"And if no guardian had been declared or admitted?"

"Then such a marriage duly solemnized, being a sacrament of the Church,
would hold fast until the crack of doom unless the Pope annulled it,
and, as you know, the Pope is out of favour in this realm on this very
matter of marriage. Let me explain the law to you, ecclesiastic and
civil----"

But Christopher was already running towards the gate, so the old
parson's lecture remained undelivered.

The two met in the snow, Emlyn Stower riding on ahead and leaving them
together.

"What is it, sweetest?" he asked. "What is it?"

"Oh! Christopher," she answered, weeping, "my poor father is
dead--murdered, or so says Emlyn."

"Murdered! By whom?"

"By the Abbot of Blossholme's soldiers--so says Emlyn, yonder in the
forest last eve. And the Abbot is coming to Shefton to declare me his
ward and thrust me into the Nunnery--that was Emlyn's tale. And so,
although it is a strange thing to do, having none to protect me, I have
fled to you--because Emlyn said I ought."

"She is a wise woman, Emlyn," broke in Christopher; "I always thought
well of her judgment. But did you only come to me because Emlyn told