“You shall be united, Gertrude, an he loves thee,” cried the generous Joanna, flinging her arms round the neck of her companion, and kissing her again and again.  “His life, his liberty, shall be obtained, and thou and he shall be happy together.  I have said it, and I will do it.”

Whatever was known to Joanna was known to Alphonso, who shared all her feelings, and was most tenderly beloved by her.  He was as ardent in the cause as his sister could be; but he saw more of the difficulties that beset their path, and knew better his father’s iron temperament, and how deeply Wendot had offended.  Doubtless much was due to the misrepresentations of Sir Res ap Meredith, who had now secured for himself the coveted lands of Dynevor; but whatever the cause, the eldest son of the house of Dynevor was the object of the king’s severe displeasure, and it was not likely he would relax his vigilance or depart from his word, not even for the prayers of his children or the tears of his favourite Gertrude.  He had pardoned Llewelyn at the instance of Arthyn; if the same game were to be played over again by another of his daughters’ companions, he would not unnaturally believe that he was being cajoled and trifled with.

“If it were only Griffeth it would be easy,” said Alphonso thoughtfully.  “But Wendot —­”

And there he stopped and shook his head.

It was some days before the king saw the new attendant of his sons; but coming into Alphonso’s private apartment one day suddenly, he found several of the royal children gathered there, and with them a fair-haired youth, who was reading to the prince out of an illuminated missal.  Alphonso was lying on a couch, and his look of fragile weakness struck cold to the father’s heart.  Of late the lad’s strength had been failing rapidly, but Edward had tried to blind his eyes to the truth.  Now he took a hasty step towards the couch, and Griffeth rose quickly from his seat and bent the knee before the king.

“Ha, Wendot,” said Edward, with a grave but not unkindly glance, “I have not seen you at these new duties before.  So you are a student as well as a soldier?  Well, the arts of peace will better become you for the future.  I remember your face well, young man.  I would it had not been my duty to place you under restraint; but you have broken faith with me, and that grievously.  How then can it be possible to trust you in the future?  You, as the head of the house, should have set your brothers an example of honour and fealty.  As it is, it has been far otherwise, and now you will have to bear the burden of that breach of trust and honour.”

Twice Griffeth had opened his lips as if to speak, but Alphonso laid his hand upon his arm with a warning touch, which said as plainly as words could do, “Be silent.”

So the youth held his peace, and only bent his head in submission; and Edward, after a moment’s pause, added more kindly: 

“And how fares it with your brother, Wendot?  I hear that his state is something precarious.  I hope he has the best tendance the castle can afford, for I would not that any member of my son’s household should suffer from lack of care.”