The Last Of The Barons, Volume 9.

him on a rapid wing from Shene to Amboise. We must suppose that the two emissaries of Gloucester h

e and fair garden, interspersed with thick bosquets and regular alleys, over which the rich skies of the summer evening, a little before sunset, cast alternate light and shadow. Towards this prospect the s

even steps, with lips moving from time to time, as if in self-commune, with the brow con

he marvels of cloister sanctity, which made so large a portion of the literature of the monkish ages. But her eye rested not on the Gothic letter and the rich blazon of the holy book. With all a mother's fear an

; give me thy hand, and whisp

to have a secret not known to thee, and yet, methinks, it

ever knew anger fo

el, relaxing her haughty brow, and she

her gently to a

ome lover's hasty mood, vexed thy affection; for of the house

nd glanced signi

l not tell to me; but they seem not such as should alarm my fears, as thine do. For the mom

r? And can it be possible that King Louis can persuade my lord and fat

nt from his children. Whatever he doth is ever wisest, best,

ger did the hero's mien and manner evince that cordial and tender cheerfulness which, in all the storms of his changeful life, he

mind, that terrible internal revolution, which is made but in strong natures by the tyranny of a great care or a great passion, the earl scarcely seemed to heed his countess, who ros

r privilege of the soother. She drew near, and placing herself on the g

his brow softened, he drew his hand gently from hers, placed it on her

waist, pressed her to his bosom, and said, "My daughter, for thee and thine day and night have I striven a

Isabel," said the cou

k's da

d silent, and returned

ng away, he continued, as he paced the room (his habit in emotion, which Isabel, who had

hat, without change to the dynasty of York, Clarence, as next male heir, would ascend the throne. True, I saw all the obstacles, all the difficulties,-I was warned of them before I left England; but still I hoped. Lord Oxford has arrived, he has just left me. We

ment. "Your own retainers are sixty thousand,-an army larger than

y subtlety of intellect, "armies may gain a victory, but they do not achieve a throne,-unless, at least, they enforce a slavery; and it is not

imed Isabel,-"what do

at you can unite your

savage Anjouite, who

remember your own wor

en I forget those gr

concealed from her father's eye by the deep embrasure of the window, had risen some moments befo

s not true!" exclaime

sowns the in

larly believed that till of late I never questioned its truth. King Louis assures me solemnly that that foul

Edward false, can b

"Is it thus my child can address my lord

that I can contemplate peace and league with mine ancient foe; but here two duties speak to me in voices not to be denied: my honour and my hearth, as noble and as man, demand redress, and the weal and glory of my country demand a ruler who does no

enly, "And for this, then, Clarence hath joined your quarrel and shared your exile?-for this,-that

s wants as prince,-of a life, in short, humbled and made bitter by all the indignity and the gall which scornful power can inflict on dependent pride. If he gain not the throne, he will gain, at least, the succession in thy right to the baronies of Beauchamp, the mighty duchy, and the vast heritage of York, the vice-royalty of Ireland. Never prince of the blood had wealth and honours equal to those that shall await thy lord. For the rest, I drew him not into my quarrel; lo

cold brevity and, bending her haughty head in formal reverence,

r's sad and gloomy hour can you leave him

art is Lancastrian; and what, peradventure

d trembling, and her si

which passed between his daughters, had watched them closely

y; "thou who hast thy mother's face, ne

thou to learn that Margaret disowns a deed that, if done by her command,

r to her father's bosom. Her mother regarded he

e on great occasions of pomp or revel; and, as we have before observed, looking on a garden, which was generally solitary and deserted. From this garden, while Anne yet strove for words to answer her father, and the countess y

THE HEIR

ght but a fa

ire's he

hin the stra

less, home

r hope, too

the exi

ave their ho

e thought

soned gallantry of one of the royal minstrels, started in proud surprise, and Anne herself, tightening her clasp round her father's neck, burst in

e single s

ood's Apr

thou, the

d in band

thy young co

ces of t

d people pray

d's heir

lamation, but the minstrel heard no

he sun hath

he exi

ight morning

his soul

is birthrigh

ire's he

ot woo the

he banish

th clarion, f

and wins

e deluge dri

upon a

hou deign to

sed the e

for his fa

he brows

ssionate weeping. The earl gently strove to disengage her arms from his neck; but she, mis

on! pardon hi

ou concealed from me? Can I think th

hird time only that I have heard his voice sinc

o

under the name of the Count de F--, and he asked me i

and it is Edward of Lancaster who loves

though Louis had already hinted its expediency to the earl, yet, till now, Warwick himself had naturally conceived that the prince shared the enmity of his mother, and that such a union, however politic, was impossible; but now indeed there burst upon him the full triumph of revenge and pride. Edward of York dared to woo Anne to dishonour, Edward of Lancaster dared not even woo her as his wife till his crown was won! To place upon the throne the very daughter the un

"and I half foreguessed it, when, last night, I knelt beside

h, he speaks not. One word! Father, Father, not e

htfully under his dark brows, and his hand slightly raised, as if pie

and of thee, we will change the sad ditty of that scrannel lute into such a stor