f
Lancaster than, even in his palmiest day, amidst the minions of
ungrateful York; the sire of two lines,--if Anne's posterity should
fail, the crown would pass to the sons of Isabel,--in either case
from him (if successful in his invasion) would descend the royalty
of England. Ambition, pride, revenge, might well exult in viewing the
future, as mortal wisdom could discern it. The House of Nevile never
seemed brightened by a more glorious star: and yet the earl was heavy
and sad at heart. However he had concealed it from the eyes of others,
the haughty ire of Margaret must have galled him in his deepest soul.
And even as he had that day contemplated the holy happiness in the
face of Anne, a sharp pang had shot through his breast. Were those the
witnesses of fair-omened spousailles? How different from the hearty
greeting of his warrior-friends was the measured courtesy of foes who
had felt and fled before his sword! If aught chanced to him in the
hazard of the field, what thought for his child ever could speak in pity
from the hard and scornful eyes of the imperious Anjouite?

The mist which till then had clouded his mind, or left visible to his
gaze but one stern idea of retribution, melted into air. He beheld
the fearful crisis to which his life had passed,--he had reached the
eminence to mourn the happy gardens left behind. Gone, forever gone,
the old endearing friendships, the sweet and manly remembrances of brave
companionship and early love! Who among those who had confronted war by
his side for the House of York would hasten to clasp his hand and hail
his coming as the captain of hated Lancaster? True, could he bow his
honour to proclaim the true cause of his desertion, the heart of every
father would beat in sympathy with his; but less than ever could the
tale that vindicated his name be told. How stoop to invoke malignant
pity to the insult offered to a future queen? Dark in his grave
must rest the secret no words could syllable, save by such vague and
mysterious hint and comment as pass from baseless gossip into dubious
history. [Hall well explains the mystery which wrapped the king's
insult to a female of the House of Warwick by the simple sentence, "The
certainty was not, for both their honours, openly known!"] True, that in
his change of party he was not, like Julian of Spain, an apostate to his
native land. He did not meditate the subversion of his country by the
foreign foe; it was but the substitution of