Thy kinsman's fortunes shall be my care. Thou sayest thou hast
enemies,--I weet not who they be. But to show what I think of them, I
make thy namesake and client a gentleman of my chamber. When Warwick
is false to Edward, let him think that Warwick's kinsman wears a
dagger within reach of the king's heart day and night."

This speech was made with so noble and touching a kindness of voice
and manner, that the earl, thoroughly subdued, looked at his sovereign
with moistened eyes, and only trusting himself to say,--"Edward, thou
art king, knight, gentleman, and soldier; and I verily trow that I
love thee best when my petulant zeal makes me anger thee most,"--
turned away with evident emotion, and passing the queen and her ladies
with a lowlier homage than that with which he had before greeted them,
left the garden. Edward's eye followed him musingly. The frank
expression of his face vanished, and with the deep breath of a man who
is throwing a weight from his heart, he muttered,--

"He loves me,--yes; but will suffer no one else to love me! This must
end some day. I am weary of the bondage." And sauntering towards the
ladies, he listened in silence, but not apparently in displeasure, to
his queen's sharp sayings on the imperious mood and irritable temper
of the iron-handed builder of his throne.




CHAPTER III.

THE ANTECHAMBER.