"

Edith plucked her sleeve from her sister and made two swift steps to the
head of the table. Paul de la Fosse still sat silent with his eyes upon
Nigel. Edith laid her hand upon his shoulder: "This is the man I love,
and the only man that I have ever loved. This is my husband," said she.

At the word Mary gave a cry of joy.

"And is it so?" she cried. "Nay, then all is in honor, and God will see
to the rest. If you are man and wife before the altar, then indeed why
should I, or any other, stand between you? Tell me that it is indeed so,
and I return this moment to make your father a happy man."

Edith pouted like a naughty child. "We are man and wife in the eyes of
God. Soon also we shall be wedded before all the world. We do but wait
until next Monday when Paul's brother, who is a priest at St. Albans,
will come to wed us. Already a messenger has sped for him, and he will
come, will he not, dear love?"

"He will come," said the master of Shalford, still with his eyes fixed
upon the silent Nigel.

"It is a lie; he will not come," said a voice from the door.

It was the old priest, who had followed the others as far as the
threshold.

"He will not come," he repeated as he advanced into the room. "Daughter,
my daughter, hearken to the words of one who is indeed old enough to be
your earthly father. This lie has served before. He has ruined others
before you with it. The man has no brother at Saint Albans. I know his
brothers well, and there is no priest among them. Before Monday, when
it is all too late, you will have found the truth as others have done
before you. Trust him not, but come with us!"

Paul de la Fosse looked up at her with a quick smile and patted the hand
upon his shoulder.

"Do you speak to them, Edith," said he.

Her eyes flashed with scorn as she surveyed them each in turn, the
woman, the youth and the priest.

"I have but one word to say to them," said she. "It is that they go
hence and trouble us no more. Am I not a free woman? Have I not said
that this is the only man I ever loved? I have loved him long. He did
not know it, and in despair he turned to another. Now he knows all and
never again can doubt come between us. Therefore I will stay here at
Shalford and come to Cosford no more save upon the arm of my husband.
Am I so weak that I would believe the tales you tell against him? Is it
hard for a jealous woman and a wandering priest to agree upon a lie? No,
no, Mary, you can go hen