"I could not," answered the girl, in the same low tone; "I was in
my bed, unable to move hand or foot, unable to know night from day.
Cuthbert, the night I went forth to thee in the chantry our father
missed me from the house. He thought I had gone to meet Philip in
the wood at night. He reviled me cruelly, and I feared to tell him
it was thou I had gone to see. Then, I know not how, but I fear he
struck me. A great blackness came before mine eyes; and when I
opened them again a week or more had passed, and I knew, as I began
to understand what had chanced, that I could no longer remain
beneath the roof of the Gate House."

Cuthbert ground his teeth in sudden fury.

"Struck thee, my gentle sister! Nay, I can scarce credit it; and
were he any other than my father--"

"But he is our father," answered the girl gently. "And truly
methinks, Cuthbert, that his lonely brooding has something unhinged
his mind. Let us think of him only with pity."

Cuthbert put his arm about her tenderly.

"Tell me the rest of thy story, sister. How camest thou here so
opportunely, to play the part of Amazon and save thy brother's
life?"

She shivered a little, as if afraid even to think what she had
done, but her words were quietly and clearly spoken.