"Nay, nay, she shall not have stays to pinch so fair a mould; she
shall not have stays, nay, nay, sweet Kate." 'Twas then Mistress
Penwick flew into a passion. She clinched her fists and her face grew
scarlet; she shook her head and threw glances like sword-thrusts at
Cedric, and said not a word but stamped her foot. As she did so, she
saw that in Cedric's eyes that made her calm her passion on a sudden.
'Twas steel against steel. It was Janet's voice that drew Katherine's
attention; for it had in it something it never had heretofore; it was
full of reproach.

"Lambkin, thou art too young for either stays or such a show of
passion. I beg thee to quench thy evil spirit, it does not become
thee." Katherine bent her head and turned from them toward the door.
Cedric called,

"Do not leave until we have all things settled! Kate, dost hear me
speaking?" She pretended deaf ears. "Kate," he said, with emphasis,
"dost hear me? Mistress Pen wick, hear me, heed, heed!" he thundered,
and stamped his foot, the spurs rattling upon the hearthstone. She
turned about reluctantly and rested her hand upon the great oaken
table, looking at Janet as if it had been she that had spoken. Cedric
drew himself up proudly, and spoke in a firm, full voice,

"I am thy father, brother, guardian, anything that love could be to
thee, and all that I have is thine, and when thou art with me thou
mayest do as thy heart dictates, but when thou shalt cross yonder
threshold thou shalt conduct thyself as becomes a daughter and
mistress of the castle. I have beneath my roof guests--my kinswoman,
Lady Constance, whom I have bidden to remain indefinitely, she being
so near of kin has been mistress here; but, from the moment thou