subject
further, he said, in an altered and careless voice, "Pardon me if I
have presumed on matters on which each man judges for himself. But as,
despite all obstacle, one day or other Anne Nevile shall be mine, it
would have delighted me to know a near connection in Lord Hastings. And
now the hour grows late, I prithee let Edward find thee in his chamber."

When Hastings attended the king, he at once perceived that Edward's
manner was changed to him. At first, he attributed the cause to the ill
offices of the queen and her brother; but the king soon betrayed the
true source of his altered humour.

"My lord," he said abruptly, "I am no saint, as thou knowest; but there
are some ties, par amour, which, in my mind, become not knights and
nobles about a king's person."

"My liege, I arede you not."

"Tush, William!" replied the king, more gently, "thou hast more than
once wearied me with application for the pardon of the nigromancer
Warner,--the whole court is scandalized at thy love for his daughter.
Thou hast absented thyself from thine office on poor pretexts! I know
thee too well not to be aware that love alone can make thee neglect thy
king,--thy time has been spent at the knees or in the arms of this young
sorceress! One word for all times,--he whom a witch snares cannot be a
king's true servant! I ask of thee as a right, or as a grace, see this
fair ribaude no more! What, man, are there not ladies enough in merry
England, that thou shouldst undo thyself for so unchristian a fere?"

"My king! how can this poor maid have angered thee thus?"

"Knowest thou not"--began the king, sharply, and changing colour as he
eyed his favourite's mournful astonishment,--"ah, well!" he muttered to
himself, "they have been discreet hitherto, but how long will they be
so? I am in time yet. It is enough,"--he added, aloud and gravely--"it
is enough that our learned [it will be remembered that Edward himself
was a man of no learning] Bungey holds her father as a most pestilent
wizard, whose spells are muttered for Lancaster and the rebel Warwick;
that the girl hath her father's unholy gifts, and I lay my command on
thee, as liege king, and I pray thee, as loving friend, to see no more
either child or sire! Let this suffice--and now I will hear thee on
state matters."

Whatever Hastings might feel, he saw that it was no time to venture
remonstrance with the king, and strove to collect his thoughts, and
speak indifferently on the