he had sighed for had become a blank; and she passionately detested
the obligation that held her back from affection, usefulness, joy, and
excellence--not ambition, for the greatest help to her lay in Bedford's
position, his exalted rank, and nearness to the crown. Indeed, she
really dreaded and loathed worldly pomp so much that the temptation would
have been greater had he not been a prince.

It was this sense of renunciation that came to her aid. She had at least
a _real_ sacrifice to offer; till now, as she became aware, she had made
none. She folded her hands, and laid her offering to be hallowed by the
One all-sufficient Sacrifice. She offered all those capacities for love
that had been newly revealed to her; she offered up the bliss, whose
golden dawn she had seen; she tried to tear out the earthliness of her
heart and affections by the roots, and lay them on the altar, entreating
that, come what might, her spirit might never stray from the Heavenly
Spouse of her betrothal.

Therewith came a sense of His perfect sufficiency--of rest, peace,
support, ineffable love, that kept her kneeling in a calm, almost
ecstatic state, in which common hopes, fears, and affections had melted
away.

CHAPTER XI: THE TWO PROMISES

After all, Alice Montagu was married almost privately, and without any
preparation. Tidings came that the Duke of Alencon was besieging Cosne,
a city belonging to the Duke of Burgundy, and that instant relief was
needed. The Duke was urgent with Henry to save the place for him, and
set off at once to collect his brilliant chivalry; while Henry, rousing
at the trumpet-call, declared that nothing ailed him but pageants, sent
orders to all his troops to collect from different quarters, and prepared
to take the command in person; while reports daily came in of the great
muster the Armagnacs were making, as though determined to offer battle.

Salisbury was determined not to abide the chances of the battle without
first giving a protector to his little daughter; and therefore, as
quietly as if she had been merely going to mass, the Lady Alice was
wedded to her Sir Richard Nevil, who treated the affair as the simplest
matter of course, and troubled himself with very slight demonstrations of
affection. The wedding took place at Senlis, whither the female part of
the Court had accompanied the King, upon the very day of the parting. No
one was present, except one of Sir Richard's brothers (the wh