ust above
the welkin, shone over the lordly Thames, gilded the gloomy fortress of
the Tower, and glittered upon the window of Henry's prison.

"There--there! It is he,--it is my king! Hither,--lord, rebel
earl,--hither. Behold your sovereign. Repent, revenge!"

With her livid and outstretched hand, the Lancastrian pointed to the
huge Wakefield tower. The earl's dark eye beheld in the dim distance
a pale and reverend countenance, recognized even from afar. The dying
woman fixed her glazing eyes upon the wronged and mighty baron, and
suddenly her arm fell to her side, the face became set as into stone,
the last breath of life gurgled within, and fled; and still those
glazing eyes were fixed on the earl's hueless face, and still in his
ear, and echoed by a thousand passions in his heart, thrilled the
word which had superseded prayer, and in which the sinner's soul had
flown,--REVENGE!

BOOK IX. THE WANDERERS AND THE EXILES.

CHAPTER I. HOW THE GREAT BARON BECOMES AS GREAT A REBEL.

Hilyard was yet asleep in the chamber assigned to him as his prison,
when a rough grasp shook off his slumbers, and he saw the earl before
him, with a countenance so changed from its usual open majesty, so dark
and sombre, that he said involuntarily, "You send me to the doomsman,--I
am ready!"

"Hist, man! Thou hatest Edward of York?"

"An it were my last word, yes!"

"Give me thy hand--we are friends! Stare not at me with those eyes of
wonder, ask not the why nor wherefore! This last night gave Edward a
rebel more in Richard Nevile! A steed waits thee at my gates; ride fast
to young Sir Robert Welles with this letter. Bid him not be dismayed;
bid him hold out, for ere many days are past, Lord Warwick, and it may
be also the Duke of Clarence, will join their force with his. Mark, I
say not that I am for Henry of Lancaster,--I say only that I am against
Edward of York. Farewell, and when we meet again, blessed be the arm
that first cuts its way to a tyrant's heart!"

Without another word, Warwick left the chamber. Hilyard at first could
not believe his senses; but as he dressed himself in haste, he pondered
over all those causes of dissension which had long notoriously subsisted
between Edward and the earl, and rejoiced that the prophecy that he had
long so shrewdly hazarded was at last fulfilled. Descending the stairs
he gained the gate, where Marmaduke awaited him, while a groom held
a stout haquenee (as the common riding