of their Graces of
Ells wold and Janet,--Janet, I love her best of all. Nay, nay, I'll
not be married. I will go and see and return. Janet will not look for
me above stair before eleven at least. I shall be home again ere I'm
missed." She thought thus as she hurried on through the courtyard and
beyond, where waited Father Dempsy.

In a second, it seemed, they were galloping away, Mistress Penwick
throwing back a long, sweeping glance at the great, stone pile behind
her. The train of her brocade skirt hung almost to the ground; her
fair, sloping shoulders, her exquisite face framed in a high roll of
amber beauty, made a picture,--a rare gem encircled by a gorgeous June
night.

On they rode without converse; Dempsy was a brave man, yet he feared
and justly, too, that Mistress Pen wick might be taken from him before
they reached the monastery, therefore he enjoined silence, and the
best speed of their horses, and kept a hand upon his sword.

He drew a sigh of relief when he beheld the dark outline of the
cloister that appeared quiet and undisturbed.

As they approached, Cantemir came from the open door and lifted
Mistress Penwick from her horse in a most tender fashion, and would
have held her close and imprinted a kiss upon her forehead had she not
drawn from him and raised her hand to his lips.

"'Tis a cold greeting, Katherine, after these long, weary days of
separation."

"Nay, not so. 'Tis thy warmth that is premature." And without deigning
further opportunity for converse, she swept over the threshold of the
monastery.

There was much business to be attended to before the ceremony could
take place, and the time was limited; for in one hour it was believed
the cloister would be attacked by the Duke of Buckingham and his
party, and the maid must be far on her way before the attack.

There was none but Mistress Penwick, herself, that thought else than
that a marriage contract was to be sealed. She on a sudden felt a
great repulsion for Adrian Cantemir, and she resolved not to wed him.

As she stood in the large hall that served as council chamber and
for all functions of importance, she cast her eye about for those
answering to the description of his Grace of Monmouth and that
other--was it the King? She felt sure she would know him; but upon the
long benches there were none but sombre cowled figures with crucifix
and--aye, swords gleamed from beneath the folds of their long gowns
and touched the floor. Her