erly; "thou pleadest well and flowingly, yet thou hast said not for
whom thou bearest this marvellous interest--it can scarce be for a
traitor? Methinks the enemies of Edward should be even such unto his
children."

"Yet 'tis for one of these mistaken men I plead, most gracious
sovereign," resumed Joan, intimidated not by his sarcasm. "Oh, my
father, the conqueror's triumph consists not in the number of rebellious
heads that fall before him--not in the blood that overflows his way;
magnanimity, mercy, will conquer yet more than his victorious sword.
Traitor as he seem, have mercy on Nigel Bruce; oh, give--"

"Mercy on a Bruce! May the thunder of heaven blast me when I show it!"
burst furiously from Edward's lips, as he started upon his couch and
gazed on his suppliant child with eyes that seemed absolutely to blaze
in wrath. "Mercy on a branch of that house which has dared defy me,
dared to insult my power, trample on my authority, upraised the standard
of rebellion, and cost me the lives of thousands of my faithful
subjects! Mercy on him, the daring traitor, who, even in his chains, has
flung redoubled insult and treason into our very teeth! Mercy--may the
God of heaven deny me all mercy when I show it unto him!"

"Oh, no, no, my father! My father, in mercy speak not such terrible
words!" implored the princess, clinging to his robe. "Call not the wrath
of heaven on thy head; think of his youth, the temptations that have
beset him, the difficult task to remain faithful when all other of his
house turned astray. Mistaken as he hath been, as he is, have mercy.
Compel him to prove, to feel, to acknowledge thou art not the tyrant he
hath been taught to deem thee; exile, imprisonment, all--any thing, but
death. Oh, do not turn from me; be thyself, the good, the magnanimous
Edward of former days, have mercy on thy foe!"

"I tell thee, never! by every saint in heaven, I tell thee, never!"
shouted the king. "I will hear no more; begone, lest I deem my own child
part and parcel of the treasons formed against me. Trouble me not with
these vain prayers. I will not pardon, I have sworn it; begone, and
learn thy station better than to plead for traitors. Thy husband braved
me once; beware, lest in these pleadings I hear _his_ voice again. I
tell him and thee that ere to-morrow's noon be passed the soul of Nigel
Bruce shall stand in judgment; not another day, not another hour he
lives to blast me with the memory of his treason. Th