Possibly if they had thought it likely that the Cardinal's young secretary would ask for her hand in marriage, they might have delayed a little longer sending her to the convent, but no such thought had crossed the minds of either mother or father. To them Cicely was already appropriated to the service of the Church, and there the matter ended so far as they were concerned.
They would gladly have welcomed Miles as a son-in-law, if they had known his secret in time, but now they could only think with sorrow that it had come too late. "Too late!" Ah, bitter, bitter words when their thoughts turned to the convent, where their child was shut away from the joys of life, as wife and mother; and where there was only too good reason to fear she would ever be looking back with vain regret to the time when she and Miles met in free and happy friendship, that had grown deeper and more lasting, until it changed to love's supreme joy and sorrow.
Miles had been left for Maud and the younger children to entertain, while Sir Harry and Lady Guildford had been talking; and before they went to join the young people, the lady said, "Do not speak of what you think concerning Cicely."
"Why not, good dame? It may comfort the lad to know that she cared for him before she went away, though it were sin for such a thought to be encouraged now. I will be wary though, do not doubt, for the lad has sorrow enough just now."
Sir Harry Guildford had no intention of doing more than speaking a few kindly courteous words, that should let the young man know that his suit would have prospered if Cicely had not been beyond their reach. Somehow the children got an idea that they were not wanted just then, and so Miles was left alone with his host; and the kindly words and sympathetic tone were too much for his firmness just then, and before he was aware of it, Miles was telling Cicely's father a good deal of what he might have told her if she had been at home; and the baronet listened, and at last told Miles that he believed Cicely fully returned his love, although no words had been spoken between them.
When he heard this, a marvellous change seemed to come over Miles.
"You tell me truly, Sir Harry?" he almost demanded in his eager impulsiveness, for all at once the sorrow that was almost tearful in its tenderness, had changed to something that was akin to desperation, as he said, "This has changed all things for me!"
"What do you mean?" asked Sir Harry, looking up in surprise, for Miles had started from his seat, and looked as though he would storm the convent itself to rescue Cicely.
"Sit down lad, sit down, there is nothing to be done," said Cicely's father sadly.
"Nothing to be done!" repeated Miles. "I thought so a few minutes ago when I believed I was the only one to suffer this heartache, but now you tell me my Cicely has suffered, and will suffer the same, do you think I can say there is nothing to be done? She is but a novice as yet, and there is time for her to change her mind, and if she will only say she does not fully assent to take the vows required of her, my master will absolve her from all that has been done, and she will be free to leave the convent."