How old is the Lady Margaret ?" "She is fifteen," Cuthbert said.

"She was three years younger than I." "I wish she had been younger," Sir Baldwin said.

"At fifteen she is not by custom fairly marriageable; but men can strain these points when they choose; and I fear that the news of your coming will hasten both the prince and Sir Rudolph in their determination to strengthen the claim of this usurper by marriage with the heiress of Evesham.

The Lady Margaret and her friends can of course claim that she is a royal ward, and that as such the king alone can dispose of her person and estates.

But, unfortunately, force overrides argument." "But surely," Cuthbert said, "they will never venture to take her by force from the convent ?" "They venture a great many strange things in England now," Sir Baldwin said; "and Worcester is perilously near to Evesham.