furred robe and standing by the hearth； on which burnt a fire。 He
watched her come； but said no word； and the look of him frightened her
somewhat。
〃Father；〃 she said； 〃I heard that you were sick and alone〃
〃Ay；〃 he broke in； 〃sick； very sick here；〃 and he laid his hand upon
his heart； 〃where grief strikes a man。 Alone； too； since you and your
fellow have done my only son to death； murdered my guests； and caused
them to depart from so bloody a house。〃
Now Eve； who had come expecting to find her father at the point of
death and was prepared to plead with him； at these violent words took
fire as was her nature。
〃You know well that you speak what is not true；〃 she said。 〃You and
your Frenchmen strove to burn us out of Middle Marsh； my brother John
struck Hugh de Cressi as though he were a dog and used words toward
him that no knave would bear； let alone one better born than we are。
Moreover； afterward once he spared his life； and Grey Dick； standing
alone against a crowd； did but use his skill to save us。 Is it murder；
then to protect our honour and to save ourselves from death？ And am I
wrong to refuse to marry a fine French knave when I chance to love an
honest man？〃
〃And； pray； am I your father； girl； that you dare to scold at me
thus？〃 shouted Sir John； growing purple with wrath。 〃If I choose a
husband for you； by what right do you refuse him； saying that you love
a Dunwich shop…boy？ Down on your knees and beg my pardon； or you shall
have the whipping you have earned。〃
Now Eve's black eyes glittered dangerously。
〃Ill would it go with any man who dared to lay a hand upon me；〃 she
said； drawing herself up and grasping the dagger in her girdle。 〃Yes；
very ill； even though he were my own father。 Look at me and say am I
one to threaten？ Ay； and before you answer bear in mind that there are
those at my call who can strike hard； and that among them I think
you'll find the King of England。〃
She paused。
〃What hellish plot is this that you hatch against me？〃 asked Sir John；
with some note of doubt in his voice。 〃What have I to fear from my
liege lord； the King of England？〃
〃Only； sir； that you consort with and would wed me to one who；
although you may not know it； has； I am told； much to fear from him；
so much that I wonder that he has ridden to seek his Grace's presence。
Well； you are ill and I am angered and together we are but as steel
and flint； from the meeting of which comes fire that may burn us both。
Therefore； since being better than I thought； you need me not and have
only cruel words for greeting； I'll bid you farewell and get me back
to those who are kindlier。 God be with you； and give you your health
again。〃
〃Ah！〃 said or rather snarled Sir John； 〃I thought as much and am ready
for the trick。 You'd win back to sanctuary； would you； and the company
of that old wizard； Andrew Arnold； thence to make a mock of me？ Well；
not one step do you take upon that road while I live；〃 and pushing
past her he opened the door and shouted aloud。
Apparently the men and woman whom Eve had met in the passage were
still waiting there； for instantly they all reappeared。
〃Now； fellows；〃 said Sir John； 〃and you； Jane Mell； take this
rebellious girl of mine to the chamber in the prisoners' tower； whence
I think she'll find it hard to fly to sanctuary。 There lock her fast；
feeding her with the bread and water of affliction to tame her proud
spirit； and suffering none to go near her save this woman； Jane Mell。
Stay； give me that bodkin which she wears lest she； who has learned
bloody ways of late； should do some of you or herself a mischief。〃
As he spoke one of the men deftly snatched the dagger from Eve's
girdle and handed it to Sir John who threw it into the farthest corner
of the room。 Then he turned and said：
〃Now； girl； will you go； or must you be dragged？〃
She raised her head slowly and looked him in the eyes。 Mad as he was
with passion there was something in her face that frightened him。
〃Can you be my father？〃 she said in a strained； quiet voice。 〃Oh！ glad
am I that my mother did not live to see this hour。〃
Then she wheeled round and addressed the men。
〃Hearken； fellows。 He who lays a finger on me； dies。 Soon or late
assuredly he dies as he would not wish to die。 Yes； even if you murder
me； for I have friends who will learn the truth and pay back coin for
coin with interest a hundredfold。 Now I'll go。 Stand clear； knaves；
and pray to God that never again may Red Eve cross the threshold of
her prison。 Pray also that never again may you look on Hugh de
Cressi's sword or hear Grey Dick's arrows sing； or face the curse of
old Sir Andrew。〃
So proud and commanding was her mien and so terrible the import of her
words； that these rough hinds shrank away from her and the woman hid
her face in her hands。 But Sir John thundered threats and oaths at
them； so that slowly and unwillingly they ringed Eve round。 Then with
head held high she walked thence in the midst of them。
The prisoners' chamber beneath the leads of the lofty tower was cold
and unfurnished save for a stool and a truckle…bed。 It had a great
door of oak locked and barred on the outer side； with a grille in it
through which the poor wretch within could be observed。 There was no
window； only high up beneath the ceiling were slits like loopholes
that not a child could have passed。 Such was the place to which Eve
was led。
Here they left her。 At nightfall the door was opened and Jane Mell
entered； bearing a loaf of bread and a jug of water； which she set
down upon the floor。
〃Would you aught else？〃 she asked。
〃Ay； woman；〃 answered Eve； 〃my thick red woollen cloak from my
chamber； and hood to match。 Also water to wash me； for this place is
cold and foul； and I would die warm and clean。〃
〃First I must get leave from my lord your father；〃 said the woman in a
surly voice。
〃Get it then and be swift；〃 said Eve； 〃or leave it ungotten； I care
little。〃
Mell went and within half an hour returned with the garments； the
water and some other things。 Setting them down without a word she
departed； locking and bolting the door behind her。
While there remained a few rays of light to see by； Eve ate and drank
heartily； for she needed food。 Then having prayed according to her
custom； she laid herself down and slept as a child sleeps； for she was
very strong of will and one who had always taught herself to make the
best of evil fortune。 When she woke the daws were cawing around the
tower and the sun shone through the loopholes。 She rose refreshed and
ate the remainder of her bread； then combed her hair and dressed
herself as best she could。
Two or three hours later the door was opened and her father entered。
Glancing at him she saw that little sleep had visited him that night；
for he looked old and very weary； so weary that she motioned to him to
sit upon the stool。 This he did； breathing heavily and muttering
something about the steepness of the tower stairs。 Presently he spoke。
〃Eve；〃 he said； 〃is your proud spirit broken yet？〃
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃nor ever will be； living or dead！ You may kill my
body； but my spirit is me； and that you will never kill。 As God gave
it so I will return it to Him again。〃
He stared at her； with something of wonder and more of admiration in
his look。
〃Christ's truth；〃 he said； 〃how proud I could be of you； if only you'd
let me！ I deem your courage comes from your mother； but she never had
your shape and beauty。 And now you are the only one left； and you hate
me with all your proud heart； you； the heiress of the Claverings！〃
〃Whose estate is this；〃 she answered； pointing to the bare stone
walls。 〃Think you； my father； that such treatment as I have met with
at your hands of late would breed love in the humblest heart？ What
devil drives you on to deal with me as you have done？〃
〃No devil； girl； but a desire for your own good； and；〃 he added with a
burst of truth； 〃for the greatness of my House after I am gone； which
will be soon。 For your old wizard spoke rightly when he said that I
stand near to death。〃
〃Will marrying me to a man I hate be for my good and make your House
great？ I tell you； sir； it would kill me and bring the Claverings to
an end。 Do you desire also that your broad lands should go to patch a
spendthrift Frenchman's cloak？ But what matters your desire seeing
that I'll not do it； who love another man worth a score of him； one；
too； who will sit higher than any Count of Noyon ever stood。〃
〃Pish！〃 he said。 〃'Tis but a girl's whim。 You speak folly； being young
and headstrong。 Now； to have done with all this mummer's talk； will
you swear to me by our Saviour and on the welfare of your soul to
break with Hugh de Cressi once and forever？ For if so I'll let you
free； to leave me if you will； and dwell where it pleases you。〃
She opened her lips to answer； but he held up his hand； saying：
〃Wait ere you speak； I have not done。 If you take my offer I'll not
even press Sir Edmund Acour on you； that matter shall stand the chance
of time and tide。 Only while you live you must have no more to do with
the man who slew your brother。 Now will you swear？〃
〃Not I；〃 she answered。 〃How can I who but a few days ago before God's
altar and His priest vowed myself to this same Hugh de Cressi for all
his life？〃
Sir John rose from the stool and walked； or； rather； tottered to the
door。
〃Then stay here till you rot；〃 he said quite quietly； 〃for I'll give
you no burial。 As for this Hugh； I would have spared him； but you have
signed his death…warrant。〃
He was gone。 The heavy door shut； the bars clanged into their sockets。
Thus these two parted； for when they met once more no word passed
between them； and although she knew not how these things would end；
Eve felt that parting to be dreadful。 Turning her face to the wall；
for a while she wept； then； when the woman Mell came with her bread
and water； wiped away her tears and faced her calmly。 After all； she
could have answered no otherwise； her soul was pure of sin； and； for
the rest； God must rule it。 At least she would die clean and honest。
That night she was wakened from her sleep by the clatter of horses'
hoofs on the