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In entering upon the pebble beach the train had passed close to the ruins of Henry the Eighth's or Sandsfoot Castle, whither Avice was to have accompanied him on the night of his departure. Had she appeared the primitive betrothal, with its natural result, would probably have taken place; and, as no islander had ever been known to break that compact, she would have become his wife.
Avice had gone, and he saw her no more that day. Since he could not again call upon her, she was as inaccessible as if she had entered the military citadel on the hill-top beyond them. In the evening he went out and paced down the lane to the Red King's castle overhanging the cliff, beside whose age the castle he occupied was but a thing of yesterday.
Avice's immediate answer was what would be the instinctive unthinking response of most professing Christians. "Why, Father, of course I do!" "Good. What dost thou believe?" Avice was silent. "Ah!" said the priest. "It is easy to think we believe: but hard to put our faith into plain words. If the faith were clearer, maybe the words would follow."
Or perhaps it were better to be concerned with a matter more weighty than dinners and antique candlesticks. The search need never be vain, even in this world of persistent frivolity. As, for example: "Tell Mrs. Van Geist if she can't come down, I'll run up to her." "Yes, Miss Milbrey." Mrs. Van Geist entered a moment later. "Why, Avice, child, you're glowing, aren't you?"
"We lived nigh five years," said Avice, "in the Castle of Windsor until the Lord Richard was dead, and the Lord William was nearly four years old. Then the Lady Queen removed to the royal Palace of Westminster, for the Lord King was gone over seas, and she with Earl Richard his brother was left to keep England.
But that lover's name appeared to be unknown to the present Avice. 'I can't tell you, sir, she replied unwillingly; 'except that it has to do with my own changeableness. The rest is the secret of somebody else. 'I am sorry for that, said he. 'I am getting to care for one I ought not to think of, and it means ruin. I ought to get away!. 'You mean from the island? 'Yes. Pierston reflected.
"None overmuch," responded Hugh, "unless it be of the death of Father Wilfred, of the Priory at Langley." "Ah me!" exclaimed Bertram regretfully. "Master Calverley," said Maude, looking up, "do me to wit, of your goodness, if you wot any thing touching the Lady Avice de Narbonne?"
That was a different matter. There was a thing to think about. And he wanted Avice Milbrey. He could not, he decided, go back without her. Something of the old lawless spirit of adventure that had spurred on his reckless forbears urged him to carry the girl back with him. She didn't love him. He would take her in spite of that; overpower her; force her to go. It was a revenge of superb audacity.
"Ay, Emma and Bertha are the white chicks among the black," said Eleanor, laughing; "they'll miss each other finely, I've no doubt." Avice finished her work, returned Susanna's apron, and instead of requesting advice from her Aunt, went down to the brook in search of Bertha. She found her sitting on a green bank, with very red eyes. "Well, my dear heart?" said Avice kindly to Bertha.
And so the years went on, until Avice in her turn married and was left a widow; but she had no child, and when her mother died Avice was left alone. "I can never do to live alone," she said to herself; "I must have somebody to love and work for." And she began to think whom she could find to live with her.
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