CHAPTER XVIII

THE HOLY HERMANDAD

Down the long passages, through the great, fretted halls, across the cool marble courts, flitted Inez and Margaret. It was like a dream. They went through a room where women, idling or working at tapestries, looked at them curiously. Margaret heard one of them say to another:

"Why does the Dona Margaret's cousin leave her?" And the answer, "Because she is in love with the marquis herself, and cannot bear to stay."

"What a fool!" said the first woman. "She is good looking, and would only have had to wait a few weeks."

They passed an open door, that of Morella's own chambers. Within it he stood and watched them go by. When they were opposite to him some doubt or idea seemed to strike his mind, for he looked at them keenly, stepped forward, then, thinking better of it, or perhaps remembering Betty's bitter tongue, halted and turned aside. That danger had gone by!

At length, none hindering them, they reached the yard where the escort and the horses waited. Here, standing under an archway, were Castell and Peter. Castell greeted Margaret in English and kissed her through her veil, while Peter, who had not seen her close since months before he rode away to Dedham, stared at her with all his eyes, and began to draw near to her, designing to find out, as he was sure he could do if once he touched her, whether indeed this were Margaret, or only Betty after all. Guessing what was in his mind, and that he might reveal everything, Inez, who held a long pin in her hand with which she was fastening her veil that had come loose, pretended to knock against him, and ran the point deep into his arm, muttering, "Fool!" as she did so. He sprang back with an oath, the guard smiled, and she began to pray his pardon.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. Who flitted down the halls?
2. What are the women doing in the rooms?
3. What does the cousin leave?
4. Who was in his room and watched them go by?
5. Did he talk to them?
6. Where did they end up?
7. What was there waiting for them?
8. Who was there to greet them?
9. How did Margaret get greeted?
10. Who got stabbed with a pin?
11. Who stabbed him?
12. With what?
13. Where did she get it?
1. Inez and Margaret
2. idling or working at tapestries
3. e is in love with the marquis herself
4. Morella
5. No, halted and turned aside
6. the yard
7. horses waited
8. Castell and Peter
9. in English and kissed her through her veil
10. Peter
11. Inez
12. long pin
13. her veil