Rigidly she had kept from Cantemir the knowledge of Mistress Penwick’s insolvency, likewise the death of her father; knowing the condition of the count’s fortunes, she feared he would retreat; his love for the maid might be of such a nature ’twas possible he would not take part in the ugly skirmish against her.  So Constance had set about systematically to bring Mistress Penwick and Adrian to an understanding of each other.

He believed Katherine to be a wealthy heiress of Sir John Penwick, who was being held as hostage at some point in America.  At her marriage her estates would be placed in her own hands.  All these things Lady Constance could vouch for, as she had read the letter herself that Sir John had written Lord Cedric.  Mistress Penwick was at a marriageable age, and her father being ill and hopelessly bound by ties of war never expected to see her again and had made provision for her future happiness.  Knowing these things, and being in love beside with so beautiful and youthful creature, Cantemir was well-nigh mad to win her, without any urging from Constance.

On the other hand, Mistress Penwick never forgot his slender grace and pale, patrician features, as she beheld him first upon the stairway the evening of her arrival.  He had ingratiated himself into all her thoughts of music and court life and religious duties.  Being like her a Catholic, he sat by the hour and spoke of their ill usage by the nobles of England, and insinuated that the cavaliers (Lord Cedric being one, of course) were combined to rout out the Catholics and confiscate all their properties, both public and private.

At one time Lady Constance said to Katherine that her father, Sir John, was an Episcopalian and she had made answer,—­“’Twould be absurd to suppose him anything else than a Catholic.”  Upon this, Constance spoke to Adrian, and he, casually as it were, asked Mistress Penwick if she were not afraid her demesne would be seized by the Protestants.  Thus she had come gradually to know of the chasm between the two great religious orders, and had even written her father of the dangers in which she believed she was placed.  These letters of course were kept by Janet.  The seals remained unbroken and the missives were carefully laid aside until Mistress Penwick should know the truth.  And neither she nor Janet receiving news from him, stirred her to confide her fears to Cantemir, who questioned her of the letter which her father wrote, bidding her to depart for England.  She became startled and uneasy, when she remembered that Janet had refused to show her the letter and having promised herself to Cantemir in marriage, she spoke of the matter to him.  But her love of and confidence in Janet was deeper than she thought, and at his first words against her, she fell from him.  He said ’twas possible Janet, being so great a Protestant, she would undoubtedly take his Lordship’s part against her, should any serious trouble arise.  He even went so far as