But I know him now, and you do not. I
know the evil that he has wrought, the dishonor that he has
brought, the perjury that lies upon his soul, the confidence
betrayed, the promise unfulfilled--all this I know. Am I to see
my own sister caught in the same well-used trap? Has it shut upon
you, child? Am I indeed already too late? For God's sake, tell
me, Edith, that it is not so?"
Edith plucked her sleeve from her sister and made two swift steps
to the head of the table. Paul de la Fosse still sat silent with
his eyes upon Nigel. Edith laid her hand upon his shoulder: "This
is the man I love, and the only man that I have ever loved. This
is my husband," said she.
At the word Mary gave a cry of joy.
"And is it so?" she cried. "Nay, then all is in honor, and God
will see to the rest. If you are man and wife before the altar,
then indeed why should I, or any other, stand between you? Tell
me that it is indeed so, and I return this moment to make your
father a happy man."
Edith pouted like a naughty child. "We are man and wife in the
eyes of God. Soon also we shall be wedded before all the world.
We do but wait until next Monday when Paul's brother, who is a
priest at St. Albans, will come to wed us. Already a messenger
has sped for him, and he will come, will he not, dear love?"
"He will come," said the master of Shalford, still with his eyes
fixed upon the silent Nigel.
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