Mistress Penwick | Page 8

from the lackey's hands and sat upon the chair drawing the candle
to his convenience and read aloud:
"'Cedric: When we parted twenty odd years ago 'twas in anger. I hope
thou hast forgotten it as I have.' My poor father had forgotten and
yearned to tell him so. 'I'm upon my death-bed and my consolation is
the remembrance of our mutual faith plighted to each other a short time
before our quarrel. 'Twas the bit of Scotch blood in thee that brought us
to contentious wrangle. I 'minded thee at the time thou wouldst grieve
for thy hot words, and 'tis a balm I send thee for thy grieved heart; 'tis

my baby Kate'--Baby, baby of course I thought her so and sent her to a
nurse's nookery at the top of the towers to silence the wench's
squawkings, and gave Stephen the care of the freshest young heifer,
that the youngster might not lack for proper food, 'now under her
nurse's care in the Ursuline Convent at Quebec. The child has been
environed with all that is pure and good, and will come to thee with the
sweet incense of the cloister clinging about her. I have heard but once
of thee, and 'twas that thy young wife died leaving thee without heirs. If
such be so, thou wilt find a solace in my baby. Guard her as thine own.
I have only enough gold to send her with her nurse to thy protection.'
She will be obliged to come to me for all things, and I will spoil my
own pleasure by giving her before she asks. 'In my epistle to Janet
Wadham I spoke of moneys and estates being in thy hands. 'Tis a lie
that will bring to thy mind more vividly than aught else my
personality--_suppressio veri_; but if thou findest a like propensity in
my babe, thou wilt deal gently but firmly with her for its correction. I
give into thy keeping more than house, lands or titles. I would direct
clemency toward my beloved servant; she has proven most faithful. My
wife truly loved her and at her child's birth was constantly tended by
the vigilant Janet; and 'twas her desire she should remain always with
the babe. Enclosed thou will find a letter to be given to my daughter
upon her arrival to thy care; 'tis a letter of both welcome and farewell.
Some day thou must tell her I am gone on my last journey, tell her
when she is surrounded by pleasant distractions that she may not grieve.
She knows naught of trouble, neither would I have her know. 'Tis
possible she may have some religious ideas that are not identical with
thine. She may be laden with all sorts of shrines, picture-books, candles,
crosses and beads; these religion's playthings thou of sterner mould wilt
hardly consider. My last wish and the one of greatest import to my
child is that thou find for her a spouse of rank and fortune; 'tis my
desire that she marry early to such an one. Ah, Cedric, if thou had hadst
a son, their union would have been our delight; for when thou seest my
Kate thou wilt see the most beautiful thing in life.'
"Aye, she is the most beautiful thing in life. She is mine, my very own,
her father gives her to me for marriage--marriage, and 'tis a speedy one
he asks, and she shall have it. I love her, love her, my whole being

throbs with mad desire. She is the sweetest maid on earth, and I drink
from the cup upon which her rich, red lips have rested; ah, 'tis sweet!"
He poured a bumper and drank, then flung from the room with great
strides.

CHAPTER III
THE BALL
Meanwhile Mistress Katherine sat before the fire in the tower nookery
while Janet unpacked the luggage.
"'Twould not be fitting for Lord Cedric to have such a man within his
house as guest!"
"Neither has he, Lambkin; 'tis his Lordship himself." Her voice rang
truth and Katherine turned dismayed,--
"Nay, Janet, the man was a drunken fool! Surely, surely thou dost not
mean thy sayings. He is not a fit person to be in so great a castle. Thou
art shamming!"
"I mean every word; 'tis my Lord _en masque_, for to-night there is to
be a great and magnificent spectacle."
"And what does that mean, Janet?"
"It means there is to be a masque ball, and my Lord Cedric is in his
costume, and he does not look like that at all. We may be sure he
appears quite the opposite when apparelled in his usual dress."
"But his tongue, he cannot change that!"
"Thou wilt have to wait and see for thyself, and fortune favours, for
now