Mistress Penwick

Dutton Payne

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• Publié par: vawyer
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 20
• Langue: English

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mistress Penwick,
by Dutton Payne
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Title: Mistress Penwick
Author: Dutton Payne
Release Date: May 4, 2004 [EBook #12256]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG
EBOOK MISTRESS PENWICK ***
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.MISTRESS PENWICK
BY
DUTTON PAYNE
Contents
CHAPTER I THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL
CHAPTER II THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR
CHAPTER III THE BALL
CHAPTER IV HIS LORDSHIP'S PROPOSAL
CHAPTER V BACCHUS AND BACCHANTES
CHAPTER VI JANET'S PHILOSOPHY
CHAPTER VII THE BRANTLE
CHAPTER VIII THE ANCIENT MONASTERY
CHAPTER IX SIR JULIAN POMPHREYCHAPTER X WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
BUTLERY
CHAPTER XI JACQUES DEMPSY
CHAPTER XII CASTLE AND MONASTERY
CHAPTER XIII AS NINE TOLLED FROM THE
CHAPEL BELFRY
CHAPTER XIV SERMONS NEW AND OLD
CHAPTER XV THE EDICT OF BUCKINGHAM
CHAPTER XVI BUCKINGHAM'S ADVENTURE
CHAPTER XVII TELLS OF THE DOINGS OF ALL
CONCERNED
CHAPTER XVIII AT MONMOUTH'S VILLA
CHAPTER XIX WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
COACH
CHAPTER XX UNPROCLAIMED BANNS
CHAPTER XXI THE ESPOUSALCHAPTER XXII CEDRIC IN THE TOILS
CHAPTER XXIII THE COCOANUTS OF THE
KING'S CELLAR
CHAPTER XXIV WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
TOWER
CHAPTER XXV THE GARDEN OF YOUTHCHAPTER I
THE URSULINE LOSES A PUPIL
"If the ship sails at dawn, then I must hasten to tell
my mistress of the departure, and—of her father's
letter."
"I am loath to let yonder tide take her away so
soon, Janet."
"But my master's words are a positive command to
leave Quebec at once," and Janet's eyes fell to the
imperative line at the close of her letter which read:
"In God's name, good nurse, take my baby to
England in all haste."
"Aye, our noble patron's desire must be carried
out!" and the Mother
Superior without further lament went from the small
cell.
When the last echo of her footsteps had died
away, Janet Wadham cautiously opened the inner
door and passed to the cell adjoining, and to the
low couch upon which lay her mistress in sound
slumber.
Fondly she noted the beauty of her charge; the
heavy waving hair gleaming in the fading light a
bronze-like amber, the white forehead, the arched
brow, the glow of health upon lip and cheek, thebrow, the glow of health upon lip and cheek, the
slender neck, the slope of shoulders, and the
outline of a perfect form.
Then the maid stirred and opened her eyes. Her
whole body thrilled with the awakening.
"Ah, 'twas like the bursting of a bud! How dost feel
now, Mistress?"
"I am not ill at all. I am a martyr to thy imagination.
Dost remember the time, Janet, I drowsed in the
chapel and thou didst make me drink bitterwort for
a fortnight?" and the girl's voice rung out in soft
laughter.
"Aye, I have not forgotten, nor why thou wert
drowsy either, Mistress
Penwick."
"Nay, thou didst not know."
"I did so. Thou hadst a book of tales and read
nights with the candle shaded by thy mother's
landskip fan, and I gave thee aloes for thy folly."
"Thou dost always find me out, Janet; I shall be
glad when I become a woman as big as thou."
"Thou art a woman to-day, and thou wilt never be
as big as I; so, having age and not a hulking
servant's body, be content. I have a letter from my
master, and in it is much that concerns thee—"
"Isn't there always much that concerns me?""But not such important concernings. He has gone
on a long journey and proposes one for thee, my
lambkin." Katherine raised herself in bed. "Nay,
thou must not stir or I hush my tale! Thy father has
provided thee with a guardian and 'tis to him I take
thee. We go to England by the first boat,—nay, lay
back, calm thyself or I take my wagging tongue
away; if thou dost so much as stir again, I leave
thee. Thou art to go to a great house over there
and see grand folks with fine airs and modish
dress. Wilt be glad to see outside of convent walls?
'Tis nine years since I brought thee here a babe of
six, and have nursed thee well to this hour, and thy
strength and health and beauty show the care
given thee." She suddenly arose and went to the
window to hide if possible her agitation; but when
she looked forth on the snow-covered city and on
beyond at the long range of forest that lay low and
black against the arctic sky, she turned from the
gloomy scene and went again to the couch, quickly
suppressing all thoughts save those that were
purely selfish: she would be glad to bid adieu to
this great, still northern world and leave behind
forever old Quebec, even though she must divide
her treasure.
"I have been a mother to thee, child, and now I
must divide my rule with a cantankerous Scot—"
"Nay, a Scot and lives in England?"
"He lives in England and thy father speaks of
bending somewhat thy quick temper to the mould
of self-control as a safer parry to Scotch thrust; soI conclude the gentleman must be a Scot."
"Janet, 'tis these awful men that wear skirts like
women. I remember many years ago when I was in
Sister Agnes' room, of seeing some of those
dreadful pictures of skirts and bandy-legs. They
are unseemly things for men to wear; it is as
though one were uncivilised. I hate him already for
it!"
"Lambkin, thou must remember thy teachings.
Sister Agnes would admonish thee for saying hate.
Besides thou dost not know the man, he may be a
second father to thee and cajole and pamper thy
whims. He may even eschew plaid frocks and don
modish garments—that would hide bandy-legs still
less! Thy father said I must enjoin upon thee
respect, for his lordship's age; regard, for his
wishes, and thou art to obey his commands, as
'twas not possible for him to direct thee otherwise
than good. If at any time he should find thee in
fault, be the matter seemingly beneath notice,
acknowledge thy wrongness, for he hath a temper
and might goad thee to greater blunder. His blood
flows hot and fast, and thou must cool and swage
it with thy gentle dignity. Inasmuch as thy moneys
and estates are in my Lord Cedric's control, thou
art to receive such income from him without
question. Thy father further directs perfect
submission to Lord Cedric in matters of marriage,
as he will bring suitors of high degree for thy choice
and thou wilt find among them a lover to thy liking."
The rosy red flew into the maiden's face and she
trembled with a sweet new emotion she did notunderstand.
"This is the first time thou hast ever spoken to me
of lovers, Janet. Indeed very strange things seem
to be happening to-day. I feel like a bird about to
fly forth from its cradle-nest, I have forgotten how
the world appears. 'Tis broad and vast; it makes
me dizzy to think between these cramped walls
that never seemed so narrow heretofore!" She lay
for a moment in deep thought, then,—"Where didst
say father journeyed?"
"He said not, but intimated 'twas a place of safety
where he was happy to go from political intrigue
and war, and where he shall meet friends."
"Why did he not inscribe some words to me?"
"He speaks of an epistle of welcome—and farewell
to be given thee by Lord Cedric upon thy arrival in
England. 'Twill give thee greater pleasure then."
"But Janet; a Scot! A blustering, red-faced Scot
with petticoats! Hast ever seen one outside of
pictures?"
"Aye, Lambkin, and 'twas the unseemly kilt that
was the better part; for I have met a blustering red-
faced Scot as thou sayest; and he was boisterous
and surly, giving vent to a choleric temper by
coarse oaths; and 'twas his plaid denoted a
gentleman of high rank withal. The long hair that
swept his shoulders was as florid as his face, as
was also his flowing whiskers and mustachio, the
latter being bitten short and forming a bristling