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The fourth fact was, that the infant heir of the Catherons had been removed from Catheron Royals to Powyss Place, to be brought up under the watchful eye and care of his grand-aunt, Lady Helena. On the evening of the day that saw Inez Catheron committed for trial, the post brought Lady Helena a letter.
She looked at the polished suits of armor, at battle-axes, antlers, pikes, halberds, until her eyes ached. She paced in awe and wonder down the vast portrait-gallery, where half a hundred dead and gone Catherons looked at her sombrely out of their heavy frames. And one day her picture hers would hang in solemn state here.
He drew from his pocket a tiny morocco box. "See this ring, Edith: it has been worn by women of our house for the past two centuries the betrothal ring of the Catherons. Let me place it on your finger, never to be taken off until I bind you with a golden circlet stronger still." Her dark eyes sparkled as she looked at it.
"Take good care of poor Victor, and watch the baby well. He is the last of the Catherons now, you know. Don't let any one approach Victor but Mrs. Marsh, and warn her not to speak of my arrest the shock might kill him. I wish I wish I had treated her more kindly in the past. I feel as though I could never forgive myself now." "You had better not talk so much, Inez," her aunt said, almost coldly.
But they went down to Cheshire first; and one soft May afternoon stood side by side in the old Gothic church where the Catherons for generations had been buried. The mellow light came softly through the painted windows up in the organ loft, a young girl sat playing to herself soft, sweet, solemn melodies.
What o'clock was it, I say, when you went up to the nursery?" "It was about a quarter or twenty minutes past eight how can I know any surer when I don't know. I don't carry a watch, and didn't look at the clock. I'm sure I never expected to be badgered about it in this way. I said I'd go and wake my lady up and not leave her there, to catch her death, in spite of fifty Miss Catherons.
"I will answer your objections when I have thoroughly heard them. I am my own master but that much is due to you." "I tell you she is beneath you beneath you!" Lady Helena said vehemently. "The Catherons have always married well into ducal families. Your grandmother my sister was, as I am, the daughter of a marquis." "And my mother was the daughter of a soap-boiler," he said with bitterness.
No one knows who speaks; no one seems to care; no one dare reply. "Where is Inez Catheron?" the voice says again. Something in the tone, something in the ghastly silence that follows, seems to arouse the butler. Since his tenth year he has been in the service of the Catherons his father before him was butler in this house. Their honor is his. He starts angrily round now.
Peace reigned, the infant heir of the Catherons was soothed, but his mamma went downstairs no more that night. She lingered in the nursery for over an hour. Somehow by her baby's side she felt a sense of peace and safety. She dreaded to meet her husband. What must he think of her? She had stooped to concealment, to falsehood would he ever love her or trust her again?
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