is safe. On the other
hand, her favourite, the friar, ever bore a jealous grudge to poor Adam,
and may have sought to abstract him from her grace's search; here there
may be molestation to Adam, but surely no danger to Sibyll. Hark ye,
Alwyn, thou lovest the maid more worthily, and--" Hastings stopped
short; for such is infirm human nature, that, though he had mentally
resigned Sibyll forever, he could not yet calmly face the thought of
resigning her to a rival. "Thou lovest her," he renewed, more coldly,
"and to thee, therefore, I may safely trust the search which time and
circumstance and a soldier's duty forbid to me. And believe--oh, believe
that I say not this from a passion which may move thy jealousy, but
rather with a brother's holy love. If thou canst but see her safe, and
lodged where no danger nor wrong can find her, thou hast no friend in
the wide world whose service through life thou mayst command like mine."

"My lord," said Alwyn, dryly, "I want no friends! Young as I am, I have
lived long enough to see that friends follow fortune, but never make it!
I will find this poor maid and her honoured father, if I spend my last
groat on the search. Get me but such an order from the king as may place
the law at my control, and awe even her grace of Bedford,--and I promise
the rest!"

Hastings, much relieved, deigned to press the goldsmith's reluctant
hand; and, leaving him alone for a few minutes, returned with a
warrant from the king, which seemed to Alwyn sufficiently precise and
authoritative. The goldsmith then departed, and first he sought the
friar, but found him not at home. Bungey had taken with him, as was
his wont, the keys of his mysterious apartment. Alwyn then hastened
elsewhere, to secure those experienced in such a search, and to head
it in person. At the Tower, the evening was passed in bustle and
excitement,--the last preparations for departure. The queen, who was
then far advanced towards her confinement, was, as we before said, to
remain at the Tower, which was now strongly manned. Roused from her
wonted apathy by the imminent dangers that awaited Edward, the night
was passed by her in tears and prayers, by him in the sound sleep of
confident valour. The next morning departed for the North the several
leaders,--Gloucester, Rivers, Hastings, and the king.

CHAPTER VII. THE LANDING OF LORD WARWICK, AND THE EVENTS THAT ENSUE
THEREON.

And Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, "prepared such