catalogue of horrors the being buried alive. was less to be dreaded than the necessity of assuming an unbecoming costume. The garrulity of her attendant, nevertheless, became tiresome; and as if to check all further conversation, she drew her spinningwheel to the window, and sat down to her work. This time, however, no ballad of lady or of knight enlivened, as of wont, the monotony of the task. The spinning-wheel went round; but Rosamond had no heart to sing, nor on that day did she ride forth from the castle. Her soul drooped within her; she felt that she must appear undutiful to her father, who, as Jacqueline had said, might demand obedience to his wish. And he her affianced lord-had he no claim upon her forbearance, if not upon her love? Too gentle to urge a right, too haughty to complain, the conduct of Ranulph, from the hour of his betrothal, was marked by the most touching delicacy. He loved Rosamond with unbounded devotion; he had always loved her from the first hour they met; and the rapid decision of Lord de Clifford overwhelmed him with surprise and delight, it resembled the realization of a glorious dream. Alas! how seldom in this life do our aspirations even appear to be justified; but it is better to encounter at once a stern truth, than to hug to one's heart a flattering delusion, and then find it melt into unsubstantial air. This is one of the most withering trials to which poor human nature is subject; and such was the doom of Ranulph de Broc, who soon discovered that the character of Rosamond was one into which no coquetry could enter; she was too earnest, too sincere, and too impetuous. She did not love Sir Ranulph, and she did not affect to do So. When a child she had played with him, for he had been brought up in the Castle as page to Lord de Clifford, who had taken the boy at the dying request of his father, one of De Clifford's early friends. Thus consigned to his guardianship, De Clifford had trained Ranulph, even as though he had been his son, and had carefully watched over certain large possessions in Kent, which by right of inheritance belonged to the young knight. But this fortune, ample as it was, did not influence the decision of De Clifford when he chose Ranulph as a fitting husband for his child; though it prevented any scruple he might have felt in offering her hand to a penniless noble, for his pride would have revolted at the idea of his daughter being sought for her wealth. Little did Sir Ranulph imagine the change which had gradually taken place in the feelings of Rosamond towards him, from the hour when she had pledged her faith to his. Unskilled in reading the human heart, he merely saw in her conduct a reserve, caused probably by her position; and being enraptured by his own thoughts and hopes, he forgot to look deeper, but gave himself up to the joy of endeavouring more and more, each day, to deserve her approval and favour. The customs of the age, which not only sanctioned but encouraged the betrothal of persons still in childhood, did not, however, permit, on that account, any nearer approach to intimacy. The bride elect remained under the strict control of her parents, and no more liberty was granted or expected, than before she had made promise of her hand. The spirit of chivalry, at that time so prevalent, elevated the female sex almost to the rank of deities. Ladies were worshipped, and sought for, and adored; their praise was the theme of the minstrel; and the meed of the warrior was their smile. Such deference could not fail to touch every generous heart, and induce women to acquire those merits, which even more than beauty, might warrant the profound homage paid to them; indeed, chivalry placed placed the utmost value on on female modesty and worth. In no age were women more distinguished for heroic virtues, and for the absence of small vices, than in the days of the tournament and crusade. Their pride, their dignity, and self-reliance, were too often called into play, to permit the existence of petty aims or feelings; and though occasionally following some of the pursuits and amusements of men, they were not unfeminine, nor the least above attending to the most minute and even homely duties of their sex. They visited the aged, attended the sick, and relieved the poor, and |