Mistress Penwick | Page 3

far as
possible a genuine Anglo-Saxon, and if I can turn him, I will. How
soon does the boat sail?"
"Within forty-eight hours we shall be upon the sea and thou wilt have
begun to whimper and bemoan its awful swell. 'Twill have more
evacuating power than teeth-curtailed mustachios upon thy heretofore
staunch stomach."
"Nay, I will not believe my Lord Cedric such a man; and yet thou hast
drawn a picture that will be ever before me until I see him. Sister Agnes
would say,--'there is a sinfulness in doubt and anxiety, inasmuch as
such thoughts lash the soul to uneasiness and draw it from celestial
contemplations. Think not on it!' neither will I, but rather, I will fancy
the morrow's sun glinting upon myriad white-capped waves; the bosom

of the ocean swelling with emotion and--didst say 'twould make me ill,
Janet?"
"I am afraid of it, 'twill be glorious if thou art not; for 'tis a wonderful
thing to see the rise and fall of sun and moon, and witness storms that
seldom fail to lend their fearfulness to the voyagers of so long a
journey."
"Wilt thou be afraid, Janet?"
"Nay, not I; 'twill be the elixir of ambrosia to breathe salt air again, and
the stronger and more mist-laden the better to knock out foul
exhalations sucked in these nine years from musty walls. 'Twill be
sweet to have the wind rap from us the various fungi that comes from
sunless chambers. Ah, a stiff breeze will rejuvenate thy fifteen years
one month to a lusty, crowing infant and my forty all-seasons to a
simpering wench."
"How splendid, Janet!" Katherine threw out her arms and drew a long,
deep breath. "'Twill be glorious to breathe pure, free air!"
"Aye, my Lambkin, and thy chest will broaden and be larger by two
good inches ere we see chalk cliffs and English waters. Thou wilt open
like a rose to the sunshine of the outer world. But, we are
anticipating--let us speak of the present. To-night we go to vespers for
the last time, and thou must bid thy friends adieu before I tuck thee in
thy cot as we arise and are off before day-dawn. Let thy farewells be
briefly spoken as if thou wert to be gone but a day. 'Twas thy father's
wish thou shouldst not grieve at parting with thy companions, or the
Sisters or Mother. 'Tis best to leave them the remembrance of a face
happy, rather than one steeped in sorrow. Say to them what thy heart
dictates, but with a quick tongue and bright countenance; 'twill tend to
suppress tears and numb the pain at thy heart. When thou art thus
engaged I will prepare us for journeying. Wilt thou wear thy Sunday
gown?"
"'Tis none too good! couldst put on a ribbon to relieve its greyness?"

"Ah, Lambkin, thou hast begun already with thy fine lady's notions!
thou wilt be crying for high-heeled boots and built-up hair and stays,
stays, Mistress, stays wilt be thy first cry--oh, Lambkin, thou art
heavy-hearted and I am turning myself into a fool to physic thy
risibles;--I wish we were upon the sea at this moment; if it were
possible I should have taken thee while thou wert in sleep; but nay, I
could not; for thou art a maiden grown and art plump and heavy with
all. If I had taken thee so, thou wouldst have wept anyway, perhaps; for
'tis thy nature to have thy own way. 'Twould be a cross to thy father
could he see thee now. I doubt not 'twould turn the Scot's bull-scaring
face to ashen hues, 'tis possible--" Katherine's soft rippling laugh
interrupted her, and at its sound Janet leant and kissed the maid's
pink-palmed hands as they lay upon the coverlet, and taking them
within her own fondled them, saying,--"And thou wilt surprise my lord
and his friends by thy rare playing of the clavichord, and 'tis possible so
great and wealthy a man will own a piano-forte of which we have heard
so much; and mayhap thou will be presented at Court, and in great
London town thou mayest see many musicians from France, for 'tis not
improbable they are brought over the channel at the instance of his
Majesty. Is it not grand to think of all these things, Lambkin?"
"Aye, 'tis glorious! But Janet, let me up and dress me--ah, it seems an
age until the morrow!"
'Twas with greater care than usual Janet made ready her Mistress. And
after sundry admonitions about cold corridors and draughts, opened the
door and watched her in silence as she passed through, and down the
hall to vespers. And when evening prayer was over and Katherine had
gone to say adieu, Janet began to pack the chests for