no answer when his heart asked,
"What can courts and a king's smile give me in exchange for serene
tranquillity and devoted love?"

CHAPTER II. THE MAN AWAKES IN THE SAGE, AND THE SHE-WOLF AGAIN HATH
TRACKED THE LAMB.

From the night in which Hastings had saved from the knives of the
tymbesteres Sibyll and her father, his honour and chivalry had made him
their protector. The people of the farm (a widow and her children, with
the peasants in their employ) were kindly and simple folks. What safer
home for the wanderers than that to which Hastings had removed them? The
influence of Sibyll over his variable heart or fancy was renewed. Again
vows were interchanged and faith plighted. Anthony Woodville, Lord
Rivers, who, however gallant an enemy, was still more than ever, since
Warwick's exile, a formidable one, and who shared his sister's dislike
to Hastings, was naturally at that time in the fullest favour of King
Edward, anxious to atone for the brief disgrace his brother-in-law
had suffered during the later days of Warwick's administration. And
Hastings, offended by the manners of the rival favourite, took one of
the disgusts so frequent in the life of a courtier, and, despite his
office of chamberlain, absented himself much from his sovereign's
company. Thus, in the reaction of his mind, the influence of Sibyll was
greater than it otherwise might have been. His visits to the farm were
regular and frequent. The widow believed him nearly related to Sibyll,
and suspected Warner to be some attainted Lancastrian, compelled to hide
in secret till his pardon was obtained; and no scandal was attached to
the noble's visits, nor any surprise evinced at his attentive care for
all that could lend a grace to a temporary refuge unfitting the quality
of his supposed kindred.

And, in her entire confidence and reverential affection, Sibyll's very
pride was rather soothed than wounded by obligations which were but
proofs of love, and to which plighted troth gave her a sweet right. As
for Warner, he had hitherto seemed to regard the great lord's attentions
only as a tribute to his own science, and a testimony of the interest
which a statesman might naturally feel in the invention of a thing that
might benefit the realm. And Hastings had been delicate in the pretexts
of his visits. One time he called to relate the death of poor Madge,
though he kindly concealed the manner of it, which he had discovered,
but which opinion, if not