g for something of the sisterly warmth with which you once
greeted me, but I find you as cold and hard as if I had been altogether
a stranger to you. I would fain know in what way I have forfeited your
esteem."

"I do not wish to enter into bygones, Sir James," the lady said, "and
would fain let the past sleep if you will let me. Let us then turn
without more ado to the private matters concerning which you wished to
speak with me."

"If such is your mood, fair dame, I must needs fall in with it, though
in no way able to understand your allusion to the past, wherein my
conscience holds me guiltless of aught which could draw upon me your
disfavour. I am your nearest male relative, and as such would fain
confer with you touching the future of young Mistress Edith, your
daughter. She is now nigh thirteen years of age, and is the heiress of
broad lands; is it not time that she were betrothed to one capable of
taking care of them for her, and leading your vassals to battle in these
troubled times?"

"Thanks, Sir James, for your anxiety about my child," Dame Vernon said
coldly. "She is a ward of the king. I am in no way anxious that an early
choice should be made for her; but our good Queen Philippa has promised
that, when the time shall come, his Majesty shall not dispose of her
hand without my wishes being in some way consulted; and I have no doubt
that when the time shall come that she is of marriageable age--and I
would not that this should be before she has gained eighteen years, for
I like not the over young marriages which are now in fashion--a knight
may be found for her husband capable of taking care of her and her
possessions; but may I ask if, in so speaking to me, you have anyone in
your mind's eye as a suitor for her hand?"

"Your manner is not encouraging, certes; but I had my plan, which would,
I hoped, have met with your approval. I am the young lady's cousin,
and her nearest male relative; and although we are within the limited
degrees, there will be no difficulty in obtaining a dispensation from
Rome. I am myself passably well off, and some of the mortgages which I
had been forced to lay upon my estates have been cleared off during my
absence. I have returned home with some reputation, and with a goodly
sum gained in the wars with the Moors. I am older than my cousin
certainly; but as I am still but thirty-two, this would not, I hope, be
deemed an obstacle, and methought that you would rather entrust her