crown. Oh, priest, priest, thou mistakest me. I am rash, hot,
haughty, hasty; and I love not to bow my knees to a man because they
call him king, if his life be vicious and his word be false. But
could Edward be ever as to-day, then indeed should I hail a sovereign
whom a baron may reverence and a soldier serve!"

Before the archbishop could reply, the door gently opened, and the
countess appeared. Warwick seemed glad of the interruption; he turned
quickly--"And how fares my child?"

"Recovered from her strange swoon, and ready to smile at thy return.
Oh, Warwick, thou art reconciled to the king?"

"That glads thee, sister?" said the archbishop.

"Surely. Is it not for my lord's honour?"

"May he find it so!" said the prelate, and he left the room.

"My priest-brother is chafed," said the earl, smiling. "Pity he was
not born a trader, he would have made a shrewd hard bargain. Verily,
our priests burn the Jews out of envy! Ah, m'amie, how fair thou art
to-day! Methinks even Isabel's cheek less blooming." And the warrior
drew the lady towards him, and smoothed her hair, and tenderly kissed
her brow. "My letter vexed thee, I know, for thou lovest Edward, and
blamest me not for my love to him. It is true that he hath paltered
with me, and that I had stern resolves, not against his crown, but to
leave him to his fate, and in these halls to resign my charge. But
while he spoke, and while he looked, methought I saw his mother's
face, and heard his dear father's tone, and the past rushed over me,