e seemed to realize the terrible meaning of it all. "Oh! that
accursed, hump-back knave, to dare to lift his hand against those which
guard and protect the King! No peace shall I now have. He will not
stop with Rivers. I shall be the next to feel his tyranny. But I will
match him yet!" she cried.

"Send for my son, the Marquis of Dorset," said she, as her eyes flashed
and her face became as though carved from marble.

When Dorset arrived, and heard from his mother what had happened to his
uncle and his brother, he showed his anger less; but in his cold grey
eyes, and firm cut mouth, one might read even greater determination
than his mother possessed together with all her quickness of perception.

"Methinks, mother," said he at length, "that thou hadst best leave the
Palace, and take refuge in the Sanctuary yonder. Take with thee my
dear sisters and our little Prince. Whilst he is not in the power of
the boar young Edward shall be safe."

"You counsel well, my son," replied the Queen. "Let us then make
haste, and be in safety ere the traitorous cur arrives. Girls, ye must
accompany us. Go and make ready, with all expediency, for in haste
alone now lies our safety." This latter she addressed to Hazel and
Mary, who had remained in the room whilst these things were taking
place.

"Oh, Richard," said the Queen, as though he were there before her,
"thou shalt suffer for this act of thine! Thou thinkest that by taking
from the King the only man in England capable of training his gentle
mind in the properest course thou shalt be able to infuse thy murderous
thoughts into this helpless innocent, and so use him to thy profit.
The curse of poor old Margaret is now falling upon me, and her prophecy
is coming true. But yet," she added, as though to herself, "she cursed
him also. Oh, why hath not her curses first fallen upon him; I never
did her wrong. Ah, yes, this is my punishment for having caused poor
Clarence's death. Would to God it had been this limping dog that I had
asked for, dead. Then all should have been well. Clarence was gentle,
and never did me harm. 'Tis indeed God's curse for my climbing to
great heights upon the necks of others that has now fallen upon my
head, and bent it low. Where I have stepped on others, now others step
on me. It is just, oh Lord, it is just. But oh! merciful Father,"
cried she, as her spirit began to give way, "let all thy wrath fall
upon me; for I am the guilty one