emble also your
trustiest lords and most learned prelates, if not to overawe Lord
Warwick's anger, at least to confer on the fitting excuses to be made to
King Louis's ambassadors?"

"And so lose the fairest day this summer hath bestowed upon us?
Tush!--the more need for pleasaunce to-day since business must come
to-morrow. Away with you, dear Will!"

Hastings looked grave; but he saw all further remonstrance would be in
vain, and hoping much from the intercession of Gloucester, put spurs to
his steed and vanished. Edward mused a moment; and Elizabeth, who knew
every expression and change of his countenance, rode from the circle of
her ladies, and approached him timidly. Casting down her eyes, which she
always affected in speaking to her lord, the queen said softly,--

"Something hath disturbed my liege and my life's life."

"Marry, yes, sweet Bessee. Last night, to pleasure thee and thy kin (and
sooth to say, small gratitude ye owe me, for it also pleased myself), I
promised Margaret's hand, through De la Roche, to the heir of Burgundy."

"O princely heart!" exclaimed Elizabeth, her whole face lighted up with
triumph, "ever seeking to make happy those it cherishes. But is it that
which disturbs thee, that which thou repentest?"

"No, sweetheart,--no. Yet had it not been for the strength of the clary,
I should have kept the Bastard longer in suspense. But what is done
is done. Let not thy roses wither when thou hearest Warwick is in
England,--nay, nay, child, look not so appalled; thine Edward is no
infant, whom ogre and goblin scare; and"--glancing his eye proudly round
as he spoke, and saw the goodly cavalcade of his peers and knights, with
his body-guard, tall and chosen veterans, filling up the palace-yard,
with the show of casque and pike--"and if the struggle is to come
between Edward of England and his subject, never an hour more ripe
than this; my throne assured, the new nobility I have raised around it,
London true, marrow and heart true, the provinces at peace, the ships
and the steel of Burgundy mine allies! Let the white Bear growl as he
list, the Lion of March is lord of the forest. And now, my Bessee,"
added the king, changing his haughty tone into a gay, careless laugh,
"now let the lion enjoy his chase."

He kissed the gloved hand of his queen, gallantly bending over his
saddle-bow, and the next moment he was by the side of a younger if not
a fairer lady, to whom he was devoting the momentary wors