Though I had sooner that you stayed here,
to-morrow, daughter, you shall ride to Blythburgh. Should your father
die, as I think he will ere long, it might grieve you in the after years
to remember that you had bid him no farewell. If he recovers or is harsh
with you it will be easy for you to seek sanctuary again."
CHAPTER VII
THE LOVE PHILTRE
So it came about that on the morrow Eve and Sir Andrew, accompanied only
by a single serving man, fearing no guile since it seemed certain that
the Frenchmen were so far away, rode across the moor to Blythburgh. At
the manor-house they found the drawbridge up. The watchman at the gate
said also that his orders were to admit none, for the Frenchmen being
gone, there were but few to guard the place.
"What, good fellow," asked Eve, "not even the daughter of the house who
has heard that her father lies so sick?"
"Ay, he lies sick, lady," the man replied, "but such are his orders. Yet
if you will bide here a while, I'll go and learn his mind."
So he went and returned presently, saying that Sir John commanded that
his daughter was to be admitted, but that if Sir Andrew attempted to
enter he should be driven back by force.
"Will you go in or will you return with me?" asked her companion of Eve.
"God's truth!" she answered, "am I one to run away from my father,
however bad his humour? I'll go in and set my case before him, for
after all he loves me in his own fashion and when he understands will, I
think, relent.
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