"Thou, thou, Sir Julian, who art used to spurning woman's heart?" "Not spurn, nay! I have not found one yet I could do that to, and on the other hand I have found but one I could love, and--that is thine." "Ah, Sir Julian. I wonder if thou dost love me. 'Tis a great thing to be loved by one who has fought in great battles." "And thou dost not know that the battle of hearts is much deadlier than that of arms?" "I do not know; but thou seemest like a warrior of olden time. And for thee to love me!" "Is it enough? Wilt thou give thyself to me?" There was a silence so long and unbroken Katherine was made to realize that her reply was not to be lightly uttered, so she answered with all the strength of a plaything of caprice,-- "If thou wilt have it so, Sir Julian, I will be thine." She had hardly finished, when he laid his lips, to her astonishment, coldly and with formal grace upon her forehead. "I will not ask thee if thou lovest me, but will say instead dost think thou mayest?" "But I think I love thee now--" "Nay, sweet Mistress, thou dost not--" A look of fear came into her eyes. Had Lord Cedric told her confessions? Nay, nay! he would not, she knew. "How dost come by so much knowledge?" she said, coquettishly. "I have ascertained by subtleness, but--let it pass. Let us talk of thee now. When wilt thou marry me? If thou art kind, thou wilt say at once." "Nay, I shall not say that--but--whenever thou dost wish it." "Of a surety? When I name the hour, wilt thou not gainsay?" "Nay, my lord. I will not gainsay." "Then--at eleven, Katherine." She caught her breath quickly and cried forth,-- "This day, Sir Julian! Indeed, thou art in haste, I--I--" "Thou hast given thy word. At eleven, Katherine." "By sands or dial?" "Ah, sweet Katherine, both shall have a bridal favour. We will confer with each. When the golden sand runs out at the eleventh hour, the dial will be alone and in shadow; for if it please thee, we must be wed secretly and in haste. I noticed but awhile ago how beautiful the dial was. So the sands shall give us the hour, the dial the altar, and the nightingale the nuptial mass." "But the priest, Sir Julian--" "He shall give us the blessing--" "Nay, nay; where wilt thou find a priest?" This was not an unexpected question, and Sir Julian was ready for it. "Lord Cedric's Chaplain can wed us as securely as one of thy church, and as there is no one else, he will serve, will he not, Katherine?" "Until we find a better." "Then, not to arouse suspicion, to-night at eleven thou wilt come to the sun-dial and I will meet thee at the foot of the stair that leads from thy chamber to the terrace, and then--'twill be soon over and thou, thou, Katherine, will be--wife. Wilt not regret it,--art sure?" he repeated as she shook her head negatively. "But why do all men appear in such haste to wed? I would have time to at least think upon it."