e 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 thou wilt not have long to wait. I saw his wicked young eyes--too
young for so old a man, as it appeared--directing enamoured darts upon
thee."

"But art thou not afraid of so oath-beladen tongue? He is dreadfully
profane!"

"He has already seen his peril and will drop his oaths like jetsam and
wilt come to thee with flotsamy oglings and tender nothings and bow
and smirk; and thou wilt find thyself an old man's sweetheart."

"Janet, can we not find some point of observation where we may look
upon the maskers unseen?"

"Thou art speaking my own mind. I will look about and find some
seclusion that thou mayest look and sate thine eyes upon Royalty; and
thou wilt gaze and gaze and make mental annotations, and to-morrow
thou wilt begin to preen thy feathers preparatory to flying forth; but
first thou must lie down and sleep three full hours, 'tis then the
ball will be at its height, and thou wilt feel refreshed and ready to
amuse me with thy o