"I do not wonder," replied the Constable, calmly,--for the ice being now broken, he resumed the natural steadiness of his manner and character,--"that you express surprise at this daring proposal. I have not perhaps the form that pleases a lady's eye, and I have forgotten,--that is, if I ever knew them,--the terms and phrases which please a lady's ear; but, noble Eveline, the Lady of Hugh de Lacy will be one of the foremost among the matronage of England." "It will the better become the individual to whom so high a dignity is offered," said Eveline, "to consider how far she is capable of discharging its duties." "Of that I fear nothing," said De Lacy. "She who hath been so excellent a daughter, cannot be less estimable in every other relation in life." "I do not find that confidence in myself my lord," replied the embarrassed maiden, "with which you are so willing to load me--And I--forgive me--must crave time for other inquiries, as well as those which respect myself." "Your father, noble lady, had this union warmly at heart. This scroll, signed with his own hand, will show it." He bent his knee as he gave the paper. "The wife of De Lacy will have, as the daughter of Raymond Berenger merits, the rank of a princess; his widow, the dowry of a queen." "Mock me not with your knee, my lord, while you plead to me the paternal commands, which, joined to other circumstances"--she paused, and sighed deeply--"leave me, perhaps, but little room for free will!" Imboldened by this answer, De Lacy, who had hitherto remained on his knee, rose gently, and assuming a seat beside the Lady Eveline, continued to press his suit,--not, indeed, in the language of passion, but of a plain-spoken man, eagerly urging a proposal on which his happiness depended. The vision of the miraculous image was, it may be supposed, uppermost in the mind of Eveline, who, tied down by the solemn vow she had made on that occasion, felt herself constrained to return evasive answers, where she might perhaps have given a direct negative, had her own wishes alone been to decide her reply. "You cannot," she said, "expect from me, my lord, in this my so recent orphan state, that I should come to a speedy determination upon an affair of such deep importance. Give me leisure of your nobleness for consideration with myself--for consultation with my friends." "Alas! fair Eveline," said the Baron, "do not be offended at my urgency. I cannot long delay setting forward on a distant and perilous expedition; and the short time left me for soliciting your favour, must be an apology for my importunity." "And is it in these circumstances, noble De Lacy, that you would encumber yourself with family ties?" asked the maiden, timidly. "I am God's soldier," said the Constable, "and He, in whose cause I fight in Palestine, will defend my wife in England."