brooch, and through her heart fell a thunderbolt of fear; for now she
knew he would not allow a baggage to wear a thing so valued by the
mother whose memory he so loved. She began to fear this beauteous
thing could not be ousted so easily from her kinsman's castle; and her
heart rebelled at thought of losing him for spouse. She raged within,
reproaching herself for not hastening in woman's way his avowal; then
she trembled and grew sick at heart, as she saw his glances that were
so full of love; glances for which she would give the world to win.
She, on a sudden, was famishing for this love she had heretofore held
aloof from and yet would rather die than loose, aye, die a thousand
deaths. In her heart she vowed vengeance on that 'twould come between
them, and the thought strengthened her for battle, and when again she
saw Cedric's eyes gazing with ardent desire upon Katherine, it was
with comparative calmness. There appeared also a strange thing to her,
that this beauty did not appear to notice Cedric--that is, with the
notice due so handsome, rich and titled beau. There was not another
in the room with so elegant and fine shape; of so great vigour and
strength; none that could be so shaken and yet tender with passion;
none that could so command with a look; none that had such pure, noble
blood. And strange to say, for the first time she saw his weaker side;
she saw he was both jealous and selfish; she could find a thousand
matters pertaining to his lands and estates that she could find fault
with. He was exacting and heartless with his tenants; not providing
for their welfare as he should, being so great a lord. He hardly
allowed them religious privileges. The church was attached to the
castle by a passage leading from the landing of the stairway in the
library, and he had complained that the singing and preaching annoyed
him, and had frequently closed the chapel for this cause, and yet
a woman that held sway over such a man's heart could mould him to
anything. Why, why had she not married him ere this? She would set