t us behold the maiden once more in her pretty bower at
Lathom. How changed! The whole assumed a fresh aspect, thus viewed from
a different state of the mind. Her favourite spaniel licked her hand,
but she did not notice his caresses; all about her was as if the wand of
the enchanter had been there, changing its image, each object calling
forth a train of sensations heretofore unknown. Even the hangings and
figured draperies wore a grim and perturbed expression; and Jephtha's
daughter and the Queen of Sheba looked more dismal and profuse than ever
from the dusky arras.

She strayed out, as beforetime, into the woods; but their gloom was more
intense, and the very birds seemed to grow sad with her melancholy
musings. Their song, that used to be so sprightly, was now subdued and
mournful, and all their gay and bubbling hilarity was gone. If she
wandered forth towards evening, the owl hooted in her path, and the
raven croaked above her. She heard not the light matin of the lark.
Fancy, stimulated alone by gloomy impressions, laid hold on them only,
failing to recognise aught but its own image.

Sir Oskatell and her father had often taken counsel together since his
return. Shortly afterwards, Isabella received a summons to attend Sir
Thomas in private. What was the precise nature of that interview does
not appear, save that the lady withdrew to her chamber, and the brow of
Sir Thomas was for a long space moody and disturbed. Sir John Stanley,
though of gentle descent, was not endowed with an adequate inheritance,
at least for the heiress of Lathom, whose extensive possessions, though
shared by Oskatell, were deemed by Sir Thomas of sufficient magnitude to
command a connection of higher rank and importance. As a younger brother
he could have slight pretensions to patrimony, and save the manors, then
but a slender endowment, just granted by King Edward, his profession as
a soldier supplied his chief revenue. His exclusive notice of the Lady
Isabella at the tournament was quickly conveyed to the ear of Sir
Thomas; and, it was said, the latter had vowed that no portion of
wealth should descend to his daughter if wedded to Sir John, but that
the whole should be settled on Sir Oskatell. "The course of true love
never did run smooth." That Sir John Stanley had a watchful eye at the
time to the fortune as well as to the person of Isabella, is by some
rather freely hinted. This, however, turns out to be an unfounded
calumny, as the