"Don't dream to frighten me with your spells, old wizard," he said.
"I'm a hale man yet, though I do lose my breath at times when my mind is
vexed with wrongs, and I'll square my own account with God without your
help or counsel. So you'll not give me my daughter?"
"Nay, here she bides in sanctuary for so long as it shall please her."
"Does she in truth? Perhaps you married her to this merchant fellow ere
he rode this morning."
"Nay, Sir John, they betrothed themselves before the altar and in
presence of his kin, no more. Moreover, if you would know, because of
your son's blood which runs between them I, after thought and prayer,
speaking in the name of the Church, swore them to this penance--that for
a year from yesterday they should not wed nor play the part of lovers."
"I thank you, priest, for this small grace," answered Sir John, with
a bitter laugh, "and in my turn I swear this, that after the year they
shall not wed, since the one of them will be clay and the other the wife
of the man whom I have chosen. Now, play no tricks on me, lest I burn
this sanctuary of yours about your head and throw your old carcass to
roast among the flames."
Sir Andrew made no reply, only, resting his long sword on the threshold,
he leant upon its hilt, and fixed his clear grey eyes upon Clavering's
face. What Sir John saw in those eyes he never told, but it was
something which scared him.
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