ay ordain, how can
Clarence and his offspring ever be regarded by a Lancastrian king but as
enemies to feed the prison or the block, when some false invention gives
the seemly pretext for extirpating the lawful race?"

"Cease, cease, cease!" cried Isabel, in terrible struggles with herself.

"Lady, the hour presses! And, reflect, a few lines are but words, to be
confirmed or retracted as occasion suits! If Lord Warwick succeed, and
King Edward lose his crown, ye can shape as ye best may your conduct
to the time. But if the earl lose the day, if again he be driven
into exile, a few words now release you and yours from everlasting
banishment; restore your boy to his natural heritage; deliver you from
the insolence of the Anjouite, who, methinks, even dared this very day
to taunt your highness--"

"She did--she did! Oh that my father had been by to hear! She bade me
stand aside that Anne might pass,--'not for the younger daughter of
Lord Warwick, but for the lady admitted into the royalty of Lancaster!'
Elizabeth Woodville, at least, never dared this insolence!"

"And this Margaret the Duke of Clarence is to place on the throne which
your child yonder might otherwise aspire to mount!"

Isabel clasped her hands in mute passion.

"Hark!" said the confidant, throwing open the door--

And along the corridor came, in measured pomp, a stately procession, the
chamberlain in front, announcing "Her Highness the Princess of Wales;"
and Louis XI., leading the virgin bride (wife but in name and honour,
till her dowry of a kingdom was made secure) to her gentle rest. The
ceremonial pomp, the regal homage that attended the younger sister thus
raised above herself, completed in Isabel's jealous heart the triumph of
the Tempter. Her face settled into hard resolve, and she passed at once
from the chamber into one near at hand, where the Duke of Clarence sat
alone, the rich wines of the livery, not untasted, before him, and the
ink yet wet upon a scroll he had just indited.

He turned his irresolute countenance to Isabel as she bent over him and
read the letter. It was to Edward; and after briefly warning him of the
meditated invasion, significantly added, "and if I may seem to share
this emprise, which, here and alone, I cannot resist, thou shalt find
me still, when the moment comes, thy affectionate brother and loyal
subject."

"Well, Isabel," said the duke, "thou knowest I have delayed this till
the last hour to please thee; fo