not to be
a burden to you when you depart."

The duchess bowed with proud submission, and moved on. "Beware!" said
the earl, in a low voice.

"Beware!--and of what?" said Isabel, startled.

"Of thine own heart, Isabel. Ay, go to thine infant's couch ere thou
seek thine own, and, before the sleep of innocence, calm thyself back to
womanhood."

The duchess raised her head quickly, but habitual awe of her father
checked the angry answer; and kissing, with formal reverence, the hand
the countess extended to her, she left the room. She gained the chamber
in which was the cradle of her son, gorgeously canopied with silks,
inwrought with the blazoned arms of royal Clarence;--and beside the
cradle sat the confidant.

The duchess drew aside the drapery, and contemplated the rosy face of
the infant slumberer.

Then, turning to her confidant, she said,--

"Three months since, and I hoped my first-born would be a king! Away
with those vain mockeries of royal birth! How suit they the destined
vassal of the abhorred Lancastrian?"

"Sweet lady," said the confidant, "did I not warn thee from the first
that this alliance, to the injury of my lord duke and this dear boy,
was already imminent? I had hoped thou mightst have prevailed with the
earl!"

"He heeds me not, he cares not for me!" exclaimed Isabel; "his whole
love is for Anne,--Anne, who, without energy and pride, I scarcely have
looked on as my equal! And now to my younger sister I must bow my knee,
pleased if she deign to bid me hold the skirt of her queenly robe!
Never,--no, never!"

"Calm thyself; the courier must part this night. My Lord of Clarence is
already in his chamber; he waits but thine assent to write to Edward,
that he rejects not his loving messages."

The duchess walked to and fro, in great disorder. "But to be thus secret
and false to my father?"

"Doth be merit that thou shouldst sacrifice thy child to him? Reflect!
the king has no son! The English barons acknowledge not in girls a
sovereign; [Miss Strickland ("Life of Elizabeth of York") remarks, "How
much Norman prejudice in favour of Salic law had corrupted the common
or constitutional law of England regarding the succession!" The remark
involves a controversy.] and, with Edward on the throne, thy son is
heir-presumptive. Little chance that a male heir shall now be born to
Queen Elizabeth, while from Anne and her bridegroom a long line may
spring. Besides, no matter what parchment treaties m