Cuthbert!" cried the Baron, "I mind me! Here, wench! I have
brought back the maid in her brother's stead."
And as Grisell, in obedience to his call, threw back her veil,
Bernard screamed, "Ugsome wench, send her away!" threw his arms round
his father's neck and hid his face with a babyish gesture.
"Saints have mercy!" cried the mother, "thou hast not mended much
since I saw thee last. They that marred thee had best have kept
thee. Whatever shall we do with the maid?"
"Send her away, the loathly thing," reiterated the boy, lifting up
his head from his father's shoulder for another glimpse, which
produced a puckering of the face in readiness for crying.
"Nay, nay, Bernard," said Ridley, feeling for the poor girl and
speaking up for her when no one else would. "She is your sister, and
you must be a fond brother to her, for an ill-nurtured lad spoilt her
poor face when it was as fair as your own. Kiss your sister like a
good lad, and -
"No! no!" shouted Bernard. "Take her away. I hate her." He began
to cry and kick.
"Get out of his sight as fast as may be," commanded the mother,
alarmed by her sickly darling's paroxysm of passion.
Grisell, scarce knowing where to go, could only allow herself to be
led away by Ridley, who, seeing her tears, tried to comfort her in
his rough way. "'Tis the petted bairn's way, you see, mistress--and
my lady has no thought save for him.
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