for not coming earlier to see if thou +wert in need of aught." She placed the vase of roses on a table close. +Constance thanked her and took the tapering fingers and hugged them +between her own. Katherine looked down upon her thin, arrogant lips; +and as there always comes to the innocent--when dealing with those of +other mould--a warning, a feeling of repulsion, took possession of her +and she withdrew her hand, and, in a moment, her presence. + +"'Tis a vision of loveliness more refreshing than the nosegay she +brought, thinkest thou not so, Constance?" + +"Thou dost see with lover's eyes. How soon wilt thou espouse her; +thy house is somewhat taken up by company, who are to remain for +the summer, and how wilt thou get through the irksomeness of grand +ceremonies without great preparation, for much will be expected of thy +wealth and rank?" + +"Damme, I'll have no pranks and ceremonies and entertainments; I +have not time. I must wed her at once. Canst thou not see, under the +circumstances, scandal-mongers will make eyes and prate of wrong for +me thus to have a young maid here alone?" Now indeed this thought had +not occurred to Constance in just this way; but now it struck her with +a mighty force, and she shot at him a piercing glance through the +half-closed imperious eyes. + +"I had thought of it, but determined mine should not be the first +breath to breathe forth scandal, even in private converse with thee; +'twas an awful thing for her to come here knowing of thy youth." + +"But she did not know, as that letter and thou thyself can testify." + +"But the world--the Court where thou wilt go to hold sway--they know +not the circumstances." + +"Now, by God, Constance, one would think thou wert an alien to King +Charles' Court. If Charles knew I had here this maid and had not yet +taken her to wife--why--why, he would take her away himself and laugh +me to scorn for my slothfulness. But all London knows by now, as I +have sent a message to my solicitors." + +"But if she be set upon not marrying thee. What wilt thou do?" Lord +Cedric hung his head, as if in profound meditation; then, without +raising it, but remaining in a hopeless attitude, said: + +"I will guard her from all evil. I will stand between her and harm and +wait. And thou must help me, Constance. Wilt thou persuade her?" + +"Have I not always taken thy part, even--when thou wert in the wrong?" + +When Cedric left Lady Constance, he sought Janet and poured into her +willing ears his woes. He feared lest some gallant should win his +Kate's love, and Janet must tell him of some way to win it for +himself. + +Janet now loved Lord Cedric as if he were already Katherine's lord; +and she, knowing 'twould be one of the best matches in all England, +vowed 'twas best for them to marry at once; beside, Kate, being wilful +and having a tendency for men of foreign birth, with nothing in their +favour but a small share of good looks and some musical ability, might +see fit to plant her affections with such, and 'twas plain mischance +would kill Cedric outright, for he was passionate to self-destruction; +so when he said: "'Twould be instant death to me, Janet. What wouldst +thou advise me to do--thou dost so fully understand her?" she answered +him: + +"'Tis somewhat the way with maidens to sigh for that not easily +attained, and it might serve thee to put forth an indifferent air and +incline thy attentions toward another and act a mighty cold lord and +coddle not her desires." + +"That would take so long a time; I cannot wait. I will speak to her +once more, then I will be cold and indifferent as thou sayest. When +shall I have an opportunity to speak with her?" + +"How soon dost expect the chests with my lady's raiment, my lord?" + +"On the morrow they should be here." + +"'Tis then she will think of thy goodness, and I will put in a word +for thee, and perchance thou wilt come to see if all things came, and +'twill give thee opportunity to speak of other things. She is wanting +many things for the Chapel; she wishes to reopen it; and 'tis in +matters of religion thy hot tempers will clash, for Mistress Penwick +is a Roman Catholic, and thou art of the English Church." + +"Thou art a wise Janet! I will turn the people, and they shall become +Catholics." + +"Nay, if thou dost undertake it, thy people will rise in arms against +thee." + +"So be it, let her have her way. I'll bother her not in her simple +ideas of religion." + +"Not so simple, my lord. Thou hast not seen the teachings of nine +years take root and spread and grow as I have. Dost think she would +allow thy Chaplain to bind thee to her? Nay, she will be wed by none +but a priest. But she is kindly intentioned and feels sorry for thy +poor Chaplain, who hath so hard a time to keep his flock together. +I look any day for her to carry in a cross and hang it behind his +pulpit, then--then he will faint away from fright of her." + +"Nay, Janet, he will fall down and worship it, and--her." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BRANTLE + + +Mistress Penwick sat in her chamber, trying to calm herself to reason; +for the chest had come from London-town laden with splendid raiment; +all had been unpacked and examined, and 'twas enough to cure all +grievances, the very sight of such adornings; but her ladyship +was disappointed that there were no stays. Janet for the time was +distraught and said: + +"I would that had been sent that would mend thy untowardness and bring +thy temper to a comelier mould. 'Tis past time for thee to clothe +thyself in that in which thy noble lord hath seen fit to purchase for +thee; I heard some moments since the arrival of the hunters and it's +time--" There was a sounding rap and 'twas his Lordship's lackey +begging the admittance of his master. Janet bade Lord Cedric enter. He +came forth in riding-coat and field boots and rattling spurs. Mistress +Penwick vouchsafed a nod of recognition and turned her eyes away. The +hot blood mounted Cedric's face and at a look at Janet understood all +was not well; he essayed to speak with coolness: + +"Art not happy with the contents of thy chest, Kate?" + +"'Tis more than one could expect, but--sadly it lacked that I wished +for most--a thing that marks one as lady and not child in grown-up +people's clothes." + +"And what might that be, Kate?" for indeed he had forgotten about her +order that stays be sent. + +"Simple, modest, commonplace stays, my lord," and she said it slowly +and with a mighty air. + +"Nay, nay--stays they did forget?" and he stamped his foot in seeming +wrath and broke forth:--"I'll thrash that damned lackey blue for +so forgetting!" and he turned as if to quit the room, but Mistress +Penwick ran to stay his hurry. + +"Nay, thou wilt not hurt him, 'twas not his fault, 'twas not by his +hand the order was writ." And Cedric feigned further show of temper, +and Katherine's tapering fingers ventured upon either lapel of his +lordship's velvet coat, and he turned red and white and could hardly +contain himself with delight. Janet, fearing a confusion of her +master's words, put forth her arms and drew away Katherine's hands and +said, softly: + +"His Lordship will not thrash the lad, if thou wilt don thy most +beautiful frock and forget the stays." + +"That will I, if 'tis his desire; and--" she looked up into his +Lordship's face with a look that was almost tender--"thou wilt say no +word to the boy?" His voice was soft and pleading as he answered: + +"Anything thou wouldst ask of me thus, thou couldst have it without +the asking." + +"Then, my lord, when there is aught I would have, I may take it +without thy spoken yea?" + +"Nay, not so; that would be highway robbery; for thou wouldst take +from me the dearest thing that has yet happened to me; 'tis thy sweet +pleading for that 'tis already thine." + +"'Tis a generous thing for thee to say, but if I might have perfect +freedom to do all things as I desire--" + +"And what are the 'all things' that thou wouldst desire?" + +"I should like to have many changes made in the Chapel, and bring one +who is well able to play on the great organ. And 'twould be a wondrous +good thing to bring from the village of Crandlemar youths for the +training of a choir, such as I have heard are of much repute among the +poor lads for strength and sweetness of voice; and after all things +are made ready, have the Chapel opened again with pomp of priest and +solemn ceremony." + +"If such are thy desires, I will put forward the work at once." Now +indeed Katherine forgot the sad lack of stays and for the moment +forgot all else save that the handsome Cedric stood before her flushed +and eager to gratify her every whim. He, one of the richest noblemen +in Great Britain, whom she could have for a look; the stretching out +of the hand. And she quite well knew that he was ready at the first +opportunity to renew the subject of marriage, and for this very thing +she turned from him thinking that some time she would consider his +proposal. So again he went from her presence with a throbbing in his +breast that was half-hope, half-despair and knew not what to do. + +'Twas the last ball at Crandlemar Castle, for the hunting season was +over. A goodly company gathered from neighbouring shires, and Mistress +Pen wick was the mark of all eyes in a sweeping robe of fawn that +shimmered somewhat of its brocadings of blue and pink and broiderings +of silver. She had decorously plaited a flounce of old and rare lace +and brought it close about her shoulders and twined her mother's +string of pearls about her white throat, the longer strands reaching +below her waistband and caught low again upon the shoulder with a knot +of fresh spring violets. Cedric stood apart with his kinsman, his +Grace of Ellswold, who enjoyed the freedom of speech of all Charles' +Court; indeed it appeared that not only looseness of tongue but morals +also held sway in the most remote as well as the best known portions +of the kingdom. And at his Grace's first sight of Katherine he uttered +an oath and some other expression that savoured of common hackney; for +Cedric had been telling him of the soothsayer's words. + +"The soothsayer spoke false and I'll wager thee the East Forest thou +hast coveted against thy Welsh demesne. I tell thee, Cedric, a jewel +hast thou found. Never have I seen her equal. And that is John +Penwick's daughter!" and he took a great pinch of snuff and looked +at Cedric. "She will make thee a fine wife,--but who is the man that +dangles after her now? Indeed, I would say thou hadst better watch out +for him. I do not like the look in his eyes; he is--" + +"Egad, uncle! I would as soon think of being jealous of--of thee. He +is Constance' cousin from Russia, and as she is staying here for some +time, at her request I asked him also. Bah! I could never imagine him +as a rival!" + +"Well, so be it; but how about the wager of the East Forest?" + +"Thou art on the winning side. So thou couldst not wager without an +opponent, and 'twill be futile to find one, lest thou dost charge upon +some landless bumpkin." + +"And how soon wilt thou espouse her?" + +"At the first moment of her consent--" + +"Consent 'tis thou art waiting for? Thou hadst better keep her close; +for if his Majesty gains inkling of such fresh, young beauty and finds +her out of bans, 'twill go hard with thee to sword thy way to a lady +in waiting or--perhaps----" + +"'Sdeath, by God! I had not thought of that! 'Twould be too bold +and out of place, she being under my guardianship, to press her to +espousal without fair consent;--but I know best; 'twould be for her +own safety, is it not so, uncle?" + +"If she knows naught of the frailties of all mankind and the Court in +particular, I should say as thou art her rightful guardian and the +suitor chosen of her father, and 'twas thy wish for her immediate +espousal, 'twould best serve thee to use all manner of means to gain +her consent, and if this prove abortive, I would abduct the maid and +have thy Chaplain ready to marry thee to her; and after he pronounces +thee man and wife, what can she do but love thee straightway for thy +strong handling; 'tis the way of women. I would marry such a beauty in +haste, ere another takes the vantage." + +Lord Cedric chose Mistress Penwick for the brantle and led her forth. +They moved with such majestic grace, they attracted all eyes. It +seemed Cedric could not contain himself for love of Kate, and he vowed +to gain her ear this very night and know for a certainty if she would +ever marry with him. + +It pleased Mistress Penwick to dance with Cedric, for she was more at +ease with him than any other, and she was hardly pleased when he bade +her rest and took her to another room, where they were quite alone. +But she would not sit down, and stood fanning and smiling up into his +face, saying half pettishly: + +"Thou art soon tired; the brantle has just begun." + +"Kate, hast thou patience?" + +"Aye, but 'tis of dwarfish mould." + +"Kate, dost love any human being?" + +"Aye, 'tis a poor thing that loves not." + +"Dost love me, Kate?" + +"As a father or brother and as one should love her father's best +friend." + +"Then--give me a--kiss as thou wouldst give thy brother." The hot +blood suffused her face. At sight of it, Cedric's heart leapt with a +mighty gladness. + +"Not having had a brother, I know not how to give that thou +askest;--and 'tis unseemly of thee to ask for that that makes one +blush for very shame to be questioned of." + +"Blushes are not always for shame--'tis for love, sometimes. Kate, +'tis time I knew thy heart, for thou knowest I am about to die for +love of thee. Dost not understand that thy father wished thee to marry +at an early age and to marry the son of his bosom friend to whom he +gave his daughter's keeping?" + +"Nay, he said naught of my marriage with thee, as he knew not thou +wert in existence." + +"Aye, of a truth he hath done so; it is here next my heart," and he +drew forth Sir John's letter. "Wilt read but the lines I show thee; +for there are secrets belonging to thy father and me alone?" He marked +the lines with his jewelled finger, his love locks falling against her +cheek as she read: "My last wish and the one of greatest import to my +child is that thou find for her a spouse of rank and fortune. 'Tis my +desire she marry early to such an one.--Ah! Cedric, if thou had hadst +a son, their union would have been our delight--" + +"Ah! ah!" and Katherine's eyes grew wide. "Thou hast said naught of +this--as it appears here before me now; and it might have been too +late." + +"Too late! What meanest thou?" + +"The noble--nay, now I cannot tell thee, for 'tis a secret but half +mine." + +"My God! who dares have secrets with thee save thy nurse and guardian; +whose damned heart hath played the lover to thee?" His hand fell upon +his sword and he drew it half way. "What guest hath so dishonoured +name as to make profit of that I have already made known as my +espoused? Tell me, Kate!" Seeing her frightened eyes, that were justly +so, he pushed back the jewelled hilt and threw his arm about her and +drew her close, so close she was well-nigh crushed by his warm and +passionate embrace and choked by pulverulent civet as her face was +pressed against the folds of his steenkirk. She felt the tumultuous +beating of his heart, and 'twas a great, new feeling came to her and +she trembled and swayed, and loved and hated both, in one brief moment +and drew from him and looked with angry eyes. "Kate, Kate, what saidst +the false lover; tell me every word. Did he ask thee for espousal?" +Now Mistress Penwick faltered and flushed, for she dare not tell him +who her suitor was and thought if she told him well what was said, +he would not press her for name, and 'twas meet she should tell him +truthfully. She feared his hot temper not a little, for she had heard +that one time he locked Lady Constance in the tower for two whole days +for telling him a falsehood. + +"Aye, he asked me to espouse him." + +"And what didst thou say?" + +"I said him nay, 'twas too soon to wed, 'twould be wiser to speak a +year hence." + +"And what answer did he make thee?" + +"He said the king's sister, Princess Mary, when but ten married +William, Prince of Orange, and--" + +"And what?" said Cedric, leaning forward his hand upon his sword, a +curse between his white teeth and a line of light from between +his half-closed lids like the flashing of a two-edged sword. +"What--'sdeath?" And Kate trembled forth-- + +"And fifteen was none too soon to wed." + +"And did he say naught else appertaining thereto?" + +"Nay, I know naught else he could say!" and the innocence of her +inquiring face proved his evil imagining a perjury. He caught his +breath in a flutter of sheer heart's-ease. + +"Now who is this swain who hath taken advantage of my invitation and +come up from among the rustics yonder to make love to thee? I will +run him through the first time I meet his insolence. Who is he, Kate; +what's his name?" She vouchsafing no answer, aroused his suspicion. + +"'Sdeath! what ails thy tongue? Haste thee, what is his name?" and he +glared at her, furiously, 'til she was well nigh cold with fright. + +"Sooth, thou art strong with temper for the very meagre cause a maiden +will not bewray a poor man's name." + +"Poor, indeed, when such as thou bestoweth upon him the priceless +gift of thy heart as a locker for his secrets; by God! give his name, +quick, ere I slay a dozen for one paltry fool that would rob me!" +She read aright the steely light 'neath his half-closed lids and was +distraught, for she dared not give him the name of one of his guests; +for the noble Russian Adrian Cantemir had pressed his suit and was +upheld by Lady Constance, who told him of Katherine's vast demesne, +knowing well he could not marry one without estates, as his were in +great depletion. And the noble Cantemir had well nigh won her heart by +his voice and music, and now that he was in danger of Lord Cedric's +anger, he became an object of commiseration, and not for her life +would she give his name to this raging man with murder in his heart. + +"Nay, nay, my lord; give me grace. I have told thee truly all else, +and now I beg--" + +"Dost thou say thou wilt not give his name? Then, by God, I will cut +my way to his black heart!" He drew his sword and strode forth to +slash the curtain that barred his way, and Katherine caught his +upstretched arm and fell upon her knees, bursting into tears. At sight +of tears and touch of fingers he dropped his sword and raised her +quickly, saying: + +"Nay, nay, not tears. Dry them, Sweet, they wring my heart to greater +pain than all thy secrets, and for this one thou boldest I will take +thy shoulder-knot instead." She looked up surprised at the sudden +surcease of storm, and seeing his handsome face becalmed, she +wondered at the magic that had caused it, and her heart smote her for +withholding aught from one that loved her so. She hastily drew from +her shoulder the knot of violets that were still humid with freshness; +and as she drew the fastenings the lace fell from her shoulder, +disclosing her too-low cut bodice, and Cedric's quick eye saw why the +screen of lace was used, and with trembling fingers caught up the lace +and drew from his steenkirk a rare jewel and pinned it safe as deftly +as her maid. He touched her hand with his warm red lips, saying in +a voice resonant as music: "God bless thee, Kate, for thy sweet +modesty!" He thought if the modish beauties in yonder rooms could +boast of such perfect charm, 'twould not be hid by a fall of lace and +a shoulder knot of violets. And he pressed the nosegay to his heart +and left them there, folded within her father's letter. A calmness +settled upon him, such as had not come to him heretofore, and +trembling with happiness he led Katherine forth in the brantle; she +feeling quite like an heroine for being able to hold her secret from +this passionate man. + +For all the convent had environed Mistress Pen wick with sacred +influences, and she had absorbed its most potent authority, religion, +yet even that was not efficacious to the annihilating that 'twas +born within; and one can but excuse the caprice and wantonness of a +coquette, when 'tis an inheritance. She adhered pertinaciously to the +requirements of a lady of title, and loved opulence and luxury and +admiration. She foresaw--young as she was and reared as she had been +with all simpleness--an opportunity, being a noblewoman and the ward +of a wealthy titled gentleman, to become a favourite at Court. This +idea, however, was not altogether original; for Lady Constance +had given her a graphic description of her presentation, and the +requirements due to all ladies of note. And while Katherine fully +intended to carry out her father's wishes for an early and noble +marriage; yet she felt there was no haste; she was sure it would be +his desire for her to enjoy one of those seasons at Court she had +heard so much converse of. 'Tis not much wonder, having been so short +a time in the great world and having won the hearts of two noblemen, +she should wish for fresh fields to conquer. But now was not the time +for a trip to London, for spring was upon them and there was much to +look after in Crandlemar. His Lordship had sadly neglected his duties +in keeping up the village and looking after the poor. The church +must be built up. It had not occurred to her that there were other +religions beside the Catholic; and when Lord Cedric's chaplain made +known to her the difficulties of arranging Catholic orders in a +Protestant Church, she could not understand. Janet explained to her +what she would be compelled to surmount to bring her religion to be +the accepted one in Crandlemar. Again her mind was turned to Count +Adrian, and she thought 'twould be well to wed with one of her +own faith, and he was as warm a Catholic as herself. Cedric was a +Protestant and a very poor one, indeed it seemed he had no religion. +And yet he had told her that he petitioned not to God for aught; +but 'twas his diurnal duty to thank Him for His benevolence and +chastening; ever deeming chastisement the surety of his alien thought +or action, and he speedily mended his ways or made an effort to; but +what great sin he had committed that her love should not be given him +was more than he could tell, and he should keep on trying to find out +what his faults were, that he might receive that he wished for most. +He wrangled not of religion, but ever kept the divine spark in his own +heart alive, if not fanned to flame. Indeed so indifferent was his +Lordship to the great questions of the times, he thought not of the +ancient monastery in the depths of the vast forest upon his estate, +where still resided recluses. 'Twas seldom he thought of these simple +monks. They lived in seeming quiet, enjoying the freehold of their +castle. But there was a storm brewing, and in its midst his Lordship +was to be severely reminded of their presence. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ANCIENT MONASTERY + + +Lord Cedric's guests all departed after the Saxon dance, save their +Graces of Ellswold, Lady Constance, Lady Bettie Payne and Count +Cantemir. And with their exit spring seemed to burst forth in sward, +bourgeon and bud, and the clinging tendrils upon the castle walls grew +heavy and pink with their greedy absorption of carbon dioxide from the +warm atmosphere. It seemed the unfolding of nature brought ten times +more pain and uneasiness and mad love to Lord Cedric's heart. He had +not yet learned who had been talking to Katherine of love. Janet +had mentioned Adrian Cantemir; he had laughed at her. Constance +had pointed to Lord Droylsden, a man of distinction and strong +personality, whose estates joined his own. This appeared more +plausible than the suit of Cantemir, and his Lordship watched +Katherine when she was with these two and soon found, so he thought, +it was for the latter she cared; indeed 'twas hard for him to follow +the trend of her vacillating mind. + +'Twas a glorious, warm spring morning. Mistress Penwick had ridden +forth, attended by a groom, to the village. She spent the entire +morning in visiting the poor and sick and did not fail to note the +dilapidated state of the cottages. She rode home flushed and eager +with plans. She made known to Lord Cedric her desires to build up +these poor cottages. Without question he doubled the amount of money +she asked for, and paid her a large sum for immediate use among the +poor. Katherine's heart was touched by his goodness to her, and spoke +with more warmth than 'twas her wont and opined 'twould be a glorious +afternoon for their ride in the forest! He had kept his eyes +steadily from her; for 'twas his mood to play the disinterested and +unconcerned; but at this innovation on her part he raised his eyes and +spoke indifferently: + +"Aye, if this weather continues, we will have roses in a fortnight." + +"Speaking of roses reminds me; as I started forth this morning I saw +a gardener upon the upper terrace trimming about some bushes of +wonderful grace and beauty, and as I stepped among them I saw an +ancient sundial; 'tis the first I've yet seen, and I made bold to ask +him to plant some rare rose near it, that its leaves and blossoms +might enfold its cold marble whiteness and warm it to greater beauty." + +"And didst not thou suggest some choice?" + +"Nay; just so 'twas healthy and prolific of bloom." + +"Then as thou hast named a rose, I will name its kind!" + +He smiled significantly, and the hot blood flushed his cheek. She came +a step nearer and bent toward the table before him, her riding dress +wrapping her perfect mould. + +"One thing more I would ask thee; 'tis that I might have a bolder +steed, the one thou gavest me is not near spiritful enough for one who +wishes to ride well and gayly. I would have one that shakes his head +and rattles his bit and stamps about uneasily." This was more than his +Lordship could stand, and he broke forth in a mirthful laugh,-- + +"Thou shalt have the most buoyant palfrey can be found; he shall have +a wicked black eye, and--an honest heart for his mistress." Cedric +arose and bent gracefully to the fingers of Katherine as she held +them out to him, then turned quickly to the fire and crushed a +half-famished ember beneath his heel as he heard her cross the +threshold. A moment after he strode out upon the upper terrace to the +gardener, who stood with bared head as his Lordship gave command to +plant by the dial a bridal rose. + +The afternoon was glorious with the scent of a million shooting +sprouts, and delicate with the perfume of violets. But the sunshine +of the day was not to stay, for the party from the castle were scarce +three miles within the confines of the forest when the sun became +overcast. But they rode on, however, taking delight in the fine air, +and caring naught of cloud and threatening weather. + +They soon came to intricate windings of the forest path, where two +might not ride side by side, and as the Duke of Ellswold rode in +behind his wife, he suddenly reeled and would have fallen had it not +been for his groom. They all turned quickly save Mistress Penwick and +Adrian, who had made the sharp turn and were galloping forward. Cedric +bade a lackey ride with all speed to the castle for a coach; and as +the anxious group waited, they wondered somewhat that Katherine and +Cantemir did not return. And Cedric's heart, while well-nigh taken up +by his uncle's state, had still room for jealousy, and he grew hot +with anger that for once he kept hid under the semblance of anxiety. + +His Grace was tenderly lifted and taken to the conveyance that waited +upon the broader road some distance away. The little caravan moved +slowly, and before it reached the castle the wind began to blow +furiously, bringing heavy showers. + +The physician from Crandlemar had been summoned, and after a hurried +examination gave them encouragement, saying that the duke had probably +been riding too fast and his condition was not dangerous. + +A courier had been despatched for his Grace's physicians and all +things done for his comfort; and Cedric for the time relieved from the +anxiety of actual and impending danger concerning his kinsman, now +felt the full force of his disappointment in Mistress Penwick's +absence with Cantemir. He determined to ride forth in quest; and with +a groom laden with all sorts of cloaks for her protection from the +storm, that now raged furiously, started, feeling naught but the pain +at his heart. + +The Catholics and Protestants being at variance throughout the +kingdom, and there were passing constantly under cover of forests and +unfrequented highways groups of riotous men of both parties; for the +life of him Cedric could not tell with which party he would rather his +Katherine would come in contact--she unattended save by a modish fop. + +After reaching the depths of the forest, 'twas no easy matter to find +the exact paths they had traversed in the afternoon. The groom carried +a lantern, but 'twas Lord Cedric's order not to light it. There were +shooting lodges and forester's cabins, other abodes there were none +save the old monastery, and to which of these places to go was left +altogether to the toss of a penny. Beside, they were not sure of +finding a shooting lodge, should they start for it; the night was so +black and the paths so numerous and winding. Very often Cedric would +stop and listen for the tramp of horses' feet; but there was naught +save the occasional cracking of twigs as some wild thing jumped from +the roadside frightened, or the stir of the high wind in the giant +trees. On they rode, and Cedric's heart was first sorry for his +kinsman's ills, then--he would rant because Katherine had taken no +notice of his importunities, and he swore under his breath in good, +round Scotch oaths for his allowing her to go thus long without +espousal; and again he looked at the matter dispassionately. She was a +very young maid, without the protection of womankind of her own rank +or an aged guardian. Then began to find fault, and on a sudden saw she +loved admiration, and this sin became unpardonable and he became +so wrought upon, he swore he would lock her in the tower until she +consented to their espousal. Then he thought of Janet's words as he +left her but a short time before: "I would vouch for her innocence +with my life! Be not harsh with her, my lord!" and he ground his teeth +in rage for his _espionage_ of her. Then he thought of the king and +what if she came under his eye,--"Ah, 'sdeath! 'twould make me mad!" +and he laid spur to his horse and galloped on with hot curses in his +throat. + +How long or how far they had ridden 'twas impossible to tell, until +suddenly they saw a light and at once Lord Cedric knew they were at +the monastery. He halted instantly and dismounted. Throwing the reins +to the groom, he crept cautiously forward alone. To his astonishment +he beheld a great number of horses about the enclosure, and he became +still more cautious. "'Tis a Catholic _rendezvous_, by God!" said he. + +He followed close to the wall, and was about to reach the window when +the door was thrown wide open and a group of three stood upon the +threshold. Two of them, Cedric saw, as the light from within fell upon +their faces, were noted leaders of the Catholic party, the other was a +monk, and 'twas he that was speaking. His voice was low and intense: + +"If his Majesty has but one glimpse, he will pitch the Castlemaine +overboard. This one is a religionist of no common order and will do +much for the cause; and when she has done this thing, I shall do all I +can to withdraw her from further communication with Charles. She shall +not become one of his household, she is too good for that." + +"'Twas rare luck that brought her to thine abode this afternoon, for +our case was well-nigh hopeless, and soon it would have been too late, +for once Sir John gets to this country--sh! Didst hear something stir +hereabout?" + +"Nay, 'twas naught but the wind; but when thou dost speak of Penwick, +thou hadst better whisper." + +"'Twas a pity we came not earlier according to agreement, and we +should have feasted our eyes upon the beauty." + +"If thou hadst been one-half hour sooner, thou wouldst have seen her +with the gay youth that will give her little peace 'til she doth say +the word. I tell thee both, the Virgin Mary doth plead our cause, and +no doubt 'twas through her agency the rain came upon the maid and +drove her here. We offered special prayer to Holy Mary this morning. +And the youth with her is also of the only religion. Mistress Penwick +was greatly frightened of my Lord Cedric; for she would go forth in +the heart of the storm, fearing a longer stay would bring uneasiness +to the castle; so I gave her protection, a guide and a promise to +receive her in a few days for the confessional and some religious +direction; and I feel sure she will visit me within the week." + +"'Tis an easy way to reach the king's heart; he doth so love a pretty +face and fine parts; and we may be able to use the youth as well--eh?" +They said a good-night and passed on to their steeds, mounting and +riding away. + +The monk returned to those within, and Cedric hurried away, anxious +only to see Katherine once more,--to behold her once again with his +own eyes and never, never again would he allow her to leave him. He +would not be turned aside again from his purpose, she must come to his +terms at once. Then he fretted and fumed, fearing she had fallen under +the stormy blast and had taken cold, and perhaps would have a fever. +Then he grew hot and angry with her for riding so fast and beyond +ear-shot of the company. And jealousy and all evil passions took +possession of him. + +Meanwhile Mistress Penwick had arrived at the castle, and was grieved +when she heard of his Grace's condition, and sorry she had ridden +ahead and was so late getting home. + +Janet had hurried her to her chamber and disrobed her of wet garments, +and bathed her in hot and cold baths, and was rubbing her with +perfumed olive oil when Lord Cedric arrived. + +He went to his uncle's bedside, and finding him resting, quietly +hastened to his own apartments and sent to inquire of Mistress +Penwick. + +'Twas Janet's pleasure to answer her lord's inquiry in person, and +after swathing her lady in fine flannels, she hastened to Lord +Cedric's presence. + +She found him standing in satin breeches, silk hose and buckled +high-heeled shoes, and shirt of sheer white lawn and rare lace. He +raised his drooping eyelids lazily, and looked at Janet as he lifted +from the dressing-table before him rings--rare jewelled--and adjusted +them on his white fingers. At his side was a valet, placing fresh +sachets filled with civet within false pockets of the satin lining of +his lord's waistcoat. The cold, proud gleam from Cedric's dark orbs +daunted not Janet. She courtesied with grave respect. There was that +in her eyes, as she raised them, that called for the dismissal of the +lackeys. As they passed beyond to the ante-chamber, she approached and +spoke low in tones vibrant with suppressed emotion. + +"My lord, as I am with thee in the chiefest thought of thine heart, I +make bold to inform thee of a virulent action that is about to be made +against thee; one flagrant of state intrigue and court duplicity." + +"Damme, what now?" and his Lordship leaned heavily upon the table; +the conversation at the monastery recurring to his mind with force as +Janet proceeded. + +"Not being able to contain my anxiety for Mistress Penwick, I wrapt +myself and went forth in the storm to watch and listen for aught of +her return. I passed some little distance within the confines of the +forest, and was soon put upon my guard by the approaching tramp of +horses' feet, and then, low-keyed voices, and in very truth I thought +my lady was come; instead, three horsemen came within a few feet of my +hiding and one said,--'We are even now hard by the Castle courtyard; +'tis possible the lackeys are waiting for the beauty who is perchance +now started from the monastery. Didst ever see such beauty?' They +halted and dismounted some distance from the open road. Then one +said,--''Twill send his Majesty to madness when he sees before him +such perfect mould, suing for his most gracious clemency toward our +cause.' ''Tis a wonder my lord of Crandlemar does not take such beauty +to wife,' said another. 'He may bid her farewell when once her fame +reaches the Court; and 'twill be there in less than two days from this +hour. Who will remain with the despatches while we find that rascal +Christopher?' ''Twill best serve for one to go, and two guard the +horses and bags. Thou hadst best go, Twinkham, thou art as subtle as +the wind. Prod the villain Christopher to haste and enjoin upon him +secrecy in the name of His Most Catholic Majesty, the Pope,--and do +not thou be hindered by some scullion wench.' These things I heard, +well-seasoned with imprecation against the king. I hastened from the +_rendezvous_ to my chamber and thought upon it, and--and there is +naught can be done, unless thou wed Mistress Penwick straightway." + +His Lordship fell into furious rage, and vowed he would sever +Christopher's head from his rotting body with a cleaver, and honour +him not with a thought of Tyburn Hill. He would burn yonder monastery +and all within to ashes for the wind to carry away; and he would lock +Katherine in the tower with his own hands; and he started toward the +door, half-dressed as he was, and flung it wide open. + +Her Grace of Ellswold stood upon the threshold with a warning finger +raised. + +"Thou hast a clamourous tongue, Cedric; the doctor hath enjoined +silence, as holding for the moment the greatest good for his Grace." + +"Now God forgive me! I was so wrought upon by foul communication I am +well nigh distraught.--How is his Grace?" + +"He is resting quietly; but I thought but now, as I heard thy +voice--indistinctly, 'tis true,--his pulse did flutter extraly." + +"Dear aunt, forgive; thou shalt not be thus annoyed again." He turned +and strode up and down the room with bent head. + +Janet watched him narrowly, wondering the while that any female, of +whatsoever age, could withstand such fine mould, masculine grace and +handsome features; such strong heart and hot blood. What maid beside +her Lambkin would not be overjoyed to see him so mad with love of her? +Who could resist kneeling before him and pleading, and watch his anger +take flight; and feel his strong arms raise her and fold the maiden +bosom to his heart, where 'twould throb and flutter as he held it +close pressed--ah! 'twas not his anger that would kill, nay! nay! +'twas his tender passion. + +"Janet, these are troublous times come upon us. They have come within +these walls. We have traitors about us. That knave Christopher shall +die by the hand of the lowest scullion in the kitchen; for 'twould +dishonour a better to mix with blood of swine. And thou wilt take thy +mistress to the tower and there be bolted in, and 'twill be given out +that her ladyship is ill and must needs have quiet--" + +"If my lord values her health, 'twould be best to put her in a less +windy chamber; the room is large and ill-heated for damp, spring +days." + +"Canst keep her safe where she is?" + +"Aye, leave it to me, my lord." + +"And thou shalt allow of no communication with those outside, save +her Grace, and Angel thou canst rely upon--stay--thou mayest allow +Constance to keep my lady company." + +"Nay, my lord, I would refute the idea of safety in my Lady +Constance." + +"'Sdeath, what meanest thou; art thou also turned from serving me?" + +"My lord, dost remember the night thou didst have dancers from London? +Lady Constance sat late with Mistress Penwick, and at last complained +of thirst and they two stole below stair and I followed, and as if by +accident Lady Constance brought Mistress Katherine to the curtained +archway, and she saw thee swaying in thy cups, and after a while my +lady led mistress to her room while she hastened away to a room apart +and donned the garb of one of the dancing maids and came to thee as a +gipsy, and she told thee false things concerning Mistress Penwick--" + +"Is what thou sayest true, or is't thou art going mad?" + +"'Tis true, my lord, as Mistress Penwick will tell thee if thou carest +to ask." + +"And Constance would do such an act?--" he spoke half aloud and +incredulously,--"Nay, I cannot and do not believe it! Thou must have +dreamt it, Janet,--and yet,--I did have like visions!--Thou art right; +no one shall see thy mistress, no one, mind, but Angel and her Grace. +'Tis possible the king may send for me within a few days; and if so, I +must go and leave thee to fight the battle alone. Art able, Janet?" + +"Trust me, my lord." + +"I can trust thee, good Janet. Look after her health; keep the windows +open for fine air, but let her not go from her chamber. How thinkest +thou she will take such imprisonment?" + +"She will be angry, but so proud she will not petition for freedom; +she may even brag 'tis to her liking to be so rid of thee." + +"'Sdeath, Janet, thy tongue can cut! Dost believe she cares a jot for +my anger?" + +"Nay, not a jot, for 'tis the outcome of love, and 'tis my noble lady +Innocence that is well aware that thy anger will fall to spray when +she hath a notion to turn the tide." + +"Nay, not again shall she win from me aught but cold looks 'til she +hath a mind to espouse me;--and yet my mind was made up to marry, +whether she consented or not; for the time has come when the one who +waits will wait still, and the one who rushes on, will take the prize, +whether by foul or fair means;--but nothing can be done to-night. In +the meantime I will steel my heart to harsh deeds, and, by God! I will +bear out my course. Janet, go now to thy mistress, and should I be +despatched for before I see thee again, there will be no one here +to defend her as thou canst do. Thou must not allow the servants to +attend upon her; thou must do it all thyself--a sweet duty! so, 'tis +left thee to defend with thy quick wit." + +'Twas near noon the next day that Mistress Penwick arose and would +prepare her for a ride to the village, when Janet told her of the +imprisonment imposed upon her for safety. She at once became angry and +accused her nurse of being a traitor and tool for Lord Cedric. + +"Nay, Lambkin, in truth, there are dark deeds abroad. Those monastery +celibates, who are well equipped to bandy with their equals, are mere +braying bumpkins when they have to do with embroidered waistcoats +and amorous hearts. They have surreptitiously corrupted one of Lord +Cedric's lackeys and the fellow is condemned to die." + +"Condemned to die! and who hath done the condemning, pray?" + +"His master, to be sure!" + +"Ah! if he should put forth the accomplishment of such a deed, 'twould +be the act of a barbarian. What are the charges against him?" + +"Just what it is I know not; but my lord deems the charge most grave +and--he may be even now dead." + +"Janet, thou dost so frighten me. Does the matter concern my lord's +person,--is his life in danger?" + +"Not his life but his love; 'tis for thy sake he does it." + +"For my sake!--then it shall not be done; I will see to it. Let me go +to Lord Cedric straightway." + +"His orders would not permit it." + +"For shame, Janet; to save a man's life? Let me go; I am not afraid of +his anger." + +"'Tis impossible; he would send me away if I disobeyed him." + +"Then thou must bring him here, Janet." + +"'Twill do no good to see him; he will not come. He is thoroughly out +of all patience with thy perverseness,--thou wilt never find another +such a noble lord and one 'twill love thee with such love;--and for a +face and figure--well, thou art surely blind to masculine beauty;--and +should his Grace go hence, my lord will be his Grace of Ellswold, and +second to none in the realm; he will become as much to the king as the +Duke of Buckingham, and will far outshine Monmouth and Shaftesbury." + +"Nay, Janet, he will ne'er become great when he doth so confuse +justice with viciousness;--but, nurse, I would have thee haste. Tell +my lord that I beg his presence, if for a moment only; he surely would +not refuse so trifling a request." + +"But it is not trifling, as he well knows thou art upon the keen edge +of want before thou wilt so much as smile upon him." At the moment +there struck upon Mistress Penwick's ears the tramp of horses' feet, +and straightway she ran to the window and leant out and saw Cedric +about to ride forth. + +"My lord, my lord!" she cried, and dropped a rose to attract him. His +horse sprung aside and trod upon it; but Cedric looked up and saw +the anxious face embrazured by ivy-clad sill; and with involuntary +courtesy he speedily uncovered and waited thus her pleasure. + +"May I have a word with thee, my lord?" + +"Indeed, Mistress, it doth rack me with pleasure to accord thee so +slight a service," and he dismounted quickly and strode into the great +hall and bounded up the oaken stairway. It seemed to Mistress Penwick, +as she heard his rattling spurs, that 'twas a sound of strength, and +she felt a happy, exultant tremour, knowing her cause already won. +But for once there was not wisdom in her conceit. She made a sweeping +courtesy as he entered. He bent low before her, waiting her first +words. + +"My lord, wilt thou permit me to inquire somewhat of thy mercy?" + +"Thou dost make me insolvent of such a quality when thy keen +penetration doth not discover, without inquiry, its existence." She +was not daunted by his severe answer, but flushed slightly at his +imperturbance. + +"Then, if thou dost acknowledge thyself so pampered, I beg thou wilt +conjoin to justice its semblance and forgive thy poor servant the +penalty of death." + +"Ah! ah! and 'tis Christopher's cause thou art pleading. Happy +Christopher!" he sighed deeply. "If the King would thus condemn me, +Mistress Penwick wouldst thou thus care for me?" + +"The query is of that so premature 'twould be impossible to frame a +reply,--hence I beg to continue converse upon an affair thoroughly +elaborated and arranged." + +"'Twould grieve me to say at once 'nay'; for that would end at once +for me these supreme moments in thy presence; however, I will repeat +the adverb of negation with a rising inflection that thou mayst +continue with amplification." + +"Dost thou mean to discontinue converse with me?" + +"Nay, I beg not." + +"Then thou meanest thou wilt not forgive thy poor servant, and wilt +impose such extreme penalty; and further importunities would be +useless?" + +"I forgive the dead all things." + +"My lord, he is not already dead?" and she fell from him aghast. + +"Nay, but soon will be." + +Mistress Penwick saw no softening in Cedric's manner, and she became +alarmed and threw some tenderness in her voice and spoke softly, that +she might lead or manage her lord by gentleness and tact. + +"My lord, do not look so cold and hard." She drew nearer and her voice +became more pleading. "'Tis a little thing for thee to grant me this +one desire. I beg with all my heart for thy servant's life." + +"Nay, I have given order for his despatch before sunset." + +"Nay, nay, my lord, I beg." She came close to him and laid one hand +caressingly upon the silver fastenings of his coat and he turned white +and trembled and caught her hand within his own and bent down and +pressed his lips to her fingers. She saw her advantage and followed it +close. + +"Wilt grant me this one thing, my lord, and I will hold myself--ready +to--hear thy suit renewed--if thou so will it?" His voice vibrant and +low with passion he could hardly restrain, broke forth,-- + +"Kate, Kate, I could not call so base a life worthy of thy +consideration, and I could not grant thee that 'twould sully thy sweet +tongue to barter for." + +"Thou art most unrelenting, my lord!" The maid was angry for having +offered her lord the privilege of renewing his suit; which he didn't +seem inclined to do; and finding her pleadings were of no avail, and +being angry and annoyed, she broke into tears, knowing of a certainty +she would now have her way, even though her dignity was lowered. +Cedric could not stand and see her thus; he turned from her +quickly and was about to leave her, when she called to him almost +impatiently,-- + +"My lord, wilt grant his life until the morrow?" He hesitated, then +turned and bowing low, murmured, + +"Until the morrow, Kate," and left the chamber. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SIR JULIAN POMPHREY + + +"Now time is something to have gained! Janet, thou must go to yonder +monastery and bring a priest to shrive Christopher." + +"And how didst thou know Christopher was shriveable?" + +"'Tis unseemly of thee to make jest of divine ordinances." + +"Nay, I would not jest but know where 'twas thou learnt of his +religion?" + +"All of the Catholic faith know one another by intuition; 'tis +God-given." + +"Then thou didst also know him to be a rascal?" + +"Neither do I know it now. Wilt thou not find some way to bring a +priest hither? Pray, Janet, do; for if I let it go past, 'twill bring +me miserable thoughts and wicked dreams. Janet, thou didst once love +me and hadst a fond way of anticipating my desires; but thou hast on +a sudden forgotten thine whilom usages. Beshrew thee for falling away +from thine old friends and taking up with new ones. Lord Cedric's +nurse watches him from morn until eve and deigns not to cajole him or +win his desires from their natural bent." + +"'Tis wisely said; for his desires are inclined in the right +direction. 'Twas but last night when he was well-nigh distraught with +thy absence with the Russian Jew that doth ogle thee, that Angel +brought his riding-cloak and threw it over his shoulders as he tore up +and down his chamber; and she said, lowly,--'Go, my lord, 'twill ease +thy mind to ride,' and he flew to horse. She is ever helping him to +thee." + +"And now I would have thee to help me to my lord's good graces and my +desires; but thou art evil bent." + +"Nay, my precious Lambkin, if I could I would help thee this night to +the nuptial altar; but as to helping thee to thy desires, 'twould be +helping thy peace of mind and him to utter ruin; and such calamity +would render thy young life incomplete; for without this noble lord +thy perfectness will be unfinished." + +"Cease carving epitaphs, Janet, and help me assist this poor +unfortunate. How long will my lord be gone?" + +"He has only gone to the village to meet the workmen who were to +renovate the nurseries and ride home with Lady Constance, who rode +away early this morning when thou were dreaming of Russia." + +"Then I will write him my petition, and thou shalt give it to Angel +to give my lord, immediately upon his return." She sat down with +parchment and quill and wrote rapidly; and as Janet noticed not, she +wrote two letters instead of one. The first she folded evenly and put +beneath a book, the other she gave to Janet, who took it and left the +chamber to seek Angel. Mistress Penwick, thus left alone, wondered how +she should convey her other letter to Count Adrian. She approached the +window, and lo! upon the upper terrace paced her Grace of Ellswold and +Cantemir. 'Twas not the first hour that day the latter had so paraded +the sward, ever and anon casting glances toward Mistress Penwick's +windows. Again he glanced up and saw her wave a white paper and +immediately leave the window. He guessed at once 'twas something more +than indisposition that held her to her room. Again she looked; they +had turned from the window. She flung forth the paper and it floated +down as Janet came into the room. + +'Twas late that evening Katherine sat in _peignoir_ and unbound hair, +ready for retiring, when there came a soft rap and a pleading voice +asking for admission. Now Janet was not one whit afraid of double +dealing when she was present, and being proud of Mistress Penwick and +not wishing it to appear that she was a prisoner, she opened the door +and in came Lady Constance smiling and shy, a hollow-hearted creature +of the world. Now it so happened that Lady Constance had kept herself +from Katherine for some little time, wishing not to be disturbed by +the maid's beauty; as it usually stirred her to frenzy and she wanted +perfect quiet for calm reasoning. It took some time to plan her +campaign that was already full started, and she now came forth from +her chamber refreshed, the course of her slothful blood hastened; her +eyes gleamed with impatience for action; her whole being changed, +rejuvenated, filled with a new life. She came also with a full +knowledge of all that had taken place in the _interim_ of her absence +from Katherine. She came well prepared for a bout, and blushed not at +the subterfuges and mean, paltry artifices, aye, a full battery of +chicaneries that awaited her use, as she crossed the maid's chamber +threshold. "'All is fair in love and war,'" she quoted--"'Tis an +egregious platitude adopted alike by king and fool!" + +"I could not sleep without first seeing thee and knowing thy +condition. It must be more than hard for thee to keep thy chamber?" +said Constance. + +"Nay, thou art wrong; the convent doth inure one to quiet and +solitude." + +"Dost think thy ailments will allow thee to go abroad on the morrow?" + +"I know not, I am at Janet's mercy and I cannot leave my seclusion +without her permission. I feel quite well, but Janet says I am ill." + +"Oh! that I had a nurse to so fondle me; indeed, she has kept all +looks of illness from thee; thy face is as clear as if thou hadst been +fed on wild honey all thy days;--and such hair! Dost leave it thus for +the night?" + +"The tangles would never submit, should I so leave it." + +"'Tis my delight to fuss with hair and thine is so beauteous--" she +arose and went to Katherine and smoothed the amber threads--"See, when +I turn it thus, 'tis like rare bronze, and when I place it to the +light, 'tis a glorious amber. May I plait it for thee,--I should love +so much to do it?" + +"If 'twill give thee pleasure thou mayest assuredly plait it," replied +Katherine. Janet now watched for a whispered word or some sign of +intercourse; but her vigilance was of no avail, for Lady Constance +deftly placed a tiny paper in Mistress Penwick's hair and plaited +tightly over it. + +"'Tis such a pleasure to fuss with hair--and such fine threads, too; +indeed, I have half a mind to become a _peruquier_,--there, 'tis +finished!" + +"How is his Grace, Lady Constance?" + +"He bids fair to pass a comfortable night,--'tis too bad his +physicians cannot arrive before the day after the morrow. They have +also sent for Sir Julian Pomphrey--a favourite of the duke and an +intimate and college fellow of Lord Cedric. Sir Julian is a most +wonderful man. When but nine years of age, he entered Eton school, +and having pursued his studies there with great success for one of +such light years, he was sent to travel upon the continent, where he +studied in Geneva for some time; thence he went to Florence, remaining +there many months,--afterward visiting Rome and Geneva and other +continental cities of note. He returned to England a scholar, a +soldier, a gallant, a conqueror of female hearts,--in brief, he holds +all the requirements of a charming cavalier of King Charles' Court. +He has modish habits that so completely masque his strong will and +determination that before one is aware they are caught and wound in +the meshes of his duplicity. He is a literate, poet and musician." + +"Thou dost indeed stir me to great interest, Lady Constance; he must +be a wonderful man. It seems we seldom have so many great qualities in +one human being. He must be quite along in years?" + +"Nay, not at all! His very youthfulness is what makes him such a +wonder. If I remember rightly, he is but two years senior of Cedric, +and I will venture there is not ten pounds' difference in their +weight. They are very much the same mould, and their voices blend as +one, but Cedric has the handsomer face. Sir Julian, however, has a +countenance of no common order; 'tis like a rock of strength already +well lined and marked by the passions that have swayed him to battle +and death or--perchance a lover's intrigue. He is in great repute for +his smile that is transcendent in its beauty, but one can never tell +what note it rings, whether true or false; its condiment may be of +malice, hate, reserve, flippancy, deception. And one looks on and +fears to take part in his mirth, for the reason one knows not what +lies beneath in Sir Julian's heart." + +"Indeed, and he is to arrive soon?--Sir Julian Pomphrey--I like the +name!" + +"It is one of the best names in England. I shall be very glad to see +him, and hope he will come soon. When he gets word his Grace is so +ill, he will probably come as fast as the ship and post-horses can +travel. He is at present a special emissary to France. He did write +Cedric some time since that he was about to return to England, that +his work there was nearly finished." + +"He will doubtless be playing fine French airs, and have much gossip +of the composers and will perchance bring music with him that will +stir us to greater study of execution." + +"It may be, and it mayhap so move thee; but I am foreign from the +rudiments of counterpoint and technique and such lollipops of +harmony." + +"Then it must be wearisome to hear me prate of the divine art, and +much more to hear my poor drummings on the harpsichord, I am sorry--" + +"Nay, be not so. I am more content when thou art at practice than at +all other time, save when I am with thee thus, alone." And there was a +covert meaning in her flattery. "Now, my dear Katherine, if thou art +thus beset on the morrow, I will engage to come at thy retiring hour +and dress thy hair; 'twill give me such pleasure." + +As Lady Constance retired from the chamber, Mistress Penwick stretched +her lithe body and yawned and expressed a desire for the bed. Soon +she was left alone, and she stole from her couch and knelt at the +hearthstone and read the missive eagerly and flushed not a little +at Count Cantemir's warm words of love that were a prelude to the +weightier matters appertaining. She crept back noiselessly and lay +pondering of many things. It seemed to her as if all earth breathed of +love; that she was the nucleus around which all flowers and perfume +and everything beautiful revolved. And now she was about to open a +mystic shrine, into which she would step and see and know and feel +with youth's ecstasy a strange development of essential existence. And +after wondering and speculating upon the affairs of love, she entered +into prayerful thought of Lord Cedric's servant, and soon fell into +sound slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUTLERY + + +"'Behold thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thou hast +dove's eyes within thy locks; thy hair is as a flock of goats, that +appear from Mount Gilead. + +"'Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which come +up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren +among them. + +"'Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely; thy +temples are like a piece of pomegranate within thy locks. + +"'Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armory, whereon +there hang a thousand buckles--'" + +"Nay, nay, Janet, thou must not idolize me thus, 'tis--" + +"Beshrew thy conceit. 'Tis Solomon I repeat. Thou were not thought of +when 'twas writ." + +Katherine raised upon her elbow and looked surprised at Janet, who +knelt by the bed. + +"Thy tongue is sharp, Janet, for a day yet in its swaddling hours." + +"Aye, 'twill be whetted two-edged e'er the day waxes old. 'To +everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the +heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a +time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to +heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, +and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to +get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a +time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love and a time +to hate; a time for evil communication to be thrown from young maid's +window, a time to look for answer to a pleading letter sent to a +justly angered lord; a time when his Lordship deigns not to give +answer; a time when a young lord to a tender parchment pregnant +with importunities says: 'Damme, she would set one thief to shrive +another;' a time when his Lordship slams with a bang the outside cover +to a book _blase_ of many turned leaves." + +"Dear, dear sweet Janet; where is Lord Cedric? And has he said nothing +of Christopher?" The nurse averred that his Lordship had ridden forth +early, without giving his destination, and had left no word concerning +the servant. + +"Perhaps my lord's better nature hath prevailed, and he will keep the +poor fellow in durance yet for a time," said Katherine, hopefully. + +"Nay, his decision is irrevocable. He is not dealing in hearts now, +Lambkin." + +There was no doubt in Mistress Penwick's mind but that his Lordship +would kill, or cause to be killed, the condemned lackey, and Janet +knowing, 'twas his Lordship's temper and not his heart that vowed the +death, dissembled and impressed upon her mistress that the deed was as +good as done. + +Katherine's wit was sharpened by the exigency, and she managed to use +the window again as a post, only fearing--from Janet's anomaly of +Solomon's words--that some one waited below to capture the flying +missive. This issue was accomplished as the nurse was listening to the +Duke of Ellswold's message; when, late in the morning, the duke after +swallowing a stimulant declared he must have the more substantial +refreshment of Mistress Penwick's beauteous countenance. + +The duke was too ill to remain up long; and though Katherine was less +than an hour from her chamber, the day was much shortened by the +diversion. As night approached she became more and more anxious about +Christopher. Indeed, it seemed to her as if the moments were hours +after candle-light. And she moved restlessly about her chamber and +listened and sighed for the return of his Lordship. Surely the silence +was more pronounced than usual; it became ominous to her, and she +spoke out quickly in a voice that was peevish: + +"The castle is very quiet to-night. His Grace is not suffering again, +I hope? Wilt see, Janet? I'm in a perfect fever of impatience!" + +"Nay, he is very comfortable. Her Grace is with him. Lady Constance, +Lady Bettie and the Russian are at cards." + +"Will my lord arrive soon, dost think, Janet?" + +"I know not. Why art thou so solicitous on a sudden of his outgoings +and incomings?" + +"I would make another effort to save Christopher, if I could but +converse with my lord." + +"And what wouldst thou give him in exchange for the fool's life?" + +"Everything, Janet,--all that I have to give should be his." + +"Then that includes thy heart, Lambkin?" + +"Nay, dear nurse, my heart is already given." + +"Of all the powers that be! And what knave hath attempted to steal +that that thou wert born without?" + +"'Tis unjust of thee to speak thus. I have a mind not to tell thee!" + +"Thou wilt tell me straightway, for thou wilt turn all colours when I +say Adrian Cantemir," and quickly Mistress Penwick turned her back, "I +am aggrieved at thy folly. What hath he said to thee? Tell me every +word, Lambkin." + +"He hath said more than I could tell thee, Janet, in a whole hour." + +"It is impossible! And what were all of these hour sayings,--love +pratings?" + +"If I told thee, thou wouldst then know as much as both of us, and +there are but two in a marriage contract; so I will have to begin +barring secrets from thee." + +"And did he tell thee what marriage meant to two people knowing not +their own minds?" + +"He said 'twas a most perfect life. All was sunshine and flowers and +great happiness. First of all, he will take me to Russia, as 'tis his +pleasure to hasten home with me. Then we will visit the French and +English courts, and we will see all the beauties of this life. I shall +become known among the musicians and meet--" + +"And said he naught of home-life, and the extent of his riches?" + +"Nay, we are to live at Court always, free and happy, consorting ever +with kings and queens--" + +"Did his High-mightiness ever consider that court dignitaries consort +not with a rogue who hath entrapt an angel for spouse?" + +"I will not listen to thy rough tongue, Janet," and she straightway +closed her ears with her tapering fingers and walked up and down as a +spoilt child would do. + +The prandium hour was past, and the evening far spent when Mistress +Penwick desired to retire. + +"'Tis most likely his Lordship will not return to-night, Janet?" + +"He has gone on a journey of some import, as Angel hath just said; so +I could not say when to look for his return." + +Janet had been asleep some time when she was aroused by some subtle +thing that brought her upright and from thence to the floor and from +the floor to the closet that connected her apartment with that of her +mistress. The door was locked; this was an innovation that startled +Janet to a keen alertness. She rattled the knob and knocked upon the +panelling. Stooping, she saw the key was turned in the door. She +hurried from the place to her own room and into the hall, and from the +hall to a small corridor, and from thence to the grand corridor, where +opened the door of her mistress' ante-chamber. In she flew, and tried +the inner door. 'Twas fast locked, and the key gone. It seemed she +sped on wings as she descended the oaken stairway in her trailing +gown. She reached Lord Cedric's bed-chamber with trepidation and not a +little daunted; for should his Lordship be within 'twas possible his +anger would know no bounds; and while she loved his good hot temper, +she feared it when so justly aroused. Within the ante-chamber was +a steward and two or three lackeys, all asleep; she passed them +silently, and without hesitation opened the door. Lord Cedric sat +before the table in riding boots and spurs, divested of coat and +waistcoat; writing, and looked up surprised and amazed at one +who dared to so enter his presence; but he read that in Janet's +countenance that brooked not at delay. + +"My lord, Mistress Penwick hath deserted her chamber, and I know not +where to find her, nor can think of where she may be gone." Lord +Cedric stood before her still and white as marble, his face glistened +with the cold sweat of fear. + +"By God, Janet, thy tale doth take from me all strength!" Even as he +spoke he sunk down upon his chair. Janet brought from a stool hard by +a posset-pot and pressed it to his lips. He drank gurglingly, as if +his throat was paralyzed. + +"Janet," he breathed forth, "call the lackeys." He had somewhat +recovered, and stood upright while his valet buckled on his sword. He +took from the table a polished dagger and placed it in his belt; he +called for candles and bade the lackeys lead on. Janet was well-nigh +distraught at this awful cloud of anger that was about to break forth +in the thunder of his tongue and stroke of sword. The steward of the +household was aroused, and keys were brought to unfasten Mistress +Penwick's door, that they might ascertain if she had fled afar. +Her hoods and hats were all in place upon the shelves of the +dressing-closet, but there was gone a white camelot cloak. The footman +near the outer entrance said none had passed since Lord Cedric's +arrival. + +"But, my God! I have just arrived; who passed before?" + +"Not one soul since nightfall, save the village doctor, your +Lordship." + +Lord Cedric had enjoined perfect silence, fearing lest some noise +might disturb his Grace of Ellswold. + +The lackeys bearing lighted tapers--behind them the young lord of the +castle, with the attendant Janet--moved solemnly like a procession. + +They passed thus from room to corridor, from hall to gallery, and +through passages; examining secret exits and closets. They traversed +the long banquet-hall and were upon the threshold of a carved and +lofty doorway, when Janet espied upon the parquetry a cobweb bit of +lace protruding from beneath the tapestry of a chair. Lord Cedric's +keen eyes marked her movement as she essayed to reach it without his +notice. He turned quickly and fierce upon her, knocking his sword with +a loud noise upon the chair's carving. + +"Give me thy treasure, Janet!" She gave it to him with something like +a sob; for 'twas her mistress' handkerchief, and she feared mightily +her lord's anger. + +"Your Lordship! If it so turned out that she be holding some +_rendezvous_ with thy Russian guest--" + +"Ah, 'sdeath!" he interrupted. + +"I beg thou wilt forgive much, she being of such slender age and +knowing not the great wrong of clandestine--" + +"Ah! ah! she holdeth court here in the chief butlery." + +The door before them had been thrown open by the lackeys. They stood +upon either side for his Lordship to pass through. Beyond, framed in +the dark embrasure of the archway, stood Mistress Penwick in gleaming +white. Her hands behind her rested upon a table from which long leaves +depended to the floor, upon either side, her camelot cloak was thrown +carelessly upon the further end, its long fulness draping to the +floor, and in the centre of the polished top of the table rested a +tall, silver candlestick with lighted taper. Upon the hearthstone +there shot up a cheerful blaze, for the night was damp and chilly, and +the flickering light sent Mistress Penwick's hair first amber, then +bronze. Her face was still and white, and her eyes flashed wide and +boldly. Her heart beat high and her breath came fast and hard. + +For a moment only his Lordship's glance fell upon her, then it swept +the room from end to end, and from ceiling to parquetry. Then occurred +a strange thing to them all; for 'twas ever Cedric's way to swear +and curse, using holy names and blasphemous phrases; and it startled +Katherine more than all, as he spoke low and calmly, holding out his +jewelled hand to her: + +"Come, Mistress Penwick, I will escort thee to thy chamber; 'tis a +childish trick of thine to seek bread and butter at such unseemly +hours." + +"But, my lord, I am not yet begun." + +"Ah!--with one pair of shapely hands unused to spreading butter, it +doth take long in preparation." The snowy whiteness of his Lordship's +waist reflected upon his face, where now came and went its wonted +colour, as doubt and certainty fought for supremacy. He stepped nearer +and glanced behind her upon the table. + +"Thou hast not even brought forth bread. I will aid thee," and he went +to 'the cupboards that lined the room, and opened and looked within +each large door, until he was satisfied of his search, and those about +stood watching and trembling, fearing lest some one should be found in +hiding. + +"I find naught here of bread or butter, Mistress Penwick; we will have +to seek elsewhere!" + +"And thou wilt not have far to seek, my lord; my whey sits freshly +made upon the cellaret in yonder closet adjoining; if thou wilt be so +kind as to bring it hither, Janet will provide me with bread," and +Katherine looked triumphant. + +"I would first learn whom I follow. Who hath so cavalierly concocted +it for thee at this late hour? Where is the person, my lady?" + +"One who is in the habit of following thy orders; but at mine he hath +made it; 'twas Tompkins." Her voice rung with so much of truth, his +Lordship was satisfied and looked at her with a lighter heart; then, +as she pointed toward the door--a mute command for him to bring the +whey--he frowned and drew back and spoke,-- + +"Hiary will bring it thee, for 'tis said a hand put forth by an angry +heart doth curdle that it toucheth and--I am of no mind to be either +kind or courteous." At these words, the colour that had come into +Katherine's face a moment before, left it. + +As Hiary turned to do his lord's bidding, a door opened and Tompkins +entered with a lighted candle and large basket. Seeing the unexpected, +coughed to hide his confusion; indeed he knew not which way to turn, +when his Lordship walked to his side and raised the cover of the +basket and looked within. + +"It appears that 'twas a feast thou wert preparing;--everything +suitable for a full meal. Here is fowl and cheese and mutton tarsal +and bread and ale,--Egad! we shall not want now, shall we, Mistress +Penwick? Set the table, Tompkins!" + +"Ah!" came in an asperate tone from the now trembling and frightened +maid. His Lordship heard it and saw her turn white and tremble. Slowly +he walked to the hearthstone, eyeing her askance, then he swept his +brow where the cold perspiration lay in beads;--then turned to her +again with a world of love for her in his eyes and a great crushing +self-pity; and the menials looked away from the abject misery they +beheld in their lord's face; Tompkins fumbled nervously with his +burden, daring not to look up; Janet leant forward, intent, pained, +sorrowing, scanning the two countenances she loved best on earth. His +Lordship stretched forth his arms and with a great sob that broke upon +that one word "Kate," he took a step forward and essayed again to +speak, but the words would not come. Then with a great effort he +seemed to fling all tenderness from him and spoke most harshly,-- + +"Where hast thou hid thy lover, Mistress Penwick, tell me where he +is!" She drew herself up quickly to her full height and smiled, for +this was one thing and she had thought another, and the reality was +better than her fancy. And she said, as she drew a long, relieved +breath,-- + +"He is safe, my lord!" + +"Nay, nay, by God! he is not nor ever will be again. He hath so dealt +with me and my honour, even though I stand within mine own threshold +'twould be heinous to allow him to leave it with life in his accursed +body. I tell thee now, there is nothing of hell or heaven that can +take thee from me. Dost hear--dost hear, maid?" He again wiped his +brow and looked about him. "It does somewhat appear as if my brain +were turning!--Janet--bring thy maid here to me! Janet made a step +forward, but was checked by Katherine's warning look. + +"Mistress Penwick, remove thyself from the table; Tompkins, set it, +set it, set it quickly I say!" Tompkins put the basket upon the table +and turned to a linen closet and brought therefrom a cloth and made +as if to spread it upon a small table near him. His Lordship saw his +move, and broke forth in angry tones,--"The table of honour, there, +there Tompkins!" As he shook his fingers toward it, his hand fell back +upon the hilt of his sword. + +"Nay, I forbid him to do it," said Katherine. + +"By all the foul fiends! raise the leaves or I smite thee down," said +Lord Cedric to the frightened Tompkins. And he drew and leaned forward +his body well nigh to the floor. His eyes were wild and bloodshot. As +Tompkins raised the leaves Mistress Penwick threw herself between his +Lordship and the table. With one bound Cedric swayed aside and like +one frenzied, gazed beneath the table, and there looked out to him the +white face of Christopher. + +His Lordship broke forth into such a wild laugh, even the affrighted +and condemned servant crept from his hiding and looked on amazed. +Finally, when his laughing had well-nigh ceased, his Lordship drew +from his belt the dagger and threw it across the room at Hiary, +saying,--"There; stick him as thou wouldst a wild boar--no probing, +mind; but death!" + +"Nay, nay, my lord! my lord!" broke from Mistress Pen wick, and Janet +ran to her crying,--"My lord, not so harsh a deed before my lady's +eyes!" + +"Ah! ah! and she hath carved my heart to pieces! Commit thy office, +Hiary!" The lithe lackey sprang upon Christopher and drove the knife, +it appeared, to the hilt, and with a gurgling cry the lad fell. + +Mistress Penwick looked on wild-eyed with terror. His Lordship came +near and leant close to her ear and said,-- + +"Thou hast turned thy charms to ill account, thou stirrest me to evil +deeds. Didst thy love help thee to this _rendezvous_, and was he +satisfied to leave thee when he heard my sword flap upon the chair +without to fight thy battles alone, or did he sate his desire on thy +innocent face and fled aforetime to prepare for a greater sating? Now +by God, none shall wrest thee from me again. Arouse the chaplain! +Come, Mistress, thou shalt have a husband who loves thee within the +hour, and the morrow's sun will look in on a sweet young wife with a +light heart." + +He laid hold on her without violence, she drew from him even more +frightened than heretofore. + +"Come, we will wed straightway and before dawn thou wilt have +forgotten my haste and stout urging," and he started forth drawing her +with him by force. She struggled wildly and cried,-- + +"Nay, nay; I'll not marry with one who would strike down and kill the +unfortunate; nay, nay!" and she screamed again and again. + +From the doorway came a voice of thunder, its power seemed to crush +out all other presence. 'Twas but one word, but it rung and vibrated +and stirred each breast with its vehemence. + +"Cedric!" + +His Lordship let go the maid and turned and sprang to the open arms of +him who called. The awful tension of his nerves relaxed and he uttered +in rapid succession,-- + +"Julian, Julian, Julian!" and fell to sobbing, his form trembling with +his emotion. + +"Hath gore of _canaille_ sapped thy noble blood and impregnated in +thy veins vile clots to turn thee purple with choler?" and he pushed +Cedric from him. "What doeth this _couchant_ dog here?" He turned and +stirred the prostrate form of Christopher. "'Tis ill to so fall upon +the seething caldron of thy passion, the noxious fumes of which +penetrate yonder to our kinsman's couch of suffering--and at the same +time thou dost pound to pomace the heart of yonder Junoesque figure." + +"Julian, thy tongue hath an awful strength, it doth goad me to +something like reason. I was indeed rough, but I was looking after +mine own. The maiden there is plighted to me for espousal and I was +taking her to the chaplain." + +"It may be thou dost take her rightfully; but if 'twere me I would +bring her to it by soft and gentle words, not by handling. It doth +take away the sweetness." + +"Indeed, Julian, I have used all things worth using to gain her. I +have played all parts and have asked and sued and prayed, aye, begged. +I have honoured and loved and pampered her every whim; I have coerced +and threatened,--all to no avail; indeed, I have gone mad for very +effort to please." + +"Hast thou tried cold indifference and haughtiness? It oft haps that a +maid is won by a lofty and arrogant mien." Sir Julian Pomphrey glanced +askance at Mistress Penwick, who lay with her face buried upon Janet's +ample bosom. "Methinks 'twould be a good beginning, if thou wouldst +renew thy suit by sending the maid to her chamber and let her espouse +Morpheus and 'suage her grief upon a bosom thou needst not be jealous +of." Janet arose and led forth Katherine. Lord Cedric stepped after +them and held out his hands and sobbed,-- + +"Kate, Kate, forgive, forgive!" She deigned not a backward look. + +As they passed from sight, he fell upon his knees and shook with his +great emotion and groaned aloud in his misery. + +Sir Julian Pomphrey dressed as a gentleman of France in riding +apparel; his overhanging top-boots displaying a leg of strength +and fine proportions; the curls of his periwig sweeping his broad +shoulders; his hands, half-hid by rare lace, gleaming white and +be-jewelled; a mustachio so flattened with pomade it lay like a black +line over his parted lips, through which shone strong white teeth, +was veritably a man of noble character and distinction. He was the +counterpart of Lord Cedric in all save visage and temperament. + +Gracefully he strode across the room with the confidence of one +who had already mastered the situation; planned for his Lordship a +complete victory, and there was naught left to do but carry out the +methodical arrangements thus quickly formulated. He placed his hand +lightly upon Cedric's shoulder. His touch was like magic, for his +Lordship started. + +"Cedric, I have rid hard and would seek my bed. Come with me and calm +thyself. Yonder maid thou shalt have, so sure as thou dost do my +bidding; and she will sigh and draw quick breath and preen herself +to gain from thee one amorous glance; and will do penance for her +untowardness and offer hecatombs as high as zenith will allow." + +"Dost think so, Julian? It gives me hope to hear thee thus speak." + +"Indeed, I may say--'tis done--even though 'twere precipitately +avowed;--but oft, 'tis the premature babe that doth become the most +precocious child, and 'tis well to foster that 'tis fecund." + +"But, Julian, she hath another lover,--and now that I think on't, +didst thou meet a knave upon horse, perhaps, attended by a swaggering +groom as thou cam'st through the village or thereabouts?" + +"Thou hast said it. A half-league beyond Crandlemar there past me at +furious speed a devil-upon-horse. I hallowed once and again to no +avail, so I prodded the fellow with my sword to assist his respiratory +organs, as he flew by. 'Twas a kindly act, for he immediately found +his breath and--swore." + +"And didst notice his livery?" + +"Nay, for the trees were too ostentatious and flaunted their new, +green finery impudently and hid Neptune's satellite or--'twas cloudy, +I could not see. Come, come, I must and thou, too, have sleep if +the God thereof doth not wantonly spend too much time with thy +mistress;--but thou shalt soon offset him and I may have, for one +night at least, his undivided attention." + +"Ah, heaven, that thy words may prove true. 'Tis hard to bide the +time. Come, let us begone from this foul nest that reeks of blood." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +JACQUES DEMPSY + + +To Katherine's untutored vision of social and religious matters, +all appeared like a placid sea; but beneath, political dissension +complicated by religious wrangling produced a vigorous under-current +into which she was to be drawn. + +The exegencies of poverty and exile through which King Charles had +passed made him resolve not to "go again upon his travels," and for +this cause he tolerated the Episcopal religion, of which system the +cavaliers were votaries; and they supported the royal prerogative. +Being an alien to honour, truth and virtue, he was not stirred to +a wholesome interest of importunities, save when a voluptuously +beautiful female solicited his attention. Now 'twas Lady Constance' +plan to forward Count Cantemir's suit with Mistress Penwick and hasten +a marriage that could only be clandestine, owing to Lord Cedric's +vigilance. If this scheme should prove abortive, it was her intention +to bring the maid to the king's notice. Here were two lines of battle, +each surrounded by skirmishing detachments. She was subtle in the +extreme, and arranged warily these side issues, which had more of +death and utter destruction in them than an open onset. + +Rigidly she had kept from Cantemir the knowledge of Mistress Penwick's +insolvency, likewise the death of her father; knowing the condition of +the count's fortunes, she feared he would retreat; his love for the +maid might be of such a nature 'twas possible he would not take +part in the ugly skirmish against her. So Constance had set +about systematically to bring Mistress Penwick and Adrian to an +understanding of each other. + +He believed Katherine to be a wealthy heiress of Sir John Penwick, who +was being held as hostage at some point in America. At her marriage +her estates would be placed in her own hands. All these things Lady +Constance could vouch for, as she had read the letter herself that Sir +John had written Lord Cedric. Mistress Penwick was at a marriageable +age, and her father being ill and hopelessly bound by ties of war +never expected to see her again and had made provision for her future +happiness. Knowing these things, and being in love beside with so +beautiful and youthful creature, Cantemir was well-nigh mad to win +her, without any urging from Constance. + +On the other hand, Mistress Penwick never forgot his slender grace and +pale, patrician features, as she beheld him first upon the stairway +the evening of her arrival. He had ingratiated himself into all her +thoughts of music and court life and religious duties. Being like her +a Catholic, he sat by the hour and spoke of their ill usage by the +nobles of England, and insinuated that the cavaliers (Lord Cedric +being one, of course) were combined to rout out the Catholics and +confiscate all their properties, both public and private. + +At one time Lady Constance said to Katherine that her father, Sir +John, was an Episcopalian and she had made answer,--"'Twould be absurd +to suppose him anything else than a Catholic." Upon this, Constance +spoke to Adrian, and he, casually as it were, asked Mistress Penwick +if she were not afraid her demesne would be seized by the Protestants. +Thus she had come gradually to know of the chasm between the two great +religious orders, and had even written her father of the dangers in +which she believed she was placed. These letters of course were kept +by Janet. The seals remained unbroken and the missives were carefully +laid aside until Mistress Penwick should know the truth. And neither +she nor Janet receiving news from him, stirred her to confide her +fears to Cantemir, who questioned her of the letter which her father +wrote, bidding her to depart for England. She became startled and +uneasy, when she remembered that Janet had refused to show her the +letter and having promised herself to Cantemir in marriage, she spoke +of the matter to him. But her love of and confidence in Janet was +deeper than she thought, and at his first words against her, she fell +from him. He said 'twas possible Janet, being so great a Protestant, +she would undoubtedly take his Lordship's part against her, should any +serious trouble arise. He even went so far as to suggest that perhaps +there was a-foot a ruse to get from her those possessions her father +had written of. Katherine rebelled at these insinuations and thought +that "dear, good, sweet Janet would never take a pin from her Lambkin +to save Church or State. And Lord Cedric, too, even though he would +condemn his servant, he would never take her property, he loved her +too well for that; beside, he was a gentleman of honour, even though +his evil temper did goad him to fearful deeds." She tried to make +herself believe that she truly loved Cantemir, and 'twas her religious +duty to marry him; but when he spoke either against Cedric or Janet, +she was quite sure she hated him. + +In pursuance of Lady Constance' diplomacy, she had assisted Cantemir +in arranging the _rendezvous_ for himself first, and finally for +Christopher, who was to escape with provision for a long journey, as +'twas not certain what Lord Cedric would do if he found him at the +monastery. And Katherine had this night pledged to wed the count in +three days' time. Even as they were arranging their plans Cantemir's +valet had rushed to him saying that his Lordship's page had come to +his apartments, and finding him gone his master had vowed death to any +who would intrigue at such hours with his promised wife. Cantemir, a +polished, hollow-hearted, selfish sycophant and coward, made more so +perhaps by Constance' influence over him, at Katherine's command, as +it were, had taken flight. + +Constance listened eagerly the next morning, as she sat 'neath her +maid's hands, to every detail of the evening's adventure; but her +disappointment at such mischance was greatly allayed by the unexpected +presence of Sir Julian Pomphrey. He was second only to Lord Cedric in +her affections. Her greatest desire was to gain his Lordship's love; +if she could not have that, then she would try for the king's favour +whereby she would be able to live at court and be ever near Sir +Julian, whose mistress she had been and might be again. + +She had begun well to bombard for the accomplishment of her first +desire. + +As soon as possible she rode forth, passing beyond Crandlemar village, +where a short way from its confines she came upon a certain innocent +looking tree that had some six feet above its broad trunk a loosened +knot, which could be removed at will. She plucked it forth and looked +within. It was empty and barren of even a bird's nest. Constance had +no compassion for its loneliness when she laid therein a small, white +piece of paper and filled the orifice with the rough knot. She rode +away content and doubting not that Count Cantemir would soon have her +letter. + +He had halted some five leagues beyond Crandlemar at an inn remote +from the highway, the landlord of which was a monk, dissembling his +name to Jacques Dempsy of the Cow and Horn, and his religion to +anything that was the king's pleasure. + +The two sat in the deserted drinking-room; their heads bent together +and speaking in subdued tones. Cantemir's hand rested upon his leg, +that had been freshly washed and bound by the landlord. + +Sir Julian's sword-prick had goaded Cantemir to an anger that was +'suaged neither by good old wine nor the council of the monk. +He fretted for an opportunity to thrust his assailant in the +back--anywhere. "Surely," said he, "the day is not far when I shall +kill that devil Pomphrey," His groom had seen Sir Julian full in the +face at a small opening in the trees. + +"Sh!" said Dempsy, "there is other work for thee now. 'Tis best for +thee to bide here awhile, at least until a courier shall return from +the tree, where thou sayest thy cousin will place the billet. And if +everything is well, then there will be found for thee a guide to lead +thee through the forest to the monastery, where thou shalt first sign +thyself for the strict carrying out of our plans; then thou shalt be +wed, if there is no remissness, and carried safely to London, where +thou shalt remain until thy lady has audience, and gains that we seek +of the King. Ah! there are times when we sigh and almost weep for +those good old _pro_-Reformation days, when such ecclesiastical bodies +as ours took their grievances to--Rome. Bah! to have to bribe a +profligate king for--the signing of his name. What does he know about +bequests and inheritances--" The count started and Dempsy all alert +broke in with,--"and freeholds. Thou dost know, count, the monastery +is a freehold in the very centre of Lord Cedric's lands; but--I am +telling secrets; forget what I said." The count fell back listlessly, +a gap made in his thoughts by the sudden disappearance of a clue. + +"Charles treats us as mendicants; but if he should chance to see the +coffers of our order, he would know we had received something else +beside a crust for shriving." The count looked up again so quickly, +Dempsy caught himself and wondered what he had been saying, and what +his last words were; for he had been thinking aloud, as it were. + +"Aye, aye, I was saying if Charles could see the riches of our +coffers, he would know the sale of Indulgences had not been a little. +Thou seest, count, we have here at the monastery great treasure, our +coffers are filled with priceless articles of virtue that will, no +doubt, be carried to Rome and be laid in the reliquary of Santa Maria +Maggiore or St. Andrew Corsini or St. Peters. We have some priceless +bones--" Adrian shuddered and relaxed his attention--"they have brought +us great, good fortune; we have bits of clothing--thou dost well know +most of the saints were plainly attired--that some day will be worth +much, perhaps not in my day nor thine, but when age comes, when we +grow a little further from the saints. Ah! I see, thou hast not much +interest in my converse--treasure is nothing to thy love-sick heart, +eh! count?" + +"Nay, not dead men's bones, indeed thou hast rare wine for such +cumbrous relics that can be turned to naught! And didst thou shrive +the saint for the use of his bones a hundred years hence?" + +"Thou art growing facetious, count. Dost think of no virtue but thy +maid's? And art thou sure she will not fall back from her promise to +thee?" + +Cantemir, filled with his own ideas, gave perfunctory acquiescence and +continued in his own line of thought. And what with a busy brain that +was not over-strong, and a ride of some length and dampness, with a +sore leg, he became feverish and the monk took him to bed in great +haste, where he remained for the best part of a week; the seriousness +of his disease not a little augmented by the desire for immediate +action. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CASTLE AND MONASTERY + + +The next morning after Christopher's sudden disaster, the castle +seemed to have awakened from a long apathy. The servants clattered +under breath of their wounded fellow. The arrival of his Grace of +Ellswold's physicians held gossip in the castle in abeyance, as all +were anxious of their decision; but the presence of Sir Julian seemed +to fill the sails of the becalmed household with a stiff breeze, which +at a favourable moment would raise anchor and fly forth on a joyous +sea. + +The physicians gave out that there was no immediate danger, but his +illness was serious and there must neither be noise nor excitement. It +was out of the question to move his Grace either to his own estates or +elsewhere for baths or sea air. + +Lord Cedric and Sir Julian sat with him an hour after the doctor's +examination, Sir Julian, conversing of the freshest gossip at court, +without the usual condiment of inflammables which would be apt to +rouse his Grace not a little. + +There being now no traitor--unless perchance Constance might be termed +one--in the house, and no danger of Mistress Pen wick being left +without the close surveillance of Janet, she was no longer kept +prisoner. And, while she was greatly wrought upon by the sad havoc of +the previous night, her youth and gay spirits and Janet's exhortations +upon the age, giving license to all sorts of uprisings and display of +temper and unwarranted vengeance, somewhat quieted her, and she arose +as sprightly as ever, all the more determined to free herself from +Lord Cedric. If she had stopped for self-analysis, she would have +found that she was bent on gaining her independence at no matter +what cost; regardless of consequences. That her desire was more of +adventure than ambition. And she also would have found that she cared +naught for Cantemir and a very great deal for Lord Cedric. She had +never given thought to a separation from her beloved Janet; while even +classing her as antagonistic to her desires, she never ceased to love +her; for this woman had made herself a mother in every respect, aye, +even more watchful and exacting. While acting in a servant's capacity, +doing the most menial of service, she developed in the maid those +seemingly trifling motives of mind and soul which in the end make up +the character of a life; and very few mothers ever have the tact to +so understand these very minute details that so develop a child's +passion. Janet had ever developed in her charge an inclination for all +beauty; not failing, however, to show wherein weakness crept; where +grace of countenance oft screened defect of character. Indeed this +maid was one of Janet's own creation, save in flesh and blood, and no +one knew any better than she, herself, the vanity to rout the faults +and frailties inherited. She strove the harder to overthrow such +imperfections by perfecting and cultivating the maid's receptive mood. +She was ever fencing with her in words, working out in detail exchange +of thought wherein Katherine might, if 'twere in her, make a clever +reply. At times Mistress Penwick would pick up such threads of Janet's +teaching as would bring her to a semblance of conscience of present +environment, and she would see in a vague way the right and wrong of +things. For the moment she would read all in Cantemir's handsome +face that it masqued and would turn from it only to become lost in +contemplation of what life would be if she were free from Cedric's +guardianship, never thinking of the greater bondage of espousing a +knave. Ever and anon her eyes sought the young lord of the castle, +forgetting she was his ward--and there would come to her such a +feeling of overwhelming conviction she was for the moment submerged +in ecstasy, and with the hot blush still upon her face she would flee +from him as if he were an evil tempter. He brought her near to that +great unknown, upon whose threshold she stood trembling and expectant, +eager to know what was before her. And so, not understanding her own +mind, and being of such tender years, drifted along with the tide that +was carrying her to destruction. Her mind was set upon her own way, +and sheer perversity deigned not to let her see the hands stretched +toward her. + +The afternoon sun fell aslant the black oak parquetry where sat her +Grace of Ellswold, Lady Constance and Mistress Penwick, engaged with +limning and embroidery. Lord Cedric and Sir Julian entered, attired +in the most modish foppery of the time. The latter was saying, as he +soundly rapped his pouncet-box,-- + +"His demeanour is too provincial, too provincial--ah!"--and he bent +low with grave formality to Mistress Penwick as Cedric presented him; +then turning to the duchess continued,--"I was saying, your Grace, +that Dryden is provincial in his demeanour, when compared to his Grace +of Buckingham." + +"Indeed, Julian, thou dost speak lightly of such gigantic genius; +beside, 'twould not be fair to compare sun and moon; and how could we +do without either the one or the other?" + +"To which dost thou comparison his Grace?" + +"The moon, of course!" said the Duchess. + +"And to what planet is my lord a satellite?" + +"Nay, I know not; thou dost question of one who knows little of +astronomy; but I think perhaps Mars, as the planet doth resemble earth +more closely than any other." + +"Bravo, 'tis a rare simile; and I take it thou didst speak in +derogation;--no matter how true the _inuendo_, it is ever the material +we most appreciate and enjoy, and the sun being nearly ninety-three +million miles from the earth, 'tis too remote to be interesting." + +"Indeed, Julian, Dryden in five minutes' converse will stir one to +seriousness by his fancy, to tears by his pathos, and to thoughts of +deity by his sublimity." + +"'Tis only a great, good, noble nature like thine that could be so +stirred; believe me, your Grace, thou didst dissemble these emotions +from pure charity." + +"Well, well, we must all admit that 'tis not his character that +commands our respect and esteem, but his prose and poesy. We all love +Buckingham, but in our appreciation of him we must not exclude reason +and put him before all others,"--and her Grace turned abruptly to +Mistress Penwick. "Here is an admirer of Dryden's compositions, she +clings pertinaciously and with all the ardour of strong youth to his +satire of 'Absalom and Achitophel,' although 'tis a bitter lampoon on +Monmouth and Shaftesbury; two men she heartily admires." Sir Julian +leant over the Duchess and spoke softly,-- + +"I was not aware Mistress Penwick had been presented?" And his keen +eyes scanned every lineament of her face and mould. Lord Cedric was +watching askance, and his face grew red with a stroke of passion as +he noted Sir Julian's look of evident admiration, and jealousy for +a moment swept the young lord's heart, and he cursed in thought +the wicked feeling that in connection with his noble friend could +predicate of naught but the foul fiends. Indeed, so open were Sir +Julian's glances that the maid herself became confused and said, with +some embarrassment,-- + +"My imagination is ofttime profligate, and I indulge--in fancy--in +exchange of word and thought with those great and exalted personages +whose noble compeers I have the good fortune to consort with daily." +And she laid her hand caressingly upon the Duchess' arm. + +"Then 'twould serve thee greatly to place thee within the shadow of +Whitehall, aye, Mistress?" + +"'Twould be a great happiness, Sir Julian." + +"Dost know of any greater, my lady?" It seemed his eyes would pierce +her very soul. + +"I must admit it; I have a great desire," and her face grew rose-hued +and her heart fluttered with the bold words she was about to utter-- + +"Ah, thou dost wish for, or have a desire to enter the--" + +"The distinguished service of a Lady of Honour." As one looked upon +her great beauty, 'twas a wonder she was not born a queen. + +Upon hearing the maid's words, Constance in jealous rage fell to +inordinate laughter and shook her work to the floor, and as Lord +Cedric stooped to regain it he whipped out,-- + +"And why, pray, art thou so amused; 'tis most like Julian to promote +this idea, and she will straightway wish to leave us. I am sure one +glimpse of her would set the whole court on fire." + +"Such startling metaphor, unless indeed thou dost allude to the colour +of her hair!" She spoke with so much malice and hate Lord Cedric was +stirred to amazement, and for the first time his eyes were opened to +Constance' hate of one whom he loved beyond all else on earth. He had +thought her merely jealous of the maid, but now he saw 'twas hatred. + +Sir Julian paid no heed to aught save Mistress Penwick's brave colour +as it came and went, and the fervour of her eyes as they looked into +his. He came nearer to being shaken than ever before in his twenty odd +years of slow and fast living. + +"If I might be so honoured by the privilege, I would present thy +desire straightway to the Duchess here, who would no doubt place thee +at once at court." Mistress Penwick arose, unable to contain her +perturbed spirit, and said,-- + +"Sir Julian, how can I ever--" and she stopped, so stirred was she +with her emotion; very much as a child is wrought to wonderment by the +sight of a marvelous toy. Julian offered his arm, and they sauntered +up and down the room, Sir Julian boldly playing his part. If Katherine +had been less innocent, she might have seen that he was not sincere. +He said: + +"I see no reason why thou shouldst not begin preparation at once +for thy journey. The Duke is progressing finely and her Grace could +perhaps accompany thee as well now as at another time. Wilt thou +prepare at once, Mistress Penwick?" If the king had already sent for +her, he could not have talked with more confidence; but there was +something he must know. As he insisted on an immediate journey, she +turned scarlet, and bit her lip, and frowned. + +"There are a few matters I must see to; I could hardly leave within a +week;--there is no hurry!" + +"On the contrary there is a great hurry, for I must leave at once, +and I would escort thee. I think I shall leave by dawn to-morrow." +Katherine's brow puckered still more as she stood upon the seesaw of +duty and ambition, perplexed to know which way to turn. It appeared +the better quality was innate and her brow cleared, as she said,-- + +"'Twould be impossible to go so soon. I could not ask her Grace to +leave when the Duke is so ill; for, beside a long journey, much time +might be required ere I should be presented. I must have time--a lady +should have a great number to attend her--" + +"Thou hast a host in thy nurse, Janet; she is quite enough for the +journey, and at London there will be a matron for each finger of thy +hand. I can see no reason why thou shouldst not start at once, if the +Duchess so decides." They were quite alone now, and Katherine, +being well cornered and being young and given to confiding, felt so +irresistibly drawn toward this man at her side, she looked up into his +face and said,-- + +"Canst thou not guess, after all thou didst see last night, why I am +kept from going?" + +"I cannot; methinks 'twould be a happy moment to say _adieu_ to such +scenes." + +"Then thou dost not know I am to wed Count Cantemir, Lady Constance' +cousin?" + +"I think thy heart an alien to love; for if thou wouldst sooner become +a Lady of Honour than wed one to whom thou hast 'trothed thyself, 'tis +sure thou hast no love; 'tis caprice or--what one wills to call it, +and thou hadst better fly from a marriage that has not love in it." + +"But I know not what to do. I have given my promise to wed, and I want +to go to London." + +"Then I beg to assist thee to thy heart's desire as soon as thou +hast found what its desire is; and I insist thou dost examine the +weather-vane of thy mind and discern its bent. I am by thy side, +groping in darkness for that thou wouldst have. I am bound to serve +thee." + +"Sir Julian, thou dost nonplus my understanding of myself absurdly. +I agree I have more minds than one, and 'tis disconcerting to try in +haste to ascertain which is the best. Indeed, I do not wish to make a +false step and do that 'twould make me sorry ever after." + +"'Twould be well to have one to guide thee in thine uncertainty. I +should aspire to such an office with alacrity, if thou wouldst but +give me one encouraging glance." For a moment they looked into each +other's eyes, then Katherine's lids dropped and she became as clay +in his hands. And before she was aware, she had told him all things. +These matters were not altogether new to Sir Julian, for Lord Cedric +had discoursed at length upon them, but the nucleus he sought was +found, and he listened perfunctorily to all else, feasting his eyes +upon her face and listening only to the music of her voice. + +"Then why, may I ask, didst thou discard Cedric's suit?" + +"He is tyrannical and cruel, and even though my heart should incline +toward him, 'twould not be meet for me to wed with one of another +faith." + +"'Tis possible thou couldst win him to thy way of thinking." + +"Nay, I should not try it; for I have cast all thought of him aside." + +"Then thou dost acknowledge having had a tenderness for him? 'Tis well +thou dost so fling him aside, he is unworthy of thy consideration." + +"Not so; he is most noble, but--but--I know not what,--he is haughty +and full of temper and given to harsh language--" + +"Yet he is not a fit companion for thee, sayest thou?" + +"Thou dost greatly misunderstand me; he is on the contrary a most +delightful person to converse with and every whit fit to be a +King;--but we are not suited to each other." + +"Was it not thy father's desire for thee to soon wed and to this man?" + +"Even so; but he knew not my Lord Cedric but his father; beside--" + +"Well--" + +"I am expecting to hear from my father in the near future--" + +"Ah!" + +"--and 'tis possible he will come to me or send and make some change. +I have asked him to appoint another guardian for me and my estates." + +"'Twould be a wise thing to do, no doubt; but 'tis possible Cedric has +used already thine inheritance." Mistress Penwick flushed hotly. + +"Nay, thou dost judge him ill; he is above such a thing." And Sir +Julian knew what the poor maid knew not herself, and he felt 'twas a +safe thing to carry through his adventure. + +"Then there are two things that weigh upon thee. Thou knowest not +whether to wed or become a Lady of Honour. I will warn thee that thou +must not dwell long upon them, for 'tis possible if thou dost +not decide very early, I will be able to help thee to nothing +but--myself." + +Mistress Penwick flushed warmly and smiled back at him; and her desire +for admiration drove her on and on, and she soon forgot all else save +the man by her side, and it appeared that no matter how he tried to +break the spell of her witchery, he could not leave her for a moment. + +It fell out that before three days had passed, they were deep in +admiration of each other. Cedric was racked by doubt and fear, yet +never for an instant letting go his faith in Julian. Constance was +happy that Katherine was so diverted, keeping thereby Cedric from any +rash moves, and giving herself time to visit the tree that often held +so much of importance. And she managed to outwit the ubiquitous Janet +and hailed with joy the day of the great battle when Mistress Penwick +was to be removed from her pathway forever. + +The disappearance of Adrian Cantemir was not spoken of--as if 'twere +a matter of too small import;--and yet he hovered ominously in their +minds; and Katherine most of all desired to forget her promise and +every word she had spoken to him, and Constance understood and would +not let her forget, planning night and day to bring them together +again.... + +To look back from the lower terrace at the castle was to see a +gorgeous display of blossom. The ivy-clad walls stood a rich +background to the splendour of tinted flower. Indeed, the scene +appeared not unlike an enormous nosegay lying upon a hill of moss. The +night had brought showers, and from every minute projection of twig, +leaf or petal glistened limpid drops, some swelling with honey +and falling like dew upon the young sward. The birds twittered +ceaselessly, and some young thing preening upon a light blossomy twig +scattered down, anon, perfume upon some shy young fawn, and he leapt +away frightened by so dainty a bath and plunged knee-deep in crystal +pools and sent the stately swans skimming hurriedly to a quiet and +sheltered cove. + +From the Chapel came indistinctly the sound of the organ in a prelude, +it would seem, to the day. 'Twas Sir Julian's wont to rise early and +draw--it may be--inspiration from the full vibrant chords of sweet +harmony. + +From an upper casement leant forth Mistress Penwick with a face as +delicately tinted as the blossoms of the peach that flaunted their +beauty at some distance. She appeared to be arranging violets--that +still sparkled with rain--in an oblong porcelain box that lay flat +upon the casement. Her white jewelled fingers flitted in and out of +the blue depths. Her small white teeth were but half eclipsed and +there fluttered forth from her parted lips a low humming that keyed +and blended with the organ. Her soft white dress enveloped her mould +loosely; her long flowing sleeves, prefaced by rare lace, displaying +her pink, round arm. She wore not the look of care; for she had thrown +all such evil weight upon one who played in yonder sacred shrine +so tranquilly, as if nothing but his own sins rested--and they but +feather-weight--upon his soul. On he played, and she arranged her +flowers, and up the avenue came horses' feet and Lady Constance +unattended came riding near the castle and called up to the vision of +beauty that leant from the window,-- + +"'Tis a glorious morning for riding forth. I have had a fine jaunt and +met nothing but the post-boy,"--and here she showed a billet and rode +close to the wall and hid it neath the ivy--"and a famous adventure +which I've half a mind to pursue, after--I've 'suaged my hunger. If I +ride thus every morning, I shall soon have an arm as pink and round +and perfect in mould as thine own. Hast thou broken fast?" + +"I have had my simple allotment, and have been down on the lower +terraces and gathered these violets, and am now hungry again and +Janet has gone for a wing of fowl and some wine." At these words Lady +Constance looked about her cautiously and spoke in low tones,-- + +"Everything is ready for thy flight. I saw Adrian this morning. He is +handsomer than ever and eager to see thee, and counts the hours 'til +nightfall. If 'tis possible thou art to escape unnoticed to the +monastery, where the nuptials will be performed at once, then thou art +to depart immediately for Whitehall, where thou wilt be made much of +by the King and he will more like detain thy husband under pretext, +and mayhap offer him some honour for the sake of keeping thy beauty +in England."--With a wave of the hand Mistress Penwick bade Lady +Constance depart as Janet stood within the door. + +The castle was astir early, as if there was naught but a glorious day +before them, and they would make it of much length. It seemed as if a +great peace had settled upon those ivy-clad walls, or it might be the +calm that is the solemn presage of storm, and Sir Julian himself quiet +beyond his wont seemed to portend the calamities that were to ensue; +and after his breakfast stood at a window watching the dripping trees +and whistling so softly one could not tell whether 'twere he or the +birds chirping without. Cedric and Lady Constance played at battledore +and shuttlecock. Mistress Penwick sat apart, busy with thought and +needle. His Grace of Ellswold sat up that morning, his wife and +physicians by his side, and all were happy with the great improvement. + +Meanwhile, at the monastery all was commotion. The day there would be +far too short to accomplish all that was to be done. Three couriers +had arrived since dawn with important dispatches. In the midst of +the monks, who sat upon long benches that flanked either side of a +spacious gallery, sat Adrian Cantemir, reading the last message. +Opposite, at the table, were three monks apparently engaged upon their +own affairs, but subtly watching the puzzled countenance of their +guest. Finally their patience seemed to have run out and Constantine, +the monk directly _vis-a-vis_ to Cantemir, coughed, cleared his throat +and in low gutterals said,-- + +"Thy countenance is unfair; 'tis a perjury on thy happy heart." Adrian +looked up with a start, so lost was he in contemplation. His letter +was prophetic of evil, and he was afraid. + +"'Tis ill news, and thou wert not far wrong to bring forth thine +arms. The secrets to be intrusted to my wife it seems have already +reached--" + +"The King?" and with the words it appeared each Abbe was upon his feet +and leaning forward intent. + +"Nay, but the arch-fiends Buckingham and Monmouth. And with the King's +consent they leave for a hunting bout and they ride hither. It says +that the former in masque saw my meeting this morning with Lady +Constance, and he followed and made love to her." The Abbes stood in +utter dismay and dejection. At last, Dempsy of the Cow and Horn began +in deep, full tones the first movement of the "Kyrie eleison, Christe +Eleison, Kyrie eleison," and one by one every voice leapt up in a +God-have-mercy, and the walls echoed and without the birds seemed to +take it up, and it was carried to a listening ear not far from the +shadow of the wall. Then the prayer ceased and La Fosse--half soldier, +half priest--spoke in ringing tones. + +"And what else does thy billet say? Why are we to be attacked; are we +not upon our own ground?" + +"It is mooted that should my wife gain the King's ear, she will +influence him to consent not only on this thy matter but others of +great importance that now pend. It is said that Buckingham has boasted +of rare sport in routing a full score of knaves; taking treasure--" +Cantemir's eyes swept keenly the visage of Constantine--of great +value, beside the beauteous maid that is to arrive; for he says 'tis +sure she will be worth as much to them as the King. He refers to +himself and Monmouth, who mean to take my wife prisoner this very +night." + +"'Tis enough," said La Fosse, with a deprecating gesture. "We must put +on the armour of strength and gird ourselves for battle. We have all +to fight for that that is honourable: home, virtue and religion. What +more could we ask for to strengthen us?" + +"'Tis well said," quoth Constantine. "Judging from thy billet, we are +not to be attacked until the maid hath arrived. Is it known, also, at +what hour she is to come?" + +"If they know so much, they perhaps know even all." + +"Then we must hasten the hour by two, and 'twill incur no disadvantage +save to bring the maid to a greater discretion and show of wit; for +'twill be harder for her to escape at nine than eleven." + +"Methinks 'twill be a greater task to warn the maid of the setting +forth of the hour." Adrian looked up hopefully; for he was of no +mind to meet his wife upon the threshold of a battle, and two hours +earlier, 'twould be time and to spare, and he spoke out bravely,-- + +"I'll see to the message," and he was guilty of a low-bred wink at +Dempsy. + +"Then 'twill serve to set aside this matter for the next," and La +Fosse looking at Cantemir and speaking softly and deferentially bade +him leave them for the present. + +Adrian left the room by the door he had entered it, and passing +through a hall reentered the chamber that had been assigned him. + +The Russian, though a coward, was wary at times and allowed it to +carry him into danger, and as an example he changed his riding garb +for his cavalier costume, discarding his spurred boots for high-heeled +slippers and deigning not to don coat or waistcoat started forth in +search of--he must think what? He was without servant, as 'twas safer +to leave him at the Cow and Horn;--especially one who has corners on +his conscience. He must search for--the kitchen. This place was below +stairs, and he stole this way and that to find a flight of steps. +Treading softly, listening intently and looking ravenously for +opportunity to plunder, for there was treasure somewhere about the +monastery, this was certain, and he might as well have part of it as +Buckingham and Monmouth to have it all. And in case of any mischance +and Mistress Penwick be lost to him, he must have something to live +upon. Constance would never forgive him for allowing the maid to +escape him, and consequently would not give him large loans as +heretofore. But if he should gain the fair prize, some day he would +give back to his church even more than he had taken. As he thus +thought, he forgot for a moment his present surroundings and was +suddenly reminded by a touch on the shoulder, + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE CHAPEL BELFRY + + +He started quickly and looked up shuddering, and saw a tall, slender +monk with cowl so drawn not a feature could be seen. The Abbe spoke +low and hoarsely, as though a cold prevented better utterance,-- + +"What seekest thou?" + +"The kitchen," Cantemir answered, with a great show of bravery. + +"And what there to find, my young man?" + +"Pen and paper. I must write to Mistress Penwick." + +"Ah yes, ah yes, my son. I had forgotten. Curve thy sentences to the +point, without being so broad in assertion another might understand. +Thou hadst better put it this way--" + +"Indeed I thought I had my meaning well covered. I had proposed to +say--" + +"Ah, we are not alone; step this way." The monk turned to a panelling +that gave way by a touch, and to Cantemir's surprise they were alone +in a dark and vaulted passage; indeed they were unable to discern +aught. Quickly the Abbe drew his companion from the panelling through +which they had passed; and 'twas hardly done when three monks followed +with lighted candles. The foremost was Constantine, carrying an +enormous bunch of keys. Their long robes swept Cantemir's feet. He +drew a quick breath, and before it sounded his companion placed his +hand over his mouth. Now this hand smacked not of holy mould or +monastic incense, but rather of rare perfume; but Cantemir was +frightened and did not notice the worldliness of the admonishing hand. +The monks proceeded down the passage; stopping near the centre they +lifted from the floor a trapdoor. A ladder was brought and swung down +the opening and the three descended. + +"Now, my son, thou hadst better write thy billet, and if thou dost not +find one to carry it, I will be along directly and do the service for +thee. I must visit the village and the tree, my son. Now I'll give +thee a bit of advice. Never again go about looking for anything where +'tis supposed there is treasure. If it had not been for my timely +interruption, my brothers there would have found thee and not +so easily forgiven thy inclination for discovery. Go, go in +peace--remember always, that discretion is the wit of safety." + +Cantemir was frightened, and glad to get away, for he feared the +Abbe's smooth tones masqued treachery, and he slid through the +panelling and in very earnest sought the kitchen. + +The deceitful monk hastened toward the open trap and kneeling gazed +for a moment below. There came up a foul odour that made him flinch +and draw back; he drew his handkerchief and placed it to his nose and +leant again and looked. There was a faint glimmer that showed in which +direction the lights were. He lay flat and putting his head beneath +the opening, saw the priests leaning over a chest. Quickly he prepared +to descend and was upon the second rung of the ladder, when the +panelling again opened and a half-dozen faces looked through; anger +and indignation upon all but one, and that was the Russian's, which +bore joy of a discovery. He had gone to the refectory with good intent +to write his letter; but finding a small company of monks gathered +there and they appearing much perturbed, he asked the cause. One +said there was a strange Abbe in the monastery, whose hands were as +bejewelled as any fop's, and that a number had gone in search of him. +The false monk's hand had betrayed him, as 'twas seen from a window as +he uncovered it to open the door. Now Cantemir thought it a good, safe +moment to become a hero and straightway told of his encounter; saying +he was in search of the refectory and had lost his way; making a +plausible story. He was carried forth with the party in search and +now came toward the opening in the passage with drawn sword, his face +wearing the masque of bravery. + +The man upon the ladder was the same that had listened to the "Kyrie +eleison" from without, and before it concluded had made his way +inside: the Duke of Buckingham. + +He jumped like a cat under cover of his pursuer's noisy entrance and +slipped away from the opening. Quickly he drew from him the robe and +cowl and flung them down upon the ladder and drawing his sword stood +waiting and almost eager for a fight. He did not forget, however, +that there is often a practiced and keen thrust from the folds of a +priest's habit. But they were confident the false Abbe was beneath, +and with less noise and more subtleness moved toward the opening. As +they did so, his Grace swung round and cautiously approached the wall +where the panelling was. "Aye, aye," he heard, as the foremost man +found the robe. Straightway they all rushed below stair, and as +the head of the last man disappeared, his Grace went through the +panelling, and within five minutes stood safe in the forest, happy +with the knowledge he had gained. + +It was near the hour of five when Lady Constance rode forth alone. She +left the courtyard unnoticed and hurried to the village and through it +and on beyond toward the tree and passed it and galloped some distance +beyond, then seeing she was not followed made a quick turn and +retraced, But there came from a bend in the road a horseman that rode +warily. She again turned to see if any came, and seeing no one stopped +at the tree and brought from its cavity a letter. As she replaced the +knot, there was such a sudden sound of horses' feet behind her she +dropped the billet and her unknown squire leapt from his horse to +recover it, and stood uncovered before her with such a long, low bow +of homage he had most time to read the missive. Lady Constance was +flattered and felt surely that one with such courtly dress and bearing +could be nothing less than a Duke and his wearing of a full masque +made her doubly sure of it. She flushed and reached out her hand for +the letter and spoke in her most seductive tones,-- + +"My lord,"--he looked up and saw on her pretty, though characterless +face a smile that warranted a further acquaintance. He placed the +letter in her hand slowly, then caught her hand and held it firmly; +indeed their hands touched and lingered together with such intention +it conveyed much more meaning than words. Constance had all the +outward show of a great lady, but at soul she was putrescent. There +came such a heartrending sigh from her cavalier she spoke in a most +tender tone,-- + +"And why such sighing?" + +"Is it not enough, sweet lady?" + +"I am at a loss?" + +"Nay, rather 'tis I that am at loss; for I had sought to gain thy +favour undivided, and I meet with thee only to give into thy hands a +trysting billet that lifts thy glorious orbs above me." He bowed low +in mock humility. Constance' heart fluttered at his ardent words. + +"I would fain know who thus sues for a woman's love; 'tis possible--" +He lowered his masque. "Ah, his Grace of Monmouth!" She well-nigh +prostrated herself upon the saddle, in lieu of the fine courtesy +she would have swept had her position been more favourable. His +words--such gloriously sweet words when uttered by the lips of a +Duke--fed her vanity. Her face flushed as she thought of what his +love must be. He saw his vantage and drew nearer--it may be a hair's +breadth over the line of respect--indeed 'twould have been an +innovation had he not done so, as the time warranted nothing else but +a show at virtue. + +"Your Grace finds a maid that is heart whole; but I would aid others +to their desire. I but act as post-boy 'twixt tree and castle." + +"Thou art cold and cruel. I can see well thou dost hold tightly to thy +bosom thy billet; thou art afraid 'twill betray thee. Thou art the +maid herself that doth own it?" Constance had a burning curiosity to +know why Monmouth was in the neighbourhood of Crandlemar, and though +he insinuated he had come purposely to see her, yet she was not blind +and wondered what diplomacy she could use to gain from him the desired +knowledge. Could it be possible he had come on behalf of the King, +and if so, for what business? The Catholics surely had not been so +indiscreet as to allow their affairs to reach the King's ears? And if +so, why should he send to them? It was not at all likely any one knew +of the monastery so hidden away in a dense forest. Could it be that +the beauty of Mistress Penwick had become notorious at Whitehall and +that the Duke was hunting for her? These thoughts passed speedily +through her brain, while the ogling Monmouth waited for her answer to +his accusation. She spoke with a shy little twist of her head, vainly +trying to blush like little innocence. + +"How can I hold out against thee, Duke? Thou dost steal my secret; +here, then, read it for thyself." With a lightening glance he finished +reading what he had begun before. + +"I was right, sweet Katherine; 'tis a trysting letter, and thou art +to go to him to-night at nine? Thou shalt not; I'll have thee for +myself." Now they had made a great mistake. Constance thought to +convince the Duke she had no lover. He misunderstood and believed +her to be the Katherine he had come after. She, thinking to gain his +secret, allowed him to think so, and quickly took up her new part. + +"Thou dost embarrass me, Duke!" + +"In very truth," said he, "we have heard of thy great beauty at +Whitehall, and have come hither to claim thee for ourselves. Thou +shalt be my very own, sweet Katherine. The King was about to send +forth to Crandlemar to enquire of his Grace of Ellswold. We asked for +the service, that we might gain sight of thy rare beauty. We are about +to pay our respects to the Duke who lies yonder, and at the King's +order bring him important news. We have heard, however, his condition +is most critical, and we cannot see him until high noon to-morrow, as +the midday finds him stronger. And I must see thee, sweet one, again +before the night is over. I cannot wait for the morrow's noon." He +caught her hand and pressed his lips to it, resting himself against +the horse, his arm thrown carelessly across Constance' knee. She +deemed it an honour to be in such close proximity to the royal Duke, +and grew red with his amorous glances and soft-spoken words and the +familiarity of his arm upon her. + +"Indeed, it doth seem to me also like a very long time to wait," and +she sighed heavily. At this Monmouth drew her down and kissed her upon +her thin, arrogant lips. She, well-nigh beside herself, exclaimed in a +thin, high voice,-- + +"Ah, ah, Duke, thou dost kill me--I must hasten away from thee. I must +go." She spurred her horse; but the Duke caught the rein and held it +fast. + +"Nay, nay, thou shalt not yet be gone. Wouldst thou be so cruel to +leave me now at Love's first onset? I will not have it!" + +"But I must hasten,--I am riding alone, and some one will be sent for +me if I do not soon return to the castle." + +"Thou must give me promise first, sweet one!" + +"Promise,--promise of what?" and she listened eagerly to his next +words. + +"Dost thou not covet a Prince's favour?" Constance' heart fluttered +mightily, and she thought--"A fig for Cedric's love of me. He loves +not at all, compared with this man's warm passion. Cedric loves me not +at all, anyway. I will be a Prince's favourite," and she answered,-- + +"I never covet that which is beyond my reach." 'Tis often a true thing +that when we sit within our dark and dismal chamber without comfort, +hope or happy retrospection, there stands upon the threshold a joyous +phenomenon of which we have never so much as dreamt as being in +existence; and this had come to Constance. If the Duke loved her, what +would it matter if Cedric did love Katherine? She could not compel him +to love her. + +"Ah, sweet Katherine, how can one covet that they already possess? I +would teach thee to enjoy all that such beauty as thine is heir to. +Thou wilt come to me to-night?" + +"To-night!" and Lady Constance fairly gasped. + +"To-night, fair one, on the stroke of nine thou wilt pass through the +postern door of the castle and fall into my arms,--here, take this, +sweet, to pledge thyself." He slipped from his finger a ring of +marvellous beauty and essayed to place it upon her hand. + +"Nay, I cannot. I should be seen to go forth at so early an hour,--and +I know thee not!" + +"Thou art not afraid of me? Nay, I am one of the most gentle and +tender--" + +"But where wilt thou take me, your Grace?" + +"I will take thee to my heart, and if thou art unhappy, thou mayest +return when thou desirest; but 'twill be my pleasure to keep thee with +me alway; we will go to London." Constance, having read the letter, +knew it would not do for her to leave the drawing-room at the same +hour with Katherine, and she hardly knew what to do. + +"Indeed, I have no wish to see a duel upon my Lord Cedric's grounds, +thou must come later. My love will perhaps wait an hour,--thou mayest +come at twelve." + +"And allow him to come first and steal thee; nay, I protest." +Constance felt somewhat dubious. The Duke saw it, and hastened to +reassure her. + +"If thou wilt sit near the window on the stroke of nine, I will let +thy lover go; but if thou dost pass from my sight, I will run the +fellow through; and thou mayest come to me at twelve!" + +To this Constance agreed, and allowed him to place the ring; and he +kissing her again with fervour, let her go, exultant. + +'Twas a glorious, clear, warm night. The castle was aglow and merry. +Lady Bettie Payne and Sir Rodger Mac Veigh and Sir Jasper Kenworthy +and sundry other shire folk had come to while away a spring night. The +gentlemen were playing at cup and ball; Lady Constance and Lady Bettie +were gossiping of Court scandal, when in swept her Grace of Ellswold +with Mistress Penwick, the latter such a vision of loveliness the game +was suspended for a moment, and Constance and Bettie looked up to see +why all eyes were turned from them. + +The maid wore a pale-hued brocade gown of sweeping length of skirt, +and short, round bodice and low-neck and long sleeves that tightly +encased her plump, pink arms. Her mother's pearls lay glistening about +her slender neck, and falling low was caught again by some caprice +of mode high where met sleeve and waist, and here a rare bunch of +fragrant violets shone bravely as a shoulder knot. + +Lord Cedric saw her first, and was well-nigh drunk with her beauty, +and he advanced and bent low, kissing her hand that trembled in his +own. He raised his eyes to hers, she looking fairly at him with a +ready smile. + +"Kate, Kate--" Such a flood of emotion came upon him he was bereft of +speech. She looked at him surprised, and wondered if he knew aught. +Could it be that Sir Julian had found out anything and had spoken to +Cedric? She was sure she had kept this last secret safe from all save +Constance, and had not been with Sir Julian for a whole day, fearing +he would find out by looking at her. Nay, he knew nothing,--beside, if +he did, he would shield her from Cedric's anger by keeping so great +a secret. And yet it almost seemed as if the young lord knew of her +desperate act; 'twas written on his face, she saw the pain upon it; +and yet, how could it be? These thoughts flashed through Katherine's +brain, and she tried to move from him, but an inscrutable presence +held her, and she felt she must not leave him, perhaps forever, with +that face so full of pain, and she spoke out a word she had never +used before and one which touched his Lordship as nothing else could, +'twas: + +"Cedric." He caught his breath with sheer excess of joy, and bent +again and whispered,-- + +"What, Kate; what is it?" 'Twas enough, she laughed quietly and turned +to Sir Julian, who had come to her side. Lady Constance was not long +in finding an opportunity to speak alone with her. + +"Oh, sweet," she said. "I haven't had a chance to talk with thee of my +adventure," and she drew the maid aside and began volubly to speak +of her encounter of the early morning. "He was most certainly of the +Court. I cannot possibly mistake his manner. Indeed, I am certain +he is a noble lord, and no doubt is here to bear Cantemir +escort--perhaps--" and she leant close to Katherine--"it might be the +King himself, who knows?" Her listener flushed and thought-- + +"Was it possible she was to receive such honour, and why not?" She had +heard from Constance and Cantemir himself that his house was a very +wealthy and important one in Russia and that the English royalty and +nobles made much of him. She, with her poor knowledge of the world, +thought Constance spoke truth. + +"I'll tell thee why I thought he was the King. He was the form, grace +and elegance of his Royal Highness and kept his masque securely tied. +I'm sure it was he. And this evening,--ah, ah, how can I ever tell +thee, Katherine, the honour I felt! Indeed we do not know how +important Adrian is until we see those with whom he consorts. To-night +I met--who dost guess it was, Katherine?" + +"Nay, I could never guess, for I know not whom Adrian's friends are; +but if thy friend of the morning was the King, 'tis certain the +setting sun brings thee one less titled." + +"'Tis so, but one who may be a King. Thou wilt never tell, Katherine?" + +"Nay, never." + +"'Twas the King's son, his Grace the Duke of Monmouth." + +"Ah, ah, a Prince! Thou art indeed favoured. And how came it about? I +am very curious." Lady Constance related part of her interview with +the Duke, embellished and with many deviations-- + +"He said they were to be at the monastery as witnesses and intimated +that the King had heard of thy wonderful beauty and grew so impatient +to see thee he must either come himself or send some one he could +trust. Monmouth said thy request was already granted in the King's +mind, and he only waited to see thee to give it utterance. Thou dost +know what a good Catholic he is, and hearing they were to send thee to +ask certain things of his clemency, he has sent the Duke with other +special guard to render speed and safety to thy journey to Whitehall, +where great honour will be shown Adrian's fair bride." Constance so +entered into the very soul of her lies, she half believed them as she +gave them utterance. + +The young maid was well-nigh beside herself with pleasure at the +honours that were to attend her, and she gave up all idea of a +backward step. And when Constance proclaimed she was to accompany her, +her heart leapt up with joy. She gave no place to doubt now, 'twas an +unknown quantity, and her voice trembled as she said--"It makes me +perfectly content, if thou art to accompany me. Thou wilt go with +me to the monastery, Constance?" For once her ladyship answered +truthfully, but she did not know it: + +"Nay, I am to join thee some time after twelve; I know not just when +or where; but we are to be together. I owe this especial favour to the +Duke. I am so glad thou art espoused, or will be in a short while, or +I should be insanely jealous. Look, Katherine!" and Constance under +cover of her handkerchief showed the ring. + +"Isn't it beautiful?" said Katherine. + +Mistress Penwick, like many another of her beauty and age, was +inclined to be of ill-spirit when another of her sex seemed to be in +favour; and at Constance' sudden acquaintance with the King's son, +and able to wear his ring, she was piqued, and almost wished it was +herself instead; for in such intimacy there could be nothing else but +a very near and exalted position at Court. The poor child--innocent +of all evil seeing naught in the gaining of Royal favour but the +achievement of all that was high, holy, beautiful and perfect--now +for a brief moment scorned her own poor estate and fell to envying +Constance, and was of a notion not to go at all to the monastery;--but +if she didn't, then her religion would suffer; for who could go to the +King in her place? She knew she was beautiful, and knew its influence, +and was sure the King would not refuse her. Now if Lord Cedric had not +forbidden her going to the monastery for confession, she could have +known what they wished and gone openly with Lady Constance or Sir +Julian, or perhaps just with Janet to his Majesty and gained his +favour and at once have become a Lady of Honour. But no, 'twas not +thus, and things were as they were, and she could not change them or +retrace. + +She would not engage in any game, but played upon the harpsichord and +sung some of her sweetest songs; Lord Cedric ever coming to her side +to turn her music or offer some little service. He was aflame with +hope, for had she not called him "Cedric"? + +How dear it sounded; if he might only hear her say it again. He came +to her side and whispered,-- + +"'Twas sweet of thee to call me Cedric!"--His hand for a moment rested +upon the violets at her shoulder,--"Kate, why didst thou not wear the +opal shoulder-knot instead of these violets?" + +"Because--I value it more than aught else, and I would not wear it on +all occasions, for 'twas thy mother's choicest brooch." + +"Indeed, I love it, also, Kate, for the same reason; but I would +rather see thee wear it, for I love thee, Kate, thee, thee, thee." His +voice was like a sob stirring her to a pity that made her sick and +weak, and she turned from him hastily and began singing softly,-- + + "When love with unconfined wings hovers within my gates; + And my divine Althea brings to whisper at the grates; + When I lie tangled in her hair and fetter'd to her eye; + The gods that wanton in the air, know no such liberty. + + "'Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage; + Minds innocent and quiet take that for an hermitage; + If I have freedom in my love, and in my soul am free; + Angels alone that soar above enjoy such liberty!'" + +"Thou dost sing the words of the beautiful and amiable Richard +Lovelace; I have heard my father speak of him with great affection. +The lines to Althea--his sweetheart--were written in prison. She +thought him dead and married some one else. He loved her more than +life,--dost believe in such love, Kate?" + +"Aye, why not?--Ah, Sir Julian, hast finished,--who was victor?" + +"I am modest, my Lady." + +"But never too modest to hold thine own." As she spoke thus to Sir +Julian, the sands of the hour-glass ran out and nine tolled from the +Chapel belfry. Before the bell had ceased, Constance had drawn Cedric +and Julian into a game of cards, she placing herself opposite the +window, and Katherine had stepped into an adjoining passage, and +taking up her camelot cloak, with flying feet and beating heart +hastened to the postern-door and slipped bolts and bars and stood +without in the calm, warm night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SERMONS NEW AND OLD + + +"The reign of Charles the Second seemed to be impregnated with a free +and easy moral atmosphere that engendered lewdness in human product. +It is said by a great historian that Thomas Hobbes had, in language +more precise and luminous than has ever been employed by any other +metaphysical writer, maintained that the will of the prince was the +standard of right and wrong, and that every subject ought to be ready +to profess Popery, Mahometanism, or Paganism, at the royal command. +Thousands who were incompetent to appreciate what was really valuable +in his speculations eagerly welcomed a theory which, while it exalted +the kingly office, relaxed the obligations of morality and degraded +religion into a mere affair of state. Hobbism soon became an almost +essential part of the character of the fine gentleman. All the +lighter kinds of literature were deeply tainted by the prevailing +licentiousness. Poetry stooped to be the pander of every low desire. +Ridicule, instead of putting guilt and error to the blush, turned her +formidable shafts against innocence and truth. The restored Church +contended indeed against the prevailing immorality, but contended +feebly, and with half a heart. It was necessary to the decorum of +her character that she should admonish her erring children, but her +admonitions were given in a somewhat perfunctory manner. Her attention +was elsewhere engaged. Little as the men of mirth and fashion were +disposed to shape their lives according to her precepts, they were yet +ready to fight for her cathedrals and places, for every line of her +rubric and every thread of her vestments. If the debauched +cavalier haunted brothels and gambling houses, he at least avoided +conventicles. If he never spoke without uttering ribaldry and +blasphemy, he made some amends by his eagerness to send Baxter and +Howe to gaol for preaching and praying. Thus the clergy, for a time, +made war on schism with so much vigour that they had little leisure to +make war on vice." + +"Charles the Second wished merely to be a King who could draw without +limit on the treasury for the gratification of his private tastes, who +could hire with wealth and honours persons capable of assisting him +to kill the time, and who, even when the state was brought by +maladministration to the depths of humiliation and to the brink of +ruin, could still exclude unwelcome truth from the purlieus of his +own seraglio, and refuse to see and hear whatever might disturb his +luxurious repose. Later in life, the ill-bred familiarity of the +Scottish divines had given him a distaste for Presbyterian discipline, +while the heats and animosities between the members of the Established +Church and the Nonconformists, with which his reign commenced, made +him think indifferently of both. His religion was that of a young +prince in his warm blood, whose inquiries were applied more to +discover arguments against belief than in its favour." + +"The wits about the Court, who found employment in laughing at +Scripture, delighted in turning to ridicule what the preachers said in +their sermons before him, and in this way induced him to look upon the +clergy as a body of men who had compounded a religion for their own +advantage. So strongly did this feeling take root in him that he at +length resigned himself to sleep at sermon-time--not even South or +Barrow having the art to keep him awake. In one of these half-hours +of sleep, when in Chapel, he is known to have missed, doubtless with +regret, the gentle reproof of South to Lauderdale during a general +somnolency:--'My lord, my lord, you snore so loud you will wake the +King.'" + +"He was altogether in favour of extempore preaching, and was unwilling +to listen to the delivery of a written sermon." (Indeed, if we had +more people like him in this day, we would hear far more of the gospel +and far less of politics and jokes which so demoralize the pulpit and +take away all sacredness. The King was right, as all mankind will +agree, in his idea of preaching.) "Patrick excused himself from a +chaplaincy, 'finding it very difficult to get a sermon without book.' +On one occasion the King asked the famous Stillingfleet 'how it was +that he always reads his sermons before him, when he was informed that +he always preached without book elsewhere?' Stillingfleet answered +something about the awe of so noble a congregation, the presence of +so great and wise a prince, with which the King himself was very well +contented,--'But, pray,' continued Stillingfleet, 'will your Majesty +give me leave to ask you a question? Why do you read your speeches +when you can have none of the same reasons?' 'Why truly, doctor,' +replied the King, 'your question is a very pertinent one, and so will +be my answer. I have asked the two Houses so often and for so much +money, that I am ashamed to look them in the face.'" + +"This 'slothful way of preaching,' for so the King called it, had +arisen during the civil wars; and Monmouth, when Chancellor of the +University of Cambridge, in compliance with the order of the King, +directed a letter to the University that the practice of reading +sermons should be wholly laid aside." + +There was much ignorance in the seventeenth century; but 'twas of the +people's own choosing; 'twas not of necessity. Lewdness was preferable +to purity; it was easier had. And when the King led the pace, why not +they of lesser rank and fortunes? But was there ever a thing created +in all the world without its right and wrong sides? It seemed there +was no room in Charles' time for aught but evil. "The ribaldry of +Etherege and Wycherley was, in the presence and under the special +sanction of the head of the church, while the author of the Pilgrim's +Progress languished in a dungeon for the crime of proclaiming the +gospel to the poor." + +As time waxed, even the vigilant persecutors became passive, relaxed +themselves into indifference; but before immorality was aware the +still, small voice was heard. The seed that was twelve years in +planting had taken root and Pilgrim's Progress became known and John +Bunyan stood without the prison gates to preach and pray at will, to +keep on extending that influence that lives to-day. And for once the +King did not go to sleep when, through caprice or curiosity, he went +to hear him preach. + +"When Bunyan went to preach in London, if there was but one day's +notice, the meeting house was crowded to overflowing. Twelve hundred +people would be found collected before seven o'clock on a dark +winter's morning to hear a lecture from him. In Zoar St. Southwark, +his church was sometimes so crowded that he had to be lifted to the +pulpit stairs over the congregation's heads." He strove not for +popularity, as could be seen in the one little circumstance when "a +friend complimented him, after service, on 'the sweet sermon' which he +had delivered. 'You need not remind me of that,' he said. 'The devil +told me of it before I was out of the pulpit.'" + +"Charles Doe, a distinguished nonconformist, visited him in his +confinement. 'When I was there,' he writes, 'there were about sixty +dissenters besides himself, taken but a little before at a religious +meeting at Kaistor, in the county of Bedford, besides two eminent +dissenting ministers, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Dun, by which means the +prison was much crowded. Yet, in the midst of all that hurry, I heard +Mr. Bunyan both preach and pray with that mighty spirit of faith and +plerophory of Divine assistance, that he made me stand and wonder.'" + +The sweet spirit of a minister is treasured and kept green in the +memory of his flock, no matter how recalcitrant they may be. This is +shown by the reading once a year in Bedford Church of John Gifford's +letter to his parish people, written over two hundred years ago. It +says: "Let no respect of persons be in your comings together. When you +are met as a church, there's neither rich nor poor, bond nor free, in +Jesus Christ. 'Tis not a good practice to be offering places or seats +when those who are rich come in; especially it is a great evil to take +notice of such in time of prayer or the word; then are bowings and +civil observances at such times not of God." It was the "holy Mr. +Gifford" that was often in conference with John Bunyan; "the latter as +the seeking pilgrim, the former the guiding evangelist." With such +men as these the sweet spirit was kept aflame and eventually changed +England and made her the great country she is. But in those licentious +days this sweet spirit shone from its impure surroundings like the +_ignis fatuus_, and 'twas a great, wicked world that Mistress Penwick +stood all alone in that early summer night. + +A nightingale sung afar in some bowery of blossom, and for a moment +she listened. + +"'Tis an ode to the night he sings, 'tis too clear and high and full +of cadence for a nuptial mass,--nay, nay, I shall not marry to-night, +I will go and see what dear father Constantine wishes and return to +this home that has never seemed so fair to me before;--and my lord is +handsome and so, too, is Sir Julian and I'm fond of their Graces of +Ells wold and Janet,--Janet, I love her best of all. Nay, nay, I'll +not be married. I will go and see and return. Janet will not look for +me above stair before eleven at least. I shall be home again ere I'm +missed." She thought thus as she hurried on through the courtyard and +beyond, where waited Father Dempsy. + +In a second, it seemed, they were galloping away, Mistress Penwick +throwing back a long, sweeping glance at the great, stone pile behind +her. The train of her brocade skirt hung almost to the ground; her +fair, sloping shoulders, her exquisite face framed in a high roll of +amber beauty, made a picture,--a rare gem encircled by a gorgeous June +night. + +On they rode without converse; Dempsy was a brave man, yet he feared +and justly, too, that Mistress Pen wick might be taken from him before +they reached the monastery, therefore he enjoined silence, and the +best speed of their horses, and kept a hand upon his sword. + +He drew a sigh of relief when he beheld the dark outline of the +cloister that appeared quiet and undisturbed. + +As they approached, Cantemir came from the open door and lifted +Mistress Penwick from her horse in a most tender fashion, and would +have held her close and imprinted a kiss upon her forehead had she not +drawn from him and raised her hand to his lips. + +"'Tis a cold greeting, Katherine, after these long, weary days of +separation." + +"Nay, not so. 'Tis thy warmth that is premature." And without deigning +further opportunity for converse, she swept over the threshold of the +monastery. + +There was much business to be attended to before the ceremony could +take place, and the time was limited; for in one hour it was believed +the cloister would be attacked by the Duke of Buckingham and his +party, and the maid must be far on her way before the attack. + +There was none but Mistress Penwick, herself, that thought else than +that a marriage contract was to be sealed. She on a sudden felt a +great repulsion for Adrian Cantemir, and she resolved not to wed him. + +As she stood in the large hall that served as council chamber and +for all functions of importance, she cast her eye about for those +answering to the description of his Grace of Monmouth and that +other--was it the King? She felt sure she would know him; but upon the +long benches there were none but sombre cowled figures with crucifix +and--aye, swords gleamed from beneath the folds of their long gowns +and touched the floor. Her eyes flashed wide with surprise, and she +felt proud and loved the bravery of her religion. But to what it +portended she thought on for a moment seriously and concluded Royal +personages must be present, or why else such precaution? + +As the business had to do with Mistress Penwick only, Cantemir was +asked to withdraw. As soon as the business was entered upon, the +maid's doubts of the surrounding company were dispelled and she knew +none of the Royal party would dare be even an unknown guest at such a +meeting. + +At the conclusion of the council she held an important secret, more +important to herself than she dreamt. It made her bold, and she +straightway arose and spoke out clearly,-- + +"If the reverend fathers would agree upon a certain matter, I will +start at once upon my journey. I feel my mission to the King to +be more important than all else to me, and for the success of my +undertaking I deem it best I should go as maid and not wife to his +most Royal presence." This was a startling but most acceptable +assertion. It had been much spoken on by the Abbes but by common +consent they agreed if the maid wished to marry the Russian, why--they +would offer no objections; so they had left the matter. + +"Dost think, Mistress Penwick, thou canst settle readily the case with +the Count?" + +"'Twill be easy and quickly done. Call him hither!" said she. The +Russian came with eagerness and some impatience, for he feared a delay +might plunge him into a lively skirmish. + +Katherine went to his side, and placing her fingers upon his arm, +said,-- + +"Thou wilt escort me to the King?" + +"Most gladly, and where else in life thou shalt choose to go." + +"'Tis the present that indicates the future,--wilt come at once +without ceremony?" + +"Nay, nay, I protest. I must have thee as wife, first, Mistress +Penwick!" + +Constantine leant toward them from the table and looked with purpose, +a frown emphasizing his shrewd glance,-- + +"We have not time for further controversy, and if the maid will say +the word, the ceremony will be performed now." The Abbe knew the maid +would give in to circumstances sooner than the determined Count, and +thus hastened her. All eyes were upon the two, and Katherine hearing +in the priest's voice a tone of insistence, stood for a moment +motionless and evidently debating her course. + +As she opened her lips, there was a sudden sound of horses' feet. + +In a moment a thundering knock upon the door's panelling demanded +admittance. + +"Who seeks an opening so roughly?" thundered La Fosse. + +"Cedric of Crandlemar!" + +"The devil!" cried Cantemir, as he fell back in consternation and +fear. Indeed he would rather meet the King of devils than this +hot-headed Cedric. Katherine was not at a loss to read Count Adrian's +countenance, and straightway bade them open the door. La Fosse spoke +as his hand rested on the locker,-- + +"Art alone, my lord?" + +"Aye, quite alone!" came in a voice so shaken Katherine fell to +trembling in very fear. Cedric threw wide the door and stood within, +facing them all. His face gleamed like marble, so colourless and still +it seemed. His body swayed by love and anger, knew not which way to +turn, but appeared to sway from side to side. His breath came +in quick, sharp pants. His hair, damp as if from fine rain, was +dishevelled. His dark eyes shot forth sparks of angry fire that burnt +all who fell beneath their glance. + +"Who brought hither the maid? Did yonder pandering fool? Aye, 'twas +thou. I see it plain. Come, come, draw fool; draw ere I run thee +through and dishonour sword by attacking thee, unarmed; draw, I say, +fool!" + +Count Adrian's face was ghastly. Lord Cedric raised his sword and made +a lunge at him. La Fosse was too quick for Cedric. He sprang between +and parried the pass with astounding dexterity. The monk intended it +for a finale stroke; but not so Cedric. He began a fight that was not +to be so easily ended, and he drove his sword in fury. The good monk +only wished to parry; but alas! he caught the spirit of battle and +fought. Constantine made as if to draw the maid from the scene, while +others sought to interfere with the combatants. 'Twas of no avail. +Katherine could not be moved from where she stood, white and still +as a statue; neither could they interpose between the Abbe and his +Lordship. Sorrow and dismay were written on every face, for 'twas sure +one or the other must fall of those two masters of the sword. Already +there fell at La Fosse's feet drops of blood. When Katherine saw them, +she sprang forward and cried,-- + +"Stop, stop in God's name, stop!" As she was about to fling herself +between them, Cedric fell heavily to the floor, a stream of blood +flowing from his breast. With a wild scream Katherine fell upon her +knees at his side and pressed her dainty handkerchief to the wound, +and began to fondle him and speak in his ear that she loved him. Aye, +she was sure now, there could be no doubt, and as she pressed her lips +to his cold, white face she saw his eyelids flutter. She looked up +quickly into the priest's face; he answered her look with wholesome +words. + +"The wound is slight, my child; he will recover." She fell back, +blushing with shame for her bold avowals, and knew not which way to +turn to hide her confusion; for she was sure all present had marked +her warm words and actions. + +Immediately Lord Cedric was carried to an inner room, and Katherine +turned about to look for Cantemir, as did a half-dozen others; he had +disappeared and where he stood were a score of masqued figures. When +they saw they had the attention of the company, one lifted high his +sword and cried,-- + +"Hail, merry monarchs of the Sylvan Chapel! We have come to escort +the maid to the King!" While this avowal struck the Abbes with +consternation, they had expected a different mode of attack, and +they were not displeased that it had taken another course. They had +expected the treasure would be demanded of them with all their papers. +These they would fight for. The secret for which Mistress Penwick was +to visit the King, the Abbes were now sure the Royal party knew not. +The papers she carried could give them no clue even though they gained +possession of them, and the maid would never divulge what she was to +say to his Majesty. + +"Her escort is provided," said La Fosse, who stood nearly exhausted, +leaning upon the table, his sword still in his hand. + +"Ah, but if we choose to offer her a more honourable one! Indeed the +knave of a Russian, who lies without, has but just put the matter in +our hands. He was to escort her, but at sight of blood he faints and +begs us take forthwith his promised wife to Whitehall." One could not +mistake the courtly grace and fine figure of his Grace of Buckingham. +Behind him was a form equally imposing, and the handsome mouth and +chin of the Duke of Monmouth could be seen as he tilted his masque for +a better view of the maid, whom he supposed was the same he had met in +the evening. But with half an eye he saw his mistake. Never was he so +moved at first sight of a face before. He drank in her loveliness in +rapturous drafts, and swayed from side to side examining with critical +eye the outline of her fair mould. She had thrown her cloak from her +and stood slightly in front of Constantine, as he, holding a candle +at her elbow, leant close to her ear, whispering and holding a small +paper for her to read. As she read, her eyes flashed, her bosom rose +and fell neath the covering of her short, full waist; and Monmouth's +eyes seemed ravished by it. It had been his misfortune, he thought, to +see long, modish, tapering stays that bruised his fancy as it did +the wearer's body, and to behold such slender waist crowned by full, +unfettered maiden roundness, pedestalled by such broad and shapely +hips was maddening. He had not dreamt of such beauty when his Grace of +Buckingham had suggested the trip into the forest. + +"We will have some sport finding a beauty and a secret. If it pleases +your Grace, I will have the secret and thou the maid," said he to +Monmouth, and the latter had come all the way from Whitehall, for +he knew the Duke would waste no time looking for aught but a King's +portion. Never was there another such a beauty; she would be the gem +of his seraglio. She looked up, her dark orbs casting a sweeping +glance upon those about. + +"I will return to Crandlemar for the night; call my escort!" said she. + +Now it was plain this was a ruse of Constantine's own making, and had +whispered it as she had pretended to read. Buckingham laughed cruelly +and scornfully, provoking smothered mirth from behind the masques of +his followers. + +"Thou hadst better set out directly, if thou wouldst gain audience +with the King ere he leaves Whitehall." + +"I am in no hurry, to-morrow will do as well. I like not advice +unsought. I'll have none of it. I will go where, when and how as I +please!" + +"And coercion smacks of a power residing not in these parts. I am +delegated, Mistress Penwick, to bring thee straightway to the Royal +presence." + +"And why, may I ask, am I so called to his Majesty?" + +"Thou art a hostage!" and Buckingham took a pinch of snuff with as +much ease and grace as if standing in a crowded drawing-room. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM + + +"I--I, a hostage! and who gave me as such, pray?" + +"There is not time for further inquisition; we have a long journey +before us. Come, Mistress!" + +"Nay, nay, I protest; I'll not go with thee--" + +"Mistress Penwick, I beg thee in my own behalf,"--and the Duke bowed +before her so courteously, he half won her good will, then--"and I +command thee in the name of the King," and with these words he put +forth his hand as it were to take that of Katherine. A sword swept +lightly over the maid's fingers, at which the two Dukes drew back with +haughty indignation, which meant that reparation must be immediate for +this insult to those who came upon his Majesty's affairs; for indeed +they feigned well that they were carrying out the King's orders. La +Fosse, having now regained his breath and some strength, essayed to +draw Mistress Penwick from the scene that was about to ensue; but a +young man flung himself between them and drove back the monk at the +point of his sword, thus beginning the fight. + +Katherine was well-nigh fainting from actual fear and apprehension. +If she were a hostage, 'twas her duty to go and it might favour her +cause. Doubtless these men were gentlemen, and what matter now who +accompanied her to the King? Adrian had proven himself a knave. Poor, +dear Cedric lay ill of his wound and he could not attend her if he +would. These things flashed through her mind as she watched the flash +of steel. Then on a sudden it came to her who these masqued figures +might be. Her heart gave a great bound, and she sprang into the midst +of those fighting and raised her voice, crying forth,-- + +"Cease, cease, fight no more; I will go with thee." A priest near her +whispered,-- + +"'Tis thy honour we fight for now, hold thy peace; 'tis not best for +thee to go with them, 'twould be thy utter ruin and the undoing of our +affairs!" His warning came too late; all had heard Katherine speak; +and although two forms already lay upon the floor, there were other +motives stronger than the thirst for blood, which on a sudden seemed +quenched, and faces pale and blood-stained turned upon Buckingham as +he coolly and with much dignity lifted Katherine's cloak from the +table and placed it about her shoulders, then had the audacity to +offer his arm. She ignored it, turned to Constantine and fell upon her +knees; he blessed her, then whispered hurriedly in her ear. She arose +and passed down the bloody aisle, which was flanked on either side by +an array of shining steel. As she approached the door, it was flung +wide by a figure that startled her, so like was it to Lord Cedric's, +but the light fell aslant his countenance and as she swept by saw +'twas Sir Julian Pomphrey. + +A chaise stood some little distance from the cloister, into which +Katherine was placed with great courtesy by his Grace of Buckingham. + +She sunk back among the cushions with half-closed eyes; heeding not +those that rode at either window of the equipage; she was trying to +collect her thoughts and by degrees they shaped themselves and she was +thinking of that that had but transpired. First of all, she consoled +herself like the selfish girl she was: Cedric would not die; 'twas a +sweet consolation, and she smiled; her thoughts dwelling not for a +moment on her own conduct that had brought him to suffer such pain. +Then she lay back even more luxuriously as she thought that Sir Julian +would not have opened the door for her, had she been going into +danger. To tell the truth, she sighed happily in contemplation of +further exploit. She grew bolder and bolder, fearing naught but some +slight mischance that might prevent her being a Maid of Honour; for +never, never could she go back to Cedric after she had made assertion +of love in his ear, and his eyelids had trembled. Nay, nay, she could +not bear to look him in the face again. Alas! she made vow she never +would. If she was not made a lady of her Majesty's household, she +would seek the patronage of some titled woman, who could help her. +Not for a moment did she think of the perils that surrounded and grew +closer about her unprotected self with every turn of the wheels that +carried her on. + +It appeared now as if all barriers to the King's presence had been +levelled and Katherine's hopes matured to confidence. She drew her +cloak about her with sedulous care, as if in so doing she wrapped and +hid from the whole world her own poor cunning. She found in her +lonely condition no embarrassment, conceiving that her position as +intermediary between her Church and the State was sufficient reason +for her abrupt leaving of home. Sir Julian would doubtless explain +matters to the Duke and Duchess, whom she believed were more than half +of her faith. They would see she had been highly honoured by being +entrusted with a great secret. + +It appeared as if the chaise would never cease to lung and swagger +over rough, unused roads, and when at last it did mend its way, +Katherine had ceased thinking and fallen fast asleep, nor did she wake +during hours of travel, until the great coach came to a sudden halt. +She looked through the window. Dawn streaked the East with uncertain +intention, knowing not whether to open the day with rain or sunshine. +A little to the left was the dark outline of an inn, nestling upon the +threshold of a forest, from the window of which fell aslant the way +a line of light. The door of the equipage was opened, and a stately +cavalier stood to assist her down the step. She leapt lightly to the +ground, taking the proffered arm, as the way was dark and uneven. + +Within the large, cheery room they entered, burnt a crackling fire; +for the morning was damp and chilly. Katherine stole a glance at her +companion and saw the handsome features of Monmouth. He had removed +his masque and now stood uncovered before her. + +"I hope Mistress Penwick has not suffered from her long ride?" + +"Nay, sir; on the contrary, I feel refreshed." Her manner told him +plainly his address was not displeasing to her. His eyes rested +amorously upon her; for 'twas naught but strong, healthful youth +could predicate such reply and vouch for its assertion by such rich +colouring of cheek, such rare sparkling of eyes and such ripeness of +lips. + +She sat at the chimney-nook, her satin gown trailing at her side, +her cloak thrown over the back of the high chair. Their Graces were +engaged aside with the landlord and servants. + +"We will rest here until noon, anyway," one said, "and if they have +not arrived we will set out without them." Katherine heard and thought +'twas Constance whom they were expecting; and when a table was drawn +close to the fire and covers laid for four, there being but three to +sit down, Katherine looked askance at the vacant place; the Dukes +exchanged glances and his Grace of Buckingham turned to her quickly, +introducing himself, then Monmouth, and explained that at the last +moment Lady Constance had been prevailed upon to accompany them to +London and was expected every moment. + +Mistress Penwick had flushed at the presentation of two such noble +names, but at his following assertion, which corroborated with +Constance' own words, made her not a little jealous; for the handsome +young Monmouth had already shown his regard (God pity her innocence) +for Lady Constance by giving her a valuable ring, and now had +contrived to make her of their party that he might be constantly with +her. + +She straightway became very sober-minded, vouchsafing no remarks and +inviting none. Her pique would have given way had she but heard the +Duke's conversation a few moments previous. + +"Damme!" said young Monmouth, "I have kidnapped the wrong girl. +'Tis not my fault; thou saidst, Duke, to take any pretty girl from +Crandlemar castle, and I have captured Lady Constance, whom, I took +it, was the girl in question; and I made up my mind thou shouldst not +choose beauty for me. I shall throw her on thy shoulders to dispose +of." + +The Dukes, bent on provoking the maid to her former manner, began +witty tales of wayside inns. Their demeanour was so noble, their +stories so terse and pretty, their converse of such elegant and pure +wording, she relaxed and fell into their mood and told what few +convent stories she could boast. Their Graces were charmed by +her beauty, her sweet resonant voice and the simple and innocent +narratives, and not a little pleased by the result of their diplomacy. + + * * * * * + +When Mistress Penwick had gone from the grand salon the evening +before, Lord Cedric was not long in discovering her absence; for his +eyes and thoughts ever sought her. He had been greatly stirred by some +unknown thing, perhaps that we call premonition ('tis God's own gift, +if we would but heed its warning), but the game being well under way +and Constance calling his attention to an immediate and imperative +move, he was dissuaded from his inclination to arise and inquire of +the maid's absence. It was not for long, however, either the game or +his kinswoman's cunning could hold his Lordship from seeking her. +Quietly he beckoned a lackey and whispered aside. A few minutes +elapsed when the servant stood by his master, while beyond in the +doorway was Janet, who for once in her life was quite pale. Swiftly +Lord Cedric strode to her, saying,-- + +"Hast thou looked for her everywhere, Janet?" + +"Aye, my lord, in her own chamber and--" + +"But perhaps she has gone to the kitchens or pantries, for hunger doth +assail her not infrequent and at unusual hours." + +There was a bit of bitterness and sarcasm in his voice and he ground +his heel as he turned about to give orders. In a moment servants +were hunting in every direction throughout the castle. It was soon +ascertained she was not within the great house. Cedric grew wild with +passion and tore up and down like one gone mad. Sir Julian could not +restrain him, a thing that had not happened heretofore. Angel, his old +nurse, was called; she bade him ride forth for her. + +At this a horse was made ready, and his lordship mounted and rode +away. Sir Julian protesting all the while. + +As the clatter of horses' hoofs had fairly died away and Sir Julian +stood just where Cedric had left him, debating with his several ideas, +a soft touch was laid almost tenderly upon his arm; had it been the +soft, slimy trailing of a serpent, 'twould not have so startled +him. He turned suddenly and caught the slender hand, with no fine +affection,-- + +"I see it all quite plainly, thou art the cruel spider that hath woven +a silken mesh for that innocent child, and thou shalt tell me before +the sands of the hour-glass mark ten moments of time, where has flown +Mistress Penwick,--so speak, speak quickly, Constance!" + +His voice and manner brooked no delay, and her ladyship thinking that +even now Katherine was Cantemir's wife, spoke out with a semblance of +injured dignity that melted under Sir Julian's scathing contempt +to silly simpering. The noble character of Sir Julian seemed to +silhouette that of her ladyship in all its ugly blackness. + +"She is, I presume, by now, the Countess Cantemir--made so by an Abbe +at the monastery." + +Pomphrey was a-road; the clatter of bit and spur brought a smile to +Constance' face, and she cried forth with all the venom in her poor, +foul being: + +"Two mad fools,--both gone crazy over a convent wench, who is now my +Lady Cantemir--my cousin,--the wife of a fortune hunter!" She fled +within doors like one pursued and stopped not until she reached her +own chamber. + +Midnight approached phantom-like, and as stealthily Lady Constance +crept to the postern door. Behind her fell a shadow athwart the floor, +a shadow that was not hers but of one that moved as warily. She +listened as she held the door ajar, fearing to look back. As she +thrust the door wide, a figure from without moved toward her. + +"Who is there?" she whispered. + +"Monmouth!" was the answer; and out she stepped, well pleased to +be free from that shadow she felt was pursuing her. Her hand was +immediately taken and eager eyes sought the ring. It was hardly +visible, so dense was the shadow of the trees. + +"Come this way, Lady Penwick," came in a voice that was not that of +Monmouth's, which had sounded so much like music to her a few, short +hours before, or that had spoken the word "Monmouth" even that moment. +She, drawing back in her uncertainty, was captured by strong arms, a +hood was thrown over her head, and she was lifted and carried in hot +haste to a chaise, and helped therein without much formality. As her +escort leapt in behind her, there swept in the other door another +figure, also intent upon being accommodated by a seat in a London +equipage; and before any one was aware of a _de trop_ comrade, the +doors were shut with a bang and horses started at a gallop. Under +cover of the noise her ladyship's vizor was lifted and she, half +smothered, drew breath and stared about her in the darkness. + +"Thou didst bring thy servant with thee, Lady?" + +"Who doth dare inveigle me from the protection of my cousin, Lord +Cedric?" + +"I, my lady; a simple gentleman of his Grace of Monmouth's suite,--and +at his order." + +"Ah--" 'twas long drawn and somewhat smacked of satisfaction. "Who is +this female?" + +"Is she not thine?" + +"Nay, not mine. She doth play the hocus," said her ladyship. + +"Who art thou, then, woman; how came yonder door to pamper thy whim?" +The surprised guardsman rapped smartly upon the window, then pulling +it up leant out and asked for a torch. As there were none a-light, +he waited some moments; as he did so, there came an answer from the +figure opposite,-- + +"I am Mistress Penwick's waiting-woman." The answer was satisfactory +to the guard. + +"'Tis Janet, as I live," interrupted Lady Constance. She was not sorry +to have a companion of her own sex, and Janet would make herself +generally useful, if the ride was long and her ladyship should fall +ill, as she was certain to do. She knew also Janet's motive for +following her. She was interested in nothing but her mistress. + +As the road seemed rough and endless, Constance became anxious of her +destination and began to inquire, as if in great anger, why she +was thus taken and for what purpose. All questions being answered +perfunctorily, she relaxed into silence. At last she asked broadly,-- + +"Where are we to stop for refreshment, man; I am near dead with +fatigue?" + +"We stop at Hornby's Inn, my lady, there to meet his Grace." + +Janet sat quiet, nor did she speak again until she stood before +Mistress Penwick at the inn, where she sailed in as if nothing in the +world had happened, but inwardly she fairly wept with joy to find her +nurseling happy and unharmed. + +The rain was falling heavily as Lady Constance entered the room where +sat Katherine with the two Dukes. Dawn seemed to have gone back into +night, for 'twas so dark candles twinkled brightly and lighted up the +maiden's face as she spun a story of convent ghosts. Hate flung open +gates through her ladyship's eyes and fell a battery upon Katherine's +face. 'Twas but a thrust of a glance, but their Graces noted it as +they arose to greet her. Katherine was answering in an undertone +Janet's questions as Monmouth spoke aside to her Ladyship. Constance +was not to be delayed, even by his Grace, and she hastened to the +table and greeted Katherine as Lady Cantemir. + +"Nay, not so!" said the maid; whereupon Constance gasped, covering +her defeat by a great show of wonder and surprise. She fell to +questioning, her inquiries being overthrown by Buckingham, who +adroitly turned the conversation upon another matter. + +Monmouth was wild with delight over the prize he had captured, and +as they sat at meat he was pondering upon where he should hide the +beauty, for he feared his father's predilections, and 'twas sure he +would not run the risk of any such mischance and he tossed about in +his mind the advisability of taking her to London. As these thoughts +crowded upon him he grew grave and frowned. Constance, feeling her +disappointment most keenly, saw the tangle upon the Duke's brow. It +arrested the quick pulsing of her own discontent and turned her mind +into a channel of evil even more treacherous than any ideas that +had assailed her heretofore. It meant, in case of defeat, her own +downfall. She would barter, if need be, her own soul away. Of such +character were her ladyship's ambitions. She was impatient for the +final bout that was to settle all things. + +Even the haughty Duke of Buckingham was moved by Mistress Penwick's +youth, beauty and innocence. And yet he thought 'twas pitiful she +should go unclaimed by Court. Her secret must be had at whatever cost, +and seeing the maid was neither dismayed nor at loss by being thrown +with the king's son and the famous Buckingham, 'twas certain nothing +less than extreme measures would draw from her her secret. Whether +these measures were foul or fair was not of much consequence to him. +If the maid was to favour any, he would withdraw, giving place to +Monmouth, providing of course 'twas in his power to do so. And that +'twould be his power he did not doubt. + +Mistress Penwick saw Monmouth's frown also, and looked up at him +smiling and asked,-- + +"Thou must not ponder upon ghosts.--When do we journey, your Grace?" + +"When thou art well rested and say the word." His face broke into +sunshine and the maid could not fail to see the admiration that fell +upon her from his Grace's eyes. She flushed rose red. He caught her +hand as they arose from table, and pressed it warmly, and with a +tenderness that was apparent to Buckingham and Constance. Should he +press his suit upon her now or wait? He thought best to wait, as Janet +quickly came to her mistress at a motion of the hand that the Duke +reluctantly released. He allowed her to pass to her chamber without +his escort. Constance passed unnoticed by him from the room, and being +well-worn by her long ride, also went above stair, where she tumbled +upon her bed in tears, most unlike Katherine who was rubbed and +swathed in blankets by the faithful Janet. + + * * * * * + +Sir Julian Pomphrey had sent to the castle and procured conveyance and +Ellswold's physicians for the young lord, who lay very white and weak +at the monastery. Owing to his serious wound, they had moved very +slowly, reaching home near three o'clock in the morning. The Duchess +was greatly shocked by Cedric's condition and most indignant with +Mistress Penwick and Constance. + +The matter was blown about by servants, and before the dismal rainy +day was ended, all Crandlemar knew of the goings-on at the castle +and were greatly stirred that their lord had been so used by the +Catholics. 'Twas inflammable matter that meant the possible uprising +in arms of the whole village. It was said the Protestants were +aggrieved that Lord Cedric had thus long allowed the monks freehold, +and now that he was helpless they would take it upon themselves to +drive them away at the point of the sword and see if, by so doing, +greater fortune would not fall to them, for such bravery would +certainly bring them to their lord's notice and mayhap he would build +up many of his houses and do better by them than heretofore. + +Over the ale mugs at the village inn 'twas whispered by the landlord +that the day before two men, wearing masques, had left the place +together, one bearing under his saddle-bag a monk's robe; and a +crucifix had fallen from his pocket as he mounted. + +The men grew more and more excited and fell to pledging themselves to +clean out the ancient monastery before another day should close. + +A pale young man in fashionable attire sat apart, drinking deep and +listening with satisfaction to the village swains and their elders' +talk; his eye in imagination upon the dark passage in the monastery +that hid the trapdoor and--no doubt the treasures of the cloister that +lay beneath. + +'Twas Cantemir; he had escaped unharmed from the clutches of +Buckingham and Monmouth. The former had caught him hastening from the +monastery and seizing compelled him to give the information he sought +and to give up all papers on his person; which he did cheerfully. +Finding him a cowardly knave, the Duke flung him from him with +disgust. Buckingham had heard, to be sure, that the maid they sought +was a hostage; but whether this was true, or would lead to matters of +more consequence, he had yet to learn. + +Buckingham, after a few hours' sleep, left Hornby's Inn, returning +to the village of Crandlemar. He wore no masque this time and boldly +entered the inn to refresh himself and prepare for a visit to the +castle. He took little heed of the slender young man who now lay, very +much drunken, upon a long bench; but ordered the best wine and sat +down before a table that was already accommodating some half-dozen +men. He appeared not to hear their excited whispers, and feigned +preoccupation until he was quite sure his manner had been noted, then +as if modesty held him, he spoke,-- + +"Is there not in these parts a monastery upon the estates of the +noble Lord Cedric of Crandlemar?" He hardly raised his eyes, so +indifferently did he put the question. + +"There is, sir," one said. + +"Then where hath flown my lord's religion?" + +This struck consternation upon the group; for 'twas certain they +loved their patron's good name, even though he did forget their +importunities, and this sudden thrust struck home. One whispered +aside,-- + +"Perhaps 'tis one come to spy upon our lord's intentions and take him +to the Tower." At this one honest, brave man arose and leant with +rustic grace across the table toward the stranger and said,-- + +"His lordship lies ill yonder," pointing over his shoulder toward the +castle, "and we loyal subjects to his Majesty, claim the right to +drive from Protestant soil the shackles of Catholic freeholds, +and 'tis our intention to come upon them--what say you, fellows, +to-night?" + +"Aye, aye!" rang from nearly a score of tongues. + +"'Tis well," said the cavalier, "for to-morrow might have been too +late." + +"What might that mean, sir?" + +"It means that Catholic lands and holds are sometimes confiscated and +in some cases the boundary lines are not known, and some good King +might send some noble lord to the Tower to search for the required +limitations of his demesne." + +Every man's hand sought a weapon and eye met eye in mutual concourse. + +"To-night, then, to-night we'll put to rout the enemy!" they cried. + +The cavalier, pleased with the reception of his hint, asked for his +horse. + +He arrived at the castle to be most cordially received by the Duchess +and Sir Julian. If Buckingham was ever unbending, it was to Sir +Julian. + +As they met, Buckingham bent lower than his wont to hide a guilt that +was not perceptible to any one else but Julian, and the latter was not +slow to note it. The Duchess, not knowing who had carried off either +Constance or Mistress Penwick, was very free in her conversation and +spoke at once of Lord Cedric's injury and of the naughty beauty that +had driven him to it. Buckingham's countenance was changed by the +assumed expression of either surprise or regret, as was necessary and +suited. + +Upon his arrival he was not allowed to see either the Duke or Cedric, +and as his business called for a speedy return to London, he must +leave early after supper, adding that he regretted the importunity +of the hour, as it detained the king's business with his Grace of +Ellswold. + +This of course changed the physicians' minds, and Buckingham was +allowed to have converse with the Duke and finished that he came to do +at the castle. + +But Sir Julian had somewhat to say, and ordered his horse to accompany +the Duke on his return journey. + +This was not unlooked for, and Buckingham, fearing no _imbroglio_, +intended to hasten Sir Julian's speech, as there was no time to spare. +They started forth 'neath the dripping trees. + +"Where is Mistress Penwick, George?" + +"With her nurse, Julian." + +"And where the nurse?" + +"At Hornby's." + +"Where is Monmouth's place of hiding her?" + +"That is more, I dare say, Julian, than he knows himself." + +"How long will they remain at the inn?" + +"Until I return." + +"Then--?" + +"Then, London way is my desire, and I doubt not 'tis Monmouth's also." + +"Dost love me, Duke?" + +"Aye, as always. What is thy desire?" + +"Canst thou keep the maid safe for thirty-six hours?" For a moment +there was no answer; then calmly and cold came the word "No." + +"By God! is it so bad that you, you George, cannot take care of her?" + +"'Tis the worst of all!" + +"Is she safe then now--now?" + +"If the eye of the nurse doth not perjure its owner, I would say she +was safe for all time." + +"Good--" + +"But, Pomphrey, one would wonder at thy devotion to Cedric?" + +"I loved him, first." + +"That does not say thou lovest thy second love better, eh?" + +"By heaven, I love her, there--thou hast it." Buckingham gave vent to +his natural inclination and laughed boldly. + +"Then, follow her. We may presume she will be safe kept 'til London +gives her rest and wine and finds a locker for her nurse." + +"Then my errand is finished. I will bid thee _adieu_." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE + + +Buckingham, returning to the village, where his escort met him, then +went to a small unused cabin in the thick woods beyond. Here he +changed his attire, making ready for a quick journey and one fraught +with some adventure. + +As he donned his clothes, ever and anon he paused to hear the low +murmuring of voices that came up from the village. 'Twas evident the +mob was gathering. + +An hour he waited impatiently, when his servant entered, saying that +the mob had started and were hurrying along the high-road at great +speed. + +The Duke mounted and rode after them, quite far enough in the rear +for them not to hear his horse's step or see as he passed where some +cottage light fell aslant the road. + +By the time they came in sight of the monastery, he was exasperated +beyond measure to be so held behind and was in no mood to wait the +mob's leisure. He leapt from his horse and threw rein to his man. + +No light was to be seen. It appeared the monks had either deserted +their dwelling or fortified it by fastening with boards the windows +and doors. The latter was the case. The besiegers with all sorts of +sticks, stones and bludgeons began at once to bombard the building +that stood dark and seemingly impregnable. Buckingham stood some +distance from them, as if indeed he were of different mould and could +not mingle with their steaming, smoking, foul-smelling bodies, that +reeked of gin and poor tobacco. He waited only for an entrance to be +made, that he might pass in without the labour of making an opening +for himself. Indeed, his arm, unused to such rough strength, would +become unfit to handle the sword of a gentleman. + +He was leant upon one knee behind a strip of iris that bordered a +forest path, when suddenly he heard the crash of glass and heard a +triumphant yell from the mob. He sprang from his hiding and crept +toward the place. A window had been broken in and the fight had +already begun. The monks were well equipped for battle with weapon, +strength and stout hearts and a good stone wall for shelter, but their +numbers were weak. + +The siege was destined to be a long and bloody one, unless the +ponderous door could be broken, for the mob could not enter fast +enough through the small casement. Should this be done, it was evident +the monks would be obliged to either take flight, surrender or be +foully murdered. + +Buckingham could not enter the window without taking part in the +fight, and mayhap run a great risk to his person. + +He was not long in discovering, however, that the doorway was being +bombarded successfully, and soon the massive door must succumb. + +At last there was a thundering crash, and broken oak panels flew +through the air. + +The men rushed in. Buckingham in a moment was in their midst and +fighting his way through them. He flung himself aside and escaped the +fighting mass by a small door that led him to a passage, where he +regained his breath and looked out for his bearings. + +He found his way through many winding passages to the panel. This he +opened and quickly strode through to the trapdoor, which stood agape. +From beneath came the sound of voices. He knelt and looked down. There +was no light to guide him. Cautiously he descended the ladder, finding +his way warily toward the place where he had seen the chest and whence +now came the voices. One was saying: + +"It's gone, the damn knaves have secreted it; we must have a light, +Anson, or the horde above stair will be upon us, and all the fires of +hell could hardly show us out of this dungeon." Whereupon the flint +was struck and the forms of three men were dimly outlined. + +They began running about nervously in different directions to find the +chest; his Grace keeping from view by following in their shadow. Back +they went again to the spot where it had stood, and as the light +fell full in their faces Buckingham recognized the pale, chiselled +countenance of Cantemir. There were two servants with him, which, +judging from their eagerness, evidently expected perquisites. + +The sound above stairs was growing more and more noisome, as if the +monks were being pressed back in the direction of the secret passage. +'Twas evident the Abbes intended this move; for unless there was +egress 'twould be a veritable slaughter hole and from the first they +had kept together, preferring the direction of retreat. + +Suddenly one of the men in front of Buckingham leant down and traced +with his finger on the dusty stone,-- + +"They have moved it in this direction, and there is no mistaking it," +and he pointed from the ladder. + +They followed the direction, holding the light low, and came at once +upon what appeared to be a solid stone wall. Inadvertently the man +bearing the lighted taper rested his arm for a moment against the +stones. Instantly a blaze flared up and showed a very cleverly +concocted wall. A canvas had been padded in shape of unhewn stone and +painted in imitation; the oil in the paint had ignited and despoiled +the illusion. + +The blaze was quenched in a moment, the canvas door pried open and the +three men passed beyond, carefully closing the door behind them. + +Buckingham was close upon them. + +They fled rapidly along, Cantemir following his servants and ever +glancing behind with eyes staring with fear. + +Buckingham was not to be caught by fear-staring eyes and kept well in +shadow. + +The passage was narrow with many windings and appeared to be +interminable. + +The men began to run, which was very incautious under the +circumstances, for in a moment they were precipitated into a small +chamber occupied by two stalwart monks. The latter had barely time to +throw themselves upon the defensive ere they were attacked. + +Cantemir had the advantage, as the monks were encumbered with their +long robes. + +Then ensued a short fight, in which Cantemir's men won the day--he +remaining well in the background. + +One of the servants was wounded and lay helpless upon the floor, his +head falling against some object that held him in a semi-upright +posture. Cantemir turned with the torch he had taken from the floor, +and looked about him, stumbling over the prostrate bodies of the monks +as they lay wounded. Noting his injured servant's position, he ran to +him, and seeing the thing upon which his head rested, kicked his body +from the chest, as if the fellow had been his enemy's dog, instead of +his own serving man. + +With a cudgel he and his comrade opened the chest, after first finding +it too heavy to carry at speed and for an indefinite distance. + +Cantemir's eyes waxed big with greed and delight, as he looked +within. He spread out his long fingers, as if to grasp all the chest +contained. + +"These small caskets must be filled with jewels. Anson, fasten the +torch somehow and put these in the bags. Here are some rare laces, +looted from some dead Croesus, I warrant,--put those in too;--those +infernal papers--they can be of no consequence--" + +"Then I will take them, my lord," said the servant. Cantemir eyed him +with no fondness and slipped the papers within his own bag. + +Buckingham, watching them from his little cove in the rocks, caught a +sound that made him start. It was very distant and indistinct, yet he +was quite certain some one was coming, and without further delay he +cried out and drew his sword upon the man nearest him, which happened +to be Anson. + +The fellow used his sword fairly, but no match for his adversary. + +Buckingham run him through before the Russian had regained his +presence of mind. + +As the unfortunate Anson fell, the Duke turned to Cantemir, who was +separated from him by two prone figures and the chest. The Count held +the advantage and meant to use it by springing ahead into the opening. +There was no opportunity for Buckingham to either reach him or head +him off. Cantemir had caught up the filled bags and was smiling +insolently across at him. Buckingham was exasperated, not by the +fellow's triumph, but at his own helplessness to cut him off. But +there was no time to be lost; those other sounds were growing nearer. + +The Duke made a bound toward the opening. Cantemir, with an exultant +laugh, sprung also toward the opening, but his laugh was turned into +a yell of fear, as his leg was caught in a death-like grip by the +servant he had kicked from the chest. + +In an instant Buckingham was upon him and binding his arms tight +behind; the poor, cowardly knave begging at every breath for his life. +He was completely undone with fright, his heart melted and his knees +bent. + +"And would it not be thy meed to run thee through also, for serving +thy wounded knave with a kick? 'twas inhuman--by God! 'tis a pity it +takes a man with a soul to suffer the tortures of hell, for thou wilt +never get thy deserts!" He looked down and saw the poor servant's eyes +raised to his pleadingly. The Duke drew from his pocket a flask of +wine and gave it to him; then gathered the bags that lay filled by the +chest and hurriedly looked at their contents. As he did so the wounded +knave feebly raised his voice,-- + +"I will be killed if I am found here." + +"Nay, a gentleman--" and he cast a scornful glance at +Cantemir,--"would not kick thee when thou art down; say nothing of +our most noble fathers putting to flight what small life thou hast in +thee. What is thy name?" + +"Christopher," came in weakened tones from his pallid lips. + +In another moment the Duke was gone with his looted treasures. + +He flew along at a most undignified gait, bearing his pack as a +labourer. His shoulders, unused to such burden, grew tired. He +began to wonder if the passage would never end. He was growing more +exhausted than he cared to own, and beside, he apprehended he was +pursued. + +At last he felt almost compelled to leave one of the bags behind, and +stopped to think which, one he should leave. Yet he was a-mind to +carry them all if he broke his back; and beside, it was so dark he was +unable to tell which was the more important. + +As he stood undecided he heard distinctly the fast approach of +footsteps. He gathered his strength and bags and flung along, somewhat +refreshed by the change of burdens. As he made a turn, the fresh +outside air blew upon him. He grew cautious and moved more slowly, +listening now in both directions. He might not be overtaken, but some +one might be at the opening of the passage. There was no light or +sound beyond, and soon he stood in the deep darkness of the outer +night 'neath dripping trees. Warily he stepped, lest some cracking +twig exposed his presence. + +He ascertained his surrounding was a thicket, and was about to make +his way into its labyrinthine density, step by step; for the way +was difficult, when there was a tramping of horses' hoofs upon the +rain-soaked road that appeared to be in close proximity. + +Under cover of the noise he swept hastily and boldly through the +briery bushes that were thickly entangled, and was able to make +considerable headway whence he had come, when the noise ceased and a +peculiar whistle rang out; then there were a few moments of quiet, as +if those who signalled were listening for an answer. + +There appeared to be a chaise with several outriders, as Buckingham +thought, by the tramp of horses' feet, and a creaking of wheels +pulling heavily along. + +As he gazed anxiously in their direction, a torch was suddenly set +a-glow and a horseman rode up with it to the mouth of the subterranean +passage. He leant from his steed and examined the ground closely, +noting doubtless the footprints that led away from the road and +directly to the place where the Duke stood. He turned abruptly back to +the group upon the highway and conversed in low tones. + +Buckingham was not a little perturbed, for a horseman could with less +trouble than it takes to tell it, track and overtake him in a moment's +time. He fain would have a few minutes to ease his burden, but his +peril was great. There was no doubt but what these men were monks, +come to assist their fellows with the chest and convey them to a place +of safety. + +Indeed, the secret of the chest must be royal, but whether in jewels +or papers he did not know, nor was it the time and place to find out. +If he only knew in which pack was the bone of contention he would +certainly lighten his burden. + +Again he lifted the bags and strode on lightly, for he still could be +heard to the highway, if one should listen. + +He had not gone far, however, when there was a shout from the +subterranean opening and much confusion following upon it. + +The Duke was now thoroughly aroused. Doubtless the monks within the +passage had at that moment arrived at its mouth, there to make known +to their comrades the robbery of the chest's contents. They were in +pursuit; he could hear the bushes crackling beneath horses' feet. +Never before had the wily Duke felt so hard pressed. He could afford +to be taken himself, for he was sure of a release sooner or later; +but his whole being revolted at the idea of losing the riches of his +burden and above all--the secret, the secret that would make his +fortunes thribble, the secret that would make him more powerful than +heretofore. The King's favour would be boundless. And George Villiers +turned abruptly and--fell into a swollen ravine that was throbbing +with its over-filled sides. He straightened himself to his full height +and thanked God for the stream, for truly 'twas life-giving water. + +He waded in and found it hardly came to his waist in the deepest part. +After crossing to its farthest bank, he kept the watery path for +nearly a league, thereby throwing his pursuers effectually off the +trail. But where his course trended, 'twas impossible to tell, as +there was no moon, and the stars were veiled by thick cloud that +vomited forth rain in gusts. + +The leather bags were very near rain-soaked and had become so heavy +'twas impossible for anything less than a beast of burden to carry +them further, so leaving the friendly stream, he walked some little +distance from it, gaining to his surprise an open road. This was not +what he wished, and was turning from it when he stumbled and fell +prone. Being hot with anger and fatigue, he reached for the obstacle +that had so unmanned him to damn it. 'Twas a large, round knot. It +struck his memory, as he held it, with a thought of the morning +before. + +"_Eureka_!" he cried, as he felt the very presence of the tall tree by +the public highway that led from Crandlemar, London way. He arose and +reached for the aperture. + +"Egad, 'tis there!" + +Fortunately the royal tree was not far from the unused cabin that had +afforded him accommodation some hours before. He immediately sat down +upon the bags and rested. + +There passed him several horsemen and a chaise; whether they were his +whilom companions of the thicket or not he did not care. It was +sure they were in haste to leave the village as far behind them as +possible. + +When the sound of the horses' hoofs had died away, he again donned his +leathery burden and made for the depths behind him. + +He was not long in reaching the _rendezvous_, and was met by his +anxious servant, who had but just arrived from seeking him. + +The exhausted Duke gave orders for one hour's rest, then fell upon a +pile of blankets that were spread upon the damp and open floor. + +An hour later saw the Duke astride his horse, that stood with flaring +nostrils, caring not a whit for his extra burden of saddle-bags and +flew along the wet road, regardless. + +Hours after his master jumped from his back at Hornby's. + +The morning was far advanced and Mistress Penwick was fretting under +the delay. + +Monmouth had plead that the weather was too wet and Lady Constance was +too ill to proceed until the following day. + +The maid had demurred, saying Janet might remain with her ladyship; +but Monmouth was not quite at liberty to take Katherine without first +seeing Buckingham, whom he thought should have arrived early in the +morning. + +As Buckingham came into the great room of the inn, Katherine proposed +they set out at once, as she would reach Whitehall, if possible, +before Sunday. + +It was not the Duke's wish to proceed further without resting himself +and horse; but being anxious to please Mistress Penwick, he said +'twould be his pleasure to start at her convenience; whereupon she +relaxed her ardour, finding no opposition, and asked him if he thought +the weather would permit. He answered that the weather must permit, +and that they could easily reach their destination without killing +more than three relays. + +"Nay, nay, your Grace, if one horse only were to die, I would not +permit such hurry!" + +Suffice it; the Duke had his rest, and being of no mind to remain +longer, at five o'clock in a gale of wind and rain set forth. + +They had but common post-chaises as any squire would have, as these +travelled about without drawing the attention that a London coach +would. They rattled and slid along at their own convenience on the +muddy road, and the postilion were soon reeking with mire thrown from +the horses' feet. + +For five hours the chaise jostled Constance, until she declared she +would go no farther. Buckingham, who rode with his secret in the +chaise that followed, said if they stopped to rest over night, they +could not reach Whitehall before the King should leave. + +This was a ruse planned by himself and Monmouth, as the latter had +settled where he should take Katherine, and the former, not having had +time to examine the contents of the bags, was loath she should see the +King ere he had done so. + +Katherine, seeing that Constance' lips were blue and her face pale, +and forgetting her ladyship's evil ways, agreed they should stop at +the first inn and there lie until the next morning; Janet having +declared privately to her mistress that she should not waste any time +with her ladyship. + +Though the night was black and the road uncertain, yet they maintained +a fair pace over the open downs, having left the shadowy trees behind; +but there were no lights ahead and the prospects of getting shelter +for the night were dubitable. + +Constance became more and more impatient, pulling up the window every +few minutes to inquire if any lights were to be seen, each time +letting in a shower of rain that deluged her dress. This dampness was +soon felt by her ladyship, whose temper could hardly keep her warm, +and she called for blankets. There were none. At this knowledge she +grew worse, and cried that she was in a chill and must have aid from +somewhere. + +For a truth, her teeth were chattering and her hands were cold, but +it was nothing but mimosis brought on by the evil caldron that boiled +within her wicked body. She had heard Buckingham tell Katherine that +the King would be gone from Whitehall if they were delayed. Her plans +were now made, and this sudden illness was a ruse to detain the maid. +No, she must not see the King. She must now, first of all, become +Monmouth's mistress, then Cedric in his wild despair would turn again +to her; his playfellow, his old love, Constance. + +Whether the postilion were in their master's confidence or not is not +certain, but just before midnight they plunged into a narrow, miry +road that traversed wastes and low coppices; the plash of the horses' +feet showed the tract to be marshy and full of pools. Her ladyship +looked out across the dreary fen and exclaimed,-- + +"I'll be damned, they have set us out like ducks!" At her words +Katherine drew from her with disgust. It was the first she had heard +her swear; but she had not yet seen her true nature. + +On a sudden the chaise made a lunge and stopped in a deep rut. Some +one plodded laboriously to the door and thrust in a rain-soaked +visage, saying,-- + +"Their Graces beg your patience, as we cannot move until help comes. +There is a light ahead, and we hope to get on directly." + +It was hours, however, before the lumbering equipages were pried out +and started on. The light beyond had paled as dawn broke. They were +once more upon the causeway, and the horses' feet beating with loud +and even step upon the wet road. + +Constance had calmed, and with the other occupants slept through the +long delay. Nor did she wake until they had entered a thick wood where +the branches of the trees swept tumultuously against the window. Then +she opened her eyes with a start and saw Katherine still sleeping, +her head pillowed on Janet's bosom. Her limbs were stiff from their +cramped position. Vainly she essayed to stretch, and cried out as a +rheumatic pain took her. She swore roundly and vowed she would alight +at the first hut they should come upon. + +It seemed hours before they came to a long, low stone building, +evidently an old-time lodge. It was covered with ivy that trembled and +glistened in the wind and rain. + +The chaises stopped at the door, which was thrown open by an outrider +who knocked up the locker with his whip handle. + +The opening disclosed great, high-backed pews and an altar and pulpit. +It was indeed a place of refuge to the weary travellers. It was dry +and clean and afforded rest. Katherine stepped inside first, and +immediately knelt and crossed herself. Monmouth did the same, knowing +that the maid's eyes were upon him. + +They took seats not far from the altar and settled themselves +comfortably; for the servants had gone to find food and fresh horses. + +Katherine was stirred by the sacredness of the day and place, and +took little part in the conversation that was becoming more and more +animated, as the Dukes and Constance drank heavily of wine brought +from Monmouth's box in the chaise. And when meat, bread and cheese +were brought and more wine was drank, her ladyship became maudlin and +cast her eye about for diversion. + +It fell upon the pulpit, and she tripped up to it, passing over the +sacred altar in vulgar _insouciance_. + +It pained Katherine to see the place so lightly esteemed, and she gave +a little cry of "Oh!" as Constance threw open the Bible and began to +preach in mockery of the Methody parson. + +Buckingham's face was as stolid as Janet's; Monmouth's bearing a smile +that was bastard of mirth. + +Hardly was her ladyship started, when a tall form, strong boned and +sinewy, strode through the open door. His ruddy face disclosed what +appeared to be a stern and rough temper. His forehead was high; his +nose well set over a mouth moderately large. His habit was plain and +modest. The rain dripped from his red hair and the bit of mustachio +that he wore on his upper lip. His quick, sharp eye noted the men and +women that sat apart, and then turned like a flash upon the woman in +the pulpit. + +As Constance saw the man full in the face, there was a bathos in her +zeal, and she stopped, open-mouthed, and closed the book. + +Neither Buckingham nor Monmouth could see the countenance of him that +entered, so they held quiet and wondered at her ladyship's behaviour. +Katherine had bent her head upon the back of the seat. + +The tall man proceeded up the aisle, his eyes upon the titled woman +whose face was now covered with a genuine blush. For the first time in +her life she felt ashamed. She felt a presence near her that was not +altogether of this earth's mould. + +At last regaining a semblance of her usual _aplomb_, she stepped from +the pulpit and made toward the door, where others were entering. She +looked back when half-way down the aisle and beckoned to the others of +her party to follow. As she did so, there came from the pulpit a voice +so rich and sweet, so penetrating the soul, the woman trembled and +listened. + +It was the "Kyrie Eleison" sung in a new tune with clear, strong +English words, and they rung and rung in Constance' ears, as they +continued to do for the rest of her days. + +"He is a Ranter. Let us stay and hear him?" Monmouth said. + +"Nay," said Katherine; "I am without covering for my head. Let's +begone, the meeting is gathering. What a glory is in his countenance, +and his voice is like music!" + +"The lack of a bonnet need not hinder. Thou art a lady and +privileged." + +"Nay, nay. I would know who he is?" Monmouth plucked the sleeve of +a passer-by and inquired. The man answered with a question put in a +whisper,-- + +"Hast never read 'Pilgrim's Progress'?" The Duke threw back a glance +at the form in the pulpit, then strode forward and jumped into the +chaise. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL CONCERNED + + +The house stood surrounded by a beautiful lawn that sloped gradually +to the river. Trees in full leaf and woody perennial plants in full +blossom, dotted the sward. The long, low stone building was covered +with vines that hung in rich purple bloom. All was quiet, refined, +subdued--without pomp. Not so was the chief inmate of this charming +abode. She stood gowned in filmy white, waiting for Janet to spread +her repast, but the nurse moved at leisure, resolving to give the maid +meat for thought, as she did for the body. She said: + +"When a maid is without father or mother, and away from her rightful +guardians, and has presented her such frocks as thou dost wear, 'tis +the maid's duty to find out whence such gorgeous and unmonastic +apparel comes." + +"But, Janet, I do know. The Abbes have made provision for me. They +bade me leave the castle without incumbrance, and the chest was sent +for my necessity. I mean to pay it all back when I return--or when I +send to Lord Cedric." + +"And when will that be, Lambkin?" + +"When the King gives me audience." + +"And thou art expecting the Duke of Monmouth to bring the word from +Whitehall?" + +"He said 'twas his pleasure so to do." + +"Now God pity me this day; I would I had never seen it!" + +"Why wearest thou so sorry a face, Janet?" + +"For thy too fat zeal. Is it not enough to make an ingrowing visage?" + +"How so?" said Katherine in feigned _insouciance_. + +"A surfeit of good, like a too-full cup, boils over and falls to ill." + +"Then, Janet, surfeit sin 'til it bubbles up, runs over,--perhaps a +better cup to fill." + +"Alack, alas, for youth's philosophy!" + +"At what art thou driving, nurse; thou canst neither affect +Shakespeare nor the Bible!" + +"Have I not always loved thee, Lambkin; search thy memory; did I ever +tell thee lies or use the veil of falsehood to cover from thee that +which I would not have thee know?" + +"Nay; but thou hast used artifice 'til it is threadbare, and I now +behold its naked warp." + +"But hast well served, thou canst not deny. It has made thee the sweet +innocent bud thou art, and we will enshrine its shade, though it hath +no soul to join it hereafter, and I will resort to vulgar frankness, +employed by the truculent commonplace, and say we live in an age of +swaggering, badgering, immoral-begotten, vice-ridden, irreligious +decrepitude--" Katherine made a hissing noise with her teeth, as if +she had been suddenly and severely pricked by a pin, then put up her +hands and stopped her ears--this day, Mistress Penwick thou shalt know +the character of thy King--Nay, thou shalt know. I will tell thee that +'twill poison thy mind of one of so great station--" + +"Wouldst thou assail his morals, Janet?" + +"'Tis impossible to assail that a man hath not." + +"Then 'twould be a field for sweet mission to teach him morals." + +"And wouldst thou delegate thyself to such an office?" + +"Aye, why not?" + +"Because he would steal thy knowledge ere thou hadst found his heart, +and thou wouldst find thyself insolvent of virtue." + +"Thou hast overreached artifice, Janet, and gone back to Bible days +and corrupted them by borrowing parabolic speech to waste upon +deaf-eared seventeenth century maid." + +"Ah, Lambkin; with closed ears thou dost not becalm sight and wit, +they cease not to fructify under suasion of childhood impregnations. +I fear not for thee, if thou art forewarned. If thou art taken to the +King, he will straightway be enamoured of thy beauteous face and will +wish to have thee near him, and because he is of so great a title, he +will expect to mould thee to his desires, whether 'tis thy will or +not. He may perhaps overawe thee, and thou wilt feel flattered by his +approaches, which will seem sincere to thy untutored perceptions. +'Twill be thy first meeting with a King. There is one thing most sure, +thou wilt not think him handsome; he has not the rich colouring that +so marks Lord Cedric's face, nor yet the clearness of countenance. The +King is most swarthy, gross featured and unfitted to thy fancy. +And how wouldst thou like such to approach thee and fondle thy +hand--perhaps imprint thy cheek with a caress, or his long fingers to +go a foraging on thy slender neck?" + +"Nay, nay, Janet; I should most surely hate such an one. I am sure I +should hate! hate!" + +"But 'tis surely to what thou art coming." + +"But, Janet, the Duke of Monmouth is the King's son, and his Grace of +Buckingham his friend; and with these two at my side, what harm could +come to me?" + +"Should the King propose to keep thee with him, could they lie like +slaves or dogs across thy threshold in the dead hours of night to keep +unwelcome visitors from thy door?" Katherine's eyes appeared on a +sudden to open wide upon a thing she had not dreamed of before. + +"Indeed, Janet, I think I see the trend of thy parables. He is then +debauched and given to entering rooms not his own at any hour he +chooses. I will be most careful and avoid spending the night." + +"But he may insist on thy presence, and no one dare gainsay the Royal +will." + +"I am for the time of his dominion, but we can claim at any moment +King Louis' protection, and therefore I may defy him if I wish?" + +"'Twill be like jumping from the river into the sea. I understand, +Lambkin, thou art bent upon paying well for thy popish idolatry. If +his Majesty sets black eyes on thee, thou art undone. If thou art +determined to go, we must have some way to prevent his falling in love +with thee. Thou wilt be willing to do this for me and--thyself, Love?" + +"Then I might not become that I so much wish--a Lady of Honour!" + +"That phrase, my Lambkin, is paradoxical--'Lady of Honour.'" + +"Janet, thou dost turn all sweets to bitterness!--Then I will mottle +my face and wear a hump and be spurned outright. 'Twill ill serve me. +'Twill not accord a safe issue." + +"Thou must not forget the King hath a tender heart for distress, and +now I think on it, 'tis possible, if thou didst so disfigure thyself, +thou wouldst gain his reply the quicker. We will mottle thy face with +leprous spots and cover thee with old woman's clothes, placing a hump +upon thy shoulder. And no one shall be privy to our scheme but his +Grace, and my lord of Buckingham, if they are to attend us." Janet +felt satisfied with the turn affairs had taken. + +"I think I shall enjoy it hugely. 'Twill be fine sport to so puzzle +the King, and when he sees me as I am--" and Mistress Penwick turned +proudly to a mirror--"he will be pleased!" + +"We will not think of that now, Lambkin. When dost thou expect her +ladyship?" + +"She did not say, but I think perchance she will come before the Duke +of Monmouth returns." + +"And he will not come before the morrow, didst thou say?" + +"When I demurred at not going straight to his Majesty, he said 'twould +be meet for me to remain here until he should first see him; then +he should return in a day. Those were his words, Miss Wadham, +_verbatim_,--now thou dost know everything I do, but--the church +secret; and if thou wert not insolvent for ways and means, thou +wouldst have had that." With a sudden step, the maid flung her arms +about Janet, who ever felt hurt when called Miss Wadham. + +Katherine sat to her evening meal with many flutterings of pleasure in +her young and guileless heart. Her first thought was of Cedric. He was +going to live and doubtless would follow her as soon as he was able, +and she would again see his handsome features and hear him admonish +her with a tenderness she was sure he would show after being so +frightened by her absence. It did not come to her that she should be +in sackcloth and ashes for causing him such woeful pain and misery. +She only tried to remember how he looked, as many a love-sick maiden +hath done heretofore. She pictured the rich colouring of his cheeks +and how his dark eyes had looked into hers; and she remembered how +once he had thus beheld her, his glance sweeping her face, then he had +taken her hand and pressed his lips to it passionately. Her face grew +rose red and she trembled with ecstasy. She, so perfect in mould +and health, was capable of extravagant and overpowering emotion; a +rapturous exaltation that filled her and took possession of her whole +being. She tried to turn her thoughts to Sir Julian, and wondered +vaguely why he had not come to London. He had intended leaving the +castle before this; and why had he not found her? He might know she +would like to inquire of those at home,--the Duke of Ellswold and the +others that were ill. The thought seemed to grow upon her, and she +wondered more and more why no one had been sent after her, and how +very welcome Sir Julian would be. Could it be that Lord Cedric was too +ill for him to leave? + +The Dukes had fairly left Constance and Katherine at the very door of +this villa belonging to one of Monmouth's friends, and proceeded at +once to Whitehall, where they needs must report of their visit to the +Duke of Ellswold. The King detained them near his person, much to +the annoyance of Buckingham and serious discomfort to Monmouth. The +latter, so anxious for the companionship of Mistress Penwick, could +not help but show his uneasiness and hurry to withdraw, which made his +Majesty still more obstinate. + +Two days Katherine had been thus alone at the villa, little knowing +the idea of bringing her cause to the King's notice was the most +foreign to either Buckingham or Monmouth, the latter wishing to +promote his own cause with her until she should become satisfied to +remain at his side, without seeking further Court favour. The former +gentleman had among his looted treasures certain papers that made +necessary, for his own personal aggrandizement, the strict seclusion +of Mistress Penwick. + +Lady Constance had been so thwarted--her mode of battle proving so +abortive--she resolved to fight as things came in her way, without +method or forethought. There was only one settled arrangement; that +was the full and complete destruction of this woman that had come +between her and Cedric. She had gone, after a few hours of rest at the +villa, to the mercer's for silks and velvets and furbelows to array +herself for conquest and take--now that she had fair hold on Royalty +itself--some masculine heart; if not the heart, the hand without it; +if not Cedric's, be it whose it might, so it were titled and rich. She +also sought Cantemir and news from Crandlemar. + +As she stood at the polished counter in the mercer's shop, she glanced +without and saw--or thought as much--Lord Cedric himself, pale, yet +stepping in full strength from a chair. She quitted the counter and +hastened to the entrance and looked up and down the busy street with +longing eyes. But there was no sign of my lord's handsome figure. +After securing her purchase, she repaired at once to Lord Taunton's--a +kinsman of Cedric's--'twas possible he would be stopping there. But he +was not. + +She rode from place to place, hoping at every turn to see him; but to +her chagrin she found him not, even at a certain inn in Covent Garden, +where he had been wont to stay. She drove in her cream-hued coach to +the Mall, but he was not to be found. + +Her first act after reaching London had been to dispatch a letter +posthaste to the castle, telling of her abduction by the Duke of +Monmouth, who, she believed was determined to bring herself and +Mistress Penwick to the King's notice, as he avowed Court was not +Court without such faces. She, being so widely known and so well +connected, had been allowed her freedom, on condition that she +returned promptly and keep their hiding place a secret. Then came that +she felt would touch Cedric. + +"I overheard some converse about your Lordship, a hint that some knave +gave thee a slight wound. Now, if this be true, if thou art hurt at +all--which I cannot allow myself to think--tell me, tell me, Cedric, +and I will fly from Court and all the world to thee, my sweet cousin, +my playfellow, my beloved friend, now." + +This letter fortunately did not reach Cedric in time to give him a +relapse, as he was on his way to London when the courier arrived at +the castle. + +He had drawn rein at Tabard Inn, Southwark. It abutted on the Thames +and was opposite the city, and it suited his fancy to stop here, +rather than ride into London. His business was private and not far +from his present quarters. His wound had healed enough to give him no +trouble, and action kept his mind easy. He had seen Constance with +as fleeting a glimpse as hers had been of him. It was quite enough, +however, he wishing never to set eyes upon her again. + +That evening he went to seek Buckingham at the Royal Palace. He had no +austere regard for the pomp and splendour of the Court at best, and +now he was almost unconscious of his surroundings. His azure-hued +costume was magnificent in its profusion of embroidery and precious +stones. There were none more handsome of face or figure. Courtiers and +wits abounded, but none more courtly or witty than he, when he was +moved. None bowed before his Majesty's dais with more grace, appearing +more a king than he who filled the Royal chair. He erred not in the +most minute detail of demeanour. There was no one in the realm that +held more of his Majesty's regard. + +After being detained some moments at the Royal chair, he went to seek +Buckingham, whose first words smote him foolishly. + +"It is said, my lord, that Love hath Cupid's wings, and I verily +believe William was right, or else how couldst thou have fluttered +from a couch of painful wounds to London either by chaise or a horse? +Ah!--Love is nascent; after cycles of time it may become mature enough +to be introduced into Court--eh!--my lord?" + +"Contemporary chronicles relate that the mind is capable of greater +suffering than the body, and when both are affected, if we give +precedence to the employment of the mind, the body is at once cured; +hence my sound chest. Hast thou seen Sir Julian?" + +"He is with Monmouth in his chamber. They have been drinking deep, or +at least the Duke, who is pouring out in Pomphrey's ear confidences +almost too maudlin to be understood;" and there was a covert sneer +on the haughty lips of his Grace. At the name of Monmouth and the +knowledge that he was not with Katherine, Cedric's great tension +appeared to snap asunder. For a moment Buckingham gazed at his +companion as if in him there were undiscovered mines. Then suddenly +his mind and eye returned to the tangible, and he run his arm through +that of Cedric's and drew him away. When they were quite alone, the +Duke, without the shadow of compunction, said,-- + +"You, my lord, are ambitious of nothing but domesticity. Is it not +so?" His Lordship looked up with a start. If there was one thing he +hated more than another, it was intrigue. And though he was ever +environed by it, yet 'twas not his business now. He had come seeking +Buckingham for the purpose of asking his assistance with the Duke +of Monmouth, and at these words, so foreign from his interests, he +frowned slightly and answered,-- + +"'Twould be difficult to say at what I aspire, seeing the thing I +coveted most is taken from me. If that were mine, it might open up a +vista of aspirations I had ne'er thought on heretofore I see only one +thing at the present worth possessing." + +"And to possess that--thou art one of the richest nobles in the +realm--eh! Cedric?" His Lordship thought he saw the trend of his +Grace's mind, and felt better. + +"I'm rich to be sure, egad! What's the game, faro, loo, crib, +langquement or quinze?" and he tapped his pouncet-box nervously. + +"We have always been good, true friends, my lord. Your father and mine +have shared in many and continued vicissitudes, and for this cause +alone, barring our friendships of more recent years, I would give thee +a secret of which I am only half owner." + +"And what is this secret, your Grace? I am interested." + +"A secret cut into is only half a secret, and--" + +"Ah! ah! how stupid I have grown! By all means, we are dealing in +fractions, and to get the other half I must either pay or go a-hunting +for it." + +"And thou, being hot-foot after most precious game, methought 'twould +best serve to give thee a clue, as to the value of the secret, that +thou couldst determine whether 'twas worth the finding;--whether 'twas +worth the leaving off pursuit of that thou art after,"--and the Duke +threw open his waistcoat and revealed its lining of rare satin and a +pocket that contained a paper written upon in a writing that made Lord +Cedric start, for he recognized it as Sir John Penwick's. And there +recurred to him the conversation he overheard at the monastery, when +one said,--"and once Sir John gets to this country." But nay; his +very last words in his own waistcoat pocket? So he spoke out +disdainfully,-- + +"And thou dost embroider thy facings with dead men's autographs?" + +"They are the better preserved, my lord," said the Duke, with a smile. + +"Then I am to understand the secret doth nearly concern Mistress Pen +wick, and if I should show her favour, I would pay well for a sequel +to that thou art about to unfold, eh! Duke?" + +"Aye, pay well; for the demand will be more than thou dost imagine," +and he took the paper and gave it into Cedric's hands. + +At a glance Cedric saw that the outside paper only was written on by +Sir John; the inner document, containing the whole story, being made +in a strange hand. And Cedric said to himself,--"Aye, 'tis a ruse. +Sir John is dead and I'll wager on't." + +"Thou mayest occupy my chamber, which for the present is here." The +Duke left the anxious Cedric to read at leisure. + +Lord Cedric knew 'twas not his Grace's way to waste time on things of +no moment, and he therefore apprehended evil and his fingers trembled; +his dark eyes grew large as he read; his face changing from red +to white as the different emotions were awakened; his white teeth +crushing his lips. Sir John Penwick had left England, taking all his +worldly goods--which were of no mean value--with him. He settled his +possessions in the New World. These in time became very great and he +was known as one of the wealthiest men in the locality in which he +lived. After six years of married life, a great grief came upon him; +his wife died, leaving him a baby girl of five. This so unsettled +him--having loved his wife beyond measure--he turned again to warfare, +having interest and inclination for naught else. He sent his baby +daughter with her nurse, Janet Wadham, to the Ursuline Convent +at Quebec, where they remained until coming to England. Sir John +travelled about from one country to another, engaging in all kinds of +intrigue and war. One Jean La Fosse--a Jesuit priest--had been for +many years the tried and true friend of Sir John, having been in his +early years a suitor to Lady Penwick. This friendship had grown so +stout that when they met again in the New World, Sir John put his +possessions, in trust, into La Fosse's keeping. When Sir John was +taken prisoner, a sort of treaty had been entered into between the +French and English, and hostages were required for prisoners of +importance. La Fosse was now holding high office in the ranks of his +adopted country--England. Therefore, when hostage was asked by the +English for Sir John Penwick, La Fosse saw the chance he had waited +for for years, and his John was every inch an Englishman, and since +being prisoner of the French, determined as far as possible to place +his belongings with his own country. He had thought it all out and +wrote his desires to La Fosse. Of course, what belonged to Sir John +belonged to England, but his possessions were on French soil and his +daughter in a French convent. And now Sir John felt 'twould be an +opportunity to place his child forever in the hands of his own +country. La Fosse had so shaped affairs, that Sir John was at his +mercy, and at Sir John's proposal that his child should be held as +hostage for himself, he had answered that the babe was of too tender +years to be accepted unless accompanied by lands, tenements and +hereditaments. This was a happy thought to Sir John, and his old trust +of La Fosse came back. "After all," he thought, "the French would +rather give up my child than a man, but my possessions they would +never give." So, not suspecting La Fosse's duplicity, he gave him +legal right to place his property as hostage also. The child was to +remain at the convent, unless England preferred to have her under +their own _regime_. La Fosse was sure Sir John would never again be +free and could never, of course, claim his lands. He went so far as +to make sure--as sure as was in his power--that Penwick should not be +released. He, being a man of shrewdness, at once manipulated affairs +without the knowledge of his sovereign or the higher powers about him. +In a very short time these possessions were built upon by the Jesuits, +who, through La Fosse, claimed all right and title. But La Fosse was +forgetful. He never gave the babe a second thought, it being of no +consequence whatever. It would, no doubt, sicken and die without a +mother's care. He was aware of its whereabouts, but even that in time +was forgotten, his mind being occupied by more pertinent thoughts. +This was a great victory for the Catholics, whose lands had been +confiscated in England, and La Fosse felt he had dealt a master stroke +for his religion. But no mortal man can equal Time as an adept in +chicanery. He brings forth truths unheard of or dreamt by poor +humanity. + +Years went by and La Fosse was suspicioned. At the first smell of +smoke, La Fosse fled. No one knew whither. He escaped, however, to +the monastery upon Lord Cedric's estates. The sudden appearance of +Mistress Penwick at the monastery was believed to be a direct answer +to their prayers. When, too, it was found without a doubt she was Sir +John's daughter, they felt she belonged to them to do with as they +pleased, so all things were accomplished for the benefit of the only +divine church. Their rights in the New World were now being meddled +with and this God-send was to give them, with her own hand, all right +and title to the property in question. + +Sir John had vaguely heard while in prison of Jean La Fosse's +duplicity, and at once sought to save his daughter from his hands by +sending her to his old friend, Lord Cedric of Crandlemar. He, angry at +himself for being so duped, and heartbroken at his loss of property, +knew of nothing else to do but call upon his Lordship for his child's +protection; yet he was too proud to tell him why these calamities +had come upon him. Indeed, any man would take him for a fool for so +trusting another. He had been ill when writing those letters. He never +expected to arise from bed again and thought 'twas best to say he was +dying; 'twould perhaps touch Cedric's heart as nothing else would! +Thus ended a document that was still incomplete, and his Lordship sat +wondering and thinking. This meant that the Catholics were exposing +Katherine to the King's pleasure. She was being sent to him for +a title--a title that was to give them all her possessions. And +Buckingham held the clue that would save those lands or--or her +father--if he were alive. Aye, he should have all the money he asked; +for the Catholics should not have their way. "They shall not, by God, +they shall not!" + +"They shall not!" quoted Buckingham behind him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA + + +Lord Cedric looked about him. He had heard no sound and was surprised +and not well pleased that Buckingham had so caught him off his guard; +for he now understood that the Duke was undoubtedly deriving some +benefits from this fiendish plot, and the greater his perturbation the +easier mark for his Grace. + +"The maid proposes at all hazards to see the King. Monmouth is as +determined she shall not. However, if she escapes the Duke, she will +visit Whitehall and present her plea to his Majesty for his signature. +He is--after seeing her--not supposed to refuse her anything. And not +knowing the value of these lands will sign the paper, thereby giving +the Catholics the property. Then if he sees fit--which of course he +will--will retain the beauty as a Maid of Honour. If he should refuse +the plea, she is to hand him a sealed paper, which will give him the +knowledge that he has before him a hostage who wishes his signature to +the willing of her property to her beloved Church. They do not count +on his putting two and two together and seeing their scheme. They +think he will be so infatuated, that 'twill be 'aye, aye, aye,' to her +every look. She only knows half the contents of the thing she presses +'neath the folds of her dress." + +"By God, Buckingham, this is despicable! She to be made the tool of +her religion!" + +"There are other complications, my lord. Providing thou art successful +in running the gauntlet with Monmouth first, then the King, thou, +thyself, art in danger of the Tower or Tyburn-tree." With a bound +Cedric was upon his feet and sprang toward the Duke,-- + +"A thousand devils, man, I care not for myself,--'tis the maid; +beside--what have I done, why am I so threatened?" + +"The scheme for thy destruction is already set a-foot. If thou +shouldst get the maid in any wise, it appears thou art doomed. Take my +advice, look to thyself and let the--" + +"'Sdeath! finish it not!" and there was that in the young lord's eyes +that curtailed the Duke's words, and he stood frowning at Cedric and +thinking what next to say. + +"When thou art acquainted with the circumstances, my lord, thou wilt +see thy peril. One Christopher, whom I once befriended with a bottle +of wine in a certain close passage, came tottering to me, asking for +my patronage, which I accorded him, as he was a sorry spectacle. As a +reward for my seeming kindness, he told me that the knave Cantemir +was arousing the Protestants by speaking of the monastery being a +_rendezvous_ for all good Catholics, naming the lord of Crandlemar as +one of them. The knave is working with both factions. He has gained +some powerful help. These are to come upon the King and demand a +confiscation of thy lands, thou art also to be sent to Tower or +Tyburn-tree for the murder of thy servant--" + +"Enough, enough, my heaven! I did kill the bastard Christopher." + +"Ah! not so. 'The bastard Christopher' is still on his legs and gives +Cantemir's plans away; for the knave kicked him when he was down. Thou +art to have thy head, but--" + +"Nay, my friend, tell me no more. Ah!--is there any limit to this +devil's industry! I have to thank thee to-night, on the morrow--" + +"I'm expecting to leave Whitehall early--" Cedric started. + +"Will Monmouth bear thee company?" + +"Nay, his Majesty seems on a sudden to have an undue fondness for +him." + +"God strengthen it." + +"'Tis a pity there is such thing, else his Grace would not care to +go." + +"And thou and I might not have been brought into this world." + +"And Adam have had eyes only for the serpent, not even coveting the +apple." + +"_Adieu_, my lord!" + +"_Adieu_, your Grace!" + +The candles were just a-light within the villa, where the thick +foliage of tree and vine brought a premature gloaming. Outside fell +upon the sward the last rays of the setting sun. In the depths of the +shadowy leaves the glow-worms displayed their phosphorescent beauty; +the lampyrid beetles plied between gloom and obscurity, impatient for +the mirror of night to flaunt therein their illumined finery. In +the distance was heard the lusty song of the blowsy yokels, as they +clumsily carted homeward the day's gathering. The erudite nightingale +threw wide the throttle of his throat and taught some nestling kin the +sweetness of his lore. + +From the villa doorway passed out Mistress Pen wick in fluttering +white, with the waxy jasmine upon breast and hair. Down she came, +unattended, through aisles bordered by fragrant blossoms, traversing +the way from door to postern-gate with quick, light steps. + +She was not aware Monmouth had left a strong guard and orders to allow +no one to enter save those he made provision for. + +As her hand rested upon the gate, a guard stepped from behind a bower +of iris and gently opened it for her. She was somewhat taken aback by +his presence. The stalwart guard strode after her; she, noticing it, +turned about and said sweetly for him to hold the gate open 'til she +returned, that she would only be gone a very few minutes. + +"My lady is alone upon the highway, and I could not suffer her to be +so, begging permission." + +"Nay, I wish to be alone. Remain at the gate." + +"It may not be, my lady; 'tis his Grace's order to give thee proper +escort outside the gate." + +"Ah, then--" she turned from him and beckoned to a monk who appeared +to be walking aimlessly upon the opposite side of the way, but at her +bidding moved with alacrity. When the guard saw her intention, he +begged her to consider the Duke's wish that she should communicate +with no one. + +"I was not aware, sir, that I am held as prisoner. I'm quite sure his +Grace was only kindly intentioned for my safety;--and as for further +vigilance, 'tis beyond his power to use it." The three now stood at +the gate. The monk looking intently at the guard, said,-- + +"Where hath flown thy religion, Eustis?" + +"'Tis a poor religion that hath not the grace to offer its adherents +an honest living." + +"Ah! then thy faith is hinged upon the _largesse_ of the damned. +There!--take for the nonce thy meed in honest coin." The Abbe gave him +a piece of gold and passed within the gate. The sun now dropped from +sight, leaving the villa terraces in sombreness, and brought into +prominence glow worm and firefly and the sheen of Mistress Penwick's +frock. + +"I have watched for thee ever since thou arrived, hoping to catch +thine eye.--Hast guarded the billet to the King, my child?" + +"Here it is." She took from her bosom the letter. The keen eyes of the +Abbe saw the seal was intact and quickly put out his hand deprecating +what her act implied. + +"'Twas not that, my child; 'twas the fear that thou hadst been robbed, +as we have. We trust thee with all our hearts," and she read not +hypocrisy in the feint of benignancy. + +"Thou hast been deceived into thinking that the Duke of Monmouth or +Buckingham will arrange a meeting between thee and the King. The +former Duke is evil-intentioned toward thee." + +"Ah, my Father; thou dost sorely grieve me! If thou didst not say it, +'twould be hard to believe; for surely he has been most kind to me." + +"But 'tis true, nevertheless. He is now with the King and fretting for +being so detained from thee. He means to offer thee the protection of +his favour; which means thou art to become an inmate of his seraglio. +Dost understand me, my child?" + +"Ah!--I understand," and Mistress Penwick looked up into the face that +the darkness veiled. + +"And I have heard that the King is sometimes poorly intentioned" The +monk coughed behind his hand and moved uneasily,--"'Tis said of him, +as other like things are reported; but 'tis false. He is a good +Catholic at heart, and he will offer thee no insult, else we would +not allow thee to approach him. Our first thought is to get thee from +Monmouth's hold and place thee in safety elsewhere. The noble Lady +Constance is helping us and hopes that by to-night to have arranged +certain matters, so with our aid thou mayest be able to see his +Majesty very soon. One of the Brotherhood will accompany thee to his +presence or meet thee there; for we are anxious of the issue. Thou +wilt--" The conversation was interrupted by the sound of wheels. The +guard came running to them, crying half aloud,-- + +"Methinks some one of importance is about to arrive, as there is a +coach and outriders and a score of mounted escort. If thou, Father, +art found here, I'm doomed. I prithee hide thyself;--and my lady's +gown can be seen for a league. Hide here, behind this bunch of iris, +'til the cavalcade hath passed." + +It was in truth the young Duke of Monmouth, who was hurrying with the +impatience of young, warm blood to his mistress. For all Katherine was +indignant with him for having such wicked intentions toward her, yet +she was moved by the fact that he was a Prince, the son of the King; +and susceptible as are all womankind to masculine beauty, she hardly +could withhold her admiration. She did not fear him, on the contrary +she wished to play with firebrands and see how he would appear in her +eyes, now that she understood him. On a sudden she wished to see him +more than any one else in the world, Lord Cedric excepted; and in her +adventurous heart vowed to torment and give him pangs to remember her +by. Her pride was wrought upon. That any one should presume to love +her without thought of espousal! and Janet's words came back to her +with great force, making her see her error in accompanying the Duke. + +There were a few hasty words spoken by the monk as he left her, and +passed through the postern-gate, where none save Eustis saw his tall +form. Katherine took her time, as she crossed the lawn to her former +seat, stopping here and there to gather a nosegay; exulting all the +time at his Grace's discomfort when he found her not within doors. +Suddenly she thought of Christopher and of what might happen to the +servants if the Duke undertook to vent his displeasure upon them. At +the thought, she leant forward, straining her ear for any signs of +violence; but she only heard Janet say,-- + +"My eyes have not been off her, your Grace. I'm just taking her a +wrap." + +"Give it to me," the Duke said in a voice surprisingly calm and +gentle. It piqued Katherine. It was disappointing not to hear a +fierce voice like Cedric's was wont to be. She saw the Duke's form +silhouetted by a bush of white blossom and heard from his lips a +quaint love ditty. It so set her very susceptible heart to fluttering +she knew not whether to be glad or sorry that he was there. She was +weaving a garland in a peculiar manner learned at the convent. The +finished strands she placed under the bench upon which she sat, +pretending the while neither to see nor hear his Grace as he walked +about from bush to bush, singing softly. But he soon caught the +glimmer of her dress, and he came bounding toward her. + +"Pray what does Mistress Penwick out alone on so dark a night?" + +"Ah!"--she started in feigned alarm, dropping her flowers and rising +hurriedly--"'tis your Grace of Buckingham. I admit I was startled." +She made a sweeping courtesy. + +"We who love never forget its voice, Mistress. I believed that thou +wouldst never be able to find it in Buckingham's tones; for if 'twas +there, thou only could note its tenderness." He so ignored her +feint--and she knew he understood that she knew not whether to keep up +her hypocrisy or recant. + +"Didst see the King, your Grace, upon my affair?" He stooped to +recover the flowers she had dropped. She hindered him, fearing lest he +should see her schoolgirl play beneath the bench. + +"Ah! ah! what hast thou hid there?" She exulted. + +"Nothing, your Grace, only--the flowers are not worth the exertion." + +"Aye, they are worth the bended knee of a thousand, when dropped from +such fair hands," and he again essayed to reach them; but she stood +between, and holding her hand out to him, said,-- + +"Nay. I pray thee come. I am going to the villa. 'Tis growing damp." +She timidly made as if to go. He on the instant drew his sword and +lunged beneath the bench and drew out upon its point the maid's +flowers. He laughed at his disappointment, for he was certain some one +was beneath. She felt ashamed of her childish pastime and hastened +within doors. He followed, carrying the interwoven hearts upon the +point of his sword. He held them high for inspection as he entered the +lighted room, and was transported with delight when he saw the design, +and complimented her upon its significance. + +"Thou dost seem to know that two hearts are to be entwined, at any +rate! Even if a voice full of passion doth corrupt thine ears to +hearing tones that are vibrantless of love." He broke into a +great laugh and looked upon Katherine's blushing face with tender +admiration. "Come, Mistress, I have played thee very uncavalierly, +inasmuch as I have not answered thy question. Sit with me and sup. +There--his Majesty is indisposed. He will not be able to see thee for +at least a week. Then I am to bring the most beautiful woman in the +world to Court." + +"I am very sorry; my business is imperative--" + +"Imperative!--imperative! that such words should fall from cherry lips +that will become irresistible should they turn to pouting;--so take +heed and tempt me not." He had already swallowed several glasses of +wine and was fast becoming audacious. + +Janet stood behind Mistress Penwick's chair; her face appearing +immutable. The Duke bade the maid drink her wine. She touched her lips +to the glass and set down the cup. He swept it passionately to his +own. Katherine's boldness was fast declining. She began to wish that +something would happen to take the Duke's attention from her. Even +Constance' presence would be a relief. If she were only in the garden +again--free--she would fly to some place of safety. + +He lowered his voice into a passionate whisper and leant over, +catching her hand as she would withdraw it. He began to draw her +toward him. Her fear was evident, for Monmouth, drunk as he was, saw +it, and fell to coaxing. His voice, not yet maudlin, was sweet and +impassioned. + +"Thou were not afraid when that Russian knave claimed thee and was +about to carry thee off, and now thou hast the King's son to guard and +love thee--love--dost hear it, my Precious? And I came to claim thee +this night, to tell thee all I know, to make the little Convent Maid +wise." He threw his arm about her, almost drawing her from the chair. +Katherine was white and trembling, knowing not which way to turn. + +"Indeed, sir, I know not thy meaning." + +"My meaning? Dost not thou know what love is? Of course thou dost +not--if thou didst, it might be I should not care to be thy tutor. +Come, I will teach thee this night--now, my Pretty,--now. Come, come +with me." He arose and essayed to draw her toward the door that led +to an inner chamber. Katherine was well nigh to swooning, and perhaps +would have, had not there fell upon her ear the sound of some one +entering the house. "Ah, heaven!" she thought, "if it were only Father +La Fosse or Sir Julian or even--ah!" She did hear Constance' voice. +"Aye, even Constance could think of some way for her to escape." She +knew Janet was behind her chair, but she might have lost her usual wit +and have become incapable of helping at the very moment she was most +needed. Monmouth drank another glass of wine, then withdrew from +his chair and leant over that of the maid, drawing her close in his +embrace. He was now so drunk he did not hear the door creak as Janet +and Katherine did; the former, seeing the pale, triumphant face of +Constance reflected in a mirror, as she stood half-way inside the +door. Katherine tried to disengage herself by reaching for another +glass of wine. The Duke reached it for her and would hold it to her +lips; but she, looking up at him with a feint of a smile, said in +coaxing tones,-- + +"I was getting it for thee; your Highness will drink it?" + +"Could I refuse--there!--there! Come!--" He put his arms about her +and was carrying her forth, when Janet plucked him by the sleeve and +whispered something in his ear. He loosed for a moment her trembling +form and she began to weep. These tears made him forget Janet's words, +and he turned again to Katherine. + +"There, there, my wife; thou dost break my heart at each sob. Here, +see here what I brought thee," and he placed on her arm a circlet of +rubies. "There, hush thy tears. I will not teach thee anything but how +kind I may be--there, sit thee down. I will let thee wait until thou +art accustomed to man's caresses." Monmouth's heavy drinking trended +to strengthen his good humour, else he might have resented roundly the +interruption of his love-making by the entrance of Lady Constance. He +held out his hand to her, saying,-- + +"Come, my lady; see my poor dear. The poor child is affrighted at my +love-making. Thou wouldst not be so frightened, Constance,--eh?" + +"I am not a child, your Highness, to fall to weeping if so honourable +a gentleman as some should choose to kiss my hand." The Duke reached +to the table and pressed another cup of wine to his lips, that were +already stiffened by excess. + +"Come, Sweet; give me one kiss--" and he bent over her close. + +"Nay, nay, I'll not suffer thee." And Katherine drew from him with +flashing eyes. + +"Come, silly child; one, just one." She fled from his reach. He sought +to catch her but was stopped by Constance who whispered something +hurriedly. The Duke turned upon Janet and frowned, then broke into a +mocking laugh, and with a sly wink at Constance, said,-- + +"Thou art a trickster, good nurse; thou didst play upon me foully. +Good, good nurse! Come, go quickly. Thou shalt see no more +love-making; I forbid thee; kiss thy nestling and go. I will watch +over her. Come, my sweet, come!" His Grace took the maid in his strong +arms, and though his legs threatened collapse, bore her toward the +door. + +Janet saw the look of devilish menace and triumph upon Lady Constance' +face and--beyond--what did she see behind the curtain of the window +that looked upon the garden? Surely 'twas something more than the +evening breeze that stirred those hangings. 'Twas a familiar face +that looked from behind the folds; aye, of a truth, 'twas Sir Julian +Pomphrey's. When Monmouth, half carrying Katherine, reached the door +and stood some little way beyond its deep embrazure, he turned to +Janet again, saying,-- + +"Go, good nurse. I wait for thine exit. Come, begone!" + +"I beg your Grace to forgive the lie I told and give pledge of thy +forgiveness by taking this." She handed him a brimming cup. + +"Then, good nurse, I forgive thee. Here is to the maid thou dost let +go and to the woman I shall bring back." He threw back his head and +lifted the cup. As it touched his lips a handkerchief fell about his +eyes and a strong hand covered his mouth and the Duke lay helpless +upon the floor. + +Janet carried the half-fainting maid from the room. As she did so, Sir +Julian and Lord Cedric, who had also come through the window, carried +the young Duke to another chamber; binding him fast; keeping his eyes +well blindfolded and their own tongues still. Constance was left +standing in the middle of the floor in dumb surprise and chagrin. In a +moment Lord Cedric returned, and his voice rang steel as he faced her, +nor was there shadow of pity as he saw her white face grow ghastly in +fear. + +"Thou, Constance, art the receptacle of all the damned ills flung from +mortals, whether of the mind or body. As for soul, that unknown thing +to thee--thou canst not recognize in another and therefore canst take +on nothing of it save its punishment hereafter, when thou shalt have +no choice of condiment. Thy heart lies festering in the rheum that +exuviates from its foul surroundings. Conscience thou art bankrupt of, +and in its place doth lurk the bawd that envenoms thy senses and turns +thy narrow body into prodigious corruption--" + +"Cedric,--my God; stay thy tongue!" + +"Nay, nay; my tongue is a well-matched Jehu for thy devil's race. I +would I might scorch thee with it, to give thee foretaste of that to +come; perchance 'twould seethe thy rottenness to the quick--if thou +of that art not also bereft--and turn thee from thy course. Thou dost +pander for the King's son and steal an innocent maid of unripe years +to gratify his lust--ah, 'sdeath! thou art but a pernicious wench, +as false as hell. And when the nurse whispered that 'twould save the +child from shame, thy protrusile tang-of-a-serpent didst sibilate in +his ready ear a denial--" + +"Cedric, Cedric; cease, I pray!" And Constance fell upon her knees +sobbing. But the young lord's storm had not yet spent itself, and he +sped on in fury: + +"I would thy noxious blood had all run out ere mingling with its +better, and I had naught of so foul a taint within. If I held the +apothecary's skill, I would open my veins and purge from them thy +jaundiced blood and let in slime of snakes and putrid matter to +sweeten the vessel thus set free--" + +"My lord, we must hasten. The maid is ready to depart with her +nurse," said Sir Julian. As the young lord turned to him, Lady +Constance--crushed and broken--said,-- + +"Couldst thou not see why I have so misused my better self; have thine +eyes been blind all these years not to see how I have loved thee, +Cedric--thee--thee--with all my heart and soul?" + +"I would not hear thee prate of anything so sacred as love,--'tis +sacrilege." + +"Nay, not so, Cedric! I love thee more than heaven. I love thy scorn, +if to be free from it were to deprive me of thy presence. I would +follow thee to the end of time, even though thy brow lowered in ever +threatening storm--" + +"Nay! thou shalt not follow me. Would I draw such as thou to yonder +maid? From this moment thou art none of mine, and I fling thee from me +as I would a snake.--Thou didst think to take Mistress Katherine from +me; put her beyond my reach, first, by marriage, then by ruin. Thanks +to heaven, both of thy infernal schemes miscarried and she is again in +my keeping. And soon I shall fold her to me as my own; pillow her head +here, Constance, here, where thou sayest thou shouldst love to lie. I +shall press her to my heart as wife, wife--ah! I have at last touched +the quick within thee. We may hope there is some redemption--some +possibility of bringing thee back from thy foulness--" + +"Come, Cedric, come; we are late!" cried Sir Julian at the door. Lord +Cedric turned to go, but Constance flew to his side and grasped his +hand,-- + +"Nay, nay; thou shalt not leave me thus. Thou shalt not leave me to go +to one who cares not one jot for thee! Cedric, turn not away. Do not +leave me here. Cedric, hear me, take me, take me with thee! I will be +so good--" + +Again Sir Julian came and called hastily,--"Indeed, my lord, there is +a chaise upon the highway, and if we mistake not 'tis the King's." +Cedric loosed himself from Constance and hurried from the room. She +flew after him; but he had passed Sir Julian and flung himself upon a +horse. Pomphrey saw her plight, and, whether from pity, gallantry, or +intrigue, lifted her quickly--before she had time to withdraw from +him--into a coach. Cedric remonstrated with him; but Julian was +confident of his motive and started the coach at full speed. They flew +along in the opposite direction from whence came the King. + +It was his Majesty, who had heard of his son's hiding with some +beauteous maid and was resolved to play a trick and come upon him +unawares. + +It was feared, when he should find Monmouth in such a plight, he would +pursue the offenders, if for nothing but to see with his own eyes the +maid who had so wrought upon his son's affections. + +The coaches bearing Katherine and Constance sped along at a rapid +swing. The one bearing Katherine, with Janet by her side, was some +distance ahead; Constance alone in the rear. Cedric and Julian rode at +either side of the first coach, their horses in full gallop. + +They reached Southwark after two hours' hard riding. Katherine was +not aware of Lord Cedric's presence, and he avoided meeting her or +attracting her attention in any way. He was content with the thought +that she was near him. + +They proposed to remain at Tabard Inn at least until the next night, +when they would set out under cover of the darkness for Crandlemar, +where Lord Cedric had given orders to have all things ready for +his immediate espousal. He knew that Katherine loved him, and felt +sanguine that after passing through so many vicissitudes she would +come to her senses and give up the ideas of churchly duties and +religious requirements. + +Lady Constance feared the worst, now that Cedric was once more with +Katherine. What could she do to stave the matter off? She knew +Cantemir would hardly be able to place Cedric in the Tower before +another week. She was tempted to poison or kill in some way the maid. +Aye, she would kill her--that would be safest. Then Cedric could not +have her. They would be parted forever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COACH + + +In the meantime his Majesty had entered the villa and found his son +bound and in drunken sleep. Seeing he was uninjured, the King fell +to laughing at his plight, his ringing tones awakening Monmouth. The +King's gentlemen unbound him and brought him to a chair. The youth was +not long in collecting himself, quickly making a tale for his father's +ears. + +"I have caught thee, James,"--said the King,--"but where, oh! where is +the maid? Has she flung thee off and escaped with thy guard, who left +the gates wide, or didst thou expect us and had them placed so for our +convenience?" + +"'Tis certain, Sire, I have been foully treated. I have been drugged +and some valuable papers taken I had got hold on." + +"And who held the papers before thee, a pretty wench, eh?" Monmouth +glanced suspiciously at Buckingham, who stood behind the King. + +"Now indeed, Sire, I should like thy opinion upon her, and--she hath +a secret, as the Duke there can testify." Buckingham started, but met +the King's glance with a stolid countenance. + +"And what is this secret, George?" + +"'Tis something the Papists have enveigled the maid into bringing to +thy notice, your Majesty," and the Duke cast a contemptuous glance at +Monmouth, who had made a wrong move. + +"Then, by God! why was she detained? Why did any one take the papers +from her?" His Majesty looked not too kind at his son, who was now +fair caught. "We will send for her posthaste." The lackeys were +questioned of the direction taken by the coaches that had just left +the grounds, and a courier was sent after them, bearing the Royal +command to Mistress Penwick to appear before his presence within three +days. + +The courier did not reach the inn until the party were about to set +forth, on account of being turned repeatedly from his course by +designing lackeys left along the way for the purpose. + +Sir Julian, Katherine and Janet were standing at the coach door when +Lady Constance came hurrying down the stairs to join them, unasked; +for she was of no mind to let Cedric carry off Katherine without her. +She felt it would be worse than death. As she opened her mouth to ask +of Cedric--for she saw he was not with the party--the King's messenger +rode into the courtyard. Mistress Penwick received the order from the +courier with her own hand, and was rejoiced at it; Lady Constance flew +to her chamber in an ecstasy; Sir Julian roundly disappointed at the +news he must send Cedric, who had gone on toward Crandlemar. There +was no help for them now. They were under the King's order; but--what +might not happen in three days? + +Sir Julian was as adamant when Constance proposed a trip to London, +and would under no circumstances allow her to leave the inn. Janet +kept Katherine in complete seclusion, fearing lest some new thing +should come upon them. She did not fail, however, to tell Sir Julian +of the monk's visit to the grounds of the villa and of his project to +accompany her to the King, when an audience should be granted. + +"I am glad thou didst apprise me of this, Janet, for it gives me an +idea. I have seen lurking about several of the Order and have watched +them carefully." + +The morning of the eventful day arrived. Mistress Penwick was already +gowned in a sombre old woman's dress. A hump was fastened to her +shoulder; her face was darkened skillfully and leprous blotches +painted thereon. She stepped like a Queen, for all that, and 'twas +feared her falseness would become evident to the King's eye. + +Lady Constance was to remain at the inn, a prisoner, until Sir Julian +saw fit to release her. With curious eyes she watched for Katherine, +whom she conceived would be decked in irresistible finery. She even +pictured her beauty, clad in that soft brocade of peach and green that +so became her figure and enhanced the richness of her youthful bloom. + +"Ah! ah!" she cried under her breath, as she saw the maiden's masque, +and fairly bit her lips in rage at the clever ruse about to be played +upon the King. Back she flew from the window and pranced up and down +her chamber in rage, her brain on fire. She sought in its hot depths +some way--some way. "It must be done. The King must know. It would be +the convent wench's ruin--and what would his Majesty not do for one +who should give him hint?" She was not kept under close guard. She +could go about the corridors as she chose. Out she flew into one of +these and saw near by a scullion furbishing a brass knob. + +"Come, fool, hast thou a close mouth?" she said, almost in a whisper. + +"Aye, too close for the comfort of my stomach." + +"Then here--but first, bring me from anywhere thou canst a gentleman's +suit that will cover me in plenty--not too scant, remember, and bring +a horse from where thou likest to the door below. Haste thee, and thou +shalt have this." She jingled a well-filled purse in his face. Off he +ran in hot haste, soon returning with the desired outfit; no doubt +looted from some gentleman's closet near by. Quickly she donned it; +but here and there were slight alterations to be made, and her fingers +were all a-tremble, slackening speed to a meagre haste. She donned a +red-hued periwig and cockle hat, then strutted back and forth, proud +of her fine appearance, as, indeed, she looked a roguish fop of no +mean parts. She flung out into the passage and asked the lad if the +horse was ready. + +"Aye, Sir!" he said, impudently. She flung him a bag of gold with a +show of masculine strength. Out it flew through the open window, down +to the pavement, frightening the steed from his groom, who first +stopped to pluck the bag before giving chase to the wily horse. Down +came the scullion, followed close by the gay young fop, who waited +impatiently outside the door. The guard looked on indifferently, +his eyes fixed upon the groom, rather than the young man that paced +restlessly up and down the courtyard. + +At last Lady Constance dashed out upon the highway with a smile of +cunning on her face, a devil's flash from her eyes, a haughty curving +on her lips, and her heart beating faster and faster, the nearer she +drew to the King's palace. "One masque is as fair as another, and +methinks the King's eye will open wider at my boldness than at +Mistress Penwick's plain dissembling, should he require a fair show of +our feigning. He will love me for my daring and for bringing him the +knowledge aforetime of the maid's deception. And when the wench smiles +in triumph, he will bring her down upon her knees by one fair blow of +tongue. 'Twould be like his Majesty to deprive her of decent covering, +if I can only make her designing plain to him." On she rode in high +good humour with her adventure; for if this move was without laches or +mischance, 'twould be a triumph indeed. The maid would be ruined and +her own fortunes made. + +The coach arrived at the Royal Palace upon the stroke of four. +Mistress Penwick was conducted to the King's ante-chamber. She was +visibly nervous; trying vainly to calm the fast beating of her heart. +When at last she was called, Sir Julian walked beside her to the +threshold of his Majesty's chamber. The King, ever _insouciant_, +had never thought to ask Monmouth the maid's name, and when she was +presented as "Mistress Wick," and he beheld her form and attire, +he was amazed. He felt he had been made a dupe; that Monmouth had +purposely made him believe this girl was beautiful for some subtle +cause, perhaps just to gain an audience for her;--then, as he saw the +spots upon her face, he recoiled and a horrible thought came. Had she +some loathsome disease and been sent to him that he might--He started, +his blood boiling with indignation. "Treason," he cried in his heart, +and before the maid had arisen from her knees, he called for her +dismissal. She was taken precipitately from the King's presence before +she had time to open her mouth. + +The King was greatly wrought upon, giving Monmouth the blame. The +matter must be sifted. He would write an order for his son's arrest, +and--yes, the woman must be taken also. + +Sir Julian saw it all in Katherine's disappointed and half-angry face, +but without giving her time to relate her grievances, rushed her to +the coach, putting her into it with very little ceremony. They were +fairly flying from the Palace, turning from the sight of a young fop +as he came at full gallop through the throng that crowded near the +Royal House. + +The youth made known his desire to see the King, saying the matter was +an imperative one. Even as he spoke, his Majesty came from within and +heard the breathless request. + +"What now, my pretty rogue; what is thy wish?" + +"May I speak with thee apart?" said the lad, as he knelt and kissed +the King's hand. "'Tis something of import--a trick is about to be +played upon thee." The King took alarm. + +"We are about to start forth, my lad. Come, thou mayest walk by our +side, and if thy speech is as neat and comely as thy body, 'tis +possible ere we reach the end of yonder corridor thy tongue will have +won for thee the Royal favour." The King leant upon Constance as they +swaggered along down the passage. + +"May I be so bold as to inquire of your Majesty if there has not come +to thee a woman with swart marks upon her face and a hump on her back, +preferring a petition for thy signature to some lands now held by the +Catholics?" The King started and looked now with great interest upon +the girlish fop, and speaking slowly as he answered,-- + +"Why, yes; she hath come and gone. What of her?" + +"She hath played foully upon her King. I would give, Sire, half my +life to have seen your Majesty compel her to wash the painted spots +from her face and take from her shoulder the false hump, and she--" + +"Ah! ah!" came from the thoroughly awaked King. + +"--is the greatest beauty in England." For the first time Constance +gave Katherine her dues. + +"Dost thou speak truth, lad?" + +"I fear my King too much to speak otherwise, unless, indeed, it were +to save his life." + +"Then--" said the King, with flashing eyes.--"We shall have her back; +we'll send for her at once; and, my pretty lad, thou shalt remain here +to see the fun, with your King. 'Twill be rare sport, eh?" He gave +Constance so sound a smack upon the shoulder, it came near to knocking +her flat. It brought the tears and made her bite her tongue. The King +fairly roared with laughter. + +Buckingham heard the King's order to recall the woman. He also knew +the King's informant, and for reasons of his own sent straightway one +to intercept his Majesty's messenger. + +Lady Constance, believing that Sir Julian, with Katherine, would +return to Tabard Inn, mentioned it. This, of course, allowing they +followed Constance' suggestion, gave Sir Julian a good start and +Buckingham's messengers time to reach their several destinations. + +The night had come with even greater heat than the day. The sultry +gloaming foretold a near-by storm. Clouds were brewing fast and thick, +with ominous mutterings. Already every inch of blue sky was overcast +with a blackness that was heavy and lowering. Occasionally the sullen +thunder was prefaced by a jaundiced light that swathed the skies from +end to end. The coach bearing Katherine and Janet left the causeway +and entered a thick forest. The great trees seemed even larger; their +silence becoming portentous. There was not a breath of air. Katherine +fanned herself with Janet's hat, but hardly did her efforts create a +breeze large enough to move the threads of hair that waved above her +forehead. + +They had proceeded but a short way into the forest when the postilion +got down to light the lamps. + +Sir Julian rode close to the window and spoke of the approaching +storm. The stillness was ominous; there being no sound save the plash +of a muskrat as he skurried through a dismal, dark pool near by. +Katherine jumped at the noise and her small hand grasped the arm of +Sir Julian, as it lay across the ledge of the window. She gave a +little gasp--just enough to touch Sir Julian tenderly. + +"'Tis nothing but a lusty genet, my dear," and his hand closed over +hers for a moment. There was something about that touch that thrilled +them both; he leant farther toward her as another flash came through +the trees and was sure he saw a flush upon her face. The lights from +the lanterns flashed up, then--stood silent and unmoved, the boy's +breath who stood over them was swallowed in the hot air. Then the +coach began to move and at the same time the giant trees stirred in +a peculiar way. They, like a vast army, bent low with a sound as of +heavy artillery rumbling over a bridge that covered vacuous depths. +Then they began a deafening noise, their branches sweeping hard +against the coach windows. + +Katherine lay back languidly against the cushions, still trembling +from the gentle pressure of Sir Julian's hand. For a moment only she +enjoyed this sweet dissipation, then turned from it as if duty called +her to think of her visit to the King. She consoled herself that she +had done all she could now. When she reached Crandlemar, she should +be better able to collect her thoughts and see what would be the next +best thing to do. She longed to see Lord Cedric and the Duke and +Duchess. She even fell to imagining how the grand, old place would +look in midsummer. It seemed like she had been gone months. Would +Cedric be changed, she wondered? Would he be pale and fragile looking? + +So great was Sir Julian's haste, and so great was the heat, the horses +were soon exhausted and began to lag. Sir Julian thought they were +near an inn, as it soon proved. He flung open the door and almost +lifted Katherine from the coach, so great was his haste. Supper +was awaiting them and Katherine for the moment alone, near an +open window,--the room appeared close to suffocation with humid +heat--waited for Sir Julian to take his seat at her side. Janet was +arranging a posset. Suddenly Katherine heard a soft voice behind her; +it was low and intense. Hardly could she distinguish it from the +soughing of the wind in the trees. She half-turned her head to listen +as Sir Julian came toward her. But she caught the words: + +"Abbe ---- will be in the coach upon thy return. Enjoin silence upon +thy nurse and be not afraid." + +She thought Sir Julian looked at her suspiciously; but was quite sure +he had not seen or heard the person behind her. + +Janet, while in the coach had bathed the maid's face and taken from +her the garb of disguise, and Katherine now looked her sweet self +again, flushed and thoughtful over this new adventure. She was most +like her father, ever looking for new fields to conquer. Sir Julian +asked her if she would be frightened at a severe storm. She answered +it made her somewhat nervous to be abroad. + +"Then I will ride inside with thee--" + +"Nay, I could not think of allowing thee. The air is too oppressive." +Sir Julian insisted, but to no avail. As they were about to leave the +inn, Katherine whispered to Janet that an Abbe would be in the coach +and enjoined silence and deaf ears. + +"I did not catch his name, but I'm quite sure his voice rung like Abbe +La Fosse's. They have doubtless heard I am on my way to the castle, +and, knowing 'twould be impossible to see me there, they have taken +this way, being impatient to know how fell my suit with the King." +Janet for once had no answering word, but uttered a groan of seeming +dissent and followed her mistress, who leant upon Sir Julian's arm. + +The dim light cast from the lanterns was well-nigh swallowed up in the +intense gloom. The rain was already falling rapidly and Sir Julian +opined that it was a hopeful sign, as it presaged no sudden gust that +would tear things to pieces. The door of the coach slammed to and the +horses started at gallop through the windy forest. Mistress Penwick, +now for the first time alone, that is without the surveillance of +Cantemir or Eustis, with a beloved Father of her church, flung herself +upon her knees at his side, saying: + +"Beloved Father, my visit to the King was fruitless; he received me +most coldly." The Abbe lifted her from her knees as she spoke, placing +her beside him. Her face was close to his, for the noise of the +horses' hoofs and the rattling of spurs and bits and the ever-rumbling +thunder made speech difficult. His face turned toward her was hid +in the shadow of his cowl, and he drew the hood even closer as he +answered,-- + +"We feared it, mightily," and his voice was barely heard above the +noise. + +"But it grieves me more than I can tell." + +"Nay. Thou must not let it." + +"But it does, I cannot help it; and I see also thy disappointment, for +thy hands tremble." + +"We have had much to unnerve us, and I am still under restraint." + +"I would thou hadst sent a better _embassage_!" + +"We could not have found a fairer." At these words Mistress Penwick +shrunk from him, remembering her disguise; which, though it was a +custom of the time for one to go masqued when and where they pleased, +upon whatsoever mission, yet she felt guilty to positive wickedness +for having so cloaked her beauty, and did not the Father's words imply +that her charms should have won success? For a moment she remained +silent. A flash of lightning fell broad through the open window. She +quickly glanced at Janet, who appeared to be asleep in her corner. +Katherine bent her face close to the Abbe's and whispered,-- + +"Father, might I not here make my confessions? I would have come to +thee at the monastery if it had been possible. The confessional has +not been open to me since I left the convent, and I feel I must +confess. I must now; for I know not when I shall be able again to have +converse with a priest. May I, Father?" + +"'Tis a noisome, stormy night and thy nurse there--" + +"I will speak low, beside I care not if she does hear that that +doth concern myself; for, indeed she understands me better than I +understand myself. Then I may speak, Father?" + +"I will hear that I deem needful for the peace of thy soul; if +perchance thy soul be wrought upon unhappily; and for sins innocently +done I absolve thee already." Mistress Penwick half knelt by the +cowled figure and placed her elbows upon his knees, and after saying +the prayers of contrition leant her face close to his. + +"I have been guilty of what I believe to be a very great sin. Father, +I disguised myself to go before the King!" She trembled and bent her +head. The priest's voice was calm and unperturbed. + +"And why didst thou that?" + +"I heard 'twas an unsafe thing for a maid boasting of some fairness to +visit the King." + +"Why so?" + +"I have heard he keeps them for his own pleasure, allowing not their +return." + +"And didst thou think we would have let thee go to him, had it not +been safe?" + +"But I thought, good Father, living as closely as thou dost, thou +didst not know of the matters of the world, and I ventured to use my +own judgment, meaning no harm. But I will go to him unmasqued if thou +dost appoint it so. I intend to do so. Shall I not?" + +"Nay, thou hast done all and more than is expected of thee." + +"How, more?" + +"'Twas brave to go at all after hearing of his Majesty's demeanour." + +"But I was not very much afraid; indeed, I became very calm as I +entered his presence." + +"If I understand, thou wert ambitious to become a Maid of Honour." + +"At one time, but having better acquaintance with the Court, I feel my +ardour has cooled." + +"We have gone somewhat astray, my child. We will finish thy +confessions for I soon must leave thee. Indeed, if this is the weighty +part of thy sins, there is no need to confess any more." + +"One thing I am particularly anxious to inquire of thee. Since love +comes and we cannot help it, 'twould be wrong not to give it place?" + +"If the love is love and not masquerading passion, and it comes from +one who is not altogether unworthy of thee?" + +"Indeed, he is most worthy, barring his religion, which is Protestant. +I would have advice upon this matter, for I believe the love is +mutual." + +"My child, if his heart is good and true, and thou lovest him, and he +thee, the manner of worshipping God should not be of question, since +one shows his love one way and another another. The common scullion, +who, from year's end to year's end sees not inside the holy sanctuary, +may carry in his heart the divine image of God and pay him homage +every breath he draws; while he who walks in sacred robes and abides +ever in the shadow of the cross, taking part in all the forms, pomps, +vanities and varied monotony, may have Satan within him and breathes +out flames of hell as he intones. We can in all things beside religion +discern punctilio. There is no sect that has the control of the Holy +Spirit; it is the exclusive property of the individual who gains the +right and title of it by the keeping of the ten commandments. So, if +thou art sure thou dost love the youth, and art most sure he loves +thee sincerely, then--" + +"Then, indeed, I am most happy; for I am sure he is noble and good +and--loves me." + +"When didst thou learn that he loved thee; for if I mistake not, thou +wert recently bent upon marrying one Adrian Cantemir, who, I must +declare, is altogether unworthy of a maid who doth possess such +virtue." + +"I have learned to since--since--I can't tell when--I knew I loved +him--yesterday--the day before. I know it now. I tremble when I think +of how well I love him. I have been so uncertain, Father. I thought I +loved this one, and then another, and for a time I was not sure I knew +what love was. Then it came to me on a sudden that I would rather die +than live all my life without the one I so desired. And yesterday I +knew of a certainty that I loved and that I was loved." + +"Yesterday?"--and the priest winced, and there was pain in the tone of +his voice as he uttered the word. + +"Aye, yesterday--I was thinking. I thought of his kindness to me--of +the deference he has shown me, of his great patience toward me; and I +saw how well he loved me." + +"Was it the King's son, my child?" + +"Nay, one not nearly so gentle as the Duke. He is more noble at heart +and hath a most noble name. He hath a handsome countenance, more +even than the Duke's, and Janet says he hath the finest mould in all +England. Indeed, I do not know so much about such things, but I am +sure his hands are near as small as mine, but with a grasp like iron. +He is wonderfully strong and hath an awful stamp when in rage, and his +temper is most violent and bad, and his tongue is vicious;--indeed, +Father, I know not what to do with his oaths. They frighten me." + +"Perhaps if thou shouldst go to him and ask in all gentleness, he +would leave off blasphemy." + +"But I have no influence with him. When anger takes him, he is +terrible." + +"Then I'm afraid he does not love thee." + +"Aye, he loves me; but wants his own way, and--to be sure, I love him +quite as well when he does have his way--which is not often. Janet +says I provoke him to swear." Again the priest started and his white +hands trembled suspiciously. + +"And how dost thou so provoke him, child?" + +"He would marry me straightway and give me not time to know whether I +wanted him or not, and I refused and he fell into an awful fury and +swore oaths and I could not stop him,--Father, I said I hated him, and +now he so believes, and I would have him think otherwise; yet I would +not tell him for the world. When I meet him, it shall be--with cold +looks." + +"Then how is he to know thy mind?" + +"I know not." Katherine shook her head dolefully. + +"Then when he greets thee, why not smile at him and look thy +feelings?" + +"I know not, only 'tis my way. I shall love to hear him plead again. I +hated to hear it once; but now--'twill be like music." + +"What if he is cold to thee?" + +"If he is cold, I will go to him and ask him to forgive me for what I +have done." + +"Then thou art culpable?" + +"Aye, I fear I am, for he now suffers for my fault, or rather for his +love of me." + +"But if he greets thee with all love and holds out his arms to thee?" + +"Then I shall be most happy, but shall act indifferently." + +"I am afraid thou dost treat a serious matter lightly; for 'tis a +fickle thing; if he meets thee with open arms, thou wilt be cruel; +if he greets thee coldly, thou wilt be indifferent--for fear of thy +maiden scruples. What if he takes thee unawares?" + +"How, unawares?" + +"He might trick thee into a thing thou couldst not recede from. If +thou didst find thyself so placed, wouldst thou forgive him and love +him just the same?" + +"I must always love him, no matter what trick he plays;--but he will +play me no trick. If he should again threaten to lock me up, as he has +done heretofore, I would go to him and say,--'Nay, I will marry thee +now, Cedric!'" + +"God, Kate! Kate!" And the priest threw his arms about her, almost +crushing her in his great embrace. The cowl slipt from his head and +his dark curls swept her face as he bent over her. Instantly she knew +him and straightway fell into a rage. + +"Thou, thou, Lord Cedric, dare to receive confession from one whose +life thou hast no part in. Dost thou know the penalty of such +wickedness? All evil will be visited upon thee for playing the part of +a holy priest. Indeed, of all the sins I had deemed thee capable, I +had ne'er thought of one so wicked as this!" She fell back in +the corner of the coach in such fury, she could not find further +utterance. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +UNPROCLAIMED BANNS + + +"Indeed, Mistress Penwick, I asked not for thy confessions. But now +that I have heard them, 'tis my meed to be punished by thy sharp +tongue for that I could not help. Come, Sweet, forgive and love me. +Have I not suffered enough?" + +"Lambkin, I am out of all humour with thee. Thou art half a termagant, +I admit!" + +"And thou, too, wert privy to this deception. I am truly without +friends!" and the maid began to weep softly behind her handkerchief. +Lord Cedric was beside himself with his folly. + +"If I only could have withstood thee; but how could I with thy tender +words and thy closeness--" + +"There is nothing accomplished but mistakes!" Janet ventured, being +impatient with both Cedric and Kate. + +"--Kate!--Kate! dost not thou know how I have longed for thee; how my +heart has ached in thine absence? Those two whole days I lay abed were +like so many years, and when I thought of thy danger, I fell into a +fever and I arose and leapt upon the fleetest steed and rode until my +fever cooled; and then--when I had thee once more, I could not keep +from thee longer; I resolved upon this plan that I might be with thee, +and ride by thy side. And thou dost murder me outright. Thou dost kill +me, Kate! I was a fool to undertake it, I know; but I thought of two +whole days I should be separated from thee and felt I could not bear +to wait. Thy words, Kate, were so sweet. Kate, come to me once more +and see how loving I can be. Let me dry thy tears,--let thy head rest +here upon my heart and close thine eyes and dream--dream, Kate, of +what we must be to each other, and then wake and find me bending over +thee. Come, Sweet, come!" He sought her elusive fingers and tried to +draw her to him with a tenderness she could hardly withstand; but she +would not unbend, drawing from him, sinking further into the corner. + +"And did Sir Julian know of this ruse of thine?" she asked, haughtily. + +"Janet, methinks the maid speaks with thee!" + +"What is it, Lambkin? I was not listening." + +"I will wait until the storm ceases, perhaps thou wilt find thy +hearing by then." There was a long silence within the coach. The tears +of Mistress Penwick were dried and she sat sullen, deliberately trying +to hate Lord Cedric. There came a sudden burst of thunder that turned +the tide of her thoughts from him to Sir Julian, who rode by her +window constantly. At every flash of lightning she saw his spurs +glisten, saw the foam fly from the bits of his horse's bridle. He rode +there in the storm, heedless of all but her safety and comfort, he +that had wounds on his body that spake of great deeds of nobleness and +valour! Why should he care for her so? Like a flood he swept into +her heart, and she accepted his presence with gladness--shutting out +Cedric as well as she was able. She inclined her head toward the +window and watched the handsome figure of Sir Julian with a new +interest. His form, so like that of Cedric, she began to compare with +ancient warriors she had read about and seen pictures of,--then his +tender and meaning hand pressure recurred to her, and she flushed +mightily. After awhile she fell to thinking of the Duke of Monmouth, +the tender thoughts of whom she had not yet resigned,--such were the +vacillations of the mind of strong, warm, youthful Mistress Penwick. + +The storm grew furious, and the wind blew such a gale it appeared at +times as if the trees swept the earth. They bended and swung rudely, +brushing hard against the windows. In the midst of its severity the +coach came to a stand-still and Lord Cedric threw open the door. Janet +leant quickly toward him,-- + +"I pray thee not to go forth in the storm, my lord; 'tis enough to +give thee thy death." + +"Nay, nay, Janet, 'twill not be summer rain that will kill me, but +cold looks and threatening mien." And he stepped out into the night. + +"What, Lambkin, if Lord Cedric should catch cold and die? 'Twould kill +thee, too; for remorse would give thee no rest." + +"I never so disliked him as I do now. I never want to see him again. +How shall I look him in the face after confessing such things? I shall +die of shame. That is all he wanted to hear me say, and--he heard +it--and that is all the benefit he will get." Again she fell to +weeping, finding she could wring no sympathy from Janet, who sat +coldly listening to her nursling's plaints. + +They reached Crandlemar late the second evening, tired and weary. The +Duchess of Ellswold greeted them with a happy countenance, so pleased +that she could make known to them that her lord was better and the +physicians had given permission to remove him to his own county seat. +Her greeting to Katherine in particular was evidently a forced one; +she feeling sorely distressed at her capricious nature. + +Never did the great old seat look so beautiful as it did in its +midsummer glory. Mistress Penwick had arisen early and walked out upon +the rich greensward. She wandered from place to place, enjoying the +gorgeous fullness of leaf and bloom. She felt a strange disquiet, a +longing for love and knowing not the meaning of her unrest vainly +tried to find comfort in the beauty of the outer world, that only +inclined her heart the more to its desire. She passed from flower to +flower, endeavouring to 'suage the uprisings of Cupid. Suddenly she +heard the organ peal forth, and straightway she entered the library +to hear those great, soothing chords the better. She, being shaken by +love, fell upon her knees and tried to pray for comfort, for she felt +at the moment she had not one to comfort her. Janet had been taciturn, +showing not her affection as had been her wont heretofore. The tears +came, and she wept aloud. Then the organ ceased and a moment later Sir +Julian stood upon the landing of the stairway, looking down upon her. +Without noise he descended and stood by her side. His voice, when he +spoke, appeared shaken as if a storm of love wrought upon it. + +"Katherine! It pains me to see thee thus. Can I not give thee some bit +of comfort?" + +"I am comforted already, Sir Julian; thy music did that." + +"Then why dost still remain with bowed head and thy sobs unassuaged?" + +"I do not know. I must either laugh or cry and--'tis easier to do the +latter." + +"Come! Mistress Penwick, what can I do for thee? Ask, I pray, +anything, for thy happiness--Katherine--" and for the first time in +his life he looked guiltily about him. But no one was near to hear +him, and he continued lowly--"thou dost know, surely, that man cannot +look on thee without loving?" and he raised her from her knees. + +"I am unloved," she answered, the social lie tinging her cheek to a +brighter hue. + +"Not so, for I love thee." + +"Thou, thou, Sir Julian, who art used to spurning woman's heart?" + +"Not spurn, nay! I have not found one yet I could do that to, and on +the other hand I have found but one I could love, and--that is thine." + +"Ah, Sir Julian. I wonder if thou dost love me. 'Tis a great thing to +be loved by one who has fought in great battles." + +"And thou dost not know that the battle of hearts is much deadlier +than that of arms?" + +"I do not know; but thou seemest like a warrior of olden time. And for +thee to love me!" + +"Is it enough? Wilt thou give thyself to me?" There was a silence so +long and unbroken Katherine was made to realize that her reply was +not to be lightly uttered, so she answered with all the strength of a +plaything of caprice,-- + +"If thou wilt have it so, Sir Julian, I will be thine." + +She had hardly finished, when he laid his lips, to her astonishment, +coldly and with formal grace upon her forehead. + +"I will not ask thee if thou lovest me, but will say instead dost +think thou mayest?" + +"But I think I love thee now--" + +"Nay, sweet Mistress, thou dost not--" A look of fear came into her +eyes. Had Lord Cedric told her confessions? Nay, nay! he would not, +she knew. + +"How dost come by so much knowledge?" she said, coquettishly. + +"I have ascertained by subtleness, but--let it pass. Let us talk of +thee now. When wilt thou marry me? If thou art kind, thou wilt say at +once." + +"Nay, I shall not say that--but--whenever thou dost wish it." + +"Of a surety? When I name the hour, wilt thou not gainsay?" + +"Nay, my lord. I will not gainsay." + +"Then--at eleven, Katherine." She caught her breath quickly and cried +forth,-- + +"This day, Sir Julian! Indeed, thou art in haste, I--I--" + +"Thou hast given thy word. At eleven, Katherine." + +"By sands or dial?" + +"Ah, sweet Katherine, both shall have a bridal favour. We will confer +with each. When the golden sand runs out at the eleventh hour, the +dial will be alone and in shadow; for if it please thee, we must be +wed secretly and in haste. I noticed but awhile ago how beautiful the +dial was. So the sands shall give us the hour, the dial the altar, and +the nightingale the nuptial mass." + +"But the priest, Sir Julian--" + +"He shall give us the blessing--" + +"Nay, nay; where wilt thou find a priest?" This was not an unexpected +question, and Sir Julian was ready for it. + +"Lord Cedric's Chaplain can wed us as securely as one of thy church, +and as there is no one else, he will serve, will he not, Katherine?" + +"Until we find a better." + +"Then, not to arouse suspicion, to-night at eleven thou wilt come to +the sun-dial and I will meet thee at the foot of the stair that leads +from thy chamber to the terrace, and then--'twill be soon over and +thou, thou, Katherine, will be--wife. Wilt not regret it,--art sure?" +he repeated as she shook her head negatively. + +"But why do all men appear in such haste to wed? I would have time to +at least think upon it." + +"Dost forget that at any moment may come a courier from the King to +recall thee; and if so, thou wouldst be obliged to go and be separated +from us, perhaps forever? Thou dost not know what may befall thee +at any moment. Thou dost belong to France, and art hostage to +England--thou wilt be ready at eleven?" + +"Aye, at eleven." + +"We will be cautious and not speak above a whisper. The Chaplain will +speak low, too; but he is a good soul and would make us fast wed +whether we heard him or not." Again he kissed her forehead; she turned +rose-red and ran from him hastily. She thought not once of Cedric. Had +she done so, 'tis possible she never would have gone to the dial that +summer night. She flew to her chamber aflame with this new thing she +thought was love. And felt relief that soon Sir Julian, the strong and +brave, would take away all her discomfort. He would fight her battles +for her, go with her to the King and stand by her side and his Majesty +would not dare to offer her insult. It would be a sweet task to +convert Sir Julian to her faith. He would became a great Catholic +leader. Her breast fairly swelled with pride in anticipation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE ESPOUSAL + + +Night had come richly laden with the perfume of many flowers, that the +darkness seemed to make more pungent, and more distinct to the ear +the night sounds. There was no moon, and the thick foliage produced a +deep, dark density, mysterious and sweet. The grand terraces about the +castle were still, save for the buzz of summer insects and the low, +sleepy twittering of birds. There was not a star to be seen and only +the glow-worm lent an occasional lilliputian effulgence to the great, +dark world. All within the castle appeared to have retired earlier +than usual; perhaps for the purpose of an earlier awakening, as their +Graces of Ellswold were to set out early on the morrow morning, aiming +to make some great distance on their journey before the heat of +midday. At a quarter after the hour of ten Janet had kissed her +mistress, leaning over her pillow with even more affection than usual. + +"Good-night, my Lambkin, my child, my precious maid--good-night and +God bless thee!" then snuffed the candles and left her. + +Katherine gave no thought to regret, indeed she went so far as to +smile at Janet's consternation, when she should find out that for +once her "Lambkin" had fooled her. Quickly she leapt from her bed and +dressed herself for the first time alone. Though her fingers were deft +and skillful at the tapestry frame, and neat and clever at limning, +they were slow and bungling when drawing together the laces of her +girdle, indeed 'twas very insecurely done, and when she was dressed +she had forgotten her stays, and but for the lateness of the hour +would have disrobed and donned them. It seemed like an endless task to +try and dress again by the poor light of the single candle, screened +by her best sunshade in the far corner of the room. She had donned +a pale, shimmering brocade. About her neck she twined her mother's +pearls, and took up the opal shoulder knot of Cedric's mother's and +was about to fasten it when some subtle thought stole the desire from +her, and she laid it back in the casket with a sigh. Instead, she +placed a bunch of jasmine as her shoulder-brooch, and extinguishing +the light went forth to meet her husband by the sun-dial. + +She passed out by the door that led on to a small balcony and a-down +the flight of outside stairs that were covered with vines in purple +bloom. Although the darkness was almost impenetrable, she could +distinguish a form waiting at the foot of the stair. For an instant +she paused and whispered timourously,-- + +"Who art thou?" + +"Julian," came as softly back, and a white hand was stretched out to +her. Down she flew, intrepid. + +"Would I send another to meet thee; didst thou think to turn back, my +Katherine?" + +"Nay, I should not have turned back; but 'twas assuring to hear thy +name. I am not afraid, yet--yet I tremble." + +"And 'tis sweet of thee so to do; 'tis maidenly that thou shouldst; +'tis the way of woman. Thou art not afraid, yet thou dost tremble; +thou dost try to be brave, yet thou must be assured, and I am here by +thy side to assure thee ever," he whispered in her ear. + +Down they swept across the upper terrace. Slowly they crossed the +greensward, with fairy-like light of firefly to illumine the way; +speaking as lovers will, with bated breath. The wind blew gently now +and again, casting a shower of petals upon them as they passed. When +the leaves shone white, the cavalier would say: + +"We are so blessed, nature herself doth sprinkle the bridal path with +flowers;"--or, when there fell a darksome shower, Katherine would +press close to her lover's side and say,-- + +"Indeed, Julian, these are petals from those blood-red roses that have +hung in such profusion all summer. It may have some significance. I +believe I must return; 'tis not too late to recede." + +Then the cavalier drew her closer than before, and so tenderly did +plead with her, she forgot her fears. So step by step they neared the +thicket where stood the ancient sun-dial that was well-nigh hid with +bridal roses. + +The Chaplain stood ready; his fragile, pale countenance, hid by the +darkness. There was no faltering now. Katherine did not think to turn +back; that her heart was not with Sir Julian, that she would ever +regret this greatest moment in her life, but stood resolute. + +The Chaplain began the ceremony at once, and so softly one could +scarcely hear a yard away. Katherine was agitated with the thought +that she was really being wedded, and hardly heeded when the Chaplain +raised or lowered his voice; appearing almost like one in a dream, so +blinded was she with the glamour of her new estate. + +At last the Chaplain said the final words, pronouncing the twain as +one, and gave his blessing in a somewhat stronger voice that carried +in it a note of triumph, and was about to step down from the pedestal +of the dial when there flew out from the darkness a young man with +drawn sword, who dashed immediately upon the young husband. Barely had +the cavalier time to draw aside his wife, and drawing his sword as he +did so, when his _de trop_ guest made a fierce attack upon him. The +young husband cried out as he met the thrust,-- + +"Nay, nay, nay, by God nay!" It appeared his antagonist was becalmed +of speech, for he answered not but struggled to do so. Failing to find +his voice, however, he gave a lunge, which was met by a parry that +made him mad, and for a moment ground his teeth as fiercely as he +wielded his sword. The young cavalier threw himself on guard in carte, +which sent his opponent to giving such thrusts that quickly betrayed +his lack of skill and also his deadly intentions. These were met by +quick parries. Then the mad antagonist made a sweeping bend and thrust +at the cavalier's heart. This was met with a disengage. The mad youth, +well spent with anger and want of breath, broke out pantingly,-- + +"Thou wouldst play the honourable as thou playest the part of Sir +Ju--" His last word was cut short by a quick thrust of steel that +felled him to the sward. Mistress Katherine stood as if frozen, her +hands held tightly in those of the Chaplain, who whispered that it +might cost her husband his life should she interfere. He also assured +her, saying that the adversary was no swordsman, as she herself soon +saw. Some one came running from the castle at the same time Katherine +knelt beside the fallen man. But her husband whispered quickly,-- + +"Nay, nay; arise, Sweet; he is unworthy thy solicitude. Come with me. +I gave him but a puny thrust. The Chaplain will look after him." He +put his arm about her and raised her up and drew her away, saying, +much out of breath,--"I must not be seen, dost know?" She took fright, +fearing her lord's danger. Quickly they traversed the terrace and +reached the stair leading to Katherine's chamber. As she laid her hand +upon the railing, she said timourously,--"I would hear how serious is +the wound before I go inside!" + +"But, Katherine," he whispered, "'twas no more than the prick of a +pin; beside, dost not thou have anxiety for thy lover's freedom; hast +forgotten our lord's temper when he finds I have so disgraced his +house by fighting 'neath the very windows? And if the fellow can talk +and tells of the marriage, why, I'm undone, and they will begin a +search." All the while he led her further up the stair, she unwitting, +until they stood fairly inside the threshold and his foot struck +against some obstacle. + +"Sh-sh!" she enjoined, "Janet is within yonder room and will hear +thee; she may already be awake and prying about to know what is astir +upon the terrace!" + +"Indeed, I think thou hadst better hide me!" + +"Nay, I cannot; I know of no place. Dost thou not know of a safe +hiding?" + +"I am safest here in thy chamber, I am sure. I know of no other place. +And if Janet come--which I hardly think possible--thou must fly to her +lighted taper and blow it out, and tell some sweet fib,--say the light +pains thine eyes." + +"A ruse holds not good with Janet. I cannot play upon her wit." + +"Then, Sweet, I will lock the door and--" + +"Nay, nay, she will hear thee, and will come to see if I have been +awakened." + +"Then I had best keep quiet and wait to see what will happen." + +"There is naught else for thee to do, for surely thou canst not go +below, thou wouldst be seen, and--" + +"--and, what, Sweet?" + +"--and be taken prisoner." + +"And wouldst thou be pained, Sweet?" He drew her close, his dark curls +swept her face as he bent his head. Nor did he wait for an answer, but +plied her with another question that the moment and the closeness gave +license to. "Wilt give, Sweet, the nuptial kiss--'tis my due?" She +raised her head from his shoulder ever so slightly to answer him, but +the words came not, for his lips were upon hers. She was thrilled with +his tenderness; 'twas more than she ever could have thought. And as +he held her close, she, not unwilling, declared separation would be +instant death. She wondered how she ever could have withstood love so +long. And he kissed her again and again, saying heaven could not offer +greater favour. "Dost feel happy now, Sweet?" + +She answered not, but stood, her head leant against the rare and +scented lace of his steenkirk, held captive, trembling with an ecstasy +too sweet to be accounted for. + +"Thou dost tremble, Kate; has thy fear not left thee yet?" + +"Nay," came soft and breathless from her full red lips. "I am still +afraid." + +"But what dost thou fear now, so close wrapped?" + +"I know not; 'tis a strange fear. If thou shouldst be taken from me, +I should die; 'tis this I fear most of all, and even for a +separation--nay, nay, I could not live." + +"Oh, Sweet, 'tis excess of gladness that thou art wife--wife, the word +alone fills me with rapturous exaltation. Wouldst be glad if we had +never met thus, should separation come?" + +"Nay, a thousand times, nay, these moments are worth more than all my +life heretofore." + +"Hast forgotten, I must leave the castle before very long, and an +_adieu_ must be said to thee?" + +"I have not forgotten, but 'twill only be for a day. 'Twould be +hazardous for thee to go until everything is quiet about." + +"And until I have quieted thy fears; until I have told thee of a +strong man's love--my love for thy glorious, youthful beauty. Thy +hair, Kate, is more precious than all the amber and bronze the world +holds; 'tis rich, soft and heavy, with glorious waves. Thy face so +filled with love's blushes warms my breast where it doth lie. The +glory of thy eyes that are ever submerging me in their azure depths. +Thy slender, white neck and graceful sloping shoulders. Indeed, Sweet, +thou art wonderfully made. There could not be a more perfect being. +And thou art mine, Sweet; 'tis a wonder that rough man could be so +blest. Thou dost often feign coldness, Kate, and now I wonder where +thou didst find such condition. 'Twas most unnatural, and how thou +couldst so well assume it--but I have found thy true heart. Sweet +Kate, thou hast at last fallen victim to Cupid's darts, and fortune +hath played me fair and put me in the way to receive such priceless +gift, whose dividends are to be all my own." His warm words came so +fast and he was so passionate and tender that Katherine took fright +and thought 'twas not like Sir Julian to be so, and yet to have him +otherwise? nay, she loved him thus, and she remembered the moment he +had pressed her hand as they rode through the forest; aye, he could be +as loving and tender as--as--She did not finish the thought, for her +lord's jewelled fingers had caught her hand and his arm held her +close, pressing her tenderly; his lips resting upon hers until she +grew faint with his ardour. + +At last night paled into dawn. The cocks began to crow lustily. About +the edges of the great windows in the chamber the light began to peep +as if loath to cast one disturbing glance athwart the room. There was +a fluttering sigh from the folds of the maiden's handkerchief as her +lover bent over her, saying,-- + +"_Adieu_, Sweet, _adieu_ once more. Let me kiss thy eyelids close +until they pent these tears that parting hath wrung from thee, and +yet, were they not, I would be without weapon, void of panoply, +equipped not--" + +"But thy urgent tongue and tenderness doth armour thee for conquest!" + +"Aye, 'tis love's armour; but thy tears make me strong to enter strife +with men. I know 'tis love drives thee, and when that love is for me, +I can win all battles." + +"Thou must haste before dawn, or thou wilt be taken; for we do not +know whether the young man still lives; and Lord Cedric will kill thee +if he can." + +"There is no doubt but what he lives. His Grace's physicians have no +doubt healed the burden of his pain long ago. But do not thou think of +him, think only of this sweet night and--dream of our meeting again. +And if his lordship keeps thee prisoner, tell Janet thou art fast wed +and she will help thee to our _rendezvous_ to-morrow. Pray, Sweet, +that the day may be short, for now I see only cycles of time until the +set of morrow's sun." + +Dawn broke into a new day. Sunshine bathed old Earth in golden +splendour. The day grew warm, as higher and higher leapt Phoebus, +until he rested high and hot upon Zenith's bosom, causing all mankind +to pant by his excess. + +Slowly Katherine raised her lazy eyelids until the shining blue +beneath lay in quivering uncertainty. She smiled up at Janet, saying, +sleepily,-- + +"I've a notion not to arise to-day. 'Twill be long and wearisome, and +hot. What is the use? There is nothing in the world to get up for!" + +"Indeed there is a very great deal to get up for. 'Tis a glorious day. +The gardens are aglow with beauty and the air is fine, though warm." + +"I know, Janet, and 'tis thy desire that I arise, but the castle seems +most empty. Their Graces have departed and--" + +"Nay, not so. There has been a great change in the Duke, and the +physicians will not allow his leaving his couch." + +"Ah, I'm sorry! What time did this change take place?" said Katherine +with a feeling of subtleness that for once she had tricked Janet and +knew of great things that had happened in the deep night, when her +faithful nurse thought her in dreamland. + +"Her Grace says there was a great change in him yesterday, that she +noticed it as he ate his dinner." + +"And was there no change in the night?" said Katherine sagely. + +"Speak out, Lambkin, that 'tis on thy mind--if thou dost mean, was he +disturbed when the castle was aroused?--why, no, he was not." + +"But how didst thou know there was an arousal?" + +"I did play the simpering bride's maid, and stood for witness to thine +espousal." + +"Ah! ah! ah! Janet, I can keep no secret from thee!" Quickly she +sprang to the floor. Her foot struck her lover's sword. She stooped +and raised it, and there flashed forth from the jewel encrusted handle +the noble armourial bearings, charged upon a gold escutcheon, of Lord +Cedric's house. Wonderingly, she examined it and swept her brow with +the back of her slender hand. Slowly she spoke, and in a voice vibrant +with portent, her eyes now wide open. + +"This--this doth trend to set my brain a-whirl, and doth connive to +part sense from understanding and mind from body. To be sure, 'twas +dark,--and allowing that I was well-nigh intoxicated with love--my +brain could truly swear 'twas Sir Julian; and yet this he flung aside +doth confute reason, and I must either ponder upon the this and that +in endeavouring to conjoin mental and physical forces to sweet amity +or give over that reaching wife's estate hath made of me a sordid +fool, as hath it oft made woman heretofore. My senses up until I met +one of two at the foot of the stair, I could make affidavit on. The +mould of either could well trick the other, providing their heads were +as muddled as mine, and in this matter I am also clear. 'Twas meet +to speak lowly and the voice was not betrayed. But--there was some +restraint at first; for his words came slow and with much flaunting of +French--indeed 'twas overdone.--And the duel--ah! ah!--'twas Cedric's +'Nay, nay, nay!--' with an oath that had no note of Sir Julian in it. +And hard he strove not to fight, nor did he until the other cried out +to him--I see it all plainly; 'twas Cedric, 'twas Cedric! If I could +mistake all else, I could not mistake his passion; 'twas: 'Kate' this, +and 'Kate' that. Sir Julian never called me else than Katherine. And +his words were over plain, and in truth they became not so slow and +studied, and there was a leaving off of French. 'Twas he! Ah! and he +was so sweet and gentle and near drowned me by his tenderness--'twas +such sweet love--" Quickly she hid her blushing face in the pillow, +for she forgot she was speaking aloud. + +"Hast thou then married mind to body? If thou hast them well mated and +art sure thou art through espousing, I will straightway wed thee to +thy clothes, that thou mayest first pay thy respects to their Graces, +then go out into the sunshine and walk thee up and down for the half +of an hour, where, 'tis most like thou wilt find thy lord, who is too +impatient to remain indoors." + +"Nay, I shall not see him!" + +"Tut, Lambkin! thou wouldst not play the shrew to so noble a lord, +that soon, no doubt, will be a great Duke?" + +"He hath tricked and deceived me. I will punish him for it. Nay; I +have no mind to see him. I could not bear it, Janet. 'Twas this he +meant, for I wondered when he said he had fought two duels and had +been victor in both. Nay; he shall not see me nor I him." And with +these thoughts came others, and thus she fostered malice, promoting +but a puny aversion that she cherished the more for its frailty. + +"Art thou set upon affecting the manners of an orange girl?" + +"Janet, I would not make feint at that I am not." + +"Neither would I, if 'twere me, make feint at that thou art. If thou +hast the name of Lady, I would fit my demeanour to the word. And it +should be an easy thing, for thou art born to the manner." + +"But bad nursing doth corrupt good blood!" + +"And a froward child doth denote a spared rod!" + +"And moral suasion is oft an ethical farce!" + +"A votary of non-discipline is impregnable to ethics." + +"Oh, Janet, dear Janet, I am weary. How is the young man that was +wounded?" + +"The same as ever; save his ardour is somewhat cooled." + +"Thou dost speak as if thou hadst known him." + +"Indeed, any cock of the hackle is essentially commonplace." + +"But he carried the sword of a gentleman?" + +"Thou dost mean he carried a gentleman's sword." + +"Dost thou know who he is, Janet?" + +"I have not inquired." + +"In other words, thou didst see him. And 'twas--I am sure--Adrian +Cantemir." + +"'Twas none other." + +"I will go down now and see their Graces." + +"Art sure thou wilt not see thy lord?" + +"Aye, quite!" + +"Then--here this is for thee." She handed her a dainty billet, +scented with bergamot. Katherine took it in trembling haste, her face +rose-hued. It read: "To My Lady of Crandlemar. Greeting to my sweet +wife, Kate. I await my reprimand and sword. When I am so honoured, I +shall enlist to serve thee with my presence, which, until then, is +held by thee in abeyance. Thou canst not rob me of my thoughts, +which hold naught else but thee; nor yet that dainty girdle that did +encompass thy fair and slender mould. I have it on my heart, close +pressed; but it doth keep that it lieth on in turmoil by such +proximity. I know thou dost love me, even though I tricked thee. Janet +was to tell thee this morning who thy true lord is, for, Sweet, I +would have no other image but mine in thy heart, for soon--soon--aye, +in a very short time--I may be a prisoner in the Tower. Do not think, +Sweet, this is a ruse--but should I be taken where I might not see thy +face, 'twould be sweet to know thou didst hold my image, dear. +Forgive me, Sweet, and--_au revoir!_--Perhaps thy heart will relent +before--before the nightingale sings.--Relent, sweetheart, wife." Kate +pressed the billet to her lips without thinking, then turned her +back quickly to hide the action; but 'twas too late. Janet had been +watching every movement and was satisfied. + +"I wish I had not opened it; such letters are disturbing. Janet, go +below and find if I may see her Grace without meeting any one." When +alone, she devoured again and again the billet, and as Janet returned, +thrust it quickly within the bosom of her gown. + +"His lordship has returned from the terrace and is in the picture +gallery. Her Grace wishes to see thee and waits breakfast." + +For an hour Katherine was with the Duchess, who talked very plainly of +the possible death of her husband and the duties of a great estate and +noble name that would fall to Cedric and his wife to keep up. Nor +did she let the young wife go without telling her into what an awful +condition she might not only lead herself but Cedric, when she allowed +her caprice to manage her better self. It did her ladyship much good, +and she sauntered out upon the lawn and shyly sought the sun-dial and +brought from it a nosegay of bridal-roses and fled, shamefaced, with +them to her own chamber, there to seat herself by the open window to +wait and watch for her young lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CEDRIC IN THE TOILS + + +In the French colony where lay the valuable lands of Sir John Penwick, +there was a lively insurrection of the English. The Papist party, who +had built and lived upon the property for the past ten years, was +strong, having among the Protestants lively adherents who were +Catholics at heart and wore the Protestant cloak that they might the +better spy upon them. The English, being so much the weaker, had been +lead by a few men who were bought by the Catholics. La Fosse had had +to do with these few men only, when he had made a show of settling +Sir John's affairs. These men had heretofore held the secret of the +hostage; but recent events had stirred them to strife and they had +fallen at variance over the spoil. The secret had been let out. The +English rose in arms when the French suggested that such a small +colonial matter should be settled among themselves; 'twas a shame to +bother the Crown. + +Upon the sudden outburst, Sir John made his escape from prison. The +French said he had been stolen by the English and immediate reparation +must be made; his person or a ransom must be had. Or, if they would +give up all claim to the property and child,--the latter being +produced at once--the French were willing to call the matter +settled. Indeed, this was all they wished, and if Sir John could be +conveniently made away with forever, and it proven that the English +had accomplished it, they would certainly be entitled to his +hereditaments. + +Buckingham held the key to the situation. He saw a way to pay a ransom +for Sir John; also a way to gain enough gold from the enterprise to +make himself independent for life. He found Sir John in London, +but not until after Cantemir had gained the former's confidence. +Buckingham took alarm at Cantemir's knowledge and insisted upon Sir +John removing to a place of greater seclusion; it being feared that he +would be murdered. + +Sir John was fond of the Duke, and beside taking his advice, he laid +bare his heart and told him of his great distress over Katherine. +Cantemir had said that she was being held dishonourably by the old +lord's son, who was profligate and only sought her favour without +marriage. + +Buckingham assured him to the contrary, and made him acquainted with +the true circumstances; not failing to tell him of Mistress Penwick's +unsettled disposition; her ambitions, and intractable nature; that +she was refractory and vexatious; petulant and forever thwarting Lord +Cedric's advances. + +The Duke concluded this friendly visit by insinuating strongly--that +Sir John might infer--that the friendship which amounted to nothing +less than love, between himself and Lord Cedric, would alone--barring +the question of a beautiful daughter--suffice to bring the latter to +a full appreciation of Sir John's case. And if a ransom was decided +upon, as being the surest means for his immediate safety, my Lord +Cedric would pay and not feel its loss. + +"And," went on the Duke, "when chance or design brings thee together, +if thou wouldst not be made to feel utterly unhappy, mention not the +matter to him. He is eccentric like the old lord, and would fall +into the spleen, which condition, when entered into by his lordship, +becomes of the temperature of that nondescript bourne the other side +of Paradise." + +Buckingham knew that two emissaries were upon the seas from the New +World. They were coming to interest the King in behalf of Sir John. So +far the Duke had kept everything from his Majesty and must also keep +these "bumpkins" from tormenting him with importunities of so rustic a +nature as "western lands." + +But the Duke had made provision,--should his designs be curtailed by +laches--delegating himself to the post of intercessor, whereby he +could fool both the King and the emissary. Serious injury would be +done to no one, unless Cedric might feel poor for a short time. But +what were the odds; the Duke of Ellswold would soon die and Cedric's +wealth would be unlimited. He would, with a handsome young wife, +forget his finances ever were in depletion. + +Buckingham had already disposed of some of Sir John's jewels and +rare laces, brought over by La Fosse and stored in the chest at +the monastery. There was, however, in the great Duke a vein of +compunction, and for its easement he had refrained from selling some +rare and costly miniatures belonging to Sir John's wife, evidently +handed down through a long line of consanguinity. These he resolved in +some way to return; perhaps he should find it convenient to present +them to Mistress Penwick. + +And so the thick, fierce clouds rolled up and gathered themselves +together, hanging low, over the head of handsome, careless, rich, +young Lord Cedric. + +The village of Crandlemar was indignant that he had allowed to +exist for so long a time the privilege of the monastery. And these +exceptions, with a hint of some foul murder committed at the castle, +reached the nobles roundabout and stirred up a general demur. Beside, +it was whispered in the shire-moot that the woman about to be espoused +by him was a rank Papist and had already placed popish pictures about +the Chapel that was contiguous to the castle. This was all that +possibly could be said against her, as she was known to be most +gracious to the poor Protestants in and about Crandlemar; giving +equally to both factions with a lavish hand. But these matters were +all brought up to militate against his lordship. + +Lord Cedric was already feeling the first thrusts of his enemy, +Misfortune; for 'twas very evident that his Grace of Ellswold was +near his death. Warming-pans were of no avail. He grew very cold; his +extremities were as ice; while the attendants of his bed-chamber were +as red as cooked lobsters from the natural heat of the midsummer's day +and the steaming flannels that were brought in at short intervals. + +Her Grace walked back and forth outside his door continually, Lord +Cedric joining her at times. + +The Castle seemed inured to quiet by his Grace's long illness; but now +there fell a subtle silence that presaged the coming of an unwholesome +visitant. In a room apart lay Adrian Cantemir, weak and sick, but +cursing every breath he drew; excited at times to actual madness, and +saying,--Why had he come a minute too late? Why had he not followed +his own inclinations and broken away from the gambling table at the +inn an hour earlier? such thoughts making him absolutely furious. + +He had arrived some time after dark at Crandlemar village, and, +putting up at the hostelry, he resolved to pay his visit to the castle +early on the morrow. He was now beginning to feel that he was destined +to gain his point, or why had he so far thwarted Lord Cedric, and why +had he escaped the anger of the monks by a well worded and quickly +manufactured tale, and even gained their help by it, when they found +him bound in the passage, left so by Buckingham. So he had felt +somewhat at ease, but love and ambition were strong and stirred him to +leave wine and cards and ride out into the open; and, unwitting it may +be, to the castle gates. He travelled without groom; so fastening his +horse, he entered the avenue a-foot, soon reaching the dark pile of +stone which appeared in absolute darkness. Aimlessly he left the +avenue and sauntered across the terraces. He had heard a peculiar low +murmuring of voices and drew near only to hear Katherine made the +wife of another man; hardly understanding until the Chaplain gave the +blessing. He knew what Katherine did not; that she was the wife of +Lord Cedric and not Sir Julian. He flung himself with all his fury +upon the bridegroom to no avail, as has been seen. + +These inflammable thoughts, as Cantemir rehearsed them over and over, +set his brain afire and before night he was in a fever. The kind and +gentle Lady Bettie Payne, who had arrived late in the afternoon, had +gathered nosegays and made bright his chamber, for she truly had +compassion upon him. He called her Katherine, as she gave him cooling +draughts with her own hand. + +Lord Cedric was somewhat surprised the next evening to that of his +wedding to see the Duke of Buckingham standing in the great hall of +the castle. And when the Duke's business was thrust upon him, there +came also dark forebodings; a separation of indefinite length from his +young wife, should he be taken to the Tower. Great was his surprise +at the Duke's first words, for they were that Katherine's father was +alive and well and in London. He gave quickly the whole story of Sir +John's escape, also the attempt to recapture him. Then came what his +Lordship expected;--a request for a fortune. Of course, while Cedric +thought the amounts asked would not be wholly a loss, yet he knew the +amounts allowed of a great margin of perquisites, and to whom these +perquisites would go, he could guess. However, without question or +complaint, he agreed to give what the Duke asked for; indeed the +matters were settled there and then. + +"If Sir John's life is in danger, I know of no better place of safety +than here. He had better come with all haste--'twould be my wife's +desire!" + +"Wife, so soon?" And the great Duke raised his eyebrows--a small +action, but with him it had a world of meaning in it. "I congratulate +thee, my lord, but--if her ladyship knew the danger that would beset +her father upon such a journey, I feel sure she would wait patiently +a time that must of necessity be of some length. I beg my lord not to +think of bringing Sir John hither. As I hinted before, if this matter +is brought out and he is proven guiltless of those little matters +hinted of, then he could meet her without this heaviness that so +weights him. I am sure if such a thought as meeting his daughter were +mentioned, he would heartily beg for its postponement and--especially +now that she is my Lady of Crandlemar." It stood Buckingham much in +hand to keep Sir John and Lord Cedric from meeting, for he had, not +only told truth, but had heartlessly impugned the former's character +to line his own pocket with the latter's wealth. The truth of the +matter was that he was tight caught in a network of financial and +political intrigue, and this was the only means to disentangle +himself. + +After this first business was settled, a second affair was introduced +and the Duke spoke of his lordship's matters at Court. He said: + +"The King is hard pressed by the nobles--or a portion of them. They +insisted that thou wert aiding the Catholics in such a manner that +the lives of Protestants in this vicinity were in danger. They even +whisper that a plot is being formulated to murder Monmouth. The King +felt it incumbent to send for thee, and as the courier was about +to start forth, he received word that the messenger he had sent in +pursuit of my Lady of Candlemar had been foully dealt with by no other +hand than thine. This stirred the King into a frenzy and straightway +he charged thee with treason and--one comes now to take thee to the +Tower or wherever it pleases his Majesty to put thee. Indeed, he may +have so far forgiven thee by the time thou dost see London, he will +offer thee half his bed or--any unusual favour. So take heart. The +King loves thee." The illness of Ellswold precluded the Duke from +paying any visits within the castle, and he hastened back to London. + +Lord Cedric felt if he could only tell Katherine that her father was +well and in London, it might bring a reconciliation, and his eyes +wandered to the hour-glass, and as he noted the golden sands, he +thought there was yet time for a lover's quarrel and then a sweet +making-up, which should have no limit of time; but, alas! such +blissful moments would doubtless be cut short by the arrival of +the King's messenger. All of a sudden a wicked thought came, as he +remembered how but a few moments before she had turned coldly from him +as he met her in the gallery, and he resolved 'twould be a good time +to make her feel a little of how he had suffered. Separation from her +was all he feared now, and she could not help that. She was fast tied +to him, and he was satisfied; and now why not torment some of those +Satanic whims out of her. "Aye, 'tis the thing to do!" Even as he +thought of her, she had gone with Janet and Lady Bettie to Cantemir's +chamber, for the latter in a lucid moment begged Lady Bettie to bring +her to him. He gave her the letter he bore from her father, requesting +her to come to him at once. She was quite beside herself with joy; +yet, such is human nature, she on a sudden was in no hurry to leave +Lord Cedric. Then she thought he might go with her--but she never +would ask him. So after much thinking and feverish deliberation, she +sent the letter to him by Janet. Cedric compared the handwriting with +the letter he still carried of Sir John's. There was no doubt that the +chirography was the same. He was again thwarted by the Russian. He was +to gain his wife's ear by this very news. But there were other ways, +and he said,-- + +"I have but a few moments to spend with her ladyship; go to her and +tell her so; say that a courier is now upon the highway and--will soon +arrive to conduct me to Tyburn-tree by order of the King--" + +"Good heavens, surely your Lordship is not serious!" + +"I have been forewarned, Janet. Go, tell her the news. Do not mince +the sorry tale. Let her have the weight of it--if weight it be for her +pent affection. Indeed, make it strong, blandish it with no 'ifs' or +'mayhaps' or 'possible chances of a change of mind with the King.' +Thou must make up quickly a whole catalogue of the horrors enacted at +Tyburn. Go, go, hasten thyself, good nurse. I will wait for her here." + +Hardly had Janet disappeared when the door again was thrown open and +the footman announced a gentleman upon the King's errand. 'Twas indeed +his Majesty's guardsman with his order, and Cedric listened with +flushed face and beating heart, not to what he said, but for the sound +of a silken rustle upon the great hall parquetry; and as he heard it, +he raised his voice and said sternly to the courier,-- + +"And this means Tyburn-tree--a farewell forever to my friends--" There +was at these last words a suspicious trembling in his tones that was +not wholly natural,--"an _adieu_ to all this world that begun for me +only--yesterday at the singing of the nightingale--" the sentence was +left unfinished, for Katherine now fell at his feet and embraced his +knees and said with blanched lips,-- + +"What is this horrible tale, my lord? Say 'tis not so!" Great unbroken +sobs made her voice tremble, and there was such extreme misery in her +face and attitude the guardsman was about to utter a protest, for the +order had said nothing of Tyburn, and at such unwarranted display of +grief at a summons--why he would put a stop to it; but his lordship +put up his hand. "Say 'tis not so," she repeated. + +"Nay, I cannot say it, for I know not what lies before me." Katherine +was unable to control her grief, and as it broke out, the guardsman +discreetly walked to the farther end of the room. Cedric had raised +her from the floor and half-supported her as she poured out her grief +in words of pleading and entreaty; but Cedric was as adamant, he would +not bend to offer any hope. This unbending quality she could not +understand, and took it as an omen of ill. In very truth she felt she +was to lose for all time her heart's idol. And when Cedric spoke to +the guard and told him he was ready to go, she cried "Nay, nay, nay!" +in such awful agony he came near relenting. She turned white and would +have fallen, had not Cedric supported her. Janet had already entered +the room and now came running to her mistress, whom she took in her +arms. Cedric turned to the guardsman, saying,-- + +"My wife is ill. If thou wilt return to London, I will follow within a +day or so!" + +"In the name of the King I beg my Lord of Crandlemar--" + +Janet broke in at this and said with a ringing voice,-- + +"Thy order is for the Lord of Crandlemar?" + +"It is, madam." + +"Then I will tell thee, sir, Lord Cedric of Crandlemar is not here. +This is the Duke of Ellswold." She turned to his lordship as she spoke +and saw his face grow white. He loved his uncle tenderly. There was a +moment of palpable silence; the guardsman bowed to the floor, and the +long plumes of his hat swept it in homage, as he raised his hand to +his breast. Katherine had swooned and did not hear Janet's assertion, +nor did she hear the King's other order for the Duke of Ellswold. +The King was aroused and would allow of no mischance. Cedric must go +before his Majesty at once. + +After a few moments in the death chamber, Cedric started for London. +Before they had reached the confines of the city, however, the news of +the old Duke's demise had reached the King, who was in high humour, +and the result was, a courier had been sent to tell Cedric to return +to his castle until after the funeral. So Cedric, accompanied by the +King's guard, rode on to the Seat of the Dukes of Ellswold, where in +the old Abbey there was much pomp in the putting away of the late +Duke. + +It was a great disappointment to Cedric not to see Katherine, and +he was grieved to learn she had not, after so many days, entirely +recovered from her swoon. He was consoled, however, by his aunt's +assertion that her illness was not serious. He turned from Ellswold +and hastened back London way, impatient to know why he was sent for, +and to have matters settled satisfactorily for all time, that he might +with an unburdened heart go to Crandlemar and claim his Duchess; who, +he now knew, would be the sweet and loving wife she should. He was +truly sad at the loss of his uncle, and for this cause alone he rode +into London with downcast appearance. He feared not the evils of the +Tower or Tyburn-tree or the menace of either Catholic or Protestant +party; neither the importunities of Buckingham; had he not now a great +fortune?--ah! but death had brought it him,--and the bitter was mixed +with the sweet. There were other matters to menace his peace of mind +that had not come until that very moment. What if the Crown should +confiscate his property; what was he to do with his wife? There was +his aunt, Sir Julian and Lady Bettie Payne, they would care for her. +Then his thoughts wandered to Constance, and for a while he half +believed he had forgiven her. Then he wondered if she had aught to do +with his present condition. + +The King in the meantime was not to be duped by Lady Constance. She +prided herself upon being discreet, but she was not enough so for the +King's sharp eyes. + +"Odd's fish," said he, "the boy is a woman!" And though he had a +saturnine and harsh countenance, his disposition was both merry and +lenient. He teased her unmercifully, threatening to promote so fine +a lad to a gentleman of his bed-chamber. He bade a woman bring some +clothing suitable for a female and gave the lady into the hands of +female attendants. + +The easy manner of the time gave the courtiers license to taunt her. +This made her very uncomfortable. The queen's ladies' eyes were upon +her. The King's mistresses, not recognizing her as a rival, poked fun +at her from behind their fans. But Lady Constance would bear a great +deal for the sake of gaining her point. She had posted herself upon +the King's affairs with the Duke of Ellswold, and was in a state of +great expectation when she heard that the latter was to be brought to +the Tower immediately after his uncle's funeral. His entire demesne +was out of his hands, he was sadly impoverished; this she bought from +Buckingham's menials. It greatly delighted her, for she had more +wealth than she knew what to do with, and Cedric, seeing her so +pampered by his Majesty, would surely begin to see what a great lady +she was, and perhaps would offer her some attention. She did not know +that Katherine was already the Duchess of Ellswold. She heard from +Monmouth that Mistress Penwick was to be brought to the palace at the +same time Cedric was brought to London, and that 'twas not altogether +sure whether his Grace of Ellswold would be taken to the Tower or be +made a Royal guest, as the King was first cursing, then praising the +new Duke. So Constance began to picture Cedric standing before her, +his face flushed as she remembered it to be, his eyelids that he knew +so well how to lower, then raise ever so slightly, sending forth from +beneath an amorous glance that made her tremble with a sweet thrill +of pleasure. Thus she lived from hour to hour, waiting for his Grace, +little guessing the awful disappointment that awaited her. She fairly +counted the moments. + +To her great joy she saw him again. He was brought to the palace, +instead of to the Tower. When the King saw the Duke, he forgot, or +appeared to forget, that the Duke was a prisoner, and openly embraced +him and had him placed near his own apartments. His Majesty was in +high good humour, hearing from the Duke's own lips that he had nothing +to do with the hiding away of his messenger, and explaining sundry +other matters to his satisfaction. "The Duchess," for so the Duke +spoke of Katherine for the first time before his Majesty, was unable +to arise from her couch, and therefore could not as yet be brought +to the palace. The King said he was pleased that so noble a Duke had +gained his point, even though he had outwitted his King. + +"Odd's fish, and to be separated so soon! it must not be!" + +Lady Constance was joyous when she saw Cedric arrive without +Katherine, but at once it made her very curious to know why the "wench +was left behind; for was it not the King's order?" She sent a maid to +inquire among the servants of the Duke. When the maid returned and +told her that Katherine was the Duke's wife, she fainted away. But +after a few hours of awful depression and heart-sickness she again +nerved herself to battle harder, if possible, than heretofore. + +The Duke's trial was begun, and nothing it seemed could be absolutely +proven against him. It appeared the King shut his eyes and ears to +anything that would incline against his Grace. Not so Constance, who +worked secretly. She was determined, if possible, to see him go to the +Tower, as the only immediate means of separating him from his wife, +who was expected any week at the Royal abode. She informed some of +the nobles that were against him that their principal witness, Adrian +Cantemir, lay ill from a sword thrust at Crandlemar Castle. To be +sure, they had almost forgotten the young man, who had been such a +leader in the beginning. This held the case in suspension and the Duke +still a prisoner; but the King gave him no time for thought; they +rode, walked, drank, theatred and supped together. If 'twere not for +the Duke's love for his wife, and his mourning for his uncle, which +cast so deep a shadow over his natural gaiety, 'twas possible he might +have been drawn by his Majesty into intrigues of a feminine character. + +Constance was ever throwing herself in his path, but he deigned not a +glance her way. She appeared content to watch him, whether he paid her +any attention or not. She was careful to learn of his fortunes, as the +King to appease the Protestant nobles had confiscated the Ellswold +estates and everything else that Buckingham had not taken. But this +sort of thing was a matter of form with his Majesty. His mind was +fully made up. He was not to be frighted or cajoled. He even went so +far as to assure the Duke that as soon as his character was proven, +giving the nobles no chance to gainsay, he should at once take +possession of his estate. The Duke, however, had only his jewels to +borrow on, and that was insufferable to his pride. He had a large +retinue to support, servants that were aged; these he must look after. +Thus matters stood for weeks and months. + +Cantemir was at last able to be moved, and was brought to London, +where he again tried to communicate with Sir John Penwick, but +Buckingham intercepted all letters. There also came word from the new +Lord of Crandlemar, that he was about to take up his abode in England. +This made Ellswold uneasy and impatient; for he had not money +sufficient to place his Duchess in his town house, had he been at +liberty to do so, for the great place had not been kept in repair and +it must be renovated according to her own ideas. If his trial could +only be at once and he could go for her and take her to Ellswold! The +King saw his unusual depression and gained from him a confession of +his troubles, and without letting the Duke know, sent for the Duchess, +who he said should remain at the palace until the Duke should be free +to go. When his Majesty told the Duke--for he could not keep the +secret--the latter was grateful and felt it was the only alternative, +and was much comforted that soon he should see and be with his +Duchess, who, he had learned had regained her colour and was in good +spirit. + +"The King, not caring for the pomp and state his predecessors had +assumed, was fond of exiling the formality practiced by a sovereign +and taking on the easy manners of a companion. He had lived, when in +exile, upon a footing of equality with his banished nobles, and had +partaken freely and promiscuously in the pleasures and frolics by +which they had endeavoured to sweeten adversity. He was led in this +way to let distinction and ceremony fall to the ground as useless and +foppish, and could not even on premeditation, it is said, act for a +moment the part of a King either at parliament or council, either +in words or gesture. When he attended the House of Lords, he would +descend from the throne and stand by the fire, drawing a crowd about +him that broke up all regularity and order of the place." In this free +and unrestrained way he had put his arm through the Duke's and said +confidently,-- + +"The House of Ellswold shall be honoured in an unusual way; that at +least should be a great comfort to thee; but I promise, no matter how +the Council act in these matters of thine, thou shalt soon enjoy the +comfort of thy new estate at Ellswold." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE COCOANUTS OF THE KING'S CELLAR + + +Matters at Crandlemar were comparatively quiet. There was nothing +unusual, unless indeed it was the assiduousness of the young Duchess, +who from morning until night ceased not to offer hecatombs for the +safety and freedom of her lord. She prayed, fasted and sacrificed for +her every desire. She gave alms, offering condolence and sympathy. +In her petitions she threw aside all contumely, calling the poorest, +sister. She allowed not her thoughts to go astray, striving +continually for a pure and meek heart, begging forgiveness for her +untowardness toward her husband. Perhaps one of the most remarkable of +her acts was the one performed at twilight--discovered by Janet, the +wise. + +The nurse went to seek her one evening, and found the young woman in +a dense cloud of blue that emanated from a costly thurible, which she +was swinging before the crucifix in the Chapel. Ascending with the +sweet incense was a psalm of contrition uttered from a truly penitent +heart. A tall candle burned, lighting up the white-robed figure, and +the filmy incense that enveloped it to a saintly vision. Though Janet +watched her mistress thus environed with sacredness, yet the deep +impression was somewhat charged with a sense of humour; "for," she +opined to herself, "people are so much more ridiculous in mending a +breach than they are in making it!" But Janet was not a Catholic, and +beside, she made few mistakes and could condone an offence only when +made by one she loved. Knowing Katherine as she did, she admired the +outward show more than the spirit, and thought of the two the former +was more stable. Katherine often prayed aloud, and Janet hearing her, +caught the burden of her prayer, and there was actual pain in her +voice when she cried out that Cedric might be forgiven for the murder +of Christopher. Now Janet knew that the lad had only been slightly +injured by Hiary and had fully recovered, and she determined to send +for him, and at the Vesper service introduce him into the Chapel and +thereby cause to cease her mistress' plaints. And so it came about in +the late autumn, when Crandlemar was about to receive its new master +from Wales, and the plate and all belongings of the Duke had been sent +to Ellswold, and Katherine herself was to set forth for London within +a few days, she entered the Chapel for her customary devotions. As she +prayed, she was aroused by the opening of the outer door. She looked +up and saw Christopher before her. Janet was surprised at her calmness +and was amazed when Katherine said to him that she had been expecting +to see him all day, as she had heard the evening before that he was +alive and had been seen near the castle grounds. Now it was impossible +to make Katherine think it was a direct answer to prayer, though Janet +did her best. But as it proved, a great weight had fallen from the +Duchess' heart, for she became perfectly joyous and positively +neglected her devotions in the Chapel. She was delighted to set forth, +for the moment had actually arrived, and within a few days she would +see Cedric, and, she hoped, her father also; but the latter's abode +was unknown to her, save only that 'twas in London. + +The night of her arrival at the Royal Palace had closed down dark +and stormy. The King and Queen, with the ladies and gentlemen of the +Court, had repaired to the Duke of York's theatre to see played the +"Black Prince," written by the Earl of Orrery. The King had insisted +upon the Duke of Ellswold accompanying them, but the latter declared +the play would be a torture, when he should be thinking that perhaps +his wife might arrive in his absence. Other thoughts also assailed +him, of which he hinted not to the King; but he was confident +Constance meant mischief, and he was unwilling to give her any chance +to put the weight of her anger on the Duchess. + +The great cream-hued chariot bearing Katherine rolled past the Mall +and up to the palace. The sleet was falling rapidly and the wind +blowing such a gale the sound of the coach was not heard by the Duke, +as he paced his chamber. She was trembling and eager, and heard not +the admonitions of Janet and Angel to mind the ice-clad step that was +let down. She was expectant and eager to see her spouse; but she stood +within her apartment and Janet was loosening her capes when the Duke +came bounding to her side. He took her in his arms and gazed and +gazed, and they minded not the presence of the two nurses, who on a +sudden became busy unpacking her Grace's chests. He kissed her until +her face was rose-red, and she was drunken with love. + +When Lady Constance heard that Katherine had arrived, she became very +impatient to catch one glimpse of her. She had heard many things about +the young wife, and she had her suspicions and upon them she formed +a plan to throw a taunt upon her Grace, bringing both Monmouth and +Cantemir into the case. She resolved to make Katherine as unhappy +as possible. She scrupled at nothing. Now the fair Constance prided +herself upon being a prisoner of the King; but she was not so certain +of his favour that she dare make one single open move against +Katherine. She must taunt her in secret; but how to do this was +puzzling, for she kept her apartment, partly from fatigue after her +long ride, and it may be from a disinclination to go abroad. So she +bided her time and ungraciously as she saw the popularity of the noble +woman grow and grow; she was fast becoming a great favourite. Indeed, +she was constantly visited by the King and Queen, and the greatest +ladies of the Court. The Queen had grown very fond of her, spending +hours in her company and oftentimes taking her for a walk or ride. +Before the Duchess had been within the Palace a month, she was +imitated in every way. Great ladies became so familiar, they would +take up her articles of the toilet and copy the manufacturer's name. +They in a short time were using the same concoction of rouge and +perfumes. Their maids must learn what Janet did for her mistress in +the way of baths, for "never was there such healthful and dainty +complexion." And when the Duke began buying cocoanuts by the wagon +load at an enormous expense, and 'twas known that her Grace drank the +milk of it by the quart, the King's cellar became too small to hold +the quantities that were brought to the ladies of the Court. And 'twas +said many of the young fops also used the milk for their complexion. +Constance had not yet ordered any of this fruit, but she ascertained +where the Duke's were kept and how it might be possible to obtain a +few of them for an object that was at least original. Before, however, +she resorted to the arts of chemistry, there was an opportunity to +give the Duchess a thrust. Two great chests were being unbound in +the corridor just outside of her Grace's door. Constance knew they +contained an elaborate and costly _layette_; so she hurried to her own +apartment and wrote in a disguised hand a billet that threw out the +worst of insinuations, and as a finale she added a _pasquinade_ copied +hastily from some low and bitter lampoon. She returned through the +corridor, and, unnoticed, thrust the paper into a crevice of one of +the chests. But Katherine never saw the billet, she was not disturbed +in the least, and her ladyship soon saw some one else had gotten hold +of it, for there was not a shadow on her Grace's face. This goaded +Constance to a perfect fury, and she resolved upon extreme measures. + +One very dark and stormy day she left the palace dressed as a servant, +and drove in a public conveyance to an old chemist's, who resided in +a remote portion of the city. Here she procured materials that if +properly handled and successively served would bring the youthful +Duchess to her death. She resolved in this case to work slowly and +cautiously, allowing of no mischance. It so happened the chemist did +not have the articles she required, but promised for a liberal sum to +procure them from a certain celebrated physician. This of course would +take some time. But the physician was in France and would not return +for at least a fortnight. So a fortnight went by and another and +another, until Constance' patience was exhausted, and as she went to +the shop for the last time, vowing to wait no longer, if the chemist +had not the things, lo! they were there; and after learning how simple +it was to use them, she hastened to the palace, there to be met by the +news that the Duchess had brought forth a son of rousing weight and +strength. Constance fell into a fever, and was obliged to keep her bed +for some weeks; then she arose and after being seen again among the +ladies of the Court and appearing as unconcerned as possible, when +speaking of the Ellswold heir, she found her way below stair and made +siege upon the King's cellar and looted a good dozen cocoanuts. + +She had procured from the chemist a protrusile instrument for letting +fluid through the hard outer covering, and in this manner intended to +inoculate the milk of the nut with a slow poison. These, of course, +after such treatment, would be returned to their fellows, and the +death of Katherine with that of the young lord would be assured. + +After a few trials she succeeded in obtaining a result that was +entirely satisfactory, if the hole thus made could be effectually +plugged. She filled the aperture with a viscous matter that would in +a few moments harden if placed in the sun, and to this end she opened +the window and laid the cocoanut in the sun's rays upon the sill. + +She was quite alone, yet she feared; indeed, so deadly was her intent, +she jumped at every noise, and upon hearing some sound without, +slipped on tip-toe from the window to the door and listened, then +cautiously drew the bolt and looked without. The corridor seemed even +more quiet than usual. Her fears were subdued and as she turned about +to close the door, a suction of air caught the curtain and swelled +it through the open window, thereupon sweeping the cocoanut to the +ground, where it fell at the very feet of his Majesty. When Constance +saw what the vile wantonness of the wind had done, she fell upon her +knees in wild despair and tremblingly remained thus for an instant +only, for a bit of hope sprang up. She arose and quickly ran to the +window,--she hesitated, then, ever so slowly she peeped over the sill, +and there stood the King with the nut in his hand. "Ah!" she said, +drawing back quickly, for they were not looking up, and she felt +relief that they did not see her, but unfortunately for her, a lackey +was standing some little distance from his Majesty and saw everything. + +Of course treason was suspected. It was thought the nut had been +dropped to crush the King's head; but upon examination 'twas found +there oozed from a small opening curdled milk. The Royal chemist was +summoned, and in a moment all knew that the fruit was poisoned. The +lackey had already told the King from what window it fell. Constance +was cold with fright. She forgot her love, ambition, revenge, her +whole paraphernalia of desires, in this disaster. + +Out she went into the corridor to ascertain, if possible, what was +a-foot below stairs. "Would they be able," she thought, "to find from +whence the nut came?" At the very idea she fled back to her chamber +and gazed about in agony, for there lay every condemning thing in the +floor, and where was she to hide them, for a search would certainly +be made in a few moments. A hiding-place must first be found for +the nuts. She looked at the bed; surely that would be searched. She +thought to sew them in the sleeves of her gowns, but that would look +bulky and there was not time. She flew about in wild anxiety. She +listened at the door to the sounds below, and, seeing a lackey, asked +what the noise meant. He said a cocoanut had been dropped and they +were going to search for the one who did it. Again her ladyship +fled to her chamber and began to look behind chairs and screens and +portable cabinets; but to no avail; she found no safe hiding. At last, +the great, high, nodding tester caught the glance of her anxious eye. +She hastily placed first a small table--the only one she was able to +carry--then a chair upon the bed, and with the one upon the other +was able to see the top of the tester. But alas! it was cone-shape. +Invention, however, was not out of Constance' line, and quickly she +placed a box upon the pinnacle and in it five cocoanuts. There +were yet at least a half-dozen more to hide, beside the poison and +instrument. She thought to place these in one of her great hats +and raise them to the tester also. As she was about to mount the +improvised lift, she heard approaching footsteps. Hardly had she +withdrawn the table and chair and placed the hat--well bent--beneath +the low stool whereon she had been sitting, and arranged the folds of +her heavy brocade like a valance about her, when the door was thrown +open. + +"My God!" said she, under her breath; "'tis the King himself!" + +His Majesty accompanied by a number of gentlemen in waiting, entered +the room. He appeared in high, good humour, and inclined to be +facetious. He advanced straight to her. She, hardly rising from the +stool, made a deep curtesy. It was well done, without disarranging the +full folds of her stiff brocade, that inclined to stand whether she +so honoured the King or not. He laid his hand familiarly upon her +shoulder, bearing somewhat upon it, until she turned quite red, either +from his intent or her own guilt. + +"We are looking for secrets. Hast thou any, my little beauty?" + +"Your Majesty doth honour me greatly; first by thy presence and +secondly by thy thought that I might have a secret--as if woman could +keep even the shade of one from her King!" + +"But sometimes there is more happiness in the shade than in the +substance." His keen eyes did not leave her face. But hers were turned +with an apprehensive stare upon the King's gentlemen, who were looking +and prying impudently here and there about the rooms and closets. Her +gowns were even pressed here and there among their paddings. Tables +and cabinets were opened; the bed was examined. They lifted the heavy +valance and one got upon his knees and prodded beneath with his sword. +As he withdrew with a very red face, some one shook the curtains with +such vigour the tester miscarried and down rolled, one by one, the +cocoanuts. The King fairly yelled with laughter, holding on to his +sides, his gentlemen joining him with mirth restrained somewhat by the +seriousness of the case. + +"Indeed, the young Duchess hath turned all heads by her gorgeous +beauty, and all would be like her, whether or no!" said the King +between great bursts of laughter. Lady Constance' mind was ready and +caught quickly at his words, and she turned to him with a gay laugh +that somewhat veiled her terrible fear and nervousness. + +"Indeed, 'tis the fashion to use the cocoanut milk for drinking and +ointment, and the silly wenches of maids doth steal it dreadfully and +I was compelled to hide them." + +"But 'twill do thee no good, 'tis not thy nature to be round. Hast +thou seen the young heir? He is a lusty fellow; and 'tis well worth a +journey to the nursery to see him," and he took her hand and raised +her to her feet. "Come, we will go and call upon his lordship." + +There was an agonized expression on Constance' face as she was +compelled to move at the King's bidding. Slowly she moved. It +seemed every motion was full of painful effort. All eyes, for some +unaccountable reason, appeared to turn to the train of her dress that +rustled subtlely; even Constance turned to look back and down with +bulging eyes on that silken train, and though she moved ever so +cautiously the bristling folds caught upon the edge of the stool and +turned it over, the cocoanuts, poison bottle and all falling a-sprawl. +The King bent down and picked up the vial, then dropped it quickly, +saying,-- + +"Odd's fish, the female that did don man's attire and flirt about with +foppish airs is trying to play the hen and has made a nest and gone +to setting on spoiled eggs that will hatch nothing but shades, and +wraiths, and mandrakes!" And he lifted a cocoanut, from which the milk +was oozing out slowly and in a curdled state. + +"And who, mistress of the chemist's shop, hath taught thee his art?" + +"'Tis a great and awful thing that hath happened; indeed, oh! King, I +knew not the things were under the stool--" + +"Then 'twas unfortunate thou shouldst remain seated before thy King; +in this case 'twas condemning." And he turned and cried,-- + +"Hi! hi! call the guard! Thou shalt go into durance until I have +sifted this dairy business." Before the unfortunate woman could open +her mouth to plead further, the King was gone and two stalwart guards +stood at either side of her, ready to conduct her behind bolts and +bars. + +Now the King was inclined to be easy with all his subjects, but when +treason lay so open before him, he was quick to punish. Constance, +being a cousin of the Duke of Ellswold, he put the case before him. On +the instant, the Duke gave a solution to Constance' aims, explaining +everything to the King. He also--for he dreaded what the King might +do--said 'twas possible she was not of sound mind. His Majesty saw the +Duke's drift and declared that death should not come upon her, but she +should be imprisoned. This satisfied the Duke, for he was seriously +afraid for the young heir and his wife. + +Now Constance was utterly without hope. She was degraded at Court, +nevermore to rise again, and of course this state of things would be +known at every street corner. Even though she could make her escape, +where could she go? Who would accept her as the noble Lady Constance +again? She would wander up and down the world, friendless; while +Katherine would have love, wealth and honour, all one could wish for, +all there was in life to have. + +"Nay, nay, nay!" she cried in her agony. "I shall have one more +chance." She threw out her arms to the air and ground her teeth and +dragged herself from end to end of her bare and lonely cell. "One more +chance," she cried, "and 'twill be death to her; aye, death!" + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER + + +Sir Julian had been striving for months to make peace with the young +Duchess; but all effort appeared futile, until Providence suddenly +stepped in and aided him. Cantemir had turned religious, owing to the +taking hold upon him of a mortal disease; and though he had not been +about to undo any of his schemes in Cedric's case, yet he intended to +do so as soon as he was able. He was not idle, however, as he wrote +many letters and received visits from the ones who were foremost in +the fight. Nor was he long in discovering that their feelings were +already changed toward Ellswold, for they saw 'twas unpopular to be +striving against the King's desires, and against a nobleman who would +be very powerful when he should regain his fortunes. The Count wrote +to Pomphrey, saying he wished to speak face to face with him. + +At this interview the Russian unburdened his heart of all malice and +hatred, and gave vent to ill-gotten secrets, of which Buckingham's +schemes were foremost. So open and frank was the Count in his +assertions there was no doubt in Sir Julian's mind but what he had +created an wholesome feeling with his conscience; and for himself, +recognized the interview as nothing more nor less than the comely +intervention of Providence. + +Sir Julian determined upon an immediate _rendezvous_ with Sir John +Penwick, to the end that a concerted movement might effectually bring +the Duke to his senses. He loved Buckingham, but he loved the Duchess +of Ellswold more, and for this cause of peace, intended to hedge the +Duke about with an impenetrable wall. + +Buckingham soon saw that the strings were closing about him, and that +'twas Sir Julian who held the taut ends. But the great Duke had still +one more move, a move so venturesome, so involved with hazard, that +when 'twas made, the King himself admired and paid homage to its +projector. + +The Duke knew that Sir Julian, with a whisper in the King's ear, +could send him to the Tower. So at the point of Sir Julian's +sword--metaphorically--he was forced to go to the King and straighten +matters as best he could. This the great Duke did, with the most +exquisite urbanity. He knew well the King's humour, and the most +propitious moment in it, and propinquity played him fair, and there +vibrated in his Majesty's ear the dulcet tones of George Villiers +magnetic voice, saying,-- + +"Oh, King! may I tell thee of what foul issue fulsome Nature hath +brought forth, and what travail I suffer for--" + +"Odd's fish! what hast thou been doing, George, what hast thou--" + +"Oh, King!" and the Duke bowed upon his knee and touched with his lips +the great ring upon his Majesty's hand; "I did engender with a brain +unwebbed by wine, a body ample of strength and health, my soul +absolved, my heart palpitant with pure love and rich intention; but +corruptible Nature hath adulterated and brought forth an oaf, to which +I lay no claim--" + +"Egad! Duke; we'll wager a kilderkin of chaney oranges at four pence +each and a dozen cordial juleps with pearls that thy conscience is +about to bewray thee." + +"Your Royal Highness doth honour me by the assumption that such a +kingly component is mine. I cannot gainsay thy assertion, but who but +my King could touch to life the almost undefined limning of moral +faculty that has been my poor possession heretofore--" + +"And who but thy King would give to thy swart issue a, no doubt, +condign interest; come, curtail loquacity!" + +"Then, your Majesty, to be brief, I have raised for thee the subsidies +thou were too modest to ask the House for--" + +"Odd's fish, and this is thine oaf; oaf, callest thou it, when it +has brought unspeakable joy to thy King? Not so, 'tis an issue that +outshines in weight, point of beauty and actual worth that bouncing +youngster of Ellswold's." + +"But, oh! King, I counted not upon the exigencies of thy love. I +thought only of the pleasure 'twould give thee to have subsidies +without plea, and I have made two of thy favourites my victims. How +should I know that the Duke and Duchess of Ellswold were to become +nestlings in thy cradle of love?" The King's face darkened, but for a +moment only, as the sunshine of full coffers had penetrated the vista +of his needs, and a cloud even though it bore the after-rain was not +to darken his expectations. "I beg thine indulgence to allow me to +presume upon fancy. Supposing Sir John Penwick was alive and had +committed a crime that made it impossible for him to seek the aid of +his beloved King; that the said Sir John has vast possessions in the +New World that rightfully belonged to the English crown as hostage for +his own life, that had been in the hands of the French; that these +matters had been brought to the King's ear, but his Royal Highness had +been troubled with weightier affairs at home, and that one of his very +lowly but loyal subjects had undertaken, without aid of Government, +to secure these possessions for his King, calling to his aid the +generosity of Ellswold, who was willing to give all without knowing +why, save 'twas for his King and--" + +"And Penwick has proven guiltless and comes to his King to claim his +rightful possession;--and the subsidies--" + +"Are still thine, and thou shalt have them within a fortnight, if thou +wilt grant me one small request, oh! King." + +"Thou hast it. Be brief." + +"Of my appointment, a new keeper of the Tower." The King started and +half turned from the Duke, while through his mind ran hurriedly the +names of "Chasel, Howard, Baumais" and "who hath he in mind." Then +like a flash came the thought of Lady Constance, and he turned about +quickly and said with severity,-- + +"Thou hast our word," and with a gesture gave the Duke his _conge_. + +That very night just as the early moon began to whiten the Towers of +old London, the key turned in the door of Lady Constance' cell; but +turned so lazily--either from indolence or an unaccustomed hand--that +her ladyship looked up and saw to her surprise a new gaoler. He +smiled, thereby giving to the heart of its object a great thrill of +joy, for it meant kindliness and kindliness is often predicated of +selfishness or a desire for things one has not. + +"What is thy name, fool?" + +"Just plain Fool," and he gave her due obeisance. + +"And why so?" + +"Is it not enough to be so christened by so great a lady?" + +"Then thou art not a subsidiary but chief factotum?" + +"Aye, the other is ill and I have spent the afternoon in learning +the--names." + +"Thou shouldst be well paid for so short a season.--Is he serious?" + +"I hope so, good lady." + +"Oh! if thou wouldst make profit of thy time, begin by bringing hither +for my supper good ale and wine, with sugar and spices; and I will +brew thee such a horn as thou hast ne'er thought on before. And thou +for each good turn shalt drink a wassail to thy buxom wench and shalt +have money for the basset-table." + +It is needless to say that Buckingham knew his man, and Constance' +desires for one whom she could bribe. The latter's first and only +desire was for means of escape, and to this end tried to bribe the +keeper for man's attire. This was not the Duke's aim, and Constance, +being thwarted, struck quickly upon another means. + +She succeeded in getting the promise of a visit from Cantemir, who was +little able to be about, but he intended to see her of his own accord, +that he might move her to a lively interest in the salvation of her +soul. + +In anticipation of his visit, Constance had obtained through the +gaoler certain drugs of nondescript virtues. These she carefully hid +and made her final preparations for a speedy flight. + +Cantemir stopped for a moment, as he stepped from the chair, and +looked up at the prison walls, that were made grey and indistinct by +the clouded moon and falling rain. Religion had changed him even more +than the ravages of disease. His true self had awakened, and the +beauty of it had devoured the Satanic expression that was wont to lie +upon his countenance. His face fairly beamed with a light that came +from within, where his soul stirred now free from sin's fetters. + +He was conducted by the keeper through the windings of the sombre +corridors to the cell of Constance, who greeted him with the words: + +"Now, Adrian, we can excuse wantonness in the devil, but never +slothfulness in religion. We have no shrines here as abroad; what has +kept thee from thy captive cousin?" + +"I am not late, Constance; thou art impatient, and as for shrines, I +carry one in my heart all the time, and thou must have one, too--" + +"Damn! We have no time to prate. I must get out of this vile +hole.--Hast thou seen the devil Duchess lately?" + +"Aye, yesterday I saw her riding out. She is very beautiful, but she +has changed--" + +"Changed--how?" + +"She has grown fleshy--" + +"Ah! say not 'fleshy' but fat! fat! Now what good fortune is this? The +Duke will be getting a divorce, for he doth abominate a fat woman. +Good, good! I must see her. I shall pay her a visit before I leave for +France." + +"Thou wilt have far to journey, for they leave at once for Ellswold. +The case will be settled within a few days at most." + +"A few days at most? Legal folderol, a mere shade of a trial. Aye; I +must see her Grace. I have a message for her." + +"I will serve thee; Constance, I will take thy message--" Adrian was +interrupted by the entrance of the gaoler, who brought in cordial +juleps. Her ladyship made the fellow drink, before she would allow him +to go. Then, as he left them again, she said,-- + +"Thou canst not; it is a message no one can deliver but me," and as if +to seal her words she poured down a good, round bumper. + +"What dost mean, Constance? Thou art too subtle for me!" + +"Too subtle? Hast thou lost the art of penetration? Then I'll tell +thee, thou--the 'Ranter,' as they call thee. Thou who hast become +Bunyan's squire. I am going to poison my lady or give her a dagger +thrust. She must die." + +"Thou art the devil, Constance; but there is one who can outwit the +devil, and he will do it, too." + +"What hast thou to say about it?" + +"Thou shalt not do it." + +"What wilt thou do to prevent it?" + +"I will put the house of Ellswold on their guard." + +"Thou wilt not help me to escape, and thou wilt run with tales to +Ellswold. Thou wouldst keep me here, that I might soon die, so thou +couldst have my estates. Poor, puny thing, that art upon death's +threshold now. Thou wouldst have me die, so thou couldst live +luxuriously and use as much of my wealth as thou couldst, leaving +behind a paltry residue for the Crown. Thou wouldst indeed!" said +Constance, scornfully, as she fumbled in the folds of her dress for +the small bottle hidden there. + +"Constance," said Cantemir, under his breath, as he lifted one of the +mixtures before him, "thou must not kill. Let me awaken thy better +nature--" + +"Nay; she must die!" + +"I will not remain longer with thee, if thou dost hold such foul +intent. Take back thy words. I will give thee no rest until thou dost. +There is a God who will sweeten thy ill feeling for Katherine--" + +"Shut thy mouth, fool!" and she spoke with such fury Adrian's heart +sank within him, and his head fell upon his arms upon the table. "Thou +wilt have a season of prayer, then; so be it. Maybe, if thou prayest +with thy whole heart for sixty seconds, mine will change," and as she +said the words, she dropped some deadly thing into his glass. + +The wine was not moved nor discoloured, and as Cantemir raised his +head, took hold upon it, and lifted and drank it nearly half. + +"I love thee, cousin, with a Christian spirit, and I cannot see thee +lose thy--soul." A shiver passed through his thin frame, and when +he again began to speak, he drooled sick'ningly. "I say thou shalt +not--kill her--and some one--else says it--I will watch thee in +spirit--" + +Constance wished him to die quickly, that she might not be obliged to +look upon prolonged horrors. She could easily arrange his position, +with his head upon the table, to look quite natural, as if in drunken +sleep, and when the keeper came, she would give him a like portion, +before he could make any discovery, and when they were both +despatched, she would don Cantemir's attire and take the keeper's +keys and be gone. She quickly poisoned another glass, then looked at +Cantemir. So horrible was the glassy glare in his eye, she made as +if to arise from the table, but he leant over and grasped her hand. +Constance' face was livid with fear, and beside, she heard the gaoler. +As the keys were turned in the door, Cantemir's head dropped back +against the chair, and he sat upright, but dead; his hand fastened +tight upon his cousin's. She screamed and fell, half-fainting, across +the table. The keeper sprung to her aid, and took hold of the full +goblet of wine and pressed it to her lips. She tried to recover +herself, seeming to know 'twas not the time to indulge in a fainting +fit; but the strain was too much, her body was stronger than her mind, +and she mechanically took the goblet and poured the contents down +her throat. A thought must have come to her with the rapidity of +lightning, for she jerked the goblet from her mouth, spilling the dark +fluid over her. She glared at the empty cup with distended eyeballs, +and screaming once wildly, fell heavily across the table. + +It had turned out differently and better than Buckingham had thought; +and after making a hasty trip into France, whence he was immediately +recalled by his King--who was luxuriating in the easement of pecuniary +difficulties--he journeyed to Ellswold to present to the young +Duchess certain rare laces, gems and porcelains he had found--so he +intimated--among the Russian Count's possessions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE GARDEN OF YOUTH + + +The meeting of Katherine and her father was a joyous one. As Sir John +pressed her to his heart, Janet knelt at his feet, kissing the hand +he held out to her. And there stood by the Duke of Ellswold and Sir +Julian, the latter having received at last the most gracious welcome +from the Duchess. + +But yet Pomphrey was not happy; his conscience troubled him beyond +measure. So he set about to make himself right with the world. He +argued that adoration should be given to God only, and when one was so +selfish and thoughtless to give it to another being, it was time he +looked to his soul. And for the correction of this serious fault, +he left Ellswold and went into France, and in a short time became a +devout _religieux_. + +Lady Bettie Payne was so wrought upon by this great change in Sir +Julian's life, for a fortnight she remained within her chamber, trying +to feel what 'twould be like to live the life of a nun. But this +season of devotion was suddenly interrupted by a visit from St. Mar, +of whom she was very fond. He asked her hand in marriage and was +accepted. + +In course of time a family of three boys and two girls were born to +the Duke and Duchess. A great christening party was in preparation. +The Duchess was worried about the christening robe, that had not yet +arrived, and she said to Janet,-- + +"Indeed, Janet, this delay reminds me of my anxiety over the chests +that were to bring me my first finery--dost remember, at Crandlemar?" + +"Aye. It does not take much of a memory to think back seven years!" + +"Seven years! Why, Janet, thou art growing old!" + +"Nay, sweet Mistress; but the two generations I now nurse are very +young." + +"'Tis true.--But what thinkest thou could detain the chest? Father +Pomphrey cannot be kept waiting for a christening robe. And to think +of Lady Ann being baptized in a common frock! 'Twould make Bettie St. +Mar laugh; she already feels quite jealous because we are the first +to have Father Pomphrey. And methinks, Janet, now that she is in +expectancy--she will so vibrate 'twixt France and England,--fearing +she will not be near Father Pomphrey for the christening--that little +Julian and Francois will forget which is home." + +"She need not do that; he could go to France." + +"Nay, not so; for he leaves at once for Rome and will not return to +England ere summer, meaning not to stop at all in France." + +"Ah! that makes me think of what I heard him say to Monsieur St. Mar +in the nursery. 'Twas something about a christening. Monsieur said: +'Thou art expected at Crandlemar Castle?' and Father Pomphrey +answered: 'Aye, sometime before next Michaelmas.'" + +"Then Lady Bettie will remain in England mayhap." + +"'Tis possible." + +"What did he say of the children, Janet?" + +"Of my lord Duke's and thine?" + +"Aye." + +"He said not a word of them in particular, but fondled all alike, +calling each by name, and now I think on't, I wonder he could remember +a dozen or so, when he has not yet been three days in the castle. +'Twas 'Lady Mary' and 'Sir Jasper' and 'Lady Jane' and 'Lady Kate' and +'Lord Ivor'; and for each he had a story. And Monsieur grew tired, and +my lord Duke asked Sir Julian if the children did not tire him also, +and he answered: 'Duke, there is a peculiarly wholesome knowledge +that we cannot obtain save through a child's mind; and while in the +companionship of children, we are surrounded by a field of flowers, +whose glory fructifies the good germ within us, and Wisdom--that +tallest flower, that knows no harvest--springs up at prime, blossoms +forth at compline and grows a fragrant staff, upon which man leans in +the night of life.' Then they walked away, and I heard no more." + +"Dear Father Pomphrey--" Then for a moment the Duchess looked with a +far-away expression out upon the snow-covered landscape, then, on +a sudden, she said, almost pettishly,--"But, Janet, what keeps the +chest?" + +"Perhaps 'tis Providence." + +"What dost mean; how Providence?" + +"Thou hast ordered the robe to be so perfect, so in accordance with +the Royal mode, the child will be in torment. Indeed, I am afraid +'twill make the little lady ill to be so encased. Ah! but thou art +great folk, and, as Dent hath said, such people 'spend their time in +tricking and trimming, pricking and pinning, pranking and pouncing, +girding and lacing and braving up themselves in most exquisite +manner;--these doubled and redoubled ruffles, these strouting +fardingales, long locks and fore tufts;--it was never a good world +since starching and steeling, buskes and whalebones, supporters and +rebatoes, full moons and hobbyhorses came into use.' I doubt not that +Father Pomphrey himself will demur at such cruelty." + +But the chest came in time, and Katherine was satisfied. + +The castle was filled with guests, and the nurseries full of +bright young children waiting impatiently to be taken to the great +picture-gallery, where, under the limned faces of many generations, +the christening was to take place. + +An altar had been raised; and upon it was the golden service, a little +apart the font, and upon either side of the long gallery were flowers +banked 'neath specially honoured portraits. + +At the appointed hour the children defiled down the long room, then +came the other guests, and finally Sir Julian Pomphrey in his robe of +office--Father Pomphrey, so elegant, loving, good; a princely priest. +Then came Janet with little Lady Ann in her arms; the child appearing +like an Egyptian mummy in white bands. The Duke and Duchess looked +handsome and proud, And when the celebration was concluded, all form +was dissipated, the children gathering about the youngster for a +"peep," then scampered to the flowers. And as the elder folk looked +on, some one opined that the human nosegay was more gorgeous of +apparel and glow of cheek than the Ayrshire rose or the twisted +eglantine. Then suddenly the children gathered about a single portrait +of remarkable rich colouring, and little Lady Margaret came running +and saying with a lisp,-- + +"Come, see, Father; 'tis the prettiest picture here, and there are no +flowers 'neath it." + +"What, no flowers?" and Father Pomphrey looked down in feigned +surprise. + +"Why, here _is_ a flower!" and the child lifted a crushed immortelle +from the parquetry and gave it to the priest, who quickly made the +sign of the cross and said something almost inaudible about the flower +being prophetic; and then he leant close to the child's ear, saying,-- + +"Will Lady Margaret do something for Father Pomphrey?" + +"Aye, anything--" + +"Remember always to pray for the soul of Lady Constance Clarmot." Then +raising the flower, he said abstractedly,--"What gems of thought we +find in the Garden of Youth!" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mistress Penwick, by Dutton Payne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISTRESS PENWICK *** + +***** This file should be named 12256.txt or 12256.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/2/5/12256/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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