“’Tis better thou shouldst think of something else beside my Lord Cedric, for instance, his great demesne, Crandlemar Castle, the most beautiful of his several seats; the splendid horses and equipages; and, thyself, Lambkin, think of thyself bedecked in gorgeous hued brocades; be-furbelowed in rare lace and costly furs.  And thou wilt have a maid to build thy hair, tie shoulder knots and make smart ribbons and frills, and furbish bijoux and gems.  And thou wilt wear perfume, and carry a nosegay and fan.  And thou wilt sweep the most graceful courtesy and queen it everywhere with thy sweet graciousness.  Thy father says thou shouldst become an idol to the old man’s heart, as my lord is without wife or daughter.”

“If his demesne be in England, ’tis but right he should become as far as possible a genuine Anglo-Saxon, and if I can turn him, I will.  How soon does the boat sail?”

“Within forty-eight hours we shall be upon the sea and thou wilt have begun to whimper and bemoan its awful swell.  ’Twill have more evacuating power than teeth-curtailed mustachios upon thy heretofore staunch stomach.”

“Nay, I will not believe my Lord Cedric such a man; and yet thou hast drawn a picture that will be ever before me until I see him.  Sister Agnes would say,—­’there is a sinfulness in doubt and anxiety, inasmuch as such thoughts lash the soul to uneasiness and draw it from celestial contemplations.  Think not on it!’ neither will I, but rather, I will fancy the morrow’s sun glinting upon myriad white-capped waves; the bosom of the ocean swelling with emotion and—­didst say ’twould make me ill, Janet?”

“I am afraid of it, ’twill be glorious if thou art not; for ’tis a wonderful thing to see the rise and fall of sun and moon, and witness storms that seldom fail to lend their fearfulness to the voyagers of so long a journey.”

“Wilt thou be afraid, Janet?”

“Nay, not I; ’twill be the elixir of ambrosia to breathe salt air again, and the stronger and more mist-laden the better to knock out foul exhalations sucked in these nine years from musty walls.  ’Twill be sweet to have the wind rap from us the various fungi that comes from sunless chambers.  Ah, a stiff breeze will rejuvenate thy fifteen years one month to a lusty, crowing infant and my forty all-seasons to a simpering wench.”

“How splendid, Janet!” Katherine threw out her arms and drew a long, deep breath. “’Twill be glorious to breathe pure, free air!”

“Aye, my Lambkin, and thy chest will broaden and be larger by two good inches ere we see chalk cliffs and English waters.  Thou wilt open like a rose to the sunshine of the outer world.  But, we are anticipating—­let us speak of the present.  To-night we go to vespers for the last time, and thou must bid thy friends adieu before I tuck thee in thy cot as we arise and are off before day-dawn.  Let thy farewells be briefly spoken as if thou wert to be gone but a day.  ’Twas