FOR SIBYLL--AND POPULAR FRIAR BUNGEY!

Leaping on his palfrey, Hastings rode back to the Tower, dismounted at
the gate, passed on to the little postern in the inner court, and paused
not till he was in Warner's room. "How now, friend Adam? Thou art idle."

"Lord Hastings, I am ill."

"And thy child not with thee?"

"She is gone to her grace the duchess, to pray her to grant me leave to
go home, and waste no more life on making gold."

"Home! Go hence! We cannot hear it! The duchess must not grant it. I
will not suffer the king to lose so learned a philosopher."

"Then pray the king to let the philosopher achieve that which is in
the power of labour." He pointed to the Eureka. "Let me be heard in the
king's council, and prove to sufficing judges what this iron can do for
England."

"Is that all? So be it. I will speak to his highness forthwith. But
promise that thou wilt think no more of leaving the king's palace."

"Oh, no, no! If I may enter again into mine own palace, mine own royalty
of craft and hope, the court or the dungeon all one to me!"

"Father," said Sibyll, entering, "be comforted. The duchess forbids
thy departure, but we will yet flee--" She stopped short as she saw
Hastings. He approached her timidly, and with so repentant, so earnest a
respect in his mien and gesture, that she had not the heart to draw back
the fair hand he lifted to his lips.

"No, flee not, sweet donzell; leave not the desert court, without the
flower and the laurel, the beauty and the wisdom, that scent the hour,
and foretype eternity. I have conferred with thy father,--I will obtain
his prayer from the king. His mind shall be free to follow its own
impulse, and thou"--he whispered--"pardon--pardon an offence of too much
love. Never shall it wound again."

Her eyes, swimming with delicious tears, were fixed upon the floor.
Poor child! with so much love, how could she cherish anger? With so
much purity, how distrust herself? And while, at least, he spoke, the
dangerous lover was sincere. So from that hour peace was renewed between
Sibyll and Lord Hastings.--Fatal peace! alas for the girl who loves--and
has no mother!

True to his word, the courtier braved the displeasure of the Duchess of
Bedford, in inducing the king to consider the expediency of permitting
Adam to relinquish alchemy, and repair his model. Edward summoned a
deputation from the London merchants and traders, before whom Adam
appeared and explained his dev