“Somewhat, but I hate him most.”

“Thou wilt impeach thy sweet tongue by that viscid ‘hate’; thou hadst better indulge in less of devil’s warfare and leave room for digestion of gentle peace.  Thou hast bloomed into a beauteous maid, but thy temper hath blown also.  My lord hast seen many beauties that he could have for the asking, and they are doubtless meek and gentle creatures with soft and ready answer; but if thy cantankerous untowardness continues he will set thee down as a shrewish wench and will heartily dislike thee.”

“Nay, I would not have any one dislike me.”

“Then cease thy uprisings.”  There came a low knock, and an old grey-haired woman stepped into the room with that in her face Janet stood up to honour.  She advanced to Katherine and in a trembling voice said,

“Thou art my lord’s ward,—­ah, I remember thy father well; thou art a Penwick over and over again, I could see it with half an eye.  I knew thy father when he was a mere lad, so high; he had as bonny a face as one cared to see.  They tell me thou didst expect to see here my poor master; is’t so?  Aye,—­well thou hast found his son, the blessedst man that walks the earth.  He has a wicked, bad tongue at times, but he means nothing.  I nursed him and his father, and am longing for a wife for his lordship.”  Then:  “I am Angel Bodkin, and have come to conduct thee to the vaults.”  She led them forth, talking all the while.

CHAPTER V

BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES

Lady Constance had exhausted every means of procuring the desired information concerning the strange beauty in her kinsman’s castle; and she became fretted and annoyed and was about to give up all hope, when she came suddenly upon the object of her search in the corridor; and the beauteous maid, grey-gowned and sandal-shoon, flitted by without deigning so much as a look.  And my Lady Constance swept by with hate of this formidable creature in her evil heart.  She felt it was almost understood that Lord Cedric would espouse her; she, Lady Constance Clarmot.  To be sure, she was somewhat of riper years than he, but that counted for naught since they had always loved each other.  She was of a great family and proud and had of her own, titles and estates and—­yes, beauty.  She fell to thinking of the many ways in which Cedric had shown his love for her.  He had consulted her on all occasions upon the most trivial matters until the present instance.  “Could it be possible she is some soft-natured wench that hath fallen beneath his eye and charmed him, and he has brought her here?  Nay, nay, he would not bring such an one beneath his roof while I remained, and yet I have but just come and he hath kept her hid; ’tis possible he will send her away at once.”  She soliloquized thus until the candles were brought, and the curtains drawn to shut out the storm, and she sat beneath her maid’s hands heeding naught