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"Really, Edith, it would be hard to find, even in Boston, a more incongruous company than we gathered together at dinner to-night." "There was a good deal of variety," she returned; adding defensively, "but then they fitted together pretty well." "What a funny old party Miss Penwick is," Arthur went on, inwardly gathering himself up for a rapid retreat.
With the cleverness born of desperation, Mrs. Sampson solved her difficulty by asking Miss Catherine Penwick to fill the vacant place. Miss Catherine Penwick was the last forlorn and fluttering leaf on the bare branches of a lofty but expiring family tree.
Meanwhile Mistress Penwick had arrived at the castle, and was grieved when she heard of his Grace's condition, and sorry she had ridden ahead and was so late getting home. Janet had hurried her to her chamber and disrobed her of wet garments, and bathed her in hot and cold baths, and was rubbing her with perfumed olive oil when Lord Cedric arrived.
"Is too far away over seas, and might be hard to find." "Then I will go to him." "Thou wilt remain where thou art." "Thou talkest like foolish children. 'Twould better become thee to prattle of frocks and fixings for my Lady Penwick. Your Lordship will see to it at once?" It was a happy suggestion. Cedric leant over Katherine.
Beyond, framed in the dark embrasure of the archway, stood Mistress Penwick in gleaming white.
It had been much spoken on by the Abbés but by common consent they agreed if the maid wished to marry the Russian, why they would offer no objections; so they had left the matter. "Dost think, Mistress Penwick, thou canst settle readily the case with the Count?" "'Twill be easy and quickly done. Call him hither!" said she.
I must have thee as wife, first, Mistress Penwick!" Constantine leant toward them from the table and looked with purpose, a frown emphasizing his shrewd glance, "We have not time for further controversy, and if the maid will say the word, the ceremony will be performed now." The Abbé knew the maid would give in to circumstances sooner than the determined Count, and thus hastened her.
Lord Cedric knew 'twas not his Grace's way to waste time on things of no moment, and he therefore apprehended evil and his fingers trembled; his dark eyes grew large as he read; his face changing from red to white as the different emotions were awakened; his white teeth crushing his lips. Sir John Penwick had left England, taking all his worldly goods which were of no mean value with him.
"Nay, nay, my lord! my lord!" broke from Mistress Pen wick, and Janet ran to her crying, "My lord, not so harsh a deed before my lady's eyes!" "Ah! ah! and she hath carved my heart to pieces! Commit thy office, Hiary!" The lithe lackey sprang upon Christopher and drove the knife, it appeared, to the hilt, and with a gurgling cry the lad fell. Mistress Penwick looked on wild-eyed with terror.
With such men as these the sweet spirit was kept aflame and eventually changed England and made her the great country she is. But in those licentious days this sweet spirit shone from its impure surroundings like the ignis fatuus, and 'twas a great, wicked world that Mistress Penwick stood all alone in that early summer night.
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