dare to scold at me thus?"
shouted Sir John, growing purple with wrath. "If I choose a husband for
you, by what right do you refuse him, saying that you love a Dunwich
shop-boy? Down on your knees and beg my pardon, or you shall have the
whipping you have earned."

Now Eve's black eyes glittered dangerously.

"Ill would it go with any man who dared to lay a hand upon me," she
said, drawing herself up and grasping the dagger in her girdle. "Yes,
very ill, even though he were my own father. Look at me and say am I one
to threaten? Ay, and before you answer bear in mind that there are those
at my call who can strike hard, and that among them I think you'll find
the King of England."

She paused.

"What hellish plot is this that you hatch against me?" asked Sir John,
with some note of doubt in his voice. "What have I to fear from my liege
lord, the King of England?"

"Only, sir, that you consort with and would wed me to one who, although
you may not know it, has, I am told, much to fear from him, so much that
I wonder that he has ridden to seek his Grace's presence. Well, you are
ill and I am angered and together we are but as steel and flint, from
the meeting of which comes fire that may burn us both. Therefore, since
being better than I thought, you need me not and have only cruel words
for greeting, I'll bid you farewell and get me back to those who are
kindlier. God be with you, and give you your health again."

"Ah!" said or rather snarled Sir John, "I thought as much and am ready
for the trick. You'd win back to sanctuary, would you, and the company
of that old wizard, Andrew Arnold, thence to make a mock of me? Well,
not one step do you take upon that road while I live," and pushing past
her he opened the door and shouted aloud.

Apparently the men and woman whom Eve had met in the passage were still
waiting there, for instantly they all reappeared.

"Now, fellows," said Sir John, "and you, Jane Mell, take this rebellious
girl of mine to the chamber in the prisoners' tower, whence I think
she'll find it hard to fly to sanctuary. There lock her fast, feeding
her with the bread and water of affliction to tame her proud spirit, and
suffering none to go near her save this woman, Jane Mell. Stay, give
me that bodkin which she wears lest she, who has learned bloody ways of
late, should do some of you or herself a mischief."

As he spoke one of the men deftly snatched the dagger from Eve's girdle
and handed it to