ow-points and hearts placed interchangeably,
like the strawberry leaves and balls upon a ducal crown.

In the broad hint which he dropped respecting the daughter of Waldemar
Fitzurse, John had more than one motive, each the offspring of a mind
which was a strange mixture of carelessness and presumption with low
artifice and cunning. He was desirous of conciliating Alicia's father,
Waldemar, of whom he stood in awe, and who had more than once shown
himself dissatisfied during the course of the day's proceedings; he had
also a wish to establish himself in the good graces of the lady. But
besides all these reasons, he was desirous to raise up against the
Disinherited Knight, toward whom he already entertained a strong
dislike, a powerful enemy in the person of Waldemar Fitzurse, who was
likely, he thought, highly to resent the injury done to his daughter in
case, as was not unlikely, the victor should make another choice.

And so indeed it proved. For the Disinherited Knight passed the gallery,
close to that of the Prince, in which the Lady Alicia was seated in the
full pride of triumphant beauty, and pacing forward as slowly as he had
hitherto rode swiftly around the lists, he seemed to exercise his right
of examining the numerous fair faces which adorned that splendid circle.

It was worth while to see the different conduct of the beauties who
underwent this examination, during the time it was proceeding. Some
blushed; some assumed an air of pride and dignity; some looked straight
forward, and essayed to seem utterly unconscious of what was going on;
some drew back in alarm, which was perhaps affected; some endeavored to
forbear smiling; and there were two or three who laughed outright. There
were also some who dropped their veils over their charms; but as the
Wardour Manuscript says these were fair ones of ten years' standing, it
may be supposed that, having had their full share of such vanities, they
were willing to withdraw their claim in order to give a fair chance to
the rising beauties of the age.

At length the champion paused beneath the balcony in which the Lady
Rowena was placed, and the expectation of the spectators was excited to
the utmost.

It must be owned that, if an interest displayed in his success could
have bribed the Disinherited Knight, the part of the lists before which
he paused had merited his predilection. Cedric the Saxon, overjoyed at
the discomfiture of the Templar, and still more so at t