Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/142

118 allowed to go alone on so perilous a journey. And yet, wiser heads than his seemed to advise it, and he could not give other reasons against her going than his fondness for his girl comrade. After a long silence he rose and left the hall, saying only that he would consult his mother. Amabel, when left with the Friar and the old soldier, could not conceal her impatience until Edgar's return.

"I know," said she to Hugh, "that there are many maidens who would faint with fear at the idea of such an expedition; but I have ever been different. I am never so happy as when I am in danger. I love the excitement. And I do not say this as some might—from ignorance of what danger means. When I was a child of ten, my father fled from his castle one night, carrying me wrapped in his cloak, and for three days we were fugitives. I have seen more than one battlefield. But I cannot remain quiet here, I know myself too well to be mistaken about that. Ah—here comes Edgar!"

The young lord of the castle came slowly, as if reluctant to tell the result of his interview—but it was easy to guess that Lady Mortimer had agreed with Hugh and the Friar, for otherwise Edgar would not have seemed so depressed. Yet he seemed glad that Lady Amabel was to have