Mistress Penwick

Mistress Penwick

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mistress Penwick, by Dutton Payne This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Mistress Penwick
Author: Dutton Payne
Release Date: May 4, 2004 [EBook #12256]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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MISTRESS PENWICK
BY
DUTTON PAYNE

Contents

CHAPTER I
THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL

CHAPTER II
THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR

CHAPTER III
THE BALL

CHAPTER IV
HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL

CHAPTER V
BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES

CHAPTER VI
JANET'S PHILOSOPHY

CHAPTER VII
THE BRANTLE

CHAPTER VIII
THE ANCIENT MONASTERY

CHAPTER IX
SIR JULIAN POMPHREY

CHAPTER X
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUTLERY

CHAPTER XI
JACQUES DEMPSY

CHAPTER XII
CASTLE AND MONASTERY

CHAPTER XIII
AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE CHAPEL BELFRY

CHAPTER XIV
SERMONS NEW AND OLD

CHAPTER XV
THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM

CHAPTER XVI
BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE

CHAPTER XVII
TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL CONCERNED

CHAPTER XVIII
AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA

CHAPTER XIX
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COACH

CHAPTER XX
UNPROCLAIMED BANNS

CHAPTER XXI
THE ESPOUSAL

CHAPTER XXII
CEDRIC IN THE TOILS

CHAPTER XXIII
THE COCOANUTS OF THE KING'S CELLAR

CHAPTER XXIV
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER

CHAPTER XXV
THE GARDEN OF YOUTH

CHAPTER I
THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL
"If the ship sails at dawn, then I must hasten to tell my mistress of the departure, and--of her father's letter."
"I am loath to let yonder tide take her away so soon, Janet."
"But my master's words are a positive command to leave Quebec at once," and Janet's eyes fell to the imperative line at the close of her letter which read: "In God's name, good nurse, take my baby to England in all haste."
"Aye, our noble patron's desire must be carried out!" and the Mother Superior without further lament went from the small cell.
When the last echo of her footsteps had died away, Janet Wadham cautiously opened the inner door and passed to the cell adjoining, and to the low couch upon which lay her mistress in sound slumber.
Fondly she noted the beauty of her charge; the heavy waving hair gleaming in the fading light a bronze-like amber, the white forehead, the arched brow, the glow of health upon lip and cheek, the slender neck, the slope of shoulders, and the outline of a perfect form.
Then the maid stirred and opened her eyes. Her whole body thrilled with the awakening.
"Ah, 'twas like the bursting of a bud! How dost feel now, Mistress?"
"I am not ill at all. I am a martyr to thy imagination. Dost remember the time, Janet, I drowsed in the chapel and thou didst make me drink bitterwort for a fortnight?" and the girl's voice rung out in soft laughter.
"Aye, I have not forgotten, nor why thou wert drowsy either, Mistress Penwick."
"Nay, thou didst not know."
"I did so. Thou hadst a book of tales and read nights with the candle shaded by thy mother's landskip fan, and I gave thee aloes for thy folly."
"Thou dost always find me out, Janet; I shall be glad when I become a woman as big as thou."
"Thou art a woman to-day, and thou wilt never be as big as I; so, having age and not a hulking servant's body, be content. I have a letter from my master, and in it is much that concerns thee--"
"Isn't there always much that concerns me?"
"But not such important concernings. He has gone on a long journey and proposes one for thee, my lambkin." Katherine raised herself in bed. "Nay, thou must not stir or I hush my tale! Thy father has provided thee with a guardian and 'tis to him I take thee. We go to England by the first boat,--nay, lay back, calm thyself or I take my wagging tongue away; if thou dost so much as stir again, I leave thee. Thou art to go to a great house over there and see grand folks with fine airs and modish dress. Wilt be glad to see outside of convent walls? 'Tis nine years since I brought thee here a babe of six, and have nursed thee well to this hour, and thy strength and health and beauty show the care given thee." She suddenly arose and went to the window to hide if possible her agitation; but when she looked forth on the snow-covered city and on beyond at the long range of forest that lay low and black against the arctic sky, she turned from the gloomy scene and went again to the couch, quickly suppressing all thoughts save those that were purely selfish: she would be glad to bid adieu to this great, still northern world and leave behind forever old Quebec, even though she must divide her treasure.
"I have been a mother to thee, child, and now I must divide my rule with a cantankerous Scot--"
"Nay, a Scot and lives in England?"
"He lives in England and thy father speaks of bending somewhat