The Lady of Blossholme

was light, Christopher was called from hi

he asked, turning

ght it from Blossholm

d through the door, "co

ely in her long fur cloak, and, having embrace

"I never loved book-learnings over-much, and this morn

t bodes us no good, Chris," she repl

keeping," said Emlyn. "Give it me. I was schoo

ch she took in her strong fingers, broke the seal,

cely Foterell, to Emlyn Stower, the waiting-

Shefton Hall. They said further that it was rumoured that you had ridden with your foster-mother, Emlyn Stower, to Cranwell Towers, the house of Sir Christopher Harflete. If this be so, for the sake of your good name it is needful that you should remove from such company at once, as there is talk about you and the said Sir Christopher Harflete. I purpose, therefore, God permitting me, to ride this

ent,

of them stood a little while staring at each other, knowin

aper, Nurse. I will

and Cicely wrote in he

ord A

u suppose, seek refuge at this house. Here, yesterday, I was married in the face of God and man in the church of Cranwell, as you may learn from the paper sent herewith. It is not, therefore, needful that you should seek a husband for me, si

y Harf

ly it was given to the Abbot's messenger, who placed it in

d him go fr

shall do well to ride also as soon as may be. Yonder Abbot is s

e ready and eat, both of you. I go

hat Christopher could gather at such short notice, though others of his tenants and servants had already assembled at the Towers in answer to his summons, to the num

neymoon, my sweet," sa

hough," she added, with a little choke of the throat, "I would that we could have stayed here until I had

that I forget your griefs because I do not speak much of them, but bridals and buryings are strange company. So while we may, let us take wh

owers for many a day. But this was not to be. For as they passed along the Blossholme highway, purposing to leave the Abbey on their left, when they were about three miles from Cr

Christopher, laying h

answered in a deep voice; "but if you want my name,

stopher, laughing. "And now what i

is coming on hard enough to starve them. That's my business, Sir Christopher. But as I see an old friend of mine there," and he nodded towards Emlyn

or he was in no mood to chat with cattle-reeves. B

who always have a few sins to spare for a priest

n eager conversation with its rider. A minute or so later Cicely, looking round-for they had ridden forward at a slow pace-saw Thomas

s and servants, to the number of forty or more, waits for us under shelter of Blossholme Gro

away, for they were on the top of a rise. "Still, the matter is not hard to prove," and he called to th

nutes or so later, before they could see them, for the snow was now falling quickly, they he

k are after us. Back to Cr

s them up the slope. Then the race began, and well for them was it that their horses were good and fresh, since before ever they came in sight of Cranwell Towers the pursuers were not ninety yards behind. But here on the flat their beasts, scenting home, answered nobly to whip and spur, and drew ahead a little. Moreover, those who watched within the house saw them, and ran to th

wly. Still they reached the bridge before any c

e, but now five or six of the Abbot's folk, dismounting, sprang at it, catching the end of it with their hands when it

wer one of them, with the help of his fellows, scrambled on to

hand of a serving-man, and the arrow be

at your

out something about the c

ut, aiming swiftly, drew and loosed the bow. At that distance he could not miss. The arrow struck the man where his steel cap joined the mail beneath, and pierced him through the throat, so that he fe

e who had shot the arrow that killed Sir John Foterell some forty hours before, striking him through the throat, as

ly, who stood by his side, her hands held before her face to shut out the sight of death, let them fall suddenly,

wonder? I think that is but the fi

was cast two nights gone by King's Grave Mount in

ring that she was orphaned and what sort of a honeymoon her

white cloth above his head in token of parley. Then Christopher went up into the little gateway turret, followed by Emlyn, who crouched down behind the brick battlement, so that she could see and hear without being seen. Having reached the

cking so rudely at my doors, my Lord Abbot?" asked

w. "Know you not that whoso sheds blood, by man shall his blood be shed, and that under our ancient charters, here I

that is why this fellow died. Tell me, Abbot, was he not one of those who rode by

ent home; at least, the Abbot's jaw dropped, and s

-may God rest his soul-came to his end. Yet it is of him, or rather of his, that we must speak. It seems that you have stolen his da

stopher Harflete's lawful wife. If there be any virtue in the rites of Holy Church, then God's own ha

he has many shrewd and instant messengers, such as this," and he pointed to the arrow in the neck of the slain soldier. "Yet I am a man of peace, and although you h

lete," interrup

be given to a husband till the King or his Vicar-General, or whatever court he may appoint,

the powers temporal of this realm have right of divorce? Ere now I have heard him arg

lip, but continu

ere, for which otherwise you should hang. That I will write down as an ac

erous offer to surrender her whom I

r by force, Christopher Harflete, and if harm should happen

stopher's ra

ruth about you and your treachery, and therefore you butchered him. Why do you claim my wife as your ward? Because you wish to steal her lands and goods to feed your plots and luxury. You think you have bought friends at Court, and that for money's sake those in power there will turn a blind eye to your crimes. So it may be for a while; but wait, wait. All eyes are not blind yon

ack with rage. The veins upon his forehead gathered into knots; even from that distance Christopher could see them. He looke

se behind, where it stuck fast in the joints of the stud-work. But the other, better aimed, smote Christopher above the heart, causing him to stagger, but being shot from below and turned by the mail he wore glanced upwar

mlyn from her shelter behind the parapet. B

r Abbot; I have m

d who was also

eins, he let the arrow fly. The aim was true enough. Right through the arch of the neck it sped, cutting the cord b

ervant and hear no more till Judgment Day? If you do not guess it, learn that I have practised arc

e slowly and stood there, the dead horse

said in a mu

een good, would have succeeded. Now your life is in my hand, for, as you have seen, I do not miss.

erstanding, stayed where they were

" continued Christopher. "Take it in y

he Abbo

the Rood. I swear that I abandon all claim of wardship over the body of Cicely Harflete, born Cicely Foterell, the lawful wife of Christopher Harflete, and all claim to the lands and goods that she may possess, or that were possessed by her father, John Foterell, Knight, or by her mother, Dame Foterell, deceased. I swear that I will raise no suit in any court, spiritual or

is rage, for he had no meek heart, that

to me?" he asked at length. "I'll not swear,

wered Christopher. "Co

d so great was his skill-for there were few archers in England like to him-that the arro

" he said, as he set another on the

enough, Maldon bent down, and, lifting the crucifix fro

o that which Christopher had repeated to him, for, li

n to fulfil my work on earth, have done your bidding, have I leave to g

o meddle with me and my business. To-morrow I wish to ride to L

wards his own men, drawing the arrow from it as he went, and pr

h that he will scarcely dare to break," said

ched herself, for her limbs were cramped. "The oath, pshaw! By now he is absolved from it as given under fear. Di

sh to kill an

and missed, and produce the cap and arrow in evidence against you. Well, my talk serves nothing to mend a bad matter, and soon you will hear it

er that was tied to a stone. Then he nailed a writing to one of the oak posts of the outer gate, and, without a word, departed as he had c

een forwarded to the King's grace and to the Sheriff and other officers of this county, and that by virtue of my rights and authority, ecclesiastical and civil, I shall proceed to possess myself of the person of Cicely Foterell, my ward, and of the lands and other property held by her father, Sir John Foterell, deceased, upon the

don, Abbot o