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ISABEL OF ANGOULESME. 19 curling lip, as truly as feminine beauty and maidenly submission are in thy soft hazel eye. I doubt not he would rather be the ancestor of Kings than Counts. Farewell, then, my beloved; in a few short hours we will meet again, and I doubt not, by my side will be one, from whom a welltold tale of inevitable ruin, or displeasure from me, will bend thee to my wishes; but I must be gone farewell, farewell!" and after imprinting on her lips another impassioned kiss, he rose, and gathering the trinkets in his pack, resumed his grey scalp, and joined the inquisitive abigail, who had been vainly endeavouring to catch one of the many loud words uttered by John. But she appeared by her smiling, simpering whispers, to be well pleased with the continued conversation of her companion, and it would seem she knew his rank, for as he reached the door and bade her "remember the reward!" she ducked a courtesy even to the ground.

The Count's surprise may be imagined, when on returning to his bride he found her in a death like swoon, and not one of the servants could give him the least explanation. With the greatest pleasure he saw her open her eyes, but she looked timidly around, and whispered, “Is he gone, then? "

“Is who gone, dearest? I could almost chide thee for thus alarming thyself; but you will pardon my long absence when I tell thee the cause; rise, love, and see the bride like presents King John's knights have brought thee"

“King John! presents for me oh, La Marche, I but dismiss these attendants, "said Isabel, faintly; and when they had left, she turned to her astonished lord, and exclaimed, "Let me not look on those baubles; burn them; La Marche, John hath been here: the pedlar with the wreath was he. Away, away, although it be not a maidenly command, I say away to the altar, if you would have Isabel Taielleffer your wife, for John of England has sworn she shall be his, and who is there knows not his evil passions? As I fainted I felt his hateful breath on my cheek, and I heard him say he would to my father. Oh! La Marche, to thee alone I would breathe it; but Angoulesme's ruling passion is ambition!"

“Calm thyself, Isabel; thy timid spirit hath taken this mummery too seriously. Depend upon it we shall hear no more of him; John caught but a glimpse of thy charms this evening, but that made him wish a nearer view and who would not, dearest? I, at least, cannot chide him," said La Marche, smiling in assumed pleasantry, for he but too well knew John's character, to feel at ease.

“Stop, La Marche," interrupted Isabel, thou knowest better; yet I see thy kindness and acknowledge it.”

“Well, then, dearest, 'tis but calling the good father some hours earlier; thy good friends must e'en take necessity as an excuse for not waiting their kindly presence. See, Isabel, the west is grey, that was, but a little while since, in its glory; and those myriads of heaven's diamonds tell us that the hour cannot be less than the last before midnight; then go and deck thee, love, while I haste to the monastery to bid them prepare the chapel by the first vesper bell -———— ”

“Nay, let us not stay for pomp, La Marche, " exclaimed Isabel, losing in the importance of the moment all thought of maidenly pride; “I shall pledge my faith as truly in this disordered dress, and on the taperless altar.”

“True, " answered La Marche; “yet I would not my bride appeared thus; and remember love, John will not conjecture that our bridal hour will be before to morrow evening; go, then, and let thy woman robe thee; she and my man will alone be present.”

Silenced, yet with a foreboding heart, Isabel proceeded, with the before mentioned waitingwoman, to her toilette; the bridal robe of spotless velvet was drawn forth, but no where could her ornaments, which La Marche had given her, be found. The vesper bell tolled one the pearly bracelets, & c. were found, and with breathless haste Isabel arrayed herself in them,

“Oh, my lady, had you but purchased the pearl head wreath, all would have been complete;” said the girl, casting a keen glance on her agitated mistress.

“'Tis better as it is, Alice; but speak no more of that, my good girl; you know I have more momentous thoughts to occupy my mind at present, "and she smiled a sad smile.”But my veil, girl,” -the veil was now missing.

In an agony of tears she flung herself on the couch, whilst Alice vainly ransacked every corner; the bell chimed the quarter, then half Isabel started up and exclaimed wildly, "Attend me, girl; I will be a veilless bride rather than but haste thee;” and she was darting from the room when Alice drew the long sought for veil from beneath several dresses, and hastily casting it over her mistress, they proceeded to the monastery chapel.

La Marche had been impatiently awaiting her; yet the rapture of the moment was not unmixed with pain, for the beauty of her pale features was heightened by a wildness which alarmed him, and when he took her hand to lead her to the altar, its icy chillness struck to his heart.

"Nay,” he said, as he pressed both hers between his larger and far warmer hands, "you have needlessly hurried yourself. What need we fear now, dearest? a short space will indissolubly unite us,” and he placed her before the altar.

The priest began the first solemn prayer, and Isabel, with La Marche, had deeply engaged in silence in it; thus, they had not noticed the entrance of several persons by the eastern door; but now, as they moved up the long aisle, the clanking of armour aroused them to a full and bitter knowledge of their situation.

The intruders advanced towards the altar, and the leader who, as he threw off his cloak, they discovered to be King John exclaimed, in a stentorian voice, "Go no farther in that ceremony, John of England commands thee!”

"We are betrayed, my Isabel,” exclaimed La Marche, drawing his sword; then turning to John