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Margaret, Doucebelle, and Belasez were at work in the bower, while Father Nicholas was hearing Marie read Latin in the ante-chamber. The other chaplains were also present, Father Warner, who, with Nicholas, belonged to the Earl; and Father Bruno, the chaplain of the Countess. Also present was Master Aristoteles, the reverend physician of the household.
One was Belasez: the other was a memory of his sorrowful past, a fair girl-face, the likeness to which had struck him so distressingly in hers, and which would never fade from his memory "till God's love set her at his side again." "What will become of the maiden?" he whispered to himself. "So like, so like! just what my Beatrice might have been, if nay, Thou art wise, O Lord!
And for Delecresse I think he would stab me if he knew." "What sort of thoughts are they?" "Wilt thou keep my secret, if I tell thee?" "Indeed, I will not utter them without thy leave." Belasez cut off her silk, laid down the armilaus, and clasped both hands round her knee.
But, he urged, had she ever seen any man in the Castle, to speak to him? "Yes," said Belasez frankly. "Not while the Lady was there. But during her absence, Sir Richard de Clare had been three times in the bower, and the priests had given lessons to the damsels in the ante-chamber." "Did any of these ever speak to thee?"
I believe she would well-nigh stab us both to the heart sooner than permit it. And I fear she may come any day." "Then she had better come with me to Bury." "`It is Adonai! So be it." "But I shall see thee, my father?" asked Belasez, addressing Abraham. "Trust me for that, my Belasez! I can come to thee on my trade journeys, so long as it pleases the Holy One that I have strength to take them.
"I'll spoil her pretty face for her!" shrieked Licorice. "I never liked the vain chit overmuch, nor Anegay neither: but if she does not go, I'll give her something she won't forget in a hurry!" "Come, my Beatrice, quick!" said Bruno. "Go, go, my Belasez, and God keep thee!" sobbed Abraham. And so Belasez was driven away from her old home. She had hardly expected it.
She kissed the hand of the Countess and Margaret, warmly embraced Doucebelle, and then looked round as if something were wanting still. "What is it, my maid?" kindly asked the Countess. "Father Bruno!" faltered Belasez through her tears. "Oh, I must say farewell to Father Bruno!" The Countess looked astonished, for she knew not that Bruno and Belasez had ever met.
"I would not willingly coerce any person's conscience. But as I do not know thy law, thou wilt have to tell me if I should desire thee to do some forbidden thing." "My Lady is very good to her handmaiden," said Belasez. "Margaret, take the maid into thy wardrobe for a little while, until she has dined; and after that I will show her what I require. She will be glad of rest after her journey."
"This is heavy!" said Abraham, as the hailstones came pouring and dancing down. "I am afraid we shall not get home till late," was the response of his daughter. "No, not till late," said Abraham, absently. "Belasez!" came softly from behind her. She turned round quickly, her hands held out in greeting, her eyes sparkling, delight written on every feature of her face. "Father Bruno!
"But I do not think thou ever didst hate Christians as some of our nation do." "Child, Belasez! how could I, when the best love of my white dove's heart had been given to a Christian and a Gentile? I loved her, more than thou canst imagine. But would my love have been true, had I hated what she loved best? Where is thy father, my darling?"
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