The Master of Appleby

press in one corner, a raree-show of curious china on the shelves where the books should have been, and the face of an armored soldier staring down at me from

ever a better memory than any other, carried me swiftly back to my boyhood, and to the reme

This was some womanly conceit, I said to myself; and then I laughed, though the laugh set a pair of wolf's jaws at work on my shoulder. For you must know that I

the moment of back-reaching stood not for some longer time. In the deep bay of the window was a great chair of

ckery and once was full of terror; but I thought I should live long and suffer much before th

think, with the womanly barriers of defense all down. 'Tis a hard test, and one that makes a blank at rest of many a face beautiful en

er own; but now these mocking lips were pensive, and with the rounded cheek and chin gave her the look of a sweet child wanting to be kissed. I had said her hair was bright in the sunlight, and so, indeed, it was; but lacking the sun it still held

ld field-marshal had once presented me. But when she rose and went to stand in the window-bay I marked this; that not any duchess or ma

ss came over me, or that I forgot for the moment the loyalty due to my dear lad. Could I have stood before her and, reading but half consent in the deep-welled eyes, have c

ed, I suppose, for she came

nearer presence I found space to mark that her voice had in it that sweet quality of sympath

ave been upon me, for I said: "Since you are

w dipped curtsy and a mocking smile

I was moved to wonder how she had the French of it. And then she added: "Is it the custom for

t. Then I asked where I was, and to whom indebted, thou

nd she became my lady hostess, steeped

o other house so near, and you were sorely hurt. Richard Jennifer and my black bo

mid-sentence and looked away from me. And, surely, I thought it was the very irony of fate that I should thus

ueried, when the silen

n trust yourself to my tender mercies, Captain Ireto

she fell to upon the wound-dressing with as little ado as if she had been a surgeon's apprentic

d, replacing the wrappings with deft fingers. "How ca

returned, and then I could

on? We hear something of the ta

hout sufficient cause. I am

there not strife enough in this unhappy

n a breath and I with no words to answ

in England," said I, hoping

re was a caus

hat I m

orely in the wound-dressing

I shall know without the telling; 'twas about

sweet agony of her touches I could only set my teeth against a groan. She went on drawing the bandagings, little heedful how

make no doubt you are glad enough. Now you hav

will that be

shall be punished properly for your ho

om lying mouse-still and watching her over-steadily I fell asleep

Richard Jennifer's, brought me my faithful Darius, and he it was who fetched me my food and drink and dressed my wound. From him I gleaned that the master of Appleb

that he came not once to my bedchamber to pass the time of day with his unbidden guest, or to ask how he fared. But in this, as in many other t

ell my dear lad's loyalty to the patriot cause, I could only conjecture that he had finally broken Margery's enforced truce t

that evening of the third day, when Mistress Margery b

rself, you pass on to Richard Jennifer!" she cried. "Was it not enough that you s

truly if she had sought far and wide for a whip to scour

. "Has this fiend incarn

But he has the baronet's bullet through his sword-arm for

or Dick Coverdale's wrongs, Richard Jennifer's was for the baronet's affront to her. So

e snapped, flying out at me in

ve not forgot that once

an. And you should ask my pardon for

s but the simple truth, but it was ill-s

ings I had never heard a sound so gladsome as this swee

an apology and renew the offense so innocently in the same breath." Then her moo

hy I found that curious love-madness coming upon me again. Then I saw that I must straightway dig some chasm impassable

which might have been mocking or l

s deputy to tell me

mockery, but I did not, and must needs burst out in some clumsy disclai

e," she cried. "I do protest I shall come t

wilderness?" I asked, glad of any excus

world save only yourself, Captain Ireton. What would you say if I sho

ing how else she came by the Parisian French; but at thi

She spoke it always to me. But my father speaks i

given me the French speech, or so much of it as the clumsy tongue of me could master, and I had always held it in hearty English scorn. Yet n

when I looked not at her I could speak in terms dispassionate and cool of this or aught else; and when I

gle fiercer than any the turbaned Turk had ever given me. For when I had eaten, and was alone with time to think, I knew well that I lov