The Robber Baron of Bedford Castle

remain true to him; indeed, she even doubted within herself whether the words she had used to him might not, in fact, have implied the exact opposite. Then, further, her conduct to her father ha

the abbess came upon her in the dusk bending before the high altar, she was indeed, as the abbess had intimated, p

r for the time the habit of a novice. But her desire for the profession of a religious life had been combat

med it unadvisable for so young a girl--she was only eighteen--to think of monastic vows, and held out hopes that the course of true love might yet run smoothly. The archdeacon himself

of the whole matter. The ladies even went so far as to justify her conduct; and the archdeacon, speaking as a spiritual father, con

decided to give up his projected journey to Dunstable, leaving his learned friends to finish their business by themselves, and to

afternoon when Aliva, after an affectionate parting with the two elder ladies, set off towards home, accompanied

ed out of the abbey gateway we are already aware, and we must n

see what had become of her uncle. But she could see nothing in the distance save a confused group of horsemen. Between her

dy faced him once, would boldly have awaited his arrival; but close at his heels came

but she knew that at some distance further west there was a bridge across

while De Breauté and his men were mounted on some of the

oach of De Breauté's men always struck terror into the peasants of the villages around Bedford. They gazed open-mouthed af

d to ride and hawk since childhood. But she knew that between Kempston and Bromham lay a stretch of marshy ground intersected by broad ditches, and into these marshes she resolved to ride

rough the marshy ground. Once or twice Aliva had actually to return upon her path, and the men behind gained an advantage, as they watched her movements and avoided the impassable places. Moreover, her lightly-built horse, not

ut unfortunately it was the nearer one. For a minute or two she stood vai

Breauté himself, but one of his men, who sprang from his horse a

the rear. Even in his madness he could not bear

stened her hood and mantle round her neck, and as the man fell bac

ding half bogged in the middle, she seized the reins and drew them over his head. By good chance a stunted will

tight hold of her horse's head, and encouraging him with her voice

release her had been peremptory, and it was now apparent that she was escaping them again. Their lord himself, at

d to her, except perhaps to carry her off to Bedford along with Henry de Braybrooke; and now that he

e through O

to lay a hand upon her? A marriage was what he contemplated, though indeed it mi

ounting her tired palfrey than he called to his men, standin

sh morasses! Why came ye not to my help sooner? Saw ye

ing steed. They dragged him out in as deplorable condition as that in which Aliva

he hapless horsewoman he was pursuing far ahead and entering the little village of

ayside chapel, the ruins of which can still be traced in the mill-house. Aliva rode slowly into the village, and wearily approached the foot of t

and he no longer answered to his mistress's voice or to the touch of her riding-wand. As

ing in astonishment at the young lady's condition--drenche

rst thought wa

u shall be well rewarded. I am the daughter of the lord of Bletsoe, and if I c

proached the bridge, she perceived a haven of refuge. The chapel door s