he extreme. The general design of the castle was a
parallelogram defended by a round tower at each of the angles with an
Anglo-Saxon keep. The entrance through a vaulted passageway was its most
striking feature. Of the time of the first Edward, there were signs of
decay in tower and still more ancient keep. Crevices bare of mortar gave
rare holding ground for moss and wall flower, and ivy and clematis
mantled chapel and turrets with a dank shroud that added to the
picturesqueness of the building.

The park, full of ferny depths, glorious old oaks and deep glades,
stretched away on one side toward the soft recesses of the forest. On the
other its wooded declivities sloped down to an idle brook now stopped up
by water-lilies and white crowfoot. The fair corn lands sloping to the
southeast so as to miss no gleam of morning or noonday sun; the fat
meadows where the herbage hid the hocks of the browsing kine, and the
hanging woods holding so many oaks and beeches ripe for the felling,
formed an appanage that was almost royal.

The views of the castle, the winding declivity of hill, the trees, the
fields, the exquisite landscape in the distance made an assemblage of
nature's beauties that was at once inspiring and noble.

But Francis Stafford was too angry to heed either beauty of scene or sky,
and she hurried toward the Hall with so quick a step that the tutor could
scarcely keep pace with her.

"I cry you mercy, Francis," he panted querulously as the girl paused
reluctantly in answer to his pleading. "Age hath stolen my vigor and I
cannot walk as thou canst. Already thou hast made me plod many a weary
step beyond my strength; and now thou wouldst have me run as though I
were a lad. Thou art too unheeding."

"A truce to thy chiding, cousin," rebuked the girl sharply. "I marvel
that thou dost appeal to my compassion. Thou knowest my skill with the
bow, and thou didst see the deer fall under my shaft; yet thou didst say
with the boy that 'twas he who did the deed. Catiff! How dared he claim
the stag? And 'twas a hart royal!"

"Yet had he not done so thou wouldst have had to suffer fine and
imprisonment. Dost know the law? It says----"

"I care not what it says," declared Francis haughtily. "If I offend
against the law then 'twere meet that I should bear the penalty. My
father shall right the matter."

Master Greville knowing full well the futility of contradicting his
charge when she was in such a wilful mood said no