"I was listening to Bettie, and she on a sudden remarked of thy indisposition. I straightway came to note thy ailing. I have talked not with thee in private since thy arrival, and there is much news. Hast seen her, Constance, to talk with her?" "Whom meanest thou? There are many 'hers' in the house!" "The beauty that flew to me over seas, of course; whom else could I mean?" "Oh! oh! to be sure; the maid from Quebec. Aye, I talked with her some. Thou sayest she is Sir John Penwick's daughter?" "Aye, and she's a glorious beauty, eh, Constance?" "But how camest thou by her?" Cedric reached to that nearest his heart and drew forth Sir John's letter and gave it opened into Constance's hand. She read it with blazing eyes and great eagerness; for 'twas a bundle of weapons she was examining and would take therefrom her choice. She flashed forth queries as to the probability of this or that with a semblance of interest that disarmed Cedric and made him wonder if this woman loved to such an extent, she could fling aside her own interests and submerge all jealousy, all self-love into the purest of all sacrifices, abnegation? "What! no estates? That looks ill, for at one time Sir John was affluent, for Aunt Hettie has told me of him many a time." "But he lost it all, as I've heard ofttime from father; he has spoken not infrequent of Sir John's high living; he had great demesne, a great heart and great temper; and 'tis the last named that has fallen clear and uncumbered to his daughter; and the heart will be found by careful probing, no doubt; and the demesne she will have when she condescends to take me as spouse." "Thou, thou espouse her?" and Constance feigned surprise, as if 'twere a new thing to her, when in reality she had suffered agony from its repetition. "Aye, and why not, pray? Am I not of ripe years and know my mind?" "And why so?--because thou shouldst wed one of high degree and fortune and worldly wisdom." "Nay, thou art wrong. 'Tis enough that she is of noble blood from father and mother; and I have fortune for us both; and worldly wisdom--bah! Constance, dost thou expect her to know all the intrigues of court, when she is but lightly past fifteen?" "Fifteen?--Now by heaven, Cedric, thou wouldst not lie to me?" "Nay, Con, I would not--I have no object in this case, 'tis a truth." "Fifteen, and indeed she is well-formed for such youth!" "And what a beautiful and innocent face she has, too?" "Beauteous, admitted; but innocent of what?"