“Cuthbert, dear Cuthbert!  How I have longed to see thee once again!  Hast thou come to say farewell?”

“In truth, methinks it must be farewell,” answered Cuthbert, holding her tenderly to him, whilst he caressed her hair and her soft cheek with his hand.  “I may not linger too long in my kind uncle’s house, lest the matter should come to my father’s ears, and a worse breach be made that might cause thee to suffer more, sweet sister.  And now, since I may be faring forth tomorrow, tell me of thyself.  How go matters at the Gate House?  What said our father to my flight?”

“He is right furious thereat, and raged for two days like a madman, so that I durst not venture near him.”

“He laid no hand on thee?” asked Cuthbert quickly clinching his hand in the darkness.

“Nay, he did but threaten; but as I told him all I knew, he could do no more.  I said that thou hadst fled—­that thou couldst brook such a life no longer, and had told him so many times thyself.  I did not know myself where thou hadst gone when first he spoke, and he has asked me no question since.  Tell me not too much, lest I have to tell it to him.”

“Nay, once in London and I fear him not,” answered Cuthbert.  “There the law would protect me, since my father’s only complaint against me is that I conform to that.  I go first to our mother’s relatives, sweet sister, They will give me food and shelter and a home, I trow, during the inclement months of the winter now before us.  Later on “—­he bent his head and whispered in her ear—­“later on, if kind fortune befriend me, I shall return to these parts and commence that search of which we have spoken before now.  My sister, if thou canst glean anything from our father anent the treasure, when his less gloomy moods be upon him, store up in thine heart every word, for some think even yet that he knows more than others.  I am sad at heart to leave thee in such a home!  I would fain take thee with me.”

“Nay, that may not be.  I should be but a stay and a burden; and I can help thee better here at home by my prayers.  I will pray each hour of the day that the Holy Virgin will watch over thee and bless thee, and give us a happy meeting in the days to come.”

“And I will charge myself to watch over Petronella,” said Philip, stepping forward out of the shadow.  “I will be a protector—­a brother—­to her whilst thou art away.  She shall not feel too heavily her harsh father’s rule.  Amongst us we will find a way to ease her of a part of that burden.”

The glance turned upon Philip by those big shadowy eyes told a tale of trustful confidence that set the young man’s heart beating in glad response.  He took in his the little hand trustingly held out, and drew Petronella towards him.

“You will trust her to me, good Cuthbert?”

“Gladly, thankfully, confidently!” answered the lad, with great earnestness; and he thought within himself that if he had the whole of the Trevlyn treasure to lay at the feet of these kinsmen, it could hardly be enough to express his gratitude to them for their timely and generous help in his hour of sore need.