avenged! The unhappy man retained his memory, though his words and
actions were no longer under the control of reason: his conscience lived
on--his intellect had expired. "It is even so," thought Sir Willmott the
next moment: "and now, Constantia, despite your scorn, your hatred, your
contempt, I do pity you."

Burrell understood not how superior was Constance in every respect,
either to his pity or his praise.

Exactly as the clock struck six, the doors at the bottom of the room
were thrown open, and Lady Frances Cromwell entered with her friend;
Barbara and the waiting-maidens of Lady Frances followed; but nothing
could exceed Burrell's displeasure and mortification, when he perceived
that his bride was habited in the deepest mourning. Her hair, braided
from her brow, hung in long and luxuriant tresses down her back, and
were only confined by a fillet of jet. Upon her head was a veil of black
gauze, that fell over her entire figure; and her dress was of black
Lucca silk, hemmed and bordered with crape. She advanced steadily to her
father, without noticing her bridegroom, and, throwing up her veil,
said, in a low voice,--

"Father, I am ready."

Burrell, who feared that even in the very brief space which now
remained, Sir Robert would betray the weakness of his mind, stepped
forward, and would have taken her hand; but she put him from her, with a
single gesture, saying,--

"Not yet, sir, I am still _all_ my father's.--Father, I am ready."

It was pitiable to see the vacant eye which Sir Robert fixed upon her
pale, fine face, and most painful to observe the look of anxious inquiry
with which she regarded him.

"Dear father," she exclaimed at length, sinking on her knees, "dear
father, speak to me."

The gesture and the voice recalled him for a little to himself. He
kissed her cheek affectionately, and, rising with much of the dignity of
former years, pressed her to his bosom.

"Forgive me, child;--my Lady Frances, I crave your pardon--I am
myself again--I was a trifle indisposed, but it is over. Fill me
some wine," he commanded to the attendants, who gathered in the
doorway--"Yes--up--full--more full; I drink--" he continued, with a
gaiety of manner suiting ill with his grey hairs and pallid face--"I
drink to the happiness and prosperity of my daughter and her
bridegroom!" He quaffed to the bottom of the cup, then flung it from
him.

"Now go we to the bridal," he said, leading Constantia forward, while
S