added the young duchess, smiling, "it must be the opposite of a
Clarence to be to thy heart what a Clarence is to mine. I love
George's gay humour,--thou lovest a melancholy brow. I love that
charming weakness which supples to my woman will,--thou lovest a proud
nature that may command thine own. I do not respect George less,
because I know my mind stronger than his own; but thou (like my gentle
mother) wouldst have thy mate lord and chief in all things, and live
from his life as the shadow from the sun. But where left you our
mother?"

"In the oratory, at prayer."

"She has been sad of late."

"The dark times darken her; and she ever fears the king's falseness or
caprice will stir the earl up to some rash emprise. My father's
letter, brought last night to her, contains something that made her
couch sleepless."

"Ha!" exclaimed the duchess, eagerly, "my mother confides in thee more
than me. Saw you the letter?"

"No."

"Edward will make himself unfit to reign," said Isabel, abruptly.
"The barons will call on him to resign; and then--and then, Anne--
sister Anne,--Warwick's daughters cannot be born to be simple
subjects!"

"Isabel, God temper your ambition! Oh, curb it, crush it down! Abuse