Penshurst Castle

oor sat self-

keeping wary

Force or Fraud

oil the treasure

en

She kept out of her sight, and entertained little Ambrose with stories of fairies and elfs a

e had once or twice, when in disgrace, rebelled at the sight of the crust of bread and the

. Perhaps, who knows, I may chance to meet Mr Sidney, and I may get a word from him or a rare smile; and then a fig for frowns and the rating and scolding of fifty

antic devotion for Mr Philip Sidney, and worshipped his ideal as maidens

es and hoary statesmen of a grave scholar like Hubert Languet, and of the Queen herself, who called him the brightest je

filled; if Mr Sidney was present it was an hour or two of bliss; if, as was frequently the case, his place w

ngings to some young hearts, and fade away like the early cloud and morning dew, to leave behind only a memory of mingled pain and sweetness, recalled in after time with something of self-pity and

were at this time somewhat darkening its lustre, they were unknown to Lucy Forrester. Philip Sidney was to her all that was noble, pure, and true, and, as she put on her prettiest cap, with its long

am ugly, even to myself. No,' she went on turning her graceful head, first to the right and then to the left, before the little mirror; '

rnament, and mean and humble in its furniture, when little Ambrose's feet were heard on the wooden

e to come down an

l hands together in a

true, Ambrose? C

,' the boy exclaimed. 'You are very pretty, Aunt Lou. I

ave a parting look at the mirror, and then brushed past

rled trunk of an ancient thorn tree, which had yet life enough left in it to put fort

with her face turned towards t

his cap in his hand, bending the knee, and greeting her with all the grace and

, and the young voice trembled a little

sir, I am we

tess of Pembroke's household. She leaves Penshurst shortly, and will be at Leicester House before returning to Wilton. One of her gentlewomen is summoned to her father

l I see the tourney and the knights tilti

Crawley is a somewhat stern task-mistress. My sister bade me say as much. Therefore, consider

I may go to serve my Lady

Lucy and Mr Sidney. Up to this

It will not be all play, and, methinks, you have often shown i

shed crimson, a

You know-you must know how hard it

der Mr Sidney longer. It will be only right to consult our stepmoth

ess Gifford, do so,'

ose had been curiously stroking the hilt of Mr Sidney's sword, an

when I am a man, and go to battle with you, sir.

I shall want to gather all loyal hearts round me for s

dden gesture, putting her arm round him. 'You must stay wi

ling a stone further than Giles, the co

id. 'Do not chatter of your doings. Mr

ter, little Ambrose. Strive to be a dutiful son to the best of mother

went to his mother, who had turned away h

peated; 'ay, and wor

groom was waiting for him at the gate leading to t

the lane; and do you, Mistress Lucy, follow, and take back th

so,' Mary Giffo

him on the saddle, across which his small legs could scarcely stride, the child dumb with delight, his

re, Ambrose,'

ney la

is ready to stop him if he falls. But, indeed, ther

raising his feet deliberately, with that stately air which marks high breeding, and pacing down the rugged path of t

r away,' the boy said, as Mr Sidney lifted

say you are grateful to him fo

o the saddle, and, with a parting smile to Lucy, with the words, 'We shall

had disappeared, and then she returned to the house with Mary, like the child, t

er coarse homespun for a gown of grey taffeta and a kirtle of the same colo

stand chaffering outside when the mistress of a house would fain offer a cup of mead to her guest. But I never look

so cross. I sha'n't trouble you long. I am going to Court wit

warrant, and if you do, don't come back here, for I'll shut

d. 'I am away now by the

y, by the highway is best. The h

ter her retreating figure, could not ga

ge, she will rue her behaviour s

hing me in the hearing of others, it is cruel. It may be better for you and f

nts of the farm; she could, by a few calm words, effect more with lazy or careless serving men and maids than their mistress di

Forrester's purpose to let

to. Bide here, and let bygones be bygones. I am ready to be friendly if you'll let me. I must away now to see

left with Ambrose, who was making a hobbyhorse of a

m off to the figh

e boy with a stra

jocund and happy. It is true what Mistress Gifford saith, I have no home, and I must bide quietly here, for the bo

earless of any danger from horned cattle, of which

gladness of her heart; triumph,

her to take her to London. Humphrey had spoken of a corner being found for her. Now, what did it matter whether Mistress Ratcliffe consented or not to he

upon her and Mary, it was a keen delight to her to feel h

, on the morrow, after service in the church, she would be admitted to the grand

ctedly opened before her. Of course Mary would make no real objection. No one ever did resist Mr Philip Sidn

re to acknowledge, even to herself. Still, had not Mr Sidney come to offer the coveted place to he

oughts it is impossible to say, had she not b

head, she saw a tall man, wearing a long cloak, much the worse for wea

ting violently, and her face, which a few moments befo

rosary from under his cloak, 'see, I kiss the blessed cross, in token that you need not fear. I am

s. When she thought of them at all, it was with horror, and her knees

ir, suffer

You know a house

and I will run b

ou will tell me how it fares with a g

ell, sir;

him hither to me, and I will call on all the saints to bless you.

t! Let me pass. If you would fa

ear Lucy's, 'hearken, I can call down blessings on you, but I can call down bitter curses also. Your heart's desire shall be denied you, you shall eat the brea

gleaming under the black cap and looking as if they read her very soul, seemed to get her into his power. She was

g of the stile, as she saw George Ratcliffe's giant form

n this part with great hil

his hold on her wrist, which he had seized as she had sprung up on the stile, and, looking

on, even in his dismay at her apparent distress, threw herself into his arms. 'George! a dreadful man,

d about in b

e is no one near, L

ee him as you

ll scour the country for the villain, for villain he must be if he is a Papist; but come now with me. My mother is well-pleased that you should sup with us. Oh! Lucy,' George said, with lover-like earnestness, 'smile

me. I should fear to be left

nd presently Lucy grew calmer, and they

of her adventure, in the bliss of having her clinging to his arm, and the me

to that spot, that he might see him. What can it mean? It will frighten Mary when I tel

vil, but I will put Humphrey on the scent, and we will track him out. I have heard there is a nest

Lucy said, holding up her lit

er as a child, and, taking the little ha

ened mood. She sprang away from George with height

e the tourney, and I am to be one of my Lady of

s dream of blis

how long a spac

u, for more weeks or month

t to take Lucy with her, in the event of her going to London, without success, o

come about

It is he who has commended me to my Lady Pembroke, hearing, it may be, from your brother, that I wished to see the

lf!' George

neath his notice as I am beneat

f before the house, Mistress Ratcliffe and her niece, D

ust make you more mindful of the fixed time for meals. Is this yo

and, methinks, you must have seen me; but, doubtless, I was n

ed unnoticed. Mistress

all, for supper is served. Mistress Luc

ace, obeyed his mother and handed his cousin up the s

h purple. Her ruff rivalled the Queen's in thickness and height; and the heavy folds of her lute-string

the board. As she looked at Dorothy Ratcliffe her heart swelled with triumph, for she was not slow to noti

customed level, and his mother sharply r

oll's trencher is empty, and the grace-cup is standing by yo

'Now then, cousin Doll, let me carve you a second portion of the pasty; or,

hy po

k. Nay, I thank you, cousin, I will but taste

of his mother. The wooden trenchers were used for the heavier viands; but these silver plates were brou

burnished, and Lucy, as she saw herse

irrors-that is to say when w

ve her 'household gods' admired, concealed it, and s

ff silver, but I dare to say it is the

at a loss for a rejoinder-'but, methinks, I shall s

nted showing any curiosity about it, and made a diversion to prevent a reply by sud

e a passion for old lace; and these sapphires of your brooch are of fine water. Now, shall we

floor was polished oak, which was slippery to unwary feet. The open fireplace was fil

he stool of carved oak, where Mistress Ratcliffe sat when at her work, that she might have an eye to

in the thick wall. Here the silver was kept, and some curious old figures which had bee

er clasps; and some dull sermons, roughly bound, with an early edition of the Boke of Chess; the prayer-bo

elf with the awakening life of these re

Spenser to many humbler craftsmen of the pen, were busy translati

few, and had not reached the people to whom the concerns of everyday life were all-important. Women like Mistress Ratcliffe could often sca

ers still preserved in family archives prove, and was made to sui

owly. There was an evident res

ho was annoyed that George should seat himself on the settle, by Lucy's side, and encourage her to t

he laid down the mandoline i

unbridge, Aunt Ratcliffe. I pray you

cup of spiced wine ere you g

red,' was the reply, with a disagreeable laugh and

sprang up

ss Ratcliffe. I have to settle plans with my sister befor

with regret, that the plan proposed by my sons for asking you to bear me company to London in a useful

-woman to my lady the Countess of Pembroke. It may be that I shall see you there, and I shall be sur

ress Ratcliffe murmured, but she

ou will be under due control in London, for in good

rtsey, then, drawing her kerchief closer to he

Aunt Ratcliffe,' Dorothy said; 'an ill-bred country ch

ress Ratcliffe said,

beauty. It makes me laugh to think how proud she was of her fine gown and cap, which only showed her awkward gait the more.' And Mi

ale; her hair, which was by no means abundant, was of the sandy hue, which she tried to persuade herself was like the Quee

k, did not find fervent suitors for her favour. She was, therefore, very ready to fall in with Mistress Ratcliffe's wishes, and take pains to i

ng at Tunbridge. He was a scholar and a pedant, and concerned himself but

hout their consent, as it happened, and Master Ratcliffe and George's mother had a sort of tacit

had always a lingering hope that Humphrey would at last be a vic

d Dorothy asked, in an irritable tone, bef

d folk that he cannot find the time to

d is, with George, anxious to furnish Mr Sidney with the pick of

where there's a will there's a way; bu

o. You will favour my

ike Mistress Forrester. But let be, it will not break my heart if he gives you this fair country

she said, Mistress Ratcliffe left her niece to repose, saying to herself, 'She ha