"If you are speaking of Lady Matilda, it is a shame. She told me to-day she thought you as handsome a man in face and figure as was in England. She praised your courage and self-respect, and said if you had kissed her last night she would have forgiven you." As Jane spoke, wonder and delight chased each other across Cymlin’s face. "What else did she say?" he eagerly asked. "Indeed, I have told you too much." "Tell me all, Jane, I must know." "Why should you care for her words? She is cruel as a tiger, and has no more heart or conscience than a cat." "I did not fully mean such things of Matilda—nor of you, in the main. You are sure she said I was handsome?" "Sure." "And brave?" "Sure." "And self-respecting?" "She said every word, and more than I have told you." "The rest, then?" "No. I am true to my friend—in the main." "You are ill-tempered. Stephen ought to be thankful for your ’No.’ He will be, some day. I shall go and see Matilda to-morrow." "She may leave for France to-night." "You are a provoking creature." "Go and abuse me to Stephen. I think little of him. He is neither handsome nor brave nor self-respecting, and he threatens me! What do you think of a lover who threatens his mistress? He is out of the Court of Love. He is an alien, an outlaw." "How you rant!" She did not wait to hear more. She was both angry and scornful; and she sought out her mother, and found her resting in her own room. "I get tired soon in the day, Jane," she said; "I think it is the London air, and the strange life, and the constant fear of some change. No one seems to know what a day will bring forth. Did you see Stephen?" "Yes." "It can’t be, I suppose?" "You know it can’t be, mother." She was hurt at the question. It was a wrong to Cluny; and she said with some temper, "It could not be under any circumstances. The man is mean; he has just threatened me. If I had not been a woman I would have given him his threat back in his teeth. I would rather be Cluny’s wife, if Cluny had not a crown." "Cluny is not troubled with crowns, or half-crowns. Stephen is an old neighbour,—but I am not one to complain. If you are pleased, father and I can make shift to look so. As for your brothers, I’m not so sure of them."