“Of a surety?  When I name the hour, wilt thou not gainsay?”

“Nay, my lord.  I will not gainsay.”

“Then—­at eleven, Katherine.”  She caught her breath quickly and cried forth,—­

“This day, Sir Julian!  Indeed, thou art in haste, I—­I—­”

“Thou hast given thy word.  At eleven, Katherine.”

“By sands or dial?”

“Ah, sweet Katherine, both shall have a bridal favour.  We will confer with each.  When the golden sand runs out at the eleventh hour, the dial will be alone and in shadow; for if it please thee, we must be wed secretly and in haste.  I noticed but awhile ago how beautiful the dial was.  So the sands shall give us the hour, the dial the altar, and the nightingale the nuptial mass.”

“But the priest, Sir Julian—­”

“He shall give us the blessing—­”

“Nay, nay; where wilt thou find a priest?” This was not an unexpected question, and Sir Julian was ready for it.

“Lord Cedric’s Chaplain can wed us as securely as one of thy church, and as there is no one else, he will serve, will he not, Katherine?”

“Until we find a better.”

“Then, not to arouse suspicion, to-night at eleven thou wilt come to the sun-dial and I will meet thee at the foot of the stair that leads from thy chamber to the terrace, and then—­’twill be soon over and thou, thou, Katherine, will be—­wife.  Wilt not regret it,—­art sure?” he repeated as she shook her head negatively.

“But why do all men appear in such haste to wed?  I would have time to at least think upon it.”

“Dost forget that at any moment may come a courier from the King to recall thee; and if so, thou wouldst be obliged to go and be separated from us, perhaps forever?  Thou dost not know what may befall thee at any moment.  Thou dost belong to France, and art hostage to England—­thou wilt be ready at eleven?”

“Aye, at eleven.”

“We will be cautious and not speak above a whisper.  The Chaplain will speak low, too; but he is a good soul and would make us fast wed whether we heard him or not.”  Again he kissed her forehead; she turned rose-red and ran from him hastily.  She thought not once of Cedric.  Had she done so, ’tis possible she never would have gone to the dial that summer night.  She flew to her chamber aflame with this new thing she thought was love.  And felt relief that soon Sir Julian, the strong and brave, would take away all her discomfort.  He would fight her battles for her, go with her to the King and stand by her side and his Majesty would not dare to offer her insult.  It would be a sweet task to convert Sir Julian to her faith.  He would became a great Catholic leader.  Her breast fairly swelled with pride in anticipation.

CHAPTER XXI

THE ESPOUSAL