Mistress Penwick

r; thou hast dove's eyes within thy locks; thy hair

n shorn, which come up from the washing; whereof e

nd thy speech is comely; thy temples are l

avid builded for an armory, where

thou must not idol

lomon I repeat. Thou were not

bow and looked surprised at

Janet, for a day yet i

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 plea

Christopher?" The nurse averred that his Lordship had ridden forth early,

ed, and he will keep the poor fellow in duran

irrevocable. He is not

bki

illed, the condemned lackey, and Janet knowing, 'twas his Lordship's temper and not his heart th

t 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, lat

me 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

et to-night. His Grace

et? I'm in a perfect

rtable. Her Grace is w

d the Russian

rrive soon, dos

solicitous on a sudden of h

to save Christopher, if I cou

u give him in exchang

-all that I have to

cludes thy he

e, my heart is

hat knave hath attempted to steal

o speak thus. I have a

Adrian Cantemir," and quickly Mistress Penwick turned her back, "I am aggr

n I could tell thee, J

at were all of these hour

th of us, and there are but two in a marriage contrac

arriage meant to two people

l take me to Russia, as 'tis his pleasure to hasten home with me. Then we will visit the French and Englis

f home-life, and the

lways, free and happy, consorti

at court dignitaries consort not with a r

he straightway closed her ears with her tapering fing

past, and the evening

desired

Lordship will not re

ey of some import, as A

when to look f

all, 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; an

find her, nor can think of where she may be gone." Lord Cedric stood before

sunk down upon his chair. Janet brought from a stool hard by a posset-pot an

n. 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

ve just arrived; w

nightfall, save the

dsh

ilence, fearing lest some noise mi

m the young lord of the castle, with the atte

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

th something like a sob; for 'twas her mistress' han

out that she be holding some ren

th!" he in

eing of such slender age and knowing

th court here in t

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 hearthsto

try. Then occurred a strange thing to them all; for 'twas ever Cedric's way to swear and curse, using holy names and blas

thy chamber; 'tis a childish trick of thine t

rd, I am no

nowy whiteness of his Lordship's waist reflected upon his face, where now came and went its wonted colou

ned the room, and opened and looked within each large door, until he was satisfied of his search

r butter, Mistress Penwick; we

the cellaret in yonder closet adjoining; if thou wilt be so kind as to bring

h so cavalierly concocted it for thee at th

rung with so much of truth, his Lordship was satisfied and looked at her with a lighter heart; then, as

urdle that it toucheth and-I am of no mind to be either kind or courteous." At the

and large basket. Seeing the unexpected, coughed to hide his confusion; indeed he knew not which wa

full meal. Here is fowl and cheese and mutton tarsal and bread and ale,-Egad

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 s

quickly to her full height and smiled, for this was one thing and she had thought another, a

safe, m

eave 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

ed 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 f

him to do it,"

y well nigh to the floor. His eyes were wild and bloodshot. As Tompkins raised the leaves Mistress Penwick threw herself between his Lordship and th

looked on amazed. Finally, when his laughing had well-nigh ceased, his Lordship drew from his belt the dagger and t

ss Pen wick, and Janet ran to her crying,-"My l

Hiary!" The lithe lackey sprang upon Christopher and drove the kni

with terror. His Lordship came near

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 f

lence, she drew from him even m

forgotten my haste and stout urging," and he started forth d

ld strike down and kill the unfortunate; n

o crush out all other presence. 'Twas but one word, but it r

dri

the open arms of him who called. The awful tension of

nd fell to sobbing, his for

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 no

ke reason. I was indeed rough, but I was looking after mine own. The maiden

re me I would bring her to it by soft and gentle word

asked and sued and prayed, aye, begged. I have honoured and loved and pampered her every whim; I

ay 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 M

forgive!" She deigne

n his knees and shook with his great e

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

his Lordship a complete victory, and there was naught left to do but carry out the methodical arrangements thus quic

sure as thou dost do my bidding; and she will sigh and draw quick breath and preen herself to gain from thee

? It gives me hope to

vowed;-but oft, 'tis the premature babe that doth become the mo

didst thou meet a knave upon horse, perhaps, attended by a swag

rse. I hallowed once and again to no avail, so I prodded the fellow with my sword to assist his re

notice hi

was cloudy, I could not see. Come, come, I must and thou, too, have sleep if the God thereof doth not wantonly spend too mu

'Tis hard to bide the time. Come, let us beg