“But I know not what to do.  I have given my promise to wed, and I want to go to London.”

“Then I beg to assist thee to thy heart’s desire as soon as thou hast found what its desire is; and I insist thou dost examine the weather-vane of thy mind and discern its bent.  I am by thy side, groping in darkness for that thou wouldst have.  I am bound to serve thee.”

“Sir Julian, thou dost nonplus my understanding of myself absurdly.  I agree I have more minds than one, and ’tis disconcerting to try in haste to ascertain which is the best.  Indeed, I do not wish to make a false step and do that ’twould make me sorry ever after.”

“’Twould be well to have one to guide thee in thine uncertainty.  I should aspire to such an office with alacrity, if thou wouldst but give me one encouraging glance.”  For a moment they looked into each other’s eyes, then Katherine’s lids dropped and she became as clay in his hands.  And before she was aware, she had told him all things.  These matters were not altogether new to Sir Julian, for Lord Cedric had discoursed at length upon them, but the nucleus he sought was found, and he listened perfunctorily to all else, feasting his eyes upon her face and listening only to the music of her voice.

“Then why, may I ask, didst thou discard Cedric’s suit?”

“He is tyrannical and cruel, and even though my heart should incline toward him, ’twould not be meet for me to wed with one of another faith.”

“’Tis possible thou couldst win him to thy way of thinking.”

“Nay, I should not try it; for I have cast all thought of him aside.”

“Then thou dost acknowledge having had a tenderness for him?  ’Tis well thou dost so fling him aside, he is unworthy of thy consideration.”

“Not so; he is most noble, but—­but—­I know not what,—­he is haughty and full of temper and given to harsh language—­”

“Yet he is not a fit companion for thee, sayest thou?”

“Thou dost greatly misunderstand me; he is on the contrary a most delightful person to converse with and every whit fit to be a King;—­but we are not suited to each other.”

“Was it not thy father’s desire for thee to soon wed and to this man?”

“Even so; but he knew not my Lord Cedric but his father; beside—­”

“Well—­”

“I am expecting to hear from my father in the near future—­”

“Ah!”

“—­and ’tis possible he will come to me or send and make some change.  I have asked him to appoint another guardian for me and my estates.”

“’Twould be a wise thing to do, no doubt; but ’tis possible Cedric has used already thine inheritance.”  Mistress Penwick flushed hotly.

“Nay, thou dost judge him ill; he is above such a thing.”  And Sir Julian knew what the poor maid knew not herself, and he felt ’twas a safe thing to carry through his adventure.

“Then there are two things that weigh upon thee.  Thou knowest not whether to wed or become a Lady of Honour.  I will warn thee that thou must not dwell long upon them, for ’tis possible if thou dost not decide very early, I will be able to help thee to nothing but—­myself.”