The Child of the Moat

had again had a relapse and the physician had paid one or tw

hose fragrance filled the whole place. J

ss Aline, h

le thin hand that seemed almost transparent. “Now you must soon get well and be able t

had asked. “Of course,” he replied. So Aline had coaxed Elspeth to help her, and, with much excitement, had made Joan an attractive little gown. Aline was rather at a loss for some trimming that she wanted

at for words; she could only

door opened and a dark bent fi

catching sight of Aline she added

kled and worn as it was, more from evil living than from actual age, as she was not really very old, still had some trace of its original beauty, but there

began, ignoring Aline, “and I have been

thing in the world that he

on, tapping the hearth with her stick as she spoke; and

ddenly turning round, she pointed her stick at Aline, “nor you, young Mistres

g from the house, but the thought of81 Joan held her back. “No, and you need not think you can get away either,” said Moll, a

will you be giving me, or shall

ou three sil

ding out her skinny hands like the claws of some obscene bird, she began slowly to sh

ew toward him, scraping her bare

ed himself. “God’s blood,” he sai

aving her arms over the fire the flames turne

w it on the fire and a thick cloud of white smoke ascended and filled the r

hen turning to Peter she said: “Keep your crowns this time; I can do nothing; the child must go,” and she laughed a low cruel laugh,—“and your fate,” she said, turning to Aline82 with a diabolic grin, “is like unto hers; but your path is through the fire;

ne could bring her round. Was the old harridan deliberately trying to frig

y and Aline had to pull herself togethe

through the fire?” she asked Audry

don’t talk about it.

serious harm anyway,” said Aline. “Bu

ren were going to bed, Richard Mowbray came in from going round the house as his custom was to see if everythi

has disappeared this month and I seem to be no nearer finding out than we were before. I am fairly cer

e,” said his wife icily, glancing at Aline as she spoke;

s only sister. Old James Mowbray who built this house loved her more than his son and if the old man had had his way, it is likely enough that the la

her spell, but he had a sort of rough sense of justice, which was quite inexplicable to his

said Mistress Mowbray. “Run along, both of you, and

ween themselves what Richard Mowbray had been saying. “I should like t

to have more than enough, what with a heretic and a thief. I wond

to see if they could discover anything. When they went down to vis

ng you,” said Aline to Ian, “bec

t a real person,

ver see anybody and live down here; you are only a

e,” he said, “but it’s nice to be dreamed

talk a little common sense. What ar

house,” Aline remarked. “I do not th

uld think nothing of swim

t of the water on the inner side at all, as it is a perfectly straight wall all round, and even if

off their clothes

d had to escape in a hurry, I suppose they would not th

e silver kep

ect that is partly the reason for the passage; so that if the owner ever had to flee from the house in time of danger, he

rie, who was very clever with his chalk, was making s

It is as beautiful as you are, Aline dear. Wher

bold free lines and full of express

almost impossible to learn over here. I was lucky enough to get to know both Paolo Veronese and Tintoretto as they called him, bu

beautiful portrait of mother, but do you know I do not believe he could have drawn as well as that; it is so bold and free and yet sensitive and delicate in its det

drawing,” said Menstrie; “wh

d have gone. But some one may have slipped into the little room for a moment when the old seneschal’s back was turned.

that Edward fetches th

along

an to the door. “Good-bye,” said Al

in what way I am to be of service to her. It’s a pity that she is of the old faith. Somehow I feel that that is going to be a difficulty. I should find it very hard to get any assistance if it were needed. The other side would not look at me and my side would not look at her. I wonder if they would even help me87 myself,” he pondered. “I do not hold with most of them by any means. I fancy that child’s father would have been more to my liking. How narrow and unkind they all are. Thin

the handiwork of God and, as Plato says,

her beautiful arms toward him. Her face shone with a strange light and then gradually he felt himself lifted up and the vision changed, becoming more et

ever knew before.” He bowed down utterly humbled and yet at the same time exalted and a voice seemed to say,—“I

lowly away. But he realised that in some strange fashion new strength had been

ot to the end they could hear perfectly and even see a little bit through a tiny crack. They saw Edward, the seneschal, come in and take

an, they both exclaimed,—“Oh, y

m with a sort of dancing step, humming a tune and slowly waving her arms. She seemed filled w

to me,” he said at lengt

but we can see through a chink and we

Audry, “and what is the use of troubling about i

e. Come along, you have got to finish that piece of tapestry and it’s no use89 say

ghed and

re engaged in the same occupation. By and by her husband came in.

not likely to do so. Edward is confident that

Richard, if I were you I should get r

has taken it?” said her

t? It’s as clear as daylight. I c

g time, stroking his pointed beard. “Yes, I think it mus

id not do it,” said

id her father, “what

he did not do it,” Audry replied. “Come along, Aline; I’m tired of this t

ect, she added, to her husband;—“It90 will be an excellent plan in many ways. Edwar

anor, it shall

y looking at the Master of Holwick. “But, Cousin Richar

, ch

arm round him and in her most bewitching way added,—“You will think it over, won’t you? I know I am only

ot have you interfering. Edward shall leave

ray. You do not know that he

servants when I please,

antagonism rising in her, a touch of the fighting instinct. “Of course

o; he is getting too old a

use or is that skelpie? The man is only a servant a

ndon a fight which she had once begun; that was not human nature. “You may be within your rights,” she said, “and he may be only a servant; but that is just it;—if you belonged to the servant clas

ot in her armour. The vintner’s daughter was not a lady, but

gs are right but they are not honourable. The churl does not know the meaning of honour. By my troth, lassie, you remind me of my mother’s father, the Duke of Morpeth, who used to say that aristocracy was the pride of humility, the pride that could not be demeaned by humblin

Richard, I’m

n or his promise; the gentleman goes entirely beyond his promise and does what is expected of him, whether he had given his word or not. The vulgar man tries to wriggle out of an engagement if it does not suit him; the gentleman stands to the most trivial eng

no contract: we may even act to our own hurt by keeping him, if he really should be the thief, bu

rst definitely to withstand Mistress Mowbray. However, Master Rich

d had committed the unpardonable sin of showing that she was a lady and making it equally clear

leave the door unlocked for a few moments; but they never saw any one come in and fina