y by an impetuous
steed, whose course he can neither arrest nor direct. But the last words
awakened in his recollection the sense of his son's immediate danger.

"Oh, ay, most true--my son--the Douglas! Oh, my dear cousin, prevent
blood, and all shall be as you will. Hark, there is a tumult--that was
the clash of arms!"

"By my coronet, by my knightly faith, it is true!" said the Earl,
looking from the window upon the inner square of the convent, now filled
with armed men and brandished weapons, and resounding with the clash
of armour. The deep vaulted entrance was crowded with warriors at its
farthest extremity, and blows seemed to be in the act of being exchanged
betwixt some who were endeavouring to shut the gate and others who
contended to press in.

"I will go instantly," said the Earl of March, "and soon quell this
sudden broil. Humbly I pray your Majesty to think on what I have had the
boldness to propose."

"I will--I will, fair cousin," said the King, scarce knowing to what he
pledged himself; "do but prevent tumult and bloodshed!"

CHAPTER XI

Fair is the damsel, passing fair;
Sunny at distance gleams her smile;
Approach--the cloud of woful care
Hangs trembling in her eye the while.

Lucinda, a Ballad.

We must here trace a little more correctly the events which had been
indistinctly seen from the window of the royal apartments, and yet more
indistinctly reported by those who witnessed them. The glee maiden,
already mentioned, had planted herself where a rise of two large broad
steps, giving access to the main gateway of the royal apartments, gained
her an advantage of a foot and a half in height over those in the
court, of whom she hoped to form an audience. She wore the dress of her
calling, which was more gaudy than rich, and showed the person more than
did the garb of other females. She had laid aside an upper mantle, and
a small basket which contained her slender stock of necessaries; and a
little French spaniel dog sat beside them, as their protector. An azure
blue jacket, embroidered with silver, and sitting close to the person,
was open in front, and showed several waistcoats of different coloured
silks, calculated to set off the symmetry of the shoulders and bosom,
and remaining open at the throat. A small silver chain worn around her
neck involved itself amongst these brilliant coloured waistcoats, and
was again produced from them; to display a medal of the s