Even in this temple of luxury, however, its fair possessor was not happy. She sighed as she surveyed the gorgeous refinement around her, and felt forcibly the insufficiency of greatness. Listlessly she turned her eyes upon the figures painted upon the walls: they represented the loves of Mars and Venus: they were exquisitely painted: the artist had given to the life the tender modesty of the goddess, and the ardent passion of her lover. Elvira gazed upon his glowing countenance and sparkling eyes; and then, looking down, sighed yet more heavily than before. She dismissed her attendants, retaining only Emma; and long her eyes were fixed on vacancy, and her mind absorbed in mournful contemplations; when suddenly she was startled by the entrance of a page, and the appearance of Lord Edmund Montagu, who followed almost at the moment of the page's repeating his name: his countenance beaming joy, and hope dancing in his eyes. "Oh, Elvira!" he cried, "you are now mine--mine for ever! The people permit you to marry. The lords in council have signed the law; the people have proclaimed it with acclamations. You are free! you are no longer debarred from the inestimable pleasures of domestic life--you are independent--you may marry any natural born subject of the realm, and will you now be mine?" "And so relinquish my independence the moment I obtain it," said Elvira, smiling. "Oh, my loved! my adored Elvira! consent to make me happy! Believe me you shall be free, and still as much a Queen as at this moment." "Edmund!" said Elvira seriously, "you deserve more than I can give you; for I will not insult you by supposing you would be satisfied with the possession of my crown without my heart;--and that it is not in my power to bestow." "My dearest Elvira, you but fancy this. I know your feelings are warm, your sensibility acute, and your generosity unbounded--can you then want a heart?" "Alas, no! but I have discovered I possess one, only in time to know also that I have given it to another." "And is that other a youth and a stranger?" asked her lover, gasping for breath. "He is," replied Elvira, blushing, and looking down. "Then, indeed, I am wretched!" cried Lord Edmund; and, striking his clenched hand vehemently against his forehead, he darted out of the room. Elvira gazed after him with a feeling almost amounting to horror. Terrified at the strength of the passions she had awakened, she appeared stupefied, and stood looking like a child who had accidentally cut the string which confined the wheels of some powerful machinery, on hearing its fearful clatter above its head. "Oh, madam, madam!" cried Emma, wringing her hands, "what will become of us? Your Majesty has offended Lord Edmund for ever, and for that wretch, who, I am certain, is a fiend incarnate!" "Peace, Emma!" said Elvira, "you forget my rank--I will not be dictated to." "Pardon me, dear madam, you know I love you, and--" "I know, also, that you presume upon my love. Begone!"