'Nay; sweet Deb. But do not question me further;' and he turned his head restlessly away. 'This is indeed a friend to me and mine.—Deb,' he said, with a sudden bright altered change of tone, 'I have news for thee.'
'What news?' asked Deborah, with eager curiosity.
'Ah, then, you have not heard? Have the lads been here to-day?'
'Yes, father.'
'Well, if they have not told you, you may guess.'
'I cannot, I cannot! Nay, sweet father, news are scarce at Enderby; tell me quickly what has happed.'
Sir Vincent laughed. 'Little daughter of Eve, it relates to your cousin Kingston!'
'What is it, father?' Somehow the music had died out of Deborah Fleming's voice and the ripple from her lips.
'King is betrothed to Mistress Beatrix Blancheflower, the old baron's daughter;' and Sir Vincent laughed heartily, with his head in the air.
'Is it so, father? Well—she is rich and she is pretty. Oh, she is pretty, father!'