Cantemir, filled with his own ideas, gave perfunctory acquiescence and continued in his own line of thought.  And what with a busy brain that was not over-strong, and a ride of some length and dampness, with a sore leg, he became feverish and the monk took him to bed in great haste, where he remained for the best part of a week; the seriousness of his disease not a little augmented by the desire for immediate action.

CHAPTER XII

CASTLE AND MONASTERY

The next morning after Christopher’s sudden disaster, the castle seemed to have awakened from a long apathy.  The servants clattered under breath of their wounded fellow.  The arrival of his Grace of Ellswold’s physicians held gossip in the castle in abeyance, as all were anxious of their decision; but the presence of Sir Julian seemed to fill the sails of the becalmed household with a stiff breeze, which at a favourable moment would raise anchor and fly forth on a joyous sea.

The physicians gave out that there was no immediate danger, but his illness was serious and there must neither be noise nor excitement.  It was out of the question to move his Grace either to his own estates or elsewhere for baths or sea air.

Lord Cedric and Sir Julian sat with him an hour after the doctor’s examination, Sir Julian, conversing of the freshest gossip at court, without the usual condiment of inflammables which would be apt to rouse his Grace not a little.

There being now no traitor—­unless perchance Constance might be termed one—­in the house, and no danger of Mistress Pen wick being left without the close surveillance of Janet, she was no longer kept prisoner.  And, while she was greatly wrought upon by the sad havoc of the previous night, her youth and gay spirits and Janet’s exhortations upon the age, giving license to all sorts of uprisings and display of temper and unwarranted vengeance, somewhat quieted her, and she arose as sprightly as ever, all the more determined to free herself from Lord Cedric.  If she had stopped for self-analysis, she would have found that she was bent on gaining her independence at no matter what cost; regardless of consequences.  That her desire was more of adventure than ambition.  And she also would have found that she cared naught for Cantemir and a very great deal for Lord Cedric.  She had never given thought to a separation from her beloved Janet; while even classing her as antagonistic to her desires, she never ceased to love her; for this woman had made herself a mother in every respect, aye, even more watchful and exacting.  While acting in a servant’s capacity, doing the most menial of service, she developed in the maid those seemingly trifling motives of mind and soul which in the end make up the character of a life; and very few mothers ever have the tact to so understand these very minute details that so develop a child’s passion.  Janet had ever developed in her charge an inclination