but that one word; "of what
speakest thou, Sir Earl?"

"These missives will explain all, my liege; this letter from my lady the
Queen Margaret, and this from your gracious son, the Prince of Wales."

"Edward! my Edward!" exclaimed the king, with a father's burst of
emotion. "Thou hast seen him, then,--bears he his health well, is he of
cheer and heart?"

"He is strong and fair, and full of promise, and brave as his
grandsire's sword."

"And knows he--knows he well--that we all are the potter's clay in the
hands of God?"

"My liege," said Warwick, embarrassed, "he has as much devotion as
befits a Christian knight and a goodly prince."

"Ah," sighed the king, "ye men of arms have strange thoughts on these
matters;" and cutting the silk of the letters, he turned from the
warrior. Shading his face with his hand, the earl darted his keen glance
on the features of the king, as, drawing near to the table, the latter
read the communications which announced his new connection with his
ancient foe.

But Henry was at first so affected by the sight of Margaret's well-known
hand, that he thrice put down her letter and wiped the moisture from his
eyes.

"My poor Margaret, how thou hast suffered!" he murmured; "these very
characters are less firm and bold than they were. Well, well!" and
at last he betook himself resolutely to the task. Once or twice his
countenance changed, and he uttered an exclamation of surprise. But the
proposition of a marriage between Prince Edward and the Lady Anne did
not revolt his forgiving mind, as it had the haughty and stern temper
of his consort. And when he had concluded his son's epistle, full of the
ardour of his love and the spirit of his youth, the king passed his left
hand over his brow, and then extending his right to Warwick, said, in
accents which trembled with emotion, "Serve my son, since he is thine,
too; give peace to this distracted kingdom, repair my errors, press not
hard upon those who contend against us, and Jesu and His saints will
bless this bond!"

The earl's object, perhaps, in seeking a meeting with Henry so private
and unwitnessed, had been that none, not even his brother, might hearken
to the reproaches he anticipated to receive, or say hereafter that
he heard Warwick, returned as victor and avenger to his native
land, descend, in the hour of triumph, to extenuation and excuse. So
affronted, imperilled, or to use his own strong word, "so despaired,"
had he been in t