CHAPTER XVII--STRANGE GUESTS
The needle, having nought to do,
Was pleased to let the magnet wheedle,
Till closer still the tempter drew,
And off at length eloped the needle.
T. MOORE.
The nine days of mourning were spent in entire seclusion by Grisell,
who went through every round of devotions prescribed or recommended
by the Church, and felt relief and rest in them. She shrank when
Ridley on the tenth day begged her no longer to seclude herself in
the solar, but to come down to the hall and take her place as Lady of
the Castle, otherwise he said he could not answer for the conduct of
Copeland's men.
"Master Hardcastle desires it too," he said. "He is a good lad
enough, but I doubt me whether his hand is strong enough over those
fellows! You need not look for aught save courtesy from him! Come
down, lady, or you will never have your rights."
"Ah, Cuthbert, what are my rights?"
"To be mistress of your own castle," returned Ridley, "and that you
will never be unless you take the upper hand. Here are all our
household eating with these rogues of Copeland's, and who is to keep
rule if the lady comes not?"
"Alack, and how am I to do so?"
However, the consideration brought her to appear at the very early
dinner, the first meal of the day, which followed on the return from
mass. Pierce Hardcastle met her shyly. He was a tall slender
stripling, looking weak and ill, and he bowed very low as he said,
"Greet you well, lady," and looked up for a moment as if in fear of
what he might encounter.
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