"Why, I'm Aunt Yolande's niece."
"Aunt Yolande's niece!" cried Ralph in amazement, utterly astounded at the unexpected answer, and not at all able to take in the truth of the remark.
"Yes I am, although you may find it hard to credit, and my father is Sir George Lisle, and he fled for his life from the field of Stoke, trusting to the generosity of the Captain of the Wight, who, he thought, was his greatest enemy, but whom he knew to be a very noble knight."
"And he was not wrong," said Ralph, sadly but proudly.
"Nay he was not wrong. But he tried to give his life for the Captain's, when he found out how great an injury he had done him. Do you remember Sister Agnes that day I saw you at Appuldurcombe? Do you know who she is?"
"No. Who is she?"
"She is my mother," said Magdalen, softly and sadly.
"Your mother!" said Ralph in astonishment. "But she is a nun."
"Yes, she is now; but she was Lady Lisle. I can't call her much to mind at that time, for she left me when I was only four years old."
"Why did she leave you?" said Ralph, becoming more interested.