"In truth, had he
done so, dead or living from that day I would have called him no son of
mine. Yet, Red Eve, you and he and your love-makings have brought much
trouble on me and my House. Look now what it means. A feud to the death
between our families of which no man can foresee the end. Moreover, how
can you marry, seeing that a brother's blood runs between you?"
"It is on John's head," she answered sadly, "not on Hugh's hand. I
warned him, and Hugh spared him once. What more could we do?"
"I know not, Eve; I only know what you have done, you and Hugh and Grey
Dick. Four dead and two wounded, that's the bill I must discharge as
best I may. Doubtless too soon there will be more to follow, whether
they be Claverings or de Cressis. Well, we must take things as God sends
them, and leave Him to balance the account.
"But there is no time to lose if Hugh's neck is to escape a halter.
Speak you, Father Andrew, who are wise and old, and have this matter in
hand. Oh! Hugh, Hugh, you were born a fighter, not a merchant like your
brethren," and he pointed to three young men who all this while had
stood silently behind him looking upon their youngest brother with grave
disapproval. "Yes, the old Norman blood comes out in you, and the Norman
mail suits you well," he added with a flash of pride, "and so there's an
end--or a beginning. Now, Sir Andrew, speak.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73