"Our mother is dead, Edith. I thank
God that she died ere she saw you under this roof! But I stand
for her, as I have done all my life, since I am indeed your elder.
It is with her voice that I beg and pray you that you will not
trust this man further, and that you will come back ere it be too
late!"
Edith writhed from her grasp, and stood flushed and defiant, with
gleaming, angry eyes fixed upon her sister. "You may speak evil
of him now," said she, "but there was a time when Paul de la Fosse
came to Cosford, and who so gentle and soft-spoken to him then as
wise, grave, sister Mary? But he has learned to love another; so
now he is the wicked man, and it is shame to be seen under his
roof! From what I see of my good pious sister and her cavalier it
is sin for another to ride at night with a man at your side, but
it comes easy enough to you. Look at your own eye, good sister,
ere you would take the speck from that of another."
Mary stood irresolute and greatly troubled, holding down her pride
and her anger, but uncertain how best to deal with this strong
wayward spirit.
"It is not a time for bitter words, dear sister," said she, and
again she laid her hand upon her sister's sleeve. "All that you
say may be true. There was indeed a time when this man was friend
to us both, and I know even as you do the power which he may have
to win a woman's heart.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203