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in the moon…silvered clearing in front。
》From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough
serving…men； bearded and gruff； great cudgels in their hands； to
ask them who they were and what their errand。 The Lady Mary had
slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door； but they
rudely barred her way。
〃Nay； nay； our master needs no more！〃 cried one； with a hoarse
laugh。 〃Stand back； mistress； whoever you be！ The house is shut；
and our lord sees no guests to…night。〃
〃Fellow；〃 said Nigel； speaking low and clear； 〃stand back from us！
Our errand is with your master。〃
〃Bethink you； my children；〃 cried the old priest； 〃would it not be
best perchance； that I go in to him and see whether the voice of
the Church may not soften this hard heart？ I fear bloodshed if
you enter。〃
〃Nay； father； I pray you to stay here for the nonce；〃 said Nigel。
〃And you； Mary； do you bide with the good priest； for we know not
what may be within。〃
Again he turned to the door； and again the two men barred his
passage。
〃Stand back； I say； back for your lives！〃 said Nigel。 〃By Saint
Paul！ I should think it shame to soil my sword with such as you；
but my soul is set； and no man shall bar my path this night。〃
The men shrank from the deadly menace of that gentle voice。
〃Hold！〃 said one of them； peering through the darkness； 〃is it not
Squire Loring of Tilford？ 〃
〃That is indeed my name。〃
〃Had you spoken it I for one would not have stopped your way。 Put
down your staff； Wat； for this is no stranger； but the Squire of
Tilford。〃
〃As well for him；〃 grumbled the other； lowering his cudgel with an
inward prayer of thanksgiving。 〃Had it been otherwise I should
have had blood upon my soul tonight。 But our master said nothing
of neighbors when he ordered us to hold the door。 I will enter
and ask him what is his will。〃
But already Nigel was past them and had pushed open the outer
door。 Swift as he was； the Lady Mary was at his very heels； and
the two passed together into the hall beyond。
It was a great room； draped and curtained with black shadows； with
one vivid circle of light in the center； where two oil lamps shone
upon a small table。 A meal was laid upon the table； but only two
were seated at it； and there were no servants in the room。 At the
near end was Edith； her golden hair loose and streaming down over
the scarlet and black of her riding…dress。
At the farther end the light beat strongly upon the harsh face and
the high…drawn misshapen shoulders of the lord of the house。 A
tangle of black hair surmounted a high rounded forehead； the
forehead of a thinker； with two deep…set cold gray eyes twinkling
sharply from under tufted brows。 His nose was curved and sharp；
like the beak of some cruel bird； but below the whole of his
clean…shaven powerful face was marred by the loose slabbing mouth
and the round folds of the heavy chin。 His knife in one hand and
a half…gnawed bone in the other； he looked fiercely up； like some
beast disturbed in his den； as the two intruders broke in upon his
hall。
Nigel stopped midway between the door and the table。 His eyes and
those of Paul de la Fosse were riveted upon each other。 But Mary；
with her woman's soul flooded over with love and pity； had rushed
forward and cast her arms round her younger sister。 Edith had
sprung up from her chair； and with averted face tried to push the
other away from her。
〃Edith； Edith！ By the Virgin； I implore you to come back with us；
and to leave this wicked man！〃 cried Mary。 〃Dear sister； you
would not break our father's heart； nor bring his gray head in
dishonor to the grave！ Come back Edith； come back and all is
well。〃
But Edith pushed her away； and her fair cheeks were flushed with
her anger。 〃What right have you over me； Mary； you who are but
two years older； that you should follow me over the country…side
as though I were a runagate villain and you my mistress？ Do you
yourself go back； and leave me to do that which seems best in my
own eyes。〃
But Mary still held her in her arms； and still strove to soften
the hard and angry heart。 〃Our mother is dead； Edith。 I thank
God that she died ere she saw you under this roof！ But I stand
for her； as I have done all my life； since I am indeed your elder。
It is with her voice that I beg and pray you that you will not
trust this man further； and that you will come back ere it be too
late！〃
Edith writhed from her grasp； and stood flushed and defiant； with
gleaming； angry eyes fixed upon her sister。 〃You may speak evil
of him now；〃 said she； 〃but there was a time when Paul de la Fosse
came to Cosford； and who so gentle and soft…spoken to him then as
wise； grave； sister Mary？ But he has learned to love another； so
now he is the wicked man； and it is shame to be seen under his
roof！ From what I see of my good pious sister and her cavalier it
is sin for another to ride at night with a man at your side； but
it comes easy enough to you。 Look at your own eye； good sister；
ere you would take the speck from that of another。〃
Mary stood irresolute and greatly troubled； holding down her pride
and her anger； but uncertain how best to deal with this strong
wayward spirit。
〃It is not a time for bitter words； dear sister；〃 said she； and
again she laid her hand upon her sister's sleeve。 〃All that you
say may be true。 There was indeed a time when this man was friend
to us both； and I know even as you do the power which he may have
to win a woman's heart。 But I know him now； and you do not。 I
know the evil that he has wrought； the dishonor that he has
brought； the perjury that lies upon his soul； the confidence
betrayed； the promise unfulfilled … all this I know。 Am I to see
my own sister caught in the same well…used trap？ Has it shut upon
you； child？ Am I indeed already too late？ For God's sake； tell
me； Edith； that it is not so？〃
Edith plucked her sleeve from her sister and made two swift steps
to the head of the table。 Paul de la Fosse still sat silent with
his eyes upon Nigel。 Edith laid her hand upon his shoulder： 〃This
is the man I love； and the only man that I have ever loved。 This
is my husband；〃 said she。
At the word Mary gave a cry of joy。
〃And is it so？〃 she cried。 〃Nay； then all is in honor； and God
will see to the rest。 If you are man and wife before the altar；
then indeed why should I； or any other； stand between you？ Tell
me that it is indeed so； and I return this moment to make your
father a happy man。〃
Edith pouted like a naughty child。 〃We are man and wife in the
eyes of God。 Soon also we shall be wedded before all the world。
We do but wait until next Monday when Paul's brother； who is a
priest at St。 Albans； will come to wed us。 Already a messenger
has sped for him； and he will come； will he not； dear love？〃
〃He will come；〃 said the master of Shalford； still with his eyes
fixed upon the silent Nigel。
〃It is a lie； he will not come；〃 said a voice from the door。
It was the old priest； who had followed the others as far as the
threshold。
〃He will not come；〃 he repeated as he advanced into the room。
〃Daughter； my daughter； hearken to