urt of Edward IV., the virgins of gentle birth mixed sparingly, and with great reserve, amongst those of opposite sex. Marmaduke, rapidly recovering from the effect of his wounds, and witho
t once into the richest bloom of goodness. But sorrow, that ever sharpens the intellect, might only serve to sour the heart. Her mind was so innately chaste and pure, that she knew not the nature of the admiration she excited; but the admiration pleased her as it pleases some young child; she was vain then, but it was an infant's vanity, not a woman's. And thus, from innocence itself, there was a fearlessness, a freedom, a something endearing and familiar in her manner, which might have turned a wiser head than Marmaduke Nevile's. And this the more, because
wer part being closed at night or in inclement weather with rude shutters. The recess formed by this comfortless casement answered, therefore, the purpose of a balcony
It diverted him, poor youth, to look out of the window upon the livelier world beyond. The place, it is true, was
armaduke, when one morning, Sibyll, co
charming smile, "what claimed thy meditations? Some misgiving
in the mind of a gentleman, who would not that his ignorance of court delicacies should
s, quarrelling fo
l on end, the fangs glistening? Now the lesser one moves slowly round and round the bigger, who, mind you, Mistress Sibyll, is no dullard, but moves, too, quick a
es, "can you find pleasure in seeing two
se seely mechanics know not the joyaunce of fair fighting to gentle and to hound. For a hound, mark you, hath nothing mechanical in his nature. He is a gentleman all over,-brave against equal and stranger, forbearing to the small and defe
reluctant, while a small black cur, that had hitherto sat unobserved at the door of a small hostelrie, now coolly approached and dragged off the bone
measure, I fear me, is more potent in these holiday times than the mace or the battle-axe." The Nevile paused, sighed, and changed the subject: "This house o
r fittings in the butcher's and baker'
arings of the gentry begin to
e but gentle with our poverty; but they loathe the humbled fortunes on
hich evinced the site of a noble house, now shrunk into a dismal ruin, the remembrance of the pastime-ground, the insults
d fortune amidst yonder towers, on which the sun shines so cheerly. God grant it, not for my sake,-not for mine; but that I may have something besides a true heart an
nt to rest in his. Then withdrawing it, and meeting his enamoured eyes with a
was sweet to me, who have known little in life not hard and bitter,-sweet to wish I had a brother like thee, and, as a
ing for one who has
or him, honour him; and for the rest, I have thoughts thou canst not know, an ambition thou canst not feel. Nay," she added, with that delightful smile which chased aw
clouds in a breath! If what thou despisest in me be my want of bookcraf
d burst of laughter, accompanied with a gusty fit of unmelodious music from the street below, made both maiden and youth start, and turn their eyes; there, weavin
e witch-leman! The glamour has done its work! Foul is
geant. So now, as they wheeled into the silent, squalid street, they heralded a goodly company of dames and cavaliers on horseback, who were passing through the neighbouring plains into the park of Marybone to enjoy the sport of falconry. The splendid dresses of this procession, and the grave and measured dignity with
d grace of horsemanship, as well as in the costly equipments of the white barb that caracoled beneath her easy hand. At the same moment the horseman looked up and gazed steadily at Sibyll, whose countenance grew pale, and flushed, in a breath. His eye then glanced rapidly at Marmaduke; a half-smile passed his pale, firm lips; he slightly raised the p
on the embossed bridle of the horseman, exclaimed, in a voice shrill and loud enough to be heard
these words; the nobleman watched her a mome
ointing her long arm to Sibyll, a
shat wo
her
her wings round t
th to t
falcon'
he kiss of the
and the Nevile, crossing himself devoutly, muttered, "Jesu defend us! Those she Will-o'-the-wisps are eno' to scare all the blood out of one's body. What-a murrain on them!-do they portend, flitting round an
alfrey, and followed by a sturdy groom on horseback, leading a steed handsomely caparisoned