"And you will bear with Peter?" she implored him.

"He shall have no power to anger me," he answered. "I swear that too. Do
you know that but to-day he struck me?"

"Struck you? You did not tell me that!"

"My quarrel was not with him but with the rogue that sent him. I laughed
at the blow. Was he not sacred to me?"

"He is good at heart, Noll," she pursued. "In time he will come to love
you as you deserve, and you will come to know that he, too, deserves
your love."

"He deserves it now for the love he bears to you."

"And you will think ever thus during the little while of waiting that
perforce must lie before us?"

"I shall never think otherwise, sweet. Meanwhile I shall avoid him, and
that no harm may come should he forbid me Godolphin Court I'll even stay
away. In less than a year you will be of full age, and none may hinder
you to come and go. What is a year, with such hope as mine to still
impatience?"

She stroked his face. "Art very gentle with me ever, Noll," she murmured
fondly. "I cannot credit you are ever harsh to any, as they say."

"Heed them not," he answered her. "I may have been something of all
that, but you have purified me, Rose. What man that loved you could be
aught but gentle." He kissed her, and stood up. "I had best be going
now," he said. "I shall walk along the shore towards Trefusis Point
to-morrow morning. If you should chance to be similarly disposed...."

She laughed, and rose in her turn. "I shall be there, dear Noll."

"'Twere best so hereafter," he assured her, smiling, and so took his
leave.

She followed him to the stair-head, and watched him as he descended
with eyes that took pride in the fine upright carriage of that stalwart,
masterful lover.

CHAPTER III. THE FORGE

Sir Oliver's wisdom in being the first to bear Rosamund the story
of that day's happenings was established anon when Master Godolphin
returned home. He went straight in quest of his sister; and in a frame
of mind oppressed by fear and sorrow, for Sir John, by his general sense
of discomfiture at the hands of Sir Oliver and by the anger begotten of
all this he was harsh in manner and disposed to hector.

"Madam," he announced abruptly, "Sir John is like to die."

The astounding answer she returned him--that is, astounding to him--did
not tend to soothe his sorely ruffled spirit.

"I know," she said. "And I believe him to deserve no less. Who deals in
calumny should be prepared for the wa