which places the rule of England in the hands of the Neviles."

"My own thought, if I saw the way!"

"I see the way in this alliance; the Houses of York and Warwick must
become so indissolubly united, that an attempt to injure the one must
destroy both. The queen and the Woodvilles plot against us; we must
raise in the king's family a counterpoise to their machinations. It
brings no scandal on the queen to conspire against Warwick, but it
would ruin her in the eyes of England to conspire against the king's
brother; and Clarence and Warwick must be as one. This is not all!
If our sole aid was in giddy George, we should but buttress our House
with a weathercock. This connection is but as a part of the grand
scheme on which I have set my heart,--Clarence shall wed Isabel,
Gloucester wed Anne, and (let thy ambitious heart beat high, Montagu)
the king's eldest daughter shall wed thy son,--the male representative
of our triple honours. Ah, thine eyes sparkle now! Thus the whole
royalty of England shall centre in the Houses of Nevile and York; and
the Woodvilles will be caught and hampered in their own meshes, their
resentment impotent; for how can Elizabeth stir against us, if her
daughter be betrothed to the son of Montagu, the nephew of Warwick?
Clarence, beloved by the shallow commons; [Singular as it may seem to
those who know not that popularity is given to the vulgar qualities of
men, and that where a noble nature becomes popular (a rare
occurrence), it is despite the nobleness,--not because of it.
Clarence was a popular idol even to the time of his death.--Croyl.,
562.] Gloucester, adored both by the army and the Church; and Montagu
and Warwick, the two great captains of the age,--is not this a
combination of power that may defy Fate?"