All the plans were laid, and it was to be done so soon as he should return to the Chase after long absence.

Long Robin had planned it all, and he had a head as clever and a will as firm as any man that ever lived.

He had thought of all--he had everything in order; and then came the news that the knight had wed with Isabel Wyvern, the tenderest, the sweetest, the gentlest maiden that ever drew breath; and when they knew that, even Long Robin knew that no hand could thenceforward be raised against the knight." "Long Robin--who is he ?" questioned Cuthbert eagerly.
"He is Miriam's husband--my father," answered Joanna, a strange shadow passing across her face.
"And does he yet live ?" The gipsy paused and hesitated.
"Ask any other member of the tribe, and they will tell thee that he does; but for me, I do not know, I cannot tell." Cuthbert looked at her in amaze.
"Not know, and he thy father!" A curious smile crossed her face.
"We think little of such ties amongst the gipsy folk.

The tie betwixt us all is stronger than the simple one of blood.

We are all of one race--of one stock; that is enough for us.