Her nerves had been on the strain for some time.

The excitement of seeing Cuthbert again, of hearing his story and telling her own, had been considerable.

And now to be confronted by a furious father, and accused of having broken her solemn pledge, and of having met her lover at an hour of the night when no virtuous maiden would dream of such a tryst, was more than she could bear.

Slipping to her knees, she laid her hand upon her father's robe, and clutching hold of it, as if for support, she gasped out the one word: "Pardon! pardon!" "Thou mayest well sue for pardon, false jade; but to win it is another matter.

Say, vile girl, whom I blush to call my daughter--say how oft hast thou thus gone forth to meet thy lover ?" "Father--father, revile me not thus!" cried the girl, beside herself with agitation, fearful of betraying Cuthbert's near presence to the Gate House, lest the angry man should contrive to do him some injury or gain some hold upon him, yet terrified at the accusations levelled at her own head, which seemed to bear some show of reason.