it; whilst a mantle of violet-coloured cloth, figured with gold, and lined with fur, flung loosely athwart her shoulders, was used to wrap around her person, when any sudden blast arose to chill it but which now, flowing in unrestrained drapery, fell in rich and ample folds upon the floor.

Her hair was braided into knots, in which were interwoven some of those early flowers with which spring adorns the meadows, and over them was flung a light gauze wimple, which, descending lower than her eyes, would have obstructed their view, had it not been held back by the arm on which she rested; whilst a large golden locket, set with precious stones, was slung around her neck, upon a chain of the like metal, more remarkable for massiveness, than for the elegance of its workmanship.

The cast of her countenance, grave, but not gloomy, might less be said to express melancholy than pensiveness-less of grief than resignation to sorrow a calm, placid submission to the decrees of the Chastener, who inflicted not, as she trusted, pain as punishment, but as the

means of drawing offenders to repentance, and thus rendering them more fit to enjoy the paradise he has promised as the reward of virtue.

In a distant part of the chamber, on a low bench covered with crimson velvet, sate one, who, as well from the air of authority which distinguished her from the other surrounding ladies, as from the deference they used in accosting her, appeared to be the damesse or mistress of the castle; whilst a slender circulet of gold shaped into the form of a coronet, and covering her brows, declared the rank of its wearer to be that of Dutchess.

This was Jeanne, Countess of Montfort, who had apparelled herself in the garb of that rank to which she deemed herself entitled. Before her was placed a wheel, and in her hand a distaff, from which she seemed busily intent in drawing off the flax; but though her hands were thus employed, her thoughts were occupied on far different matters. Silently she drove the rapid wheel around, and as it answered mechanically to the pressure of her foot, so in equal thought

lessness did her fair slender fingers spin out and form the thread.

At length, in an impulse of impatience, she pushed the apparatus from her, and leaning back, reclined upon the cushion of the couch.

The latest account she had received from Nantes, had been sent her from the Duke, her consort; but his tablets were filled with evil tidings;-Charles de Blois and the Duke of Normandy had recaptured several towns, and were daily expected to sit down before that of Nantes, where Montfort, for so, to prevent confusion, I will in future call him, had strongly entrenched himself, in the hope of delaying their further conquests.

Jeanne was well aware of the strength of the fortress, but she also knew the power which would be drawn out against it; and the not having heard from the Count for many days, filled her mind with the most anxious apprehensions for his safety.

Emily!" she at last exclaimed, rising from her recumbent position on the couch.-" Where

is the lady Emily?" she continued, addressing herself generally to the damsels employed in the same kind of work as had just occupied herself. Several voices were about to answer, when Emily herself, hearing her name pronounced, rose from the seat, and appeared in the act of coming forward from behind the screen.

"Behold me, lady," she said, as, with a quick and light step, she advanced towards the Countess to enquire her commands.

"Ha! art thou there, child.-Well, then, rest where thou art, and I will come to thee," the Countess rejoined, springing from her seat, and then taking her hand to lead her back to the lattice, where she placed herself on a low stool beside her.

Emily's hand still remained clasped in that of the Countess, who, though not her parent, seemed to look upon her as her child.

"Alas! maiden, have I not ever told thee, that the griefs of lovers, all grievous as they may be, equal not the sufferings endured in wedlock? To lose a lover, is to lose one, of whom, perchance, we know but little; and who may be

CHAPTER VI.

"Like a high-born maiden
In her palace tower,
Soothing her love-laden

Soul, in secret hour,

With music sweet as love which overflows her bower."

In the highest chamber of the highest tower within the keep at Rennes, and in its oriel: separated from the rest of the apartment by a folding and massive screen, which hid her from the view of those around it; sate, silent and alone, a maid, the bloom of whose complexion told that she was in the early spring of life: whilst her symmetry of form, and the expression of her countenance, were such as might raise, in a poet's heart, those glad tumultuous feelings, which 'tis not in the power of poetry to express.