y first-born, Francis, he fled to Flanders to escape my wrath.
But he did not escape it. I pursued him thither. I hunted him out; drove
him back to his own country, and brought him to the gallows. It took a
power of gold. What matter? Revenge is dearer than gold. And as it was
with Richard Cooper, so it shall be with Luke Bradley. I will catch him,
though he run. I will trip him, though he leap. I will reach him, though
he flee afar. I will drag him hither by the hair of his head," added
she, with a livid smile, and clutching at the air with her hands, as if
in the act of pulling some one towards her. "He shall wed you within the
hour, if you will have it, or if your honor need that it should be so.
My power is not departed from me. My people are yet at my command. I am
still their queen, and woe to him that offendeth me!"

"Mother! mother!" cried Sybil, affrighted at the storm she had
unwittingly aroused, "he has not injured me. 'Tis I alone who am to
blame, not Luke."

"You speak in mysteries," said Barbara.

"Sir Piers Rookwood is dead."

"Dead!" echoed Barbara, letting fall her hazel rod. "Sir Piers dead!"

"And Luke Bradley----"

"Ha!"

"Is his successor."

"Who told you that?" asked Barbara, with increased astonishment.

"Luke himself. All is disclosed." And Sybil hastily recounted Luke's
adventures. "He is now Sir Luke Rookwood."

"This is news, in truth," said Barbara; "yet not news to weep for. You
should rejoice, not lament. Well, well, I foresaw it. I shall live to
see all accomplished; to see my Agatha's child ennobled; to see her
wedded; ay, to see her well wedded."

"Dearest mother!"

"I can endow you, and I will do it. You shall bring your husband not
alone beauty, you shall bring him wealth."

"But, mother----"

"My Agatha's daughter shall be Lady Rookwood."

"Never! It cannot be."

"What cannot be?"

"The match you now propose."

"What mean you, silly wench? Ha! I perceive the meaning of those tears.
The truth flashes upon me. He has discarded you."

"No, by the Heaven of Heavens, he is still the same--unaltered in
affection."

"If so, your tears are out of place."

"Mother, it is not fitting that I, a gipsy born, should wed with him."

"Not fitting! Ha! and you my child! Not fitting! Get up, or I will spurn
you. Not fitting! This from you to me! I tell you it _is_ fitting; you
shall have a dower as ample as that of any lady in the land. Not
fitting! Do you say so, because