Sir Jeoffry for a month or so had paid tempestuous court to her, and had so won her heart with his dashing way of love-making and the daringness of his reputation, that she had thought herself--being child enough to think so--the luckiest young lady in the world that his black eye should have fallen upon her with favour.

Each year since, with the bearing of each child, she had lost some of her beauty.

With each one her lovely hair fell out still more, her wild-rose colour faded, and her shape was spoiled.

She grew thin and yellow, only a scant covering of the fair hair was left her, and her eyes were big and sunken.

Her marriage having displeased her family, and Sir Jeoffry having a distaste for the ceremonies of visiting and entertainment, save where his own cronies were concerned, she had no friends, and grew lonelier and lonelier as the sad years went by.