“He confessed now that he had deceived himself when he thought his passion was no more; was there any longer a bar to his union with Leoline? “In that delicacy which was breathed into him by his love, he had forborne to seek, or to offer her the insult of, consolation. “He felt that the shock should be borne alone, and yet he pined, he thirsted, to throw himself at her feet. “Nursing these contending thoughts, he was aroused by a knock at his door. “He opened it. “The passage was thronged by Leoline’s maidens—pale, anxious, weeping. “Leoline had left the castle, but with one female attendant, none know whither. “They knew too soon. “From the hall of Warbeck Castle she had passed over in the dark and inclement night, to the valley in which the convent offered to the weary of spirit and the broken of heart, a refuge. “At daybreak, the next morning, Lord Edward Warbeck was at the convent gate. “He saw Leoline. “What a change one night of suffering had made in that face, which was the fountain of all loveliness to him. “He clasped her in his arms. “He urged all that love could urge. “He besought her to accept that heart, which had never wronged her memory by a thought. “In vain Warbeck pleaded; in vain he urged all that passion and truth could urge. “The springs of earthly love were for ever dried up in the orphan’s heart, and her resolution was immovable. “She tore herself from his arms, and the gate of the convent creaked harshly on his ear. “A new and stern emotion now wholly possessed him. “Naturally mild and gentle, when once aroused to anger, he cherished it with the strength of a calm mind. “Leoline’s tears, her sufferings, her wrongs, her uncomplaining spirit, the change already stamped upon her face, all cried aloud to him for vengeance! “‘She is an orphan,’ said he, bitterly; ‘she hath none to protect, to redress her, save me alone. “‘My father’s charge over her forlorn youth descends of right to me. “‘What matters it whether her forsaker be my brother? He is _her_ foe. “‘Hath he not crushed her heart? “‘Hath he not consigned her to sorrow till the grave? And with what insult. No warning, no excuse. With lewd wassailers keeping revel for his new bridals in the hearing—before the sight—of his betrothed. Enough! the time hath come when, to use his own words, “One of us two must fall!”’ “He half drew his glaive as he spoke, and thrusting it back violently into the sheath, strode home to his solitary castle. “The sound of steeds and of the hunting horn met him at his portal; the bridal train of his brother Sir Charles, all mirth and gladness, were panting for the chase. “That evening, a knight in complete armour entered the banquet-hall, and defied Sir Charles, on the part of Lord Warbeck, to mortal combat. “Even Redgill was startled by so unnatural a challenge. “But Sir Charles, reddening, took up the gage, and the day and spot were fixed. “Discontented, wroth with himself, a savage gladness seized him.