"I do not know; but thou seemest like a warrior of olden time. And for thee to love me!"
"Is it enough? Wilt thou give thyself to me?" There was a silence so long and unbroken Katherine was made to realize that her reply was not to be lightly uttered, so she answered with all the strength of a plaything of caprice,—
"If thou wilt have it so, Sir Julian, I will be thine."
She had hardly finished, when he laid his lips, to her astonishment, coldly and with formal grace upon her forehead.
"I will not ask thee if thou lovest me, but will say instead dost think thou mayest?"
"But I think I love thee now—"
"Nay, sweet Mistress, thou dost not—" A look of fear came into her eyes. Had Lord Cedric told her confessions? Nay, nay! he would not, she knew.
"How dost come by so much knowledge?" she said, coquettishly.
"I have ascertained by subtleness, but—let it pass. Let us talk of thee now. When wilt thou marry me? If thou art kind, thou wilt say at once."
"Nay, I shall not say that—but—whenever thou dost wish it."