The Last Of The Barons, Volume 9.

ns of all her kindred and friends, conquered, though not without repeated struggles, Margaret's repugnance to a nearer union between Warwick and her son. The earl did not deign to appear pers

torians who deny that he was beheaded by Margaret."] in St. Mary's Church of Angers, Lord Warwick swore without change to hold the party of King Henry. Before the same sacred symbol, King Louis and his brother, Duke of Guie

but the marriage not to be consummated "till Lord Warwick had entered England and regained the realm, or most part, for

ce Edward (whose qualities endeared him more and more to Warwick, and were such as promised to command the respect and love of the people) sole regent of all the realm, upon attaining his majority. For the Duke of Clarence we

rwick, or of his means to raise a sufficient army to fulfil his promise. The brave prince wished to be himself foremost in the battles fought in his right and for his cause. But the earl contended, to the surprise and joy of Margaret, that it best behooved the prince's interests to enter England without one enemy in the field, leaving others to clear his path, free himself from all the person

d, the father's hand should lead that child to the throne of him who would have degraded her to the dust. If victory awaited his sanguine hopes, as father to his future queen, the dignity and power of the earl became greater in the court of Lancaster than, even in his palmiest day, amidst the minions of ungrateful York; the sire of two lines,-if Anne's posterity should fail, the crown would pass to the sons of Isabel,-in either case from him (if successful in his invasion) would descend the royalty of England. Ambition, pride, revenge, might well exult in viewing the future, as mortal wisdom could discern it. The House of Nevile never seemed brightened by

and comment as pass from baseless gossip into dubious history. [Hall well explains the mystery which wrapped the king's insult to a female of the House of Warwick by the simple sentence, "The certainty was not, for both their honours, openly known!"] True, that in his change of party he was not, like Julian of Spain, an apostate to his native land. He did not meditate the subversion of his country by the foreign foe; it was but the substitution of one English monarch for another,-a virtuous prince for a false and a sanguinary king. True, that the change from rose to rose had been so common amongst the greatest and the bravest, that even the most rigid could scarcely censure what the age itself had sanctioned. But what other man of his stormy day had been so conspicuous in the downfall of those he was now as conspicuously to raise? What other man had Richard of York taken so dearly to his heart, to what

t and riveted his eye. Close by the centre window he recognized his gentle Anne, with downcast looks; he almost fancied he saw her blush, as her young bridegroom, young and beautiful as herself, whispered love's flatteries in her ear. He saw farther on, but yet near, his own sweet countess, and muttered, "After twenty years of marriage, may Anne be as dear to him as thou art now to me!" And still he saw, or deemed he saw, his lady's eye, after resting with tender happiness on the young pair, rove wistfully around, as if missing and searching for her partner in her mother's joy. But what form sweeps by with so haughty a majesty, then pauses by the betrothed, addresses them not, but seems to regard them with so fixed a watch? He knew by her ducal diadem, by the baudekin colours of her robe, by her unmistakable air of pride, his daughter Isabel. He did not distinguish the expression of her countenance, but an ominous thrill passed through his heart; for the attitude itself had an expression, and not that

sence, since so few hours remain; since, when the sun that succeeds the morrow'

sees before him the emprise that would change the dynasty of a realm can suit with the careless dance and the wanton music? But not at that moment did I think of those mightier car

mourns for his baffled hopes! Well-a-day! I grieve that she admits not even me to her confidence. Ever with t

rd, or rather his cunning Elizabeth, had suborned this waiting-woman, our daughter never

ood, her vaulting spirit, her very character of stately beauty, hath given her a conviction of destiny and power loftier than those reserved for our gent

er nature reconciles itself to the loss of a crown, which, I fear, it could never have upheld. For the more I have read his qualities in our household intimacy, the more it seems that I could scarcely have justified the imposing on England a king not worthy of so great a people. He is young yet, but how differen

rigue Philip de Comines [Comines, iii. 5; Hall, Lingard, Hume, etc.] has commemorated, but whose name, happily for her memory, history has concealed, was soft and winning in its expression to the ordinary glance, though the sharpness of the features, the thin compression of the lips, and the harsh dry redness of the hair corresponded with the att

aughter," said the earl, examining her

nt, with a lowly reverence,

aid Warwick, "needs not thy tongu

nd quitted the room. The earl approached, a

t just now, for many causes, I was wishing thee not to brave our perilous return to England; and now, I kno

re, since now it seems he dares the battle but reaps not its rewards! Let Edward and

, "The women of a noble House should have no ambition of their own,- their glory and their honour they should leave, unmurmuring, in th

if I now retire; I am so weary, and would fain have stren

bmission, and moved on. "Beware

what?" said Is

's couch ere thou seek thine own, and, before the s

rence, the hand the countess extended to her, she left the room. She gained the chamber in which was the cradle of her son,

pery, and contemplated the ros

to her confida

king! Away with those vain mockeries of royal birth! How s

at this alliance, to the injury of my lord duke and this dear boy, was a

ithout energy and pride, I scarcely have looked on as my equal! And now to my younger sister I must

larence is already in his chamber; he waits but thine assent

n great disorder. "But to be thu

mmon or constitutional law of England regarding the succession!" The remark involves a controversy.] and, with Edward on the throne, thy son is heir-presumptive. Little chance that a male heir shall now be born to Queen Elizabeth, while from Anne and her bridegroom a long li

ried Isabel, in terrible

ye can shape as ye best may your conduct to the time. But if the earl lose the day, if again he be driven into exile, a few words now release you and yours from everlast

e might pass,-'not for the younger daughter of Lord Warwick, but for the lady admitted in

s to place on the throne which your child

d her hands i

confidant, throwi

of a kingdom was made secure) to her gentle rest. The ceremonial pomp, the regal homage that attended the younger sister thus raised above herself, completed in Isabel's jealous heart the triumph of the Tempter. Her face settled

efly warning him of the meditated invasion, significantly added, "and if I may seem to share this emprise, which, here a

s till the last hour to please thee; for verily, lady mine, thy

xclaimed the duchess,

it pass. Slavery to scornful Margaret, vassalage to thy sister's spouse, triumph to the House which both thou and I were taught f

owards the duke, and turned back to the cradle of her child, whom she woke with her sobs, and who wailed its

He had sealed and bound his letter, first adding these words, "My lady and duchess, whatever her kin, has seen this letter, and a

ignificant glance-"Be quick, or she repents! The courier waits, his steed sadd

s on his way." The confidant vanished; the d

ast, to deceive thee, and to hide resentment beneath a smiling brow! Dullard, thou to believe aught less than the sover

pale as a spectre, I

e! The letter! the le

ment the c

aid the duke, "