be not a malapert question. Is it not true that thou art to wed
with this Lord Culverhouse one day?"

Kate's face was dyed by a most becoming blush. Her eyes sparkled in
a charming fashion. Her expression, half arch, half grave, was
bewitching to see, but she laid her fingers on her lips as she
whispered:

"Hush, hush! who told thee that, good Cuthbert? Methinks thou hast
over-sharp eyes and ears."

"I prithee pardon me if I have seen and heard too much," answered
Cuthbert; "but I had a fancy--"

He stopped, stammering, blushing, and Kate took pity on his
confusion.

"I am not vexed," she said, smiling; "and in very sooth thou hast
divined what is in part the truth. But we do not dare talk of it
yet. There be so many weighty matters against us."

Cuthbert looked keenly interested. He was very fond of this
sprightly cousin of his, who was so amusing, so kindly, and so
sisterly in her ways. She had more ease of manner, as well as
brightness of temperament, than her sisters, and her company had
been a source of great pleasure to him. The girl saw the look of
sympathetic curiosity upon his face, and she drew her chair a
little nearer to that which he occupied, stirring up the logs upon
the glowing hearth into a brighter blaze.