.

THE FORGE.
Sir Oliver's wisdom in being the first to bear Rosamund the story of that day's happenings was established anon when Master Godolphin returned home.

He went straight in quest of his sister; and in a frame of mind oppressed by fear and sorrow, for Sir John, by his general sense of discomfiture at the hands of Sir Oliver and by the anger begotten of all this he was harsh in manner and disposed to hector.
"Madam," he announced abruptly, "Sir John is like to die." The astounding answer she returned him--that is, astounding to him--did not tend to soothe his sorely ruffled spirit.
"I know," she said.

"And I believe him to deserve no less.

Who deals in calumny should be prepared for the wages of it." He stared at her in a long, furious silence, then exploded into oaths, and finally inveighed against her unnaturalness and pronounced her bewitched by that foul dog Tressilian.
"It is fortunate for me," she answered him composedly, "that he was here before you to give me the truth of this affair." Then her assumed calm and the anger with which she had met his own all fell away from her.
"Oh, Peter, Peter," she cried in anguish, "I hope that Sir John will recover.