The Last Of The Barons, Volume 8.

ed for the hour, though the scattered clouds still darkened the horizon: the Earl of Warwick had defeated the Lancastrians on t

n all haste a council of such of the knights and barons as either love to the king or envy to Warwick could collect. The report was general that Edward was retained against his will at Middleham; and this rumour Hastings gravely demanded Warwick, on the arrival of the latter at York, to disprove. The earl, to clear himself from a suspicion that impeded all his military movements, despatched Lord Montagu to Middleham, who

the once fair Rose of Raby (the king's mother) acted as mediator and arbiter. The earl's word to the commons at Olney was ratified. Edward consented to the temporary retirement of the Woodvilles, though the gallant Anthony yet delayed his pilgrimage to Compostella. The vanity of Clarence was contented by the government of Ireland, but, under various pretences, Edward deferred his brother's departure to that important post. A general amnesty was proclaimed

a visit to the palace of the Tower. The queen had submitted so graciously to the humiliation of her family, that even the haughty Warwick

popular alliance. The archbishop had suffered the rumour of Gloucester's attachment to the Lady Anne to g

ts. At least it shall not be from lack of lands, or of the gold spur, which allows the wearer to ride by the side of king or kaisar, that thou canst not choose thy bride as the heart bids thee. I pray thee, sweet cousin, to attend my child Anne to the court, where the king will show thee no ungracious countenance; but it is just to recompense thee for th

it with the bravest, Sir Marmaduke Nevile accompanied

circle that surrounded Elizabeth, turned to address th

here, for verily its best blood were less dear to me than that slight gir

nswered, "My Elizabeth will hold her as a siste

ve I go firs

o approve of my seemin

an

I promised the commons that you would n

swarms with disbanded soldiers, that it is politic to hold out to

se that a crown teaches the brow to scheme; but he

ressed, stifled a sigh, and the air seemed lighter to the insects of the court as his proud cres

ladies whom you will have for your special train. We wo

force upon her a selection which could not fail to mortify those not preferred. But glancing timidly round the circle, the noble damsel's eye rested on one fair face, and in that face there was so much that awoke her own interest, and stirred up a fond and sad remembrance, that she passed involuntarily to the stranger's side, and ar

and, after bowing assent to the queen, she said, "Do you not also

queen that she had met Sibyll in earlier years, the king approached to monopolize his guest's voice and ear. It seemed natural to all present that Edward should devote peculiar attention to the daughter of Warwick and the sister of the Duchess of Clarence; and

exiled prince; nay, the brilliancy of his qualities made her the more averse to him. It darkened the prospects of Edward of Lancaster that Edward of York should wear so gracious and so popular a form. She hai

ir Sibyll?" said Anne, with h

other children, hand in hand with the young prince, in whom all dreamed t

f what?" a

ll rosy fingers-the hand of great Warwick's daugh

small foot began to mark str

rd of Lancaster. Oh, we shall find hours to talk of the past days. But how, if your ch

is at work. I belonged to the train of her grace of Bedford; but when the duchess quitted the court, and the king retained my father in his own

y child?-he must-

t from all else that live. But after all, perad

reatly affected by this answer. She drew nearer to Sibyll; she

said, with a girl's candid simp

father, mother, sister,- all the world; the

g I know not how to explain draws me strangely towards thy sweet face. Marriage has lost me my only sister, for since Isabel is wed she is changed to me-would that her place were supplied

age; it came like morning upon the folded blossom. She threw her arms round the new frien

ith emotion-"if I could ever serve-ever repay thee-though those graci

ide. Gentle as her mother was, the distinction between child and parent was, even in the fond family she belonged

even dared to touch, with her, upon those secrets which it flushed her own bashful cheek to recall. And this visit to the court, this new, unfamiliar scene, this estrangement from all the old accustomed affections, had produced in her that sense of loneliness which is so irksome, till grave experience of real life accustoms us to the common lot. So with the exaggerated and somewhat morbid sensibility that belonged to her, she turned at once, and by impulse, to this sudden, yet graceful friendship. Her

place daunts me, and the figures on the arras seem so tall and spec

byll s