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Sibyll, accordingly, after pressing her father's hand without fear for she had deemed the sole danger Adam risked was from the rabble by the way followed Hugh into a fair chamber, strewed with rushes, where an aged dame, of noble air and aspect, was employed at her broidery frame.
And the answer struck home to the native and original heroism of the listener's nature, before debased into the cynic sourness of worldly wisdom. Never had Katherine herself more forcibly recalled to Hastings the pure and virgin glory of his youth. "Oh, Sibyll!" he exclaimed passionately, and yielding to the impulse of the moment, "oh, that for me, as to me, such high words were said!
Sibyll uttered a faint exclamation of fear at this dangerous indiscretion of her father's absence of mind; and drawing closer to Nevile, she put her hand with touching confidence on his arm, and whispered, "You will not repeat this, Sir! my father lives only in his studies, and he has never known but one king!"
A shriek of terror at this recognition burst from Sibyll, as she threw herself again upon Adam's breast; but when he looked round to discover the cause of her alarm, Graul was gone. On reaching his own house, Hastings learned that the court was still at Shene.
Sleep came not to the couch of Hastings; his acuteness perceived that whatever Edward's superstition, and he was a devout believer in witchcraft, some more worldly motive actuated him in his resentment to poor Sibyll.
"Nay," answered Sibyll, composing herself. "It is my right to be angered. Thou hast a brave heart, and a gentle; thou hast a frank tongue, and a courteous; and these qualities make men honoured and loved, except they have the gifts which turn all into gall, and bring oppression for honour, and hate for love." "And those gifts, gentle Sibyll?"
"Can you tell me," said the Nevile, hesitatingly, "what distance it is to the Temple-gate, or the nearest wharf on the river?" "Two miles, at the least," answered Sibyll. "Two miles! and now I mind me, I have not the accoutrements that beseem me.
While such the entrance of Marmaduke Nevile into a court, that if far less intellectual and refined than those of later days, was yet more calculated to dazzle the fancy, to sharpen the wit, and to charm the senses, for round the throne of Edward IV. chivalry was magnificent, intrigue restless, and pleasure ever on the wing, Sibyll had ample leisure in her solitary home to muse over the incidents that had preceded the departure of the young guest.
"Shall I love thee, Sibyll?" she said, with a girl's candid simplicity, "and wilt thou love me?" "Ah, lady! there are so many to love thee, father, mother, sister, all the world; the very sun shines more kindly upon the great!" "Nay!" said Anne, with that jealousy of a claim to suffering to which the gentler natures are prone, "I may have sorrows from which thou art free.
Hastings, waving his hand to Alwyn, was about to enter the boat which was to bear him to the war council assembled at Baynard's Castle, when the trader stopped him, and said anxiously, "Think you not, for the present, the Tower is the safest asylum for Sibyll and her father? If we fail and Warwick returns, they are protected by the earl; if we triumph, thou wilt insure their safety from all foes?"
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