“Nay; just so ’twas healthy and prolific of bloom.”

“Then as thou hast named a rose, I will name its kind!”

He smiled significantly, and the hot blood flushed his cheek.  She came a step nearer and bent toward the table before him, her riding dress wrapping her perfect mould.

“One thing more I would ask thee; ’tis that I might have a bolder steed, the one thou gavest me is not near spiritful enough for one who wishes to ride well and gayly.  I would have one that shakes his head and rattles his bit and stamps about uneasily.”  This was more than his Lordship could stand, and he broke forth in a mirthful laugh,—­

“Thou shalt have the most buoyant palfrey can be found; he shall have a wicked black eye, and—­an honest heart for his mistress.”  Cedric arose and bent gracefully to the fingers of Katherine as she held them out to him, then turned quickly to the fire and crushed a half-famished ember beneath his heel as he heard her cross the threshold.  A moment after he strode out upon the upper terrace to the gardener, who stood with bared head as his Lordship gave command to plant by the dial a bridal rose.

The afternoon was glorious with the scent of a million shooting sprouts, and delicate with the perfume of violets.  But the sunshine of the day was not to stay, for the party from the castle were scarce three miles within the confines of the forest when the sun became overcast.  But they rode on, however, taking delight in the fine air, and caring naught of cloud and threatening weather.

They soon came to intricate windings of the forest path, where two might not ride side by side, and as the Duke of Ellswold rode in behind his wife, he suddenly reeled and would have fallen had it not been for his groom.  They all turned quickly save Mistress Penwick and Adrian, who had made the sharp turn and were galloping forward.  Cedric bade a lackey ride with all speed to the castle for a coach; and as the anxious group waited, they wondered somewhat that Katherine and Cantemir did not return.  And Cedric’s heart, while well-nigh taken up by his uncle’s state, had still room for jealousy, and he grew hot with anger that for once he kept hid under the semblance of anxiety.

His Grace was tenderly lifted and taken to the conveyance that waited upon the broader road some distance away.  The little caravan moved slowly, and before it reached the castle the wind began to blow furiously, bringing heavy showers.

The physician from Crandlemar had been summoned, and after a hurried examination gave them encouragement, saying that the duke had probably been riding too fast and his condition was not dangerous.

A courier had been despatched for his Grace’s physicians and all things done for his comfort; and Cedric for the time relieved from the anxiety of actual and impending danger concerning his kinsman, now felt the full force of his disappointment in Mistress Penwick’s absence with Cantemir.  He determined to ride forth in quest; and with a groom laden with all sorts of cloaks for her protection from the storm, that now raged furiously, started, feeling naught but the pain at his heart.