"
"He tells me that he has written."
"True. On that I insisted, and I am the more uneasy, for there has
been ample time for a reply. It is only too likely, from what my
nephew tells me of his venturesome explorations, that he may have
fallen into the hands of the Moorish corsairs! Hargrave says it is
rumoured; but my Lady will not be checked in her career of pleasure,
and if she is fearful of his return, she may precipitate matters
with the poor girl!"
"Come, come, sir, I cannot have you give way to despondency. You
did your best, and if it did not succeed, it was owing to my foolish
daughter Arden. Why, if she was not satisfied about her sister, could
she not have come here, and demanded an explanation? That would have
been the straightforward way!"
"Would that she had! Or would that I had sooner discovered my own
entire recovery, which I owe in very truth to the sweet being who
has brought new life alike of body and mind to me, and who must
think I have requited her so cruelly."
CHAPTER XXVII. CYTHEREA'S BOWER.
There Citherea, goddesse was and quene,
Honourid highly for her majeste,
And eke her sonne, the mighty god I weene,
Cupid the blinde, that for his dignite
A M lovers worshipp on ther kne.
There was I bid on pain of dethe to pere,
By Mercury, the winged messengre.
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