His nose was curved and sharp,
like the beak of some cruel bird, but below the whole of his
clean-shaven powerful face was marred by the loose slabbing mouth
and the round folds of the heavy chin. His knife in one hand and
a half-gnawed bone in the other, he looked fiercely up, like some
beast disturbed in his den, as the two intruders broke in upon his
hall.
Nigel stopped midway between the door and the table. His eyes and
those of Paul de la Fosse were riveted upon each other. But Mary,
with her woman's soul flooded over with love and pity, had rushed
forward and cast her arms round her younger sister. Edith had
sprung up from her chair, and with averted face tried to push the
other away from her.
"Edith, Edith! By the Virgin, I implore you to come back with us,
and to leave this wicked man!" cried Mary. "Dear sister, you
would not break our father's heart, nor bring his gray head in
dishonor to the grave! Come back Edith, come back and all is
well."
But Edith pushed her away, and her fair cheeks were flushed with
her anger. "What right have you over me, Mary, you who are but
two years older, that you should follow me over the country-side
as though I were a runagate villain and you my mistress? Do you
yourself go back, and leave me to do that which seems best in my
own eyes."
But Mary still held her in her arms, and still strove to soften
the hard and angry heart.
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