Mistress Penwick

ertinent thought that susceptible human nature takes on the characteristic of the one or the other. One is away up in zenith

e 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

terwort bush thou were beating about. I am sorry I forgot m

'God, have mercy upon my untowardness!' once, from thy heart, than to s

the day

and stormy as o

is the

eve

rian at this very hour. He is to te

the heart than hand; canst give it

d not disappoint

al 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

'tis sweet, who

e fellow; a soldier,

by two words that should s

t him, thou wilt fall but two-thirds in love, wh

n evil reputation; for afte

; 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 the

r Lord Cedric as a good man should be honoured, and one whom my father

o Cantemir's heart; for 'twas something to espou

eagerly. Her thoughts flew back to the convent where she had enjoyed a

he, "I would see wh

r Cedric was well-nigh beside himself with delight; for he took it, she had come to be with him. There wa

ay 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 t

and dost thou know many

a grea

latti? I understand he created a furore

s of 'L'Onesta nell Amore.' Queen Christina herself accompani

onvent; 'tis such warm, tender and sympath

t ear for his father's music; and they say he will even be a greater

fine! I will go and

upted their mus

nd without further words he led her away, through the library and on beyond to the saloon, where he beg

and they babbled and chattered, and as Lord Cedric stood

omehow 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

. 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 stra

ard 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 sh

ew-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 christene

c, to break from thy gay comp

at cards, oth

e that thou couldst seve

straightway came to note thy ailing. I have talked not with thee in private since

? There are many '

me over seas, of course

c. Aye, I talked with her some. Thou say

a glorious beaut

camest th

e 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 an

t one time Sir John was affluent, for Au

demesne, a great heart and great temper; and 'tis the last named that has fallen clear and uncumbered to his daughter; and th

rprise, as if 'twere a new thing to her, when in r

y? Am I not of ripe ye

ldst wed one of high degree an

r; and I have fortune for us both; and worldly wisdom-bah! Constance, dost thou ex

ven, Cedric, thou wo

-I have no object in t

ed she is well-for

ful and innocent f

mitted; but in

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

u marry a child

Janet says so, too, and will urge her to accept me as soo

stress? Thou hadst best wait and have her Grace of Ellswold present her at Cour

to grow one whit more beaut

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'

e, she can take her own part. She ha

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 ove

ase 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 a

freshing than the nosegay she brough

p by company, who are to remain for the summer, and how wilt thou get through the irksomeness o

es, 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 C

breath to breathe forth scandal, even in private converse with the

as that letter and th

thou wilt go to hold sway-the

ad here this maid and had not yet taken her to wife-why-why, he would take her away himself and laugh m

Lord Cedric hung his head, as if in profound meditation; then,

between her and harm and wait. And thou must

n thy part, even-when t

willing ears his woes. He feared lest some gallant should win his K

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 wou

nd it might serve thee to put forth an indifferent air and incline thy atte

to her once more, then I will be cold and indifferent as thou

the chests with my lad

ow they shou

and 'twill give thee opportunity to speak of other things. She is wanting many things for the Chapel; she wishes to reopen it; and '

I will turn the people

hol

ake it, thy people will r

way. I'll bother her not in

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 t

ll fall down and w